Matador (Danish TV series)
Matador is a Danish TV series produced and shown between 1978 and 1982. It is set in the fictional Danish town of Korsbæk between 1929 and 1947. It follows the lives of a range of characters from across the social spectrum, focusing specifically on the rivalry between the families of two businessmen: banker Hans Christian Varnæs, an established local worthy, and Mads Skjern, who arrives in town as a travelling salesman as the series opens, and builds up a large business. The name Matador was taken from, also the series' tentative English title. In addition, in contemporary Danish a "matador" is often used to describe a business tycoon, in the series referring to the character of Mads Skjern and his craftiness as a self-made entrepreneur.
Directed by famed Danish film-maker Erik Balling, Matador was the idea of author Lise Nørgaard, who wrote the bulk of the episodes alongside Karen Smith, Jens Louis Petersen, and Paul Hammerich. The series is one of the most well-known and popular examples of Danish television and represents a then peak of longtime development of Danish TV drama by the public service channel Danmarks Radio.
The series has become part of the modern self-understanding of Danes, partly because of its successful mix of melodrama and a distinct warm Danish humour in the depiction of characters, which were portrayed by a wide range of the most popular Danish actors at the time; but also not least because of its accurate portrayal of a turbulent Denmark from around the start of the Great Depression and through Nazi Germany's occupation of Denmark in World War II.
The distinctive and in Denmark celebrated of the series was composed by Bent Fabricius-Bjerre.
Matador originally aired on DR between November 1978 and January 1982 and has enjoyed repeated successful reruns in 1984-85, 1989–90, 1997–98, 2006–07, 2012–13 and most recently 2017-2018, for the latter newly restored to High Definition. Individual episodes figure prominently in Denmark's top TV viewing figures of all time, lead by episode 9's showing during the series' first rerun on February 10, 1985 with estimated 3,641,000 viewers, followed closely by 3,516,000 viewers watching the series finale during its original run on January 2, 1982; this in a country of some 5 million people at the time.
Additionally, the series has been released on VHS and in 2001 on region 2 DVD. This first edition of 12 separate DVDs with two episodes each has been one of the most sold in the country's history and surpassed a total of 1 million sold copies in 2005. A second 2006 13-DVD box set included English subtitles for a wider audience, with various DVD editions surpassing 3.6 million copies sold by 2013. The series was widely popular in neighbouring Norway, Sweden, and Germany, and it has been broadcast in more than 20 countries worldwide, one of which was Australia, here also widely popular when broadcast on Australian SBS TV in Danish with English subtitles. Mary, Crown Princess of Denmark, born in Tasmania, stated in a TV interview on Australian TV in 2004, that she watched Matador whilst learning Danish.
List and synopsis of Matador episodes
Season 1, 1978
- 1. "Den Rejsende: 1929"
Traveling drapery salesman Mads Andersen-Skjern arrives in Korsbæk with his little boy Daniel and sees opportunities when faced with the inept draper Albert Arnesen and this small sleepy town where the old families define the pace and virtue. Receiving only haughty condescension from the upper-class, Mads finds local allies in the family of pig trader Oluf Larsen and his wife Kathrine, who has more money than meets the eye. Failing to secure a loan from local, third-generation banker Hans Christian Varnæs and his esteemed Korsbæk Bank, Mads borrows money both from his Jutland family and the Larsens, and he purchases a shop opposite "Damernes Magasin", Arnesen's store. Meanwhile, Hans Christian Varnæs' wife, the oversensitive Maude, throws lavish parties for the local socialites, including the 96-year-old Mrs. Fernando Møhge and her timid daughter Misse, the bombastic Colonel Hackel and his close friend, Doctor Louis Hansen, and Varnæs' playboy brother, Jørgen, who seeks a seat in the parliament.
- 2. "Genboen: 1929"
The town's bourgeoisie watch with judging and disapproving eyes as Mads Skern opens his new shop "Tøjhuset", in direct competition with Arnesen's. Oluf Larsen's daughter, Ingeborg, starts as a clerk in his store, much to Mads' pleasure. Arnesen struggle with comprehending his new rival, while also battling issues with his very young and lively wife, Vicki, the daughter of Colonel Hackel, and her poodle Daisy, who finds an untimely intimate relationship in the middle of the main street with Oluf Larsen's less-than-pedigree mutt Kvik.
- 3. "Skiftedag: 1930"
Arnesen's store is losing money hand over fist, so when he learns that his manager, Mr. Schwann, has inherited a large sum, he persuades him to become his partner; the snobby Mr. Schwann gleefully throws his entire inheritance into Damernes Magasin, prolonging the inevitable for a few months. Their apprentice, Arnold, on the other hand, quits and joins the enemy "over there" to a doubled salary and ditto respect. Mads marries Ingeborg and adopts Ellen. When the local Baroness finds out that Mads is considerably cheaper than Arnesen, she takes her business to Skjern, signaling that even the upper class begins to abandon Arnesen's old store.
