The BEST episodes of Borgen

Every episode of Borgen ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Borgen!

Borgen (The Government) is a drama series about the fight for political power – and about the personal sacrifices and consequences this has for those involved on and behind the political stage The central figure is the 40-year old political leader Birgitte Nyborg, who through her idealism and huge effort secures her party a landslide victory and thus faces the biggest challenge of her life: how most effectively to use the newly won seats, and how far she is willing to go in order to gain as much influence as possible. Privately, Birgitte leads a happy family life with her husband and two children. She is a woman with a burning commitment, a big heart and little time. Will she be able to be a successful and professional top politician and stay true to herself at the same time?

Last Updated: 1/22/2024Network: DR1Status: Ended
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Divide and Rule
star
8.24
381 votes

#1 - Divide and Rule

Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/21/2010

Allegations of corruption in connection with military spending has consequences even for the prime minister's husband, who has accepted a new job.

Writer: Adam Price
Watch Now:Amazon
A Child of Denmark
star
8.22
341 votes

#2 - A Child of Denmark

Season 3 - Episode 1 - Aired 1/1/2013

Birgitte Nyborg has left politics and is now a well-paid speaker and sits on several boards. Her old friend Bent Sejro tries to persuade her to re-enter politics. Katrine Fonsmark and Kasper Juul juggle their careers and parenthood as well as their volatile relationship.

Writer: Adam Price
Watch Now:Amazon
If You Never Change Your Mind
star
8.18
350 votes

#3 - If You Never Change Your Mind

Season 3 - Episode 8 - Aired 2/24/2013

As election day nears, Birgitte comes clean to her party about her recent performance. Meanwhile, unable to make their mark with the opposition's policies, the New Democrats try to highlight the differences between their party and the Moderates. But when Jacob Kruse steals a key policy, a mole is suspected within the party.

Writer: Adam Price
Watch Now:Amazon
Sense and Sensibility
star
8.18
302 votes

#4 - Sense and Sensibility

Season 3 - Episode 9 - Aired 3/3/2013

With the general election nearing, the mudslinging begins. Can Birgitte keep both her integrity and win votes? Can TV1 win viewers with their new election debate format?

Writer: Adam Price
Watch Now:Amazon
The First Tuesday in October
star
8.17
385 votes

#5 - The First Tuesday in October

Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 11/28/2010

A year after taking office, the prime minister's approval ratings are low, her government is in internal conflict, and her marriage is hanging by a thread. As she prepares for another year in parliament, what can be saved?

Writer: Adam Price
Watch Now:Amazon
The Election
star
8.13
284 votes

#6 - The Election

Season 3 - Episode 10 - Aired 3/10/2013

The day of the election finally arrives. However, politics is not the only thing on Birgitte's mind.

Watch Now:Amazon
The Fall
star
8.09
272 votes

#7 - The Fall

Season 3 - Episode 7 - Aired 2/17/2013

When prime minister Lars Hesselboe calls a general election, he takes everyone by surprise. TV1 swing into action, as do the political parties. However, with Birgitte undergoing daily radiation treatment, she is already struggling to keep up with work. How long can she keep making excuses and keep her illness a secret?

Writer: Adam Price
Watch Now:Amazon
Their Loss...
star
8.07
274 votes

#8 - Their Loss...

Season 3 - Episode 4 - Aired 1/27/2013

Birgitte's English boyfriend falls ill after eating pork as the government are trying to relax the rules applying to Danish pig farms. Birgitte argues for protecting citizens, not the industry.

Writer: Adam Price
Watch Now:Amazon
Them and Us
star
8.05
344 votes

#9 - Them and Us

Season 2 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/30/2011

Just as Birgitte's new government is getting back on track after the Green Party's exit, internal strife erupts among coalition partners. This time it's from the right, as Svend Åge Madsen submits a bill to lower the age of criminal responsibility to 12 years -- an issue that splits the political system. Meanwhile, Laura is recovering from a panic attack, but Birgitte won't admit to herself that her daughter is ill.

