The Rain

Netflix's The Rain is an enchanting and heart-pounding original series from Denmark, delivering a complex narrative that intertwines the horrifying realities of a post-apocalyptic world with the raw emotions of personal relationships and survival. Premiering in 2018 and concluding with a third and final season in 2020, the show is a notable venture in the increasingly popular genre of dystopian dramas. The series features the compelling acting talents of Alba August and Lucas Lynggaard Tønnesen, who portray the characters Simone and Rasmus Andersen respectively. Their emotive performances and unwavering courage in the face of desperate circumstances form the basis of this riveting drama.

The Rain starts with a bang, pretty literally, as a lethal virus carried by rainfall sweeps across Scandinavia, causing death and desolation in its wake. The main characters, Simone and Rasmus, are left to fend for themselves by their scientist father, who gives them shelter in a hi-tech underground bunker before venturing out, promising to return.

Simone, as the older sibling, is tasked with protecting her younger brother, a responsibility that feels more burdensome as they spend six brutal years in the bunker. The central question revolves around the siblings' quest for survival in the remnants of their once familiar world, exacerbating the challenge of maintaining their sanity amidst isolation and uncertainty. The roles of Alba August and Lucas Lynggaard Tønnesen shine as they navigate profound human emotions ranging from fear and frustration to hope and creativity, often oscillating between childish optimism and stark maturity.

Once they emerge from the bunker, the siblings join a roving group of survivors, each member carrying their own baggage of traumatic memories and the struggle to hold onto their humanity. Much like other post-apocalyptic narratives, The Rain navigates through various themes such as loyalty, betrayal, survival, and the quest for a semblance of normality in a changed world. The journey each character undertakes is filled with physical dangers, moments of brief happiness, and confronting their inner demons, with the show brilliantly weaving their individual story arcs in a way that binds the group's fate together.

A unique aspect of The Rain is the deadly nature of the rain itself, making outdoor survival even more treacherous. The cinematography embraces this, capturing the stark beauty of the Scandinavian wilderness rendered hostile by the virus-infected rain. Nature in The Rain is depicted as both an adversary due to the lethal rain and at times a sanctuary away from the chaos of human behavior.

Through three seasons, The Rain maintains its pace, its emotional intensity, and its ability to shock and thrill. The heavy layers of mystery and suspense are unraveled at a steady pace, keeping viewers engaged throughout. The plot is rich with moments of heartbreak and courage, filled with undeniably relatable human experiences.

The Rain's philosophical exploration of survival and humanity's innate capacity for hope and resilience further deepen the narratives, making it more than just a dystopian survival series. It questions what it means to stay human in a world that has become alien and how to continue loving amidst bleak hopelessness. This emotional connectivity that the characters make with the viewers forms one of the strongest features of the series.

The central performances by Alba August as Simone and Lucas Lynggaard Tønnesen as Rasmus are mesmerizing. August's portrayal of a young woman forced to grow up too soon, struggling with the burden of responsibility and her evolving feelings for fellow survivor Martin, is convincingly real. Tønnesen's Rasmus is a compelling study of a young man grappling with the loss of his childhood and his fight against a chilling destiny.

The Rain's brilliant fusion of post-apocalyptic horror, suspense, and immersive characterization takes the viewers on a journey that is gripping, shockingly brutal, and emotionally powerful. Its Nordic origins lend a refreshing and unique perspective to the dystopian genre, resulting in a series that is satisfyingly complex and startlingly original. The Rain will keep viewers on the edge of their seat, pondering the outcomes and connecting with the characters in a way that transcends the simple survival storyline, moving into the realm of emotional upheaval and psychological complexity. After all, The Rain questions the very notion of survival, insisting that the battle for life isn't just physical but intensely emotional and psychological as well.