- 4. "Skyggetanten: 1931"
Mads' business continues to thrive and he even begins issuing loans to the locals. His younger brother Kristen, a banker, arrives in Korsbæk to assist. Kristen is quickly smitten with Maude's sister Elisabeth, who otherwise lives in the shadow of her sister. They fall in love, but their liaison is impossible due to the rivalry of their respective families.
- 5. "Den Enes Død: 1932"
Written by: Paul Hammerich. Runtime: 60 minutes.
Arnesen is in the shambles, and even Varnæs cannot aid him financially any further. He knows he is ruined. His wife Vicki returns gleeming with a fresh driver's license, but finds him dead. Rumors fly about Korsbæk of suicide, and Arnesen's is a total bankruptcy, leaving Schwann penniless and the shop's aging saleswoman Ms. Inger Jørgensen without a sense of direction.
To the horror of the bourgeoisie, Vicki, now a young widow, sells the shop to Mads Andersen-Skjern and moves to Copenhagen, against her father's will. Jørgen Varnæs lands a nasty adultery scandal, gets divorced and is dismissed as the conservative party candidate for the parliament. The Varnæs family is shattered. Elisabeth adds salt by moving out of the Varnæs residence and into her own apartment. Replacing Damernes Magasin is a new bank, "Omegnsbanken", with Mads Skjern as majority shareholder and Kristian Skjern as manager. Mads and Ingeborg have a son named Erik, and discard their middle name, Andersen, marking the Skjerns as the new dynasty in town.
Season 2, 1979
- 7. "Fødselsdagen: 1933"
While Mads Skjern continues to expand his businesses, Hans Christian Varnæs battles a new dynamic force in the board of his bank, the state lawyer Viggo Skjold Hansen, who has obtained his shares and board seat from the spiralling Jørgen Varnæs. The whimpering Maude makes matters worse, and in frustration Hans Christian enters in an affair with his bank assistant Ms. Ulla Jacobsen. Mrs. Fernando Møhge and the entire town celebrates her 100th birthday, but there is a surprise. For years she has mixed up her own birth year with that of her late husband, and in actuality, she is "only" 90 years old. Once a telegram arrives from the King, congratulating her on her 100th birthday, there is even more ruckus in the Varnæs family, which holds the feast in her honor.
- 8. "Komme fremmede: 1934"
Internationality lands in Korsbæk in the shape of famed modern painter, Professor Ernst Nyborg, former art teacher and romantic interest of Maude Varnæs. Also arriving to witness Nyborg's exhibit is Gitte Graae, Jørgen Varnæs' home-wrecking and increasingly expensive lady friend. Mads Skjern also has his eye on the arts, but with different intentions. In order to secure a building permit, he "greases the political wheels" by anonymously commissioning Nyborg to paint a portrait of the town Mayor.
- 9. "Hen til Kommoden: 1935"
Written by: Paul Hammerich. Runtime: 65 minutes.
The Varnæsses' maid, Agnes Jensen, quits her job to marry railway employee and local communist, Lauritz "Red" Jensen, but to her dismay, Red quickly invites a German refugee, the poet Herbert Schmidt, to live with them in the spirit of solidarity. Mads, having secured the building permit under dubious circumstances involving the indebted municipal secretary Godtfred Lund, starts building a factory on a plot otherwise reserved for the memory of the Møhge family. This spurs the energetic Skjold Hansen to investigate, seeking to damage the Skjern business. During his investigations, Mr. Schwann, now a debt collector, provides Skjold Hansen with some interesting bits of information. Holger Jørgensen, former husband of Ingeborg Skjern and biological father of Ellen returns to town, now a member of the small Danish Nazi party. Varnæs continues his affair with Ms. Jacobsen.
Mads' building project is well under way, but Mrs. Møhge supported by Skjold Hansen continues to fight him. Skjold Hansen's daughter Iben arrives in town, having cancelled an upcoming wedding in Germany, and begins flirting with Kristen Skjern. Elisabeth Friis causes a furor, when openly supporting an abortion doctor, bringing her at odds with her and her sister's social circle. Ulla Jacobsen breaks off the affair with Hans Christian and quits her job, finding employment in Omegnsbanken with help from her cousin, Arnold Vinter. Agnes Jensen is pregnant and eagerly wants a baby carriage they cannot afford. Their resident refugee Herbert, who weekly has to show the police 100 kroner as proof of livelihood, an amount he is forced to borrow from Oluf Larsen every week, receives a lavish 75 kroner advance for an upcoming book. Agnes comes home and finds a baby carriage in their hallway, bought and paid for by Herbert using his advance.