Directors: Louise Friedberg
Writer: Adam Price
Watch Now:Amazon
The Sanctity of Private Life
star
8.01
339 votes

#10 - The Sanctity of Private Life

Season 2 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/20/2011

Laura's illness has worsened over the past few months, and Birgitte now feels terrible about failing to recognize it. When Laura's psychiatrist suggests admitting her to a private psychiatric hospital, Birgitte and Phillip immediately agree. This move becomes problematic when Birgitte's own tax reforms force her to pay out of pocket for the hospital cost. At home, Birgitte and Phillip are rediscovering some of their lost love, despite Philip's continued relationship with Cecilie.

Directors: Louise Friedberg
Writer: Adam Price
In Brussels No One Can Hear You Scream
star
8.00
363 votes

#11 - In Brussels No One Can Hear You Scream

Season 2 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/2/2011

Birgitte Nyborg must appoint a new EU-commissioner and her old mentor, Sejrø, is the obvious candidate. Seeing it as a ploy to get rid of him, Sejrø refuses Birgitte's offer, which leads to a power play with serious consequences. Meanwhile, Kasper prepares to move in with his girlfriend, Lotte, but is haunted by his history with Katrine. Katrine and Hanne have grown closer, united by daily battles with their boss at Ekspres: Michael Laugesen.

Directors: Jannik Johansen
Writer: Adam Price
100 Days
star
7.95
468 votes

#12 - 100 Days

Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/17/2010

The revelation of an American prisoner transport in Greenland causes scandal upon the new government's first one hundred days in office.

Directors: Rumle Hammerich
Writer: Adam Price
Watch Now:Amazon
The Land is Built on Law
star
7.93
336 votes

#13 - The Land is Built on Law

Season 3 - Episode 2 - Aired 1/6/2013

Birgitte decides to start a new party. At TV1, Torben Friis is under pressure to report less bad news.

Writer: Adam Price
Watch Now:Amazon
What is Lost Inwardly Must Be Gained Outwardly (2)
star
7.92
355 votes

#14 - What is Lost Inwardly Must Be Gained Outwardly (2)

Season 2 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/13/2011

The eyes of the world are on Copenhagen and Birgitte Nyborg as peace talks draw near between North and South Kharun. Everyone has been working around the clock, and although Kasper is now living with Katrine, they rarely see each other. When Birgitte realizes Denmark is only a small piece in a major international power game, her negotiation skills are put to the test. Can she end the bloody civil war?

Directors: Mikkel Nørgaard
Writer: Adam Price
Sons of the Past
star
7.92
295 votes

#15 - Sons of the Past

Season 3 - Episode 6 - Aired 2/10/2013

The New Democrats finally have enough signatures to run for Parliament but need more candidates. Birgitte suggests economics professor Soren Ravn, but not all of the candidates in the party share her enthusiasm about him as he is very left-wing, and had previously been a member of the Communist Party. When the press catch on to this, they dig up his past and put him under intense personal pressure. Meanwhile, Birgitte receives bad news from the doctor which she tries to conceal from those around here. At TV1, viewing figures are up which has pleased the management, but the newsroom staff are unhappy with the changes in the programmes. Torben is under pressure both at work and at home, but is offered sympathy from his colleague Pia.

Directors: Louise Friedberg
Writer: Adam Price
Watch Now:Amazon
See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil
star
7.91
308 votes

#16 - See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil

Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/7/2010

The discovery of illegal surveillance of a left-wing party brings into question the prime minister's friendship with the party's spokeswoman as well as her faith in her own minister of justice.

Directors: Mikkel Nørgaard
Writer: Adam Price
Watch Now:Amazon
The Right Shade of Brown
star
7.90
328 votes

#17 - The Right Shade of Brown

Season 3 - Episode 3 - Aired 1/13/2013

Chaos and confusion rule in the party rooms of the New Democrats. Chaos also rules at home as Gustav is sick, and Birgitte and the children move into a new, cheaper apartment. Birgitte has a problem with one of her hands.

