Netflix trailer: https://bit.ly/42Yob5O

This starts off slow.

“War Sailor” is a three episode series on Netflix. It’s Norwegian. I’ve actually been to Norway twice, it’s different from Sweden. First and foremost not everybody speaks English. And, the country used to be backward economically but as a result of finding oil decades back, it’s now incredibly wealthy. And despite oil throwing off all that money, 80% of the new cars in the country are electric, you can read about it here: https://nyti.ms/3IhH4sr

But this is about long ago. Before WW II. And then…

Germany invaded Norway. Took over the country, but…

So what we’ve got here is a war story. But it’s not a battle story. This is not those in helmets loading up their bazookas, rather this is about merchant marines, who can’t come back to their homeland because it’s been possessed.

So…

The first half hour or so is set-up, you’re not exactly sure what is happening.

And then the war begins…

The horrors of war. The tensions of war. When so many ships are sunk, what are the odds you’ll survive?

And then you see friends die.

And then…

Let me just say “War Sailor” portrayed, made me feel the horrors of war more than any other movie or TV series I’ve ever seen. The psychological cost. You become numb, worried your number is going to come up.

Maybe you can watch in English, but it’s always best to watch these shows with subtitles. You can burn through “War Sailor” in an evening. And when it is over, you’ll be silent, you won’t have much to say, because you will get it, the cost of war.

Highly recommended.

P.S. I’d only watch the trailer if you need convincing, it gives away too many plot points.

P.P.S. Life is slow. It takes time. Which is oftentimes boring, as in nothing significant happens. But you’re thinking all the while. “War Sailor” is not “The Diplomat,” it’s rapid-fire in neither action nor dialogue.

P.P.P.S. I don’t expect many people to watch “War Sailor.” Because I keep getting e-mail from people telling me they loved “Ted Lasso” and to recommend more shows like that, that are uplifting. But there are few shows like that, because that’s not how life works. You’re living in your brain 24/7, contemplating, making choices, trying to forget that which you cannot. War might not be your physical experience, but you’re at war in your head all the time. Inner life, it’s everything, but for too many it’s taboo, they can’t talk about it, don’t want to hear about it. They’ll talk about sports long before they’ll reveal how they feel. And men have just as many feelings as women, whether they articulate them or not.

P.P.P.P.S. We run on hope. And sometimes what we hope for arrives, but the end result is not what we anticipated, it’s not really what we want, do we abandon our desire or stick with it?

P.P.P.P.P.S. The world runs on misinformation, misconception, most of what you hear is wrong, or not in detail enough, not comprehensive enough to render the complete picture. If you’ve been diagnosed with something serious, get a second opinion. Don’t make life decisions based on conventional wisdom. Seek out experts. Try to get it right. It makes all the difference. You don’t want to change your life based on falsehood.