Agnes delivers a boy, while Vicki, widow of Arnesen, returns to Korsbæk as a traveling vaudeville actress and reconciles with her father, the Colonel. Via Oluf Larsen she meets Herbert Schmidt, who now lives with the Larsens. Hans Christian Varnæs learns that his mistress Ms. Jacobsen is pregnant from their affair. She wants an abortion, which he pays for in betrayal of his own morals. Mads Skjern also is in a pinch, when the corrupt municipal secretary Lund runs off with the town's treasury, leaving his helpless wife behind. It is revealed that Mads bribed him, and Mads is threatened with personal ruin. Mads decides to reward Ellen a horse for being a good student, simultaneously punishing the poor student Daniel, who had originally wished for a horse. Katrine Larsen foils Mads' plan by giving Daniel a horse of his own for "being a good and tender boy". While Daniel is happy, he had still desired to receive the gift from his father.
Herbert Schmidt and Lauritz "Red" Jensen embark for Spain to fight the fascists in the Spanish Civil War, but Red changes his mind en route, while Herbert continues on. Elisabeth relays an offer from Hans Christian Varnæs to Kristen Skjern of a position at a bank in Jutland, but Kristen see it as a plot to separate him from his brother, Mads, who is still being hammered by Skjold Hansen's investigations. Kristen and Elisabeth quarrel, and Kristen reveals Varnæs' affair and subsequent abortion arrangement, an official secret in town. The rift between Kristen and Elisabeth is irreparable, and in spite, Kristen marries the eager Iben Skjold Hansen. While Elisabeth is shattered, Iben's father now drops all efforts to destroy Mads, due to their new family ties. Ms. Jørgensen returns to Korsbæk under dubious pretenses and finds work as a housekeeper for the Varnæsses. The troubled Ms. Jørgensen becomes a menace in the household, and after insulting the Varnæs house guests, she is reprimanded by Maude; but an angry Ms. Jørgensen reveals Maude's husband's adultery and abortion, and later attempts suicide. Maude confronts her husband, who admits his guilt, and a changed Maude leaves with Elisabeth on a long journey to Switzerland, in order to make some sense of it all.
Season 3, 1980
- 13. "Et Nyt Liv: Efterår 1937 - Forår 1938"
Mads is back in business and expands on all fronts and moves his family to a large villa outside of Korsbæk. The Varnæs couple returns from a trip to Paris, envigourated and with Maude bringing back something extra. The Varnæs home is to house a party with people whom they've met in Paris much to Laura's regret. During the party, Jørgen Varnæs drops a bomb. He's suspended his licence to practice law to become an administrator for a large textile manufacturer, something Jørgen implies is a cushy job. Mads Skjern, however, changes this perception when he, with Katrine Larsen's aid, buys a major share in the same company. Elisabeth considers leaving Korsbæk for Copenhagen - but through Doctor Hansen's and Ingeborg Skjern's intervention, she's given the job as church organist by Mads Skjern, chairman of the parish council. Maude reveals her "Parisian" secret to Hans-Christian and is forced by the circumstances to tell the children, with Regitze responding in a particular malicious manner. Kristen, miserable in his marriage, sees an opportunity to patch things up with Elisabeth.
- 14. "Brikkerne: Vinter 1938 - Forår 1939"
Jørgen Varnæs feels Mads' hand when Jørgen has taken an early Christmas vacation and has traveled to Switzerland. Upon his return a month later, Mads de facto reduces Jørgen's salary by half. Jørgen seeks help from his brother who is unable to provide any relief. Hans-Christian bites the bullet and seeks out Mads to speak for Jørgen. When Daniel gets pneumonia, Mads holds Daniel's teacher, Mr. Andersen, responsible. But Andersen lands on his feet. Kristen and Iben's marriage becomes further strained and Mr. Schwann dies..
- 15. "At Tænke og Tro: Efterår 1939"
As Oluf Larsen is arranging pictures of assorted fascists in his outhouse, he's surprised by Herbert Schmidt, returned from Spain. He's reunited with Vicki, who'd become a teacher at the private school. World War II breaks out causing rationing of certain goods in Denmark. Agnes is to wait at Daniel's confirmation party, leaving Lauritz to look after the children - with the most serious consequences. Colonel Hackel is hospitalized with failing health. Upon learning of a change in the Danish army's command structure, he suffers a fatal stroke while in hospital. Lauritz' failure to look after the children causes a rift between Agnes and him. She starts a small business at home so she can look after the children. Daniel's confirmation is honoured by a visit from the pious Anna, older sister of Mads and Kristen. The visit causes several stirs and Mads reconsiders his religious views.
- 16. "Lauras Store Dag: Forår 1940"
Laura, having served the Varnæs family for 25 years, are going with Maude to Copenhagen to receive a medal for "loyal service". There, Maude, through a childhood friend meet a German who presents himself as a banker. Agnes, coming to see Laura get the medal, looks up Herbert Schmidt who's putting up a play called "The Boots" in Copenhagen. Herbert reveals to Agnes that he's going to Sweden immediately, and he tells her to say to Lauritz "now it begins". Coming back to Korsbæk, Elisabeth invites Laura to dinner at Postgaarden. The next day, Laura hears airplanes and wakes up the Varnæs couple twice - first to tell them that old Mrs. Møhge wants to visit her safety-deposit box because of the invading Germans - next to show them leaflets dropped by actual invading Germans. The same day, Laura resigns, much to Maude's dismay. The new mayor, a social democrat, plays the bourgeois families of Korsbæk off against each other at a town meeting to secure funding for a new sports and recreational park outside Korsbæk.
