Puls: Season 1 & 2 (Danish Series) [Pulse]

I am surprised that I had not heard of this mini series that came out back in 2020. Clearly the show did not get as popular as some of its counterparts, but I still think it deserves viewing. Pulse follows a group of seven friends in a sleepy, indeterminate suburb somewhere outside of Copenhagen, whose entangled lives unravel when secrets they carry unwantedly begin to emerge. The foal point of the story is about a gay relationship and to what extent some people go in the name of holophobia. Some of it may feel a little over the top in today's time but I would like to think that prejudice is still very much prevalent even in some parts of so called first world countries. The show was released in two seasons with 9 episodes each ranging from 12-15 minutes, so its a pretty easy and decent watch.

Let's first understand all the major characters here. Samir and Bastian are best friends, and both are on the school basketball team, together with Bastian’s brother Adam and their classmate Erik. Samir is the star player also liked by girls and dating Tenna, who is struggling to negotiate teenage life with social monitoring by her conservative Muslim sister. Bastian is dating Anna, who has just lost her mother, while her sister Sophia is grieving in her own ways by making frequent trips to big city and spending time with older men in exchange for gifts. Erik, the other player of the tea, has feelings for Tenna and is very envious of Samir. When Erik accidentally discovers notifications from a dating

app for men on Samir’s mobile, he seizes the opportunity and lets everyone know that Samir likes men. Initially perturbed, Samir gets over it thanks to an online friend that he has. But all these incidents stir something in Bastian. He is now very confused about his feelings for Samir and in fact the duo ends up kissing in a party, where everyone sees them, confusing Bastian even more. He is insure of his feelings for Samir, he knows he likes him but is also very scared of people finding out he is gay. Anna breaks up with him and so does Tenna with Samir. Erik siezes the opportunity to be with Tenna and meanwhile Bastian keeps going back and forth with Samir, extremely confused between friendship and love. Erik, meanwhile uses a gang of rednecks to make life hell for Samir first and then Bastian, by making lewd gay videos and sending them to all. The ending is a little heartbreaking with Samir and Bastian getting badly beaten up, but we do see that this event will eventually bring Samir and Bastian together who are now very sue thatchy indeed love each other very much and Erik also learning his mistakes thanks to Tenna.

The ending of the show is a bit open ended, that merely nods to the possibility of a new beginning. Maybe the dup of Samir and Bastian will star a romantic relationship, maybe not. There hasn't been any follow up seasons, AFAIK, which  could tell us this or even show how the perpetrators were punished. Even though the central story around the gay narrative, I do like that even with its short duration episodes, the series manages to invest in its characters without spoon feeding us on what's going on. Erik, with parental trouble at home, propagates a culture of toxic masculinity, evident in locker rooms and outside. He exerts power over Samir using homophobia. Thankfully Samir, with his supportive family, feels comfortable on who is and tackles Erik head on, and thanks to his mentor gay guy who is throughout with him during these times. The focus is more on Bastian, especially in the second season. One minute he is in love with Bastian but the threat and fear of people finding out about him and them is more prominent in his mind. Part of me can understand where he is coming from, especially when you are in your teenage years and have no one to talk to, but I can never justify how he would risk his and Samir's life, for Erik's criminal big brother and his gang of thuggish friends, who eventually assault the gay couple really badly in the last episode. We also see bits of Anna and her sister going through grief in their own way and how Bastian's elder brother Adam comes a sa s support system during these times. 

Despite being an ensemble drama, the main storyline in Pulse revolves around the relationship between Samir and Bastian. And thank god, because I would have been disappointed if the gay plot was miniscule. Thankfully, it was central to the show. Bastian chiefly aligns with the conventional coming-out narrative, as he spends most of the plot time attempting to pass as straight and make sure his feelings for Samir remain hidden from the rest of the group. In contrast, Samir can articulate his queer desire from the very beginning, even if it is done in secrecy through an online app. He is never seen struggling with his queer identity beyond his coming out. We do see two very contrasting images here which makes this series a very interesting case study. As actors everyone does a very good job and the direction is perfect. Without going astray from the main storyline, the makers of the series tell captivating story of youth and their struggles including grief, masculinity and sexuality. (8/10)