Swedish media give the updated version of Astrid Lindgen’s saga a clear approval. Here we have collected some reviews.
Some classics just shouldn’t be touched, as the saying goes, and Tage Danielsson’s fine 80s version of Astrid Lindgren’s “Ronja Rövardotter” is often mentioned as one of them.
Despite this, the Swedish streaming service Viaplay chose to produce a new series based on the novel. When the new “Ronja Rövardotter” now premieres on Netflix, where it was sold after Viaplay’s financial problems, it still looks like it was a good idea.
Here at MovieZine, Katarina Emgård gave the first season 4 out of 5: “Astrid Lindgren’s beloved “Ronja” has become a TV series with all the pros and cons of the long format. Enchantingly beautiful natural romance with sweeping scenes over rushing rivers and moss-covered woodlands now competes with a more sprawling narrative and more, albeit more complex, character portraits.”
But what do other Swedish media say?, then? Well, by and large they agree.
DN (4 of 5): “Gorgeous and medieval dark, but also contemporary in terms of language and special effects. A well-acted adventure with a storm of emotions. Love and friendship, hatred and revenge against a dizzyingly beautiful nature lyric fund. The first part adds more flavor.”
GP (4 of 5): “It could have been a gut punch. But the new TV series about Ronja Rövardotter is stylish and exciting, well-made and suitably scary.”
The evening paper (3 of 5): “The new “Ronja Rövardotter” mixes grandiose nature lyricism with some suitably dark and frightening family fantasy. The acting and the visuals are top notch, but the original story has had to be expanded, and not all filler is good filler.”
Sound & Image (5 of 6): “Without hesitation, we award a Special Recommendation and 5 strong stars to a series that impresses, entertains and will continue to fascinate children’s minds young and old.”
Gamereactor (6 out of 10): “Ronja 2024 feels like a full-on, hogwash, international venture rather than the folkloric romp that the original film (from 1984) appears to be. It’s also easy for me to see the delight in my children’s eyes as we peruse the six episodes now being released , because this is fundamentally a memorable and exciting coming-of-age, coming-of-age tale.”
The first season of “Ronja Rövardotter” is now available for streaming on Netflix.