- 17. "De Voksnes Rækker: Sommer 1941 - Forår 1942"
Sofus Jensen, Korsbæk's beat policeman, seeks out Lauritz along with a police lieutenant early in the morning of June 22, 1941, the day Hitler declares war against the Soviet Union. The good natured officer feigns a story that Lauritz has already left the premises so as to give Lauritz a chance to escape. Lauritz seeks help from the Larsen family, and through Kathrine, Lauritz gets a lift to Copenhagen via a reluctant Mads. At the same time Ingeborg receives a letter from Holger, her divorced husband and biological father of Ellen. Events cause romancing Ulrik Varnæs and Ellen Skjern to end their relationship and Ulrik to disgrace his mother, Maude. A resistance group centered around Dr. Louis Hansen begins forming eventually recruiting an eager Kristen Skjern, rekindling his relationship with Elisabeth. Pig trader Oluf Larsen is shattered when his beloved 15-year-old fox terrier, Kvik, expires at the railway restaurant, and in a minor quarrel with the German Wehrmacht, now-99-year-old Mrs. Møhge also dies in the middle of the main street. Her daughter Misse inherits a large sum from her mother, causing the teacher Andersen, who's been thrown out by Mrs. Vinther, to seek out Misse Møhge.
- 18. "Hr. Stein: 1943"
Skjern's business is thriving despite the war - in part due to Daniel's help. The local resistance group launch sabotage missions, and the pictures of dictators in Larsen's outhouse has him thrown in jail, which puts the entire resistance-group in danger, causing Baron von Rüdtger to also get involved with the movement. Mr. Stein, Varnæs' trusted bank manager, falls victim to harassment due to his Jewish background, and later he must flee the bank as the Germans launch their endlösung hunt for the Danish Jews on October 1, 1943. During Ellen Skjern's wedding, the now fugitive Stein seeks out the Varnæs household, but as Hans Christian is being detained in Copenhagen, Maude must take matters into her own hands.
Season 4, 1981
- 19. "Handel og Vandel: Forår 1944"
Doctor Hansen seeks out Agnes Jensen and offers her to flee with her children to Sweden, where her husband Lauriz is. But her business is thriving, and she refuses. For business, Agnes seeks out Mads Skjern, who is impressed by her ingenuity. Mads agrees to a rare and lavish bet, when Agnes desires to buy her business' lodging house from Kathrine Larsen, which only Agnes believes that Kathrine can be talked into. Meanwhile, Mads is reluctant to do business with the Wehrmacht, while also warning his brother Kristen against his operations in the resistance. Kristen's marriage is a sham, and his wife Iben almost never sleeps at home. Skjold Hansen and his wife are being harassed by local children, due to Skjold Hansen's dealings with the Wehrmacht, which leads to a confrontation between Skjold Hansen and the father of the children, a bicycle store owner. Baron von Rydtger often visits Ingeborg Skjern, since his Nazi-hating wife of German descent has suffered a nervous breakdown. Daniel Skjern visits the family with a woman, which turns out to be an elder lady, Ms. Mose, who sees potential in Daniel as an haute couture designer; much to the dismay of Mads, who wants his son to focus on business. Misse Møhge wishes to marry the money-grubbing Andersen, but confides to the Varnæs brothers that they are to inherit her mother's lavish fortune, since this was Mrs. Fernando Møhge's original wish. Consul Holm, the chairman of Korsbæk Bank, dies and Skjold Hansen is eager for his position. He attempts to secure a deal with Varnæs by offering his own available position on the board to Varnæs' brother Jørgen in exchange for becoming the chairman. Varnæs refuses, in part because he has finally lost all faith in his brother.
