The North American premiere of Season 3 of State of Happiness is streaming now on MHz Choice in the U.S. and Canada.
The critically acclaimed period drama tells the true story of Norway’s big oil discovery in the late 1960s.
When American companies began drilling for oil near the Norwegian coast, a small fishing town named Stavanger experienced an era of prosperity that energized a younger generation to reach for something bigger in their personal lives. The series follows the societal impact when the North Sea’s Ekofisk oil field was discovered by Phillips Petroleum Company (now ConocoPhillips) in 1969.
In the first two seasons, State of Happiness is about more than the history of Norway’s oil boom during 1969-1980. The series follows determined characters whose personal transformations intertwine with the rapidly changing economy as they jump on economic opportunities and make life-changing decisions.
In the upcoming Season 3, the series explores how ambition comes at a cost, testing resilience after tragedy and highlights the possibility of forging new identities at any stage of life. You can also expect the meticulous attention to period fashion, hairstyles and set design that was praised in previous seasons!
Seasons 1 and 2 of State of Happiness are available to stream now on MHz Choice, but continue reading if you’re looking for a recap about the main characters…
BEWARE SPOILERS!
Anna Hellevik (Anne Regine Ellingsæter) left her rural upbringing and quickly proves herself as instinctively business-minded in a male-dominated oil industry. She takes economy courses and continues to rise in more influential roles in the corporate world. Anna navigates her failing engagement with lackadaisical Christian before marrying Jonathan Kay (Bart Edwards, The Witcher and UnReal), a Texan lawyer sent to Norway by Shell. Anna’s ambition drives the story and shapes everyone around her. When Anna becomes a mom at the end of the second season, a devastating tragedy forces her to find a new “state of happiness.”
Christian Nyman (Amund Harboe and Paal Herman Ims) was raised in a wealthy family and balances youthful idealism with a desire to make his father proud. He has never wanted to work for the family factory and seizes every opportunity to build his own path to success. While his drinking habits worry those around him, he is an incredibly caring friend and proves himself to be very hard-working.
Toril Torstensen (Malene Wadel) has just had a baby with Frank (Anastasios Soulis, Red Dot), an American businessman working in Norway. She rejects his marriage proposal and opens her own local bar, which becomes a sanctuary for the local oil industry’s workers. Toril is grounded in her faith and her warmth brings a comforting presence to those around her.
Ingrid Nyman (Pia Tjelta) is the wife of businessman Fredrik Nyman (Per Kjerstad) and mother of Christian. Initially, she is portrayed as a socialite managing the family’s social status, but emerges in an entirely new light when she finds purpose helping others after the oil drilling platform tragically collapses and kills over 200 people.
State of Happiness (translated from the original title Lykkeland) has earned international acclaim, winning Best Screenplay and Best Music at the Cannes International Series Festival, as well as multiple awards at the Gullruten Awards – Norway’s version of the Emmys. The series was written by Mette M. Bølstad with music by Norwegian composer Ginge Anvik.
Season 3 of State of Happiness is streaming now on MHz Choice.
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