Writer: Adam Price
Watch Now:Amazon
Decency in the Middle
star
7.87
549 votes

#18 - Decency in the Middle

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/26/2010

Three days before an election, party leader Birgitte Nyborg shakes up her campaign by denouncing her closest ally, sensitive information about the prime minister's shopping expenses lands in the wrong hands, and the rising star of the evening news is shaken by an unexpected death.

Writer: Adam Price
Count to 90
star
7.85
435 votes

#19 - Count to 90

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/3/2010

After a successful election, Birgitte Nyborg looks set to become the Denmark's first female prime minister, but allies and opponents do their best to block her way.

Writer: Adam Price
Watch Now:Amazon
What is Lost Inwardly Must Be Gained Outwardly (1)
star
7.85
328 votes

#20 - What is Lost Inwardly Must Be Gained Outwardly (1)

Season 2 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/6/2011

Birgitte's government is losing steam -- internal differences are growing and only compromise legislation is being passed. Just as opinion polls indicate Birgitte may lose the next election, financier Joachim Crohne emerges with an idea that could save her political career. But can his motives be trusted? Meanwhile, Kasper and Katrine are growing close again, but their jobs are at odds: Katrine's role is to uncover secrets, while Kasper's is to conceal them.

Directors: Mikkel Nørgaard
Writer: Adam Price
The Silly Season
star
7.84
401 votes

#21 - The Silly Season

Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/14/2010

While the prime minister tries to take a family vacation, the publication of a tell-all by a former politician puts spin doctor Kasper Juul on the edge.

Directors: Mikkel Nørgaard
Writer: Adam Price
Watch Now:Amazon
Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery
star
7.82
333 votes

#22 - Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery

Season 3 - Episode 5 - Aired 2/3/2013

There is unrest amongst the New Democrats when the sex trade is placed on the agenda. In Copenhagen, police have found three women who have been locked up and forced to have sex against their will. The case causes the political parties to discuss the need for a law prohibiting the purchase of sex in Denmark. During the negotiations on the bill, however, Birgitte requests time for reflection when she becomes in doubt about what prostitutes themselves actually want or need. This comes as a disappointment to Katrine, who supports a rapid ban. Torben's problems escalate when his boss, Alex, finds out about his affair. Katrine and Kasper work out where it all went wrong in their relationship. Birgitte wonders whether to introduce Jeremy to her children, while he has concerns for her health.

Directors: Louise Friedberg
Writer: Adam Price
The Art of the Possible
star
7.81
470 votes

#23 - The Art of the Possible

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/10/2010

A few months into her term the new prime minister faces her first political crisis, and journalist Katrine Fønsmark considers how to deal with her unexpected pregnancy.

Directors: Rumle Hammerich
Writer: Adam Price
Watch Now:Amazon
Plant a Tree
star
7.79
324 votes

#24 - Plant a Tree

Season 2 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/23/2011

Birgitte Nyborg is about to negotiate the environmental element of the new reform package, but she must face the reality of parties unwilling to compromise. Kasper convinces her that underhanded tactics can help win her a majority for the reform. Meanwhile, Katrine receives an unusual job offer that tests her personal beliefs. And at home, Birgitte's children are clearly affected by their mother's stress; Laura in particular.

Directors: Louise Friedberg
Writer: Adam Price
Watch Now:Amazon
An Extraordinary Remark
star
7.77
339 votes

#25 - An Extraordinary Remark

Season 2 - Episode 10 - Aired 11/27/2011

In the season finale, Birgitte is on a month leave from her post as prime minister to focus on family, and Hans-Christian Thorsen, Labor Party chairman, has positioned himself to be her possible successor. Birgitte is torn about whether or not she will return to work. Meanwhile, as Kasper and Katrine hunt for apartments together, their plan is derailed by an argument about the possibility of having children. Will one of them relent?

Directors: Louise Friedberg
Writer: Adam Price