- 20. "Den 11. Time: Januar - April 1945"
The war makes it increasingly difficult to secure heat even for the Varnæs family, who send their children to the public bath house. Misse Møhge wishes to arrange her financial plans with the Varnæs brothers before her wedding, but the brothers seek a delay because of the ongoing war. Misse and Andersen are married. Mads seeks to purchase a seaside farm house and estate, which he wishes to divide up and sell. He enters a shady tax-evading deal with both the house's owner and Jørgen Varnæs, who buys the farm on behalf of Mads, in exchange for a small unsolicited fee. Ms. Jørgensen moves in with Violet Vinter to save money, but she spends increasing time working for Agnes Jensen. The Skjerns are suddenly visited by a Danish-German Wehrmacht officer, forcing the resistance man Kristen to sneak out of through the back door and flee to Elisabeth Skjern's apartment for renewed identity papers, since he believes that the Germans are looking for him. However, the German officer is merely delivering a last gift and message from Ellen's biological father Holger, who has died in combat on the Eastern front. When the officer leaves, Mads decides that the package and letter should be burned. Iben Skjern seeks out Elisabeth to call off the alarm, but Kristen isn't there. Iben takes the opportunity to tell Elisabeth that she seeks to end her marriage with Kristen, and that Elisabeth can have him. The times are lawless, and waiter Boldt is assaulted by hoodlums and robbed of both cash box and his illegal ration stamps. Agnes Jensen seeks out Kathrine Larsen, trying to secure the purchase of her business' lodging house. Kathrine refuses, but changes her mind when Agnes tells her of the 200 kroner bet Agnes has made with Mads. Agnes thereby wins the bet, which greatly impresses Mads. Ulla Jacobsen and boyfriend Poul Kristensen wish to be engaged following the war, and Mads Skjern pledges to help find them an apartment. However, resistance man Poul is shot dead by the Germans following a weapons pick up that goes awry, causing Kristen Skjern and Doctor Hansen to go underground and Elisabeth to move in with the Varnæsses. Adolf Hitler dies in Germany and the Varnæsses celebrate, until Misse Møhge arrives to reveal that her husband Andersen is also dead. However, Misse is pleased that she is now a widow, just like her mother.
- 21. "Vi vil fred her til lands: Maj-Juni 1945"
The funeral dinner for Frederik Andersen is progress at the Varnæs house when the radio suddenly broadcasts the news that the Germans have surrendered in Denmark. Amidst general rejoicing, Dr. Hansen and Kristen Skjern reappear and pay a visit to the Varnæs house, where Kristen is reunited with Elisabeth Varnæs. Mads is very nervous about Ellen, since her father-in-law had lucrative business dealings with the Germans and has been arrested as a collaborator. Mads decides to find Ellen and bring her home. Oskar Andersen tells the Varnæs brothers that he believes that there are mysterious aspects to his uncle's death, and demands their help in investigating the matter. Lauritz returns to Korsbæk and angers the Agnes with his plan to move the family to Copenhagen, where the Party has offered him a position. The dog left behind by the departing Germans is adopted by Laura and is allowed to live downstairs at the Varnæs house. Arrested as a collaborator at the instigation of the bicycle repairman next door, Viggo Skjold Hansen suffers a small stroke. Misse Møhge visits Hans Christian and Maude and tells the truth about Frederick's death: she prevented his husbandly advances by locking him on the balcony of their house for six hours, which triggered the pneumonia that killed him. Daniel returns to Korsbæk with an English wing commander named Jim Donaldson. Ellen flirts with the man, and Daniel becomes jealous. Only Ingeborg seems to understand what is happening and reproaches Mads for his lack of awareness.
- 22. "Det går jo Godt: Vinter 1945-46"
Skjold Hansen has announced his retirement from the Korsbæk Bank Board. Bank President Jessen suggests that Jørgen Varnæs return to the board as Skjold Hansen's replacement, but he wishes to meet with him first. Hans Christian Varnæs organizes a dinner for them. There, Jessen confronts Jørgen with his suspicion that his wife, who is the sister of the seller, was defrauded of her share of the proceeds from the farm sale that Jørgen conducted as a front for Mads Skjern. Jessen demands an investigation, before he will nominate Jørgen for the vacant bank directorship. Jørgen seeks out Mads Skjern who advises him to keep quiet about what he knows. Kathrine Larsen receives a package from Herbert Schmidt, who has settled in Los Angeles. The package contains gifts of food, cigars and stockings, to be shared among Vicki, Agnes and Lauritz, and Katrine and Oluf Larsen. His short letter strangely lacks any special message for Vicki, which disappoints her. A plaque and portrait is hung in the District Bank in honor of the bank clerk and Resistance fighter, Poul Kristensen, who was shot by the Germans. After the ceremony, the new bank clerk Arne Schmidt invites Ulla Jacobsen to dinner at the Post House. That same day, a similar ceremony is held in the Korsbæk Bank for Mrs. Fernando Møhge who also died "confronting the Germans." Ms. Jørgensen and Violet Winter's relationship deteriorates further, and Jørgensen flees to Agnes Jensen's workroom, where she will spend the night. Agnes soon devises a plan by which she can help Miss. Jørgensen and her business. By renting the upstairs apartment to Jørgensen, who will then sublet the main room back to the business, she can by-pass regulations that restrict the conversion of residences for business use. Agnes asks Mads Skjern to put in a good word with the mayor, to allow the tenancy. Daniel Skjern has quit business school to work as an haute couture dress designer. This news enrages Mads, who is eventually calmed down by Ellen. Regitze Varnæs informs her family of her intention to work in Hamburg censoring mail for the occupying authorities. Ulrik Varnæs comes home with a waitress named Maja, who it turns out he has made pregnant. His father refuses to give him money for an abortion. On the same visit, Ulrik secretly meets with his old flame Ellen Skjern, who is herself unhappily married. Her husband Mogens Lamborg breaks his arm in a drunk-driving auto accident with the company car - while out carousing with Iben Skjern and her friend Jenny. In the final scene, Mads receives a letter awarding him a knighthood.
