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La Palma is a Norwegian disaster-based series that was released on Netflix on December 12, 2024. This four-part miniseries follows a Norwegian family vacationing on La Palma in the Canary Islands when a young researcher uncovers alarming signs of a volcanic eruption that could trigger a devastating tsunami.
Directed by Kasper Barfoed, the series stars Anders Baasmo Christiansen, Ingrid Bolsø Berdal, and Thea Sofie Loch Næss. Shot primarily on location in La Palma and Tenerife, the show definitely worth a watch as it captures the stunning volcanic landscapes and coastlines of the Canary Islands, lending an authentic atmosphere to its high-stakes narrative.
The series blends personal drama with the broader tension of impending catastrophe, focusing on the psychological struggles of characters as they face natural forces beyond their control.
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Disclaimer: This article reflects the opinion of the author.
Netflix's La Palma is worth a watch
The series is definitely worth a watch. It places its characters at the forefront, ensuring the audience feels invested in their struggles and decisions.
The portrayal of the volcanic eruption and its aftermath is showcased in scientific and convincing scenarios, making the overall representation feel real.
Consisting of only four episodes, the series delivers a tightly packed-story with no unnecessary subplots or fillers. The Canary Islands’ stunning landscapes are both a visual treat and a stark reminder of nature’s power, adding to the emotional weight of the story.
The series also deals with issues such as climatic change, emergency preparedness, and the human price of natural disasters, therefore making it relevant and thought-provoking. For those who prefer watching shows based on natural disasters presented in a more realistic way, this show could be potentially a good watch for them.
What sets the series apart?
Unlike Hollywood-style disaster epics with over-the-top special effects, La Palma tells the story in a rather natural, intimate manner that grounds a natural disaster alongside humanity's response to it. The series presents the real geography and geology of the Canary Islands down to plausible scientific scenarios, which gives a visually absorbing and educational experience for viewers, firmly dropping the story into this reasonable scientific scenario.
The lead performances by Anders Baasmo Christiansen (Fredrik), Ingrid Bolsø Berdal (Jennifer), and Thea Sofie Loch Næss (Marie Ekdal) add emotional depth to the series. These actors portray the nuances of family bonds strained under such extraordinary pressure, making the audience feel the urgency and heartbreak of the characters' situation.
La Palma has been known for its long history of eruptions, among the eruptions that marked the most recent one is the 2021 Cumbre Vieja eruption, which made the environment realistic and immediate for the series. It does not forget the tragedy that always comes with such disasters in managing to capture the beautiful landscape of the Canary Islands in visual and emotional contrast.
The show is impressive in that aspect by couching the ethical dilemmas and making the scientists and officials forget that knowing the doomsday scenario would only lead to a nightmare of a reaction, it's best to do so at the last moment with the least panicking possible. Behind-the-scenes stuff has much more detail added to it than any survival thriller could ever be.
What Netflix's La Palma is about and its plot
La Palma is a Netflix thriller about the aftermath of one true natural disaster: the eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano on La Palma, a Spanish Canary Island. The series dwells upon the lives of people who faced unimaginable challenges when the volcano erupted in September 2021, an event that went on continuously for 85 days and left communities reduced to rubble.
Real events inspired this series to dramatize the human perspective of this tragedy. More than 7,000 people have been displaced by the rivers of lava that destroy villages, farms, and businesses, with chaos, heartbreak, and resilience brought on for its inhabitants. Scientists work day and night to foretell the eruption, yet no one envisioned such unprecedented destruction on this scale.
La Palma is a Norwegian miniseries on Netflix about a family vacation that turns into a nightmare. Fredrik, Jennifer, and their children, Sara and Tobias, are enjoying their holiday on La Palma, a Canary Island when they learn about a potential volcanic eruption. Meanwhile, scientists, led by Marie, detect alarming signs of activity and try to alert the authorities about the possible catastrophe.
As the volcano threatens to erupt, the family faces challenges to stay safe, encountering dangerous situations while struggling to protect each other. The story weaves personal struggles with the impending natural disaster. Amidst the panic, scientists race against time to save lives, but bureaucratic delays worsen the crisis. The series highlights human resilience during calamities.
Watch La Palma streaming on Netflix.
