I loved the first Greveholm series from 1996 so much that I was worried that the producers would destroy the magic in this sequel. But I was positively surprised: it is even a little better! They have brought in more Swedish current affairs, famous people etc., which anchors the series more into reality. Something that is a prerequisite, for me being able to follow the characters into the fairy-tale world later.
The slowness that I complained of in my review of the first series is also almost gone. The tempo is quicker and more things happen all the time! Another thing that is better, is that they use more Christmas decorations earlier on in this series. A Christmas calender should have lots and lots of Christmas feeling from day 1..! At the same time they have detained everything I loved in the first series: the magic, the fantastic imagination, the science fiction elements, etc.. Somehow I think I will never really grow up - I will always like to fantasize about how it would be, to come to live in an old castle, finding secret rooms, meeting ghosts, solving secrets...
This series brings out the childish part of you in time for Christmas..! :-) The only program I can remember, which was quite as good in this respect, was the "Christmas morning" series "Toffelhjältarna" in the mid-80:s, which also took place in an old castle in Scania (the most southern Swedish province).
I also like it that they tie this series together with the first "Greveholm", by giving the actors who played the family members from the first series bit parts in this one. It was fun to see how the child actors had turned out as grown-ups!
The only thing I am still missing, and which is the reason I am not giving this series the final, tenth star, is music and singing. I am re-watching the "Toffelhjältarna" at the moment, and it strikes me that I have remembered many of the songs for all these 26 years..! It is the songs that arouse strong feelings, and leave the lasting magic after one has forgotten everything else. I must give credit to the 18th century signature music though - it is wonderful and perfect for the theme and setting of the series!
The slowness that I complained of in my review of the first series is also almost gone. The tempo is quicker and more things happen all the time! Another thing that is better, is that they use more Christmas decorations earlier on in this series. A Christmas calender should have lots and lots of Christmas feeling from day 1..! At the same time they have detained everything I loved in the first series: the magic, the fantastic imagination, the science fiction elements, etc.. Somehow I think I will never really grow up - I will always like to fantasize about how it would be, to come to live in an old castle, finding secret rooms, meeting ghosts, solving secrets...
This series brings out the childish part of you in time for Christmas..! :-) The only program I can remember, which was quite as good in this respect, was the "Christmas morning" series "Toffelhjältarna" in the mid-80:s, which also took place in an old castle in Scania (the most southern Swedish province).
I also like it that they tie this series together with the first "Greveholm", by giving the actors who played the family members from the first series bit parts in this one. It was fun to see how the child actors had turned out as grown-ups!
The only thing I am still missing, and which is the reason I am not giving this series the final, tenth star, is music and singing. I am re-watching the "Toffelhjältarna" at the moment, and it strikes me that I have remembered many of the songs for all these 26 years..! It is the songs that arouse strong feelings, and leave the lasting magic after one has forgotten everything else. I must give credit to the 18th century signature music though - it is wonderful and perfect for the theme and setting of the series!