- 23. "Mellem Brødre: 1946"
Ulrik reveals to Ellen that he is to marry Maja, prompting Ellen to sever all relations. Misse, now a widow, reveals to the leading ladies of the town that she's attracting men - even the pious Provost Meyer, who she claims to have seen on her balcony. Chairman Jessen from Korsbæk Bank, unsatisfied with the business involving Jørgen, finds another candidate for the board position - the Mayor. Mads gets wind of this and arranges the Mayor's inclusion in Omegnsbanken's board, while accusing Kristen of professional negligence. The issue is settled when Jessen, to prevent Jørgen from getting the seat, convinces the now-passive Skjold-Hansen to stay. Meanwhile, pregnant Maja, now living in the Varnæs house, tries to adapt to a very different lifestyle and is by chance assisted by Agnes. Jørgen Varnæs embarrasses himself at the restaurant, but is "saved" by the timely appearance of Gitte Graa. This prompts Jørgen to try to call in all favors he feels are owed to him, estranging him from his family as well as being ousted by Mads. Elizabeth reveals her secret marriage to Kristen and moves in with him. The couple hosts a dinner for both families and reconciliation in the making. At a return dinner hosted by Hans Christian and Maude, Hans Christian and Dr. Hansen, both late for the dinner, arrive and inform the guests that they have just gotten Jørgen out of jail and had him committed to a hospital. Kristen mostly blames Mads for Jørgen's destruction; it's the final straw and he decides to sever business ties with Mads, quitting his job and moving with Elizabeth to Copenhagen and a new job. The confrontation leaves Mads very upset.
- 24. "New Look: 1947"
Mads comes home from a trip to USA bringing with him new business ideas. Calling on Daniel to help implement the ideas - despite Daniel not having completed his exams - Mads is yet again disappointed when Daniel declines, and opts to go to Paris and study fashion. Misse's predicament - attraction of the opposite sex - worsens and she finds herself in a situation where she accuses not only the head waiter at the Post House of "touching" her, but also directing the same accusation against the supposed arresting officer - Sofus - she has summoned. Mads recruits Agnes to replace Daniel. She reluctantly accepts, on the condition that she'll hand over her business to Mads in exchange of stock in Skjern's businesses. Dr. Hansen decides to fight the pollution of the nearby fjord which has him running the gauntlet as local politicians, union leaders, business owners and industry accuse him of "dirtying the nest," making him choose to leave the town entirely. Herbert Schmidt is showing his play in Belgium and calls on his old friends to come and visit him. All but Vicki decline and upon her return without Herbert, she reveals that "six years is a long time". Daniel, visiting from Paris brings along a friend, Francois. Discovering the nature of their relationship, Mads exiles Daniel and severs all ties. This prompts Ingeborg to leave Mads and seek out Daniel in Paris. Alone with Erik, Mads invites Agnes Jensen for supper. Disillusioned by the abandonment of his entire family, he turns to Agnes, and in a mental breakdown all but pronounces her as his successor in business. Meanwhile, Lauritz, having run for parliament, is disappointed when the communist party is halved, and Lauritz is without a seat and a job. Agnes realizes that he's broken, and attempts to invigorate him by offering him the typist-business she's been running. Lauritz - reluctant at first - accepts. Ingeborg returns from Paris, having realized that Daniel doesn't need her. Ingeborg consults her parents, and Katrine advises her to go back to Mads. Ingeborg seeks out Mads, under the impression that he's bedridden. However, on that same day, Mads has been pronounced Swedish Consul, something that has gotten him out of bed. Ingeborg then takes a walk with Baron von Rydtger. The two say how they have missed each other while she was in Paris. It is now clear they are more intimate than Mads knows. The Varnæs couple hosts a lavish dinner to celebrate their 25th anniversary, having invited along the Skjern Family. In his speech, Hans Christian even addresses the Skjern family, provoking Laura, the only one keeping up appearances, to return discreetly to the kitchen.
List of characters
Characters alphabetically:| Character | Episodes | No. | Actor |
| Ada | 21-23 | 3 | Lillian Tillegreen |
| Agnes Jensen | 1-10,12-24 | 23 | Kirsten Olesen |
| Agnete Hansen | 6,8,10,11,14 | 5 | Lene Brøndum |
| Albert Arnesen | 1,2,3,4,5 | 5 | Preben Mahrt |
| Aksel | ,, | 5 | Jan Neiiendam |
| Arnold Vinter | 1-6,8,10-12,14 | 11 | Esper Hagen |
| Baron Carl von Rydtger | 8,13,14,16-19,21-24 | 11 | Bent Rothe |
| Baroness Arendse von Rydtger | 3,8,10 | 3 | Birgitte Federspiel |
| Consul Holm | 3,4,6-8,10-12,15,18 | 10 | Karl Stegger |
| Consulness Holm | 2-8,10-13,15,16,18-24 | 20 | Else-Marie Juul Hansen |
| Daniel Andersen-Skjern/Skjern | ,,, | 14 | Kristian Steen Rem, Jacob Dalgård, Jim Erichsen, Niels Martin Carlsen |
| Doctor Hansen | 1,4-15,17-24 | 21 | Ove Sprogøe |
| Elisabeth Friis | 1-24 | 24 | Helle Virkner |
| Ellen Andersen-Skjern/Skjern | ,,, | 14 | Helle Nielsen, Nynne Ubbe, Christine Hermansen, Benedikte Dahl |
| Erik Skjern | ,,, | 6 | Kenneth Schmidt, Nikolaj Harris, Lari Hørsted, Jens Christian Milbrat |
| Ernst Nyborg | 8 | 1 | Morten Grunwald |
| Ester | 12-21,24 | 11 | Birgitte Bruun |
| Aunt Anna | 15 | 1 | Kirsten Rolffes |
| Frede "Fat" Hansen | 1-5,7-24 | 23 | Benny Hansen |
| Miss Hollenberg | 15-18 | 4 | Christiane Rohde |
| Gitte Graa | 4,6-8,23 | 5 | Susse Wold |
| Gudrun | 3-5,7-21,24 | 19 | Anne Jensen |
| Gustav Friis | 10,13,23,24 | 4 | Finn Storgaard |
| Hans Christian Varnæs | 1-14,16-24 | 23 | Holger Juul Hansen |
| Helle Varnæs | 19-22,24 | 5 | Ditte Maria Norup |
| Herbert Schmidt | 9-12,15-17 | 7 | Paul Hüttel |
| Holger Jørgensen | 6,9,17 | 3 | John Martinus |
| Mr. Schwann | 1-4,6-12 | 11 | Arthur Jensen |
| Iben Skjold Hansen | 10-23 | 14 | Ulla Henningsen |
| Ingeborg Andersen-Skjern/Skjern | 1-24 | 24 | Ghita Nørby |
| Inger Jørgensen | 1-6,12,14,15,19-24 | 15 | Vera Gebuhr |
| Jenny | 13,14,16-18,22,23 | 7 | Lane Lind |
| Jim Donaldson | 21 | 1 | Nicholas Farrell |
| Jørgen Varnæs | 1,3-8,10,13,14,16,18-23 | 17 | Bent Mejding |
| Kathrine Larsen | 1-4,6-13,15-20,22,24 | 20 | Lily Broberg |
| Knud | ,, | 5 | Martin Bak, Sebastian Sørensen, Sune Kristensen |
| Kristen Andersen-Skjern/Skjern | 4-24 | 21 | Jesper Langberg |
| Laura | 1-10,12-24 | 23 | Elin Reimer |
| Lauritz "Red" Jensen | 1-5,7-17,21-24 | 20 | Kurt Ravn |
| Mads Andersen-Skjern/Skjern | 1-24 | 24 | Jørgen Buckhøj |
| Maja Ebbesen/Varnæs | 22-24 | 3 | Rikke Wølck |
| Marie Hansen | 8,9,11,15,16,18-23 | 11 | Kirsten Hansen-Møller |
| Mason Jessen | 22,23 | 2 | Poul Reichhardt |
| Maude Varnæs | 1-24 | 24 | Malene Schwartz |
| Mayor Sejersen | 16 | 1 | Preben Harris |
| Minna Varnæs | 1,3,5 | 3 | Ellen Winther Lembourn |
| Miss Mikkelsen | 3,10,13-15,17 | 6 | Hanne Løye |
| Misse Møhge | 1-5,7-24 | 23 | Karin Nellemose |
| Mogens Lamborg | 17-23 | 7 | John Schelde |
| Mr. Stein | 1-9,12,13,15-18,21-24 | 19 | John Hahn-Petersen |
| Mr. Town council secretary Godtfred Lund | 7-11 | 5 | Hardy Rafn |
| Mrs. Fernando Møhge | 1-5,7-18 | 17 | Karen Berg |
| Mrs. Mason Jessen | 22,23 | 2 | Bodil Udsen |
| Mrs. Town council secretary Lilli Lund | 7,8,11,12 | 4 | Tove Maës |
| Musse Skjold Hansen | 7,8,10-13,15,16,18,19,21,23 | 12 | Birthe Backhausen |
| Colonel Hackel | 1,4-8,11-13,15 | 10 | Bjørn Watt-Boolsen |
| Oluf Larsen | 1-24 | 24 | Buster Larsen |
| Oscar Andersen | 20,21 | 2 | Nis Bank-Mikkelsen |
| Head teacher Andersen | 13-15,17-20 | 7 | Helge Kjærulff-Schmidt |
| Poul Kristensen | 13,15,17,20 | 4 | Christian Steffensen |
| Regitze Varnæs | ,, | 15 | Nicla Ursin, Elisabeth Danneskjold-Samsø, Camilla Hammerich |
| Sofus "Betjent" police officer | 16-19,21,22,24 | 7 | Esben Pedersen |
| Ulla Jacobsen | 7-15,17,20,22 | 12 | Karen Lise Mynster |
| Ulrik Varnæs | ,, | 17 | Søren Bruun, Henrik Mortensen, Jens Arentzen |
| Vicki Arnesen/Halli/Hackel | 1-6,11-16,18-24 | 19 | Sonja Oppenhagen |
| Viggo Skjold Hansen | 7-13,15,16,19,21-23 | 13 | Axel Strøbye |
| Violet Vinter | 3-12,14,15,17,19,20,22,24 | 17 | Lis Løwert |
| Waiter Boldt | 1-5,7-20,22-24 | 22 | Per Pallesen |
| Aage Holmdal | 1-4,6 | 5 | Joen Bille |
Important characters
The Skjern dynasty
- Mads -Skjern — Jørgen Buckhøj- Scion of the Skjern dynasty.
Personality: Industrious; almost ruthless businessman who does not "forgive and forget"; a stern and overbearing father who expects much of his son Daniel. As time goes by he becomes increasingly sterner to his son, as he slowly realizes that he will never be ready to take over the family business. Instead he favors his adoptive daughter Ellen, who is doing good in school, unlike Daniel. Because of this, she can get away with almost everything.
When he accidentally finds out about his sons homosexuality, he banishes him from his home. This action almost cost him his marriage to Ingeborg.
As his business grows, Mads, who's originally honest and well-meaning, is corrupted by his growing power and occasionally engages in questionable business practices. Despite his religious upbringing he eventually assimilates into a more moderate lifestyle. His political views are conservative, particularly concerning morals, as he is a firm opponent of abortion, then illegal in Denmark.
- Ingeborg -Skjern — Ghita Nørby -
Personality: Kind, loving, modern, intelligent; unlike Mads, she is far kinder to Daniel; still, she too turns a blind eye on Ellen's choices as she grows older.
- Kristen -Skjern — Jesper Langberg -
Personality: An honest man; unlike his brother, he is more willing to overlook class differences and has few social ambitions. He has an on-and-off relationship with Elisabeth Friis, sister-in-law of Hans Christian Varnæs, but after a particularly grim falling-out between them, he marries Iben Skjold-Hansen, which turned out disastrous and they divorce. In episode 23 he finally marries Elisabeth Friis.
- Daniel Skjern — Kristian Steen Rem; Jacob Dalgård, Jim Erichsen; Niels Martin Carlsen
- Ellen -Skjern — Helle Nielsen; Nynne Ubbe; Christine Hermansen; Benedikte Dahl
Ulrik Varnæs is deeply in love with her, but due to unfortunate circumstances their relationship never develop. Eventually she divorces her husband, rejects her father's offer to take over the business and goes off to study dentistry.
- Erik Skjern — Kenneth Schmidt; Nikolaj Harris; Lari Hørsted; Jens Christian Milbart
- Aunt Anna — Kirsten Rolffes - Mads' and Kristen's older sister. She arrives in Korsbæk to attend Daniel's conformation. She is a member of the Inner Mission, like Mads was. She heavily disapproves Mads's new lifestyle, and his choice of wife. This leads to a confrontation with Mads, where he banishes her from his house.
- Oluf Larsen — Buster Larsen - Father of Ingeborg. He is a pig's merchant and very good-natured. He helped finance Mads' business after Hans Christian Varnæs refused to lend him money, alongside the backing Mads got from relatives at home in Jutland. Oluf Larsen and his wife Katrine are certainly wealthy, perhaps richer than anyone else in town, yet they still belong to the "working class" and is looked down upon by the bourgeoisie. He is friends with Røde, Fede and waiter Bolt.
- Kathrine Larsen — Lily Broberg - She is Oluf's wife and is both kind and wise. She manages the majority of the money that Oluf brings home. She invests it in various lands and property, but is very distrustful towards investing in stocks. When Mads ask her to invest in his new bank she refuses but instead offers to give 10’000 kr. to him, his wife and each of his children.
The Varnæs dynasty
- Hans Christian Varnæs — Holger Juul Hansen - The director of Korsbæk Bank and husband of Maude Varnæs, and the father of three children, Ulrik, Regitze, and Helle. He is the elder brother of Jørgen Varnæs.
- Maude Varnæs — Malene Schwartz - The wife of Hans Christian Varnæs. Spoiled by her husband. She uses her time as hostess of visits from other high society persona in Korsbæk. It is hinted that she tricked Hans Christian Varnæs into marrying her by getting pregnant with their first child Ulrik. During the war, and especially while rescuing the Jewish banker Mr. Stein, who works in her husband's bank, from the Nazi Jew-hunt, her character changes into a brave woman of action that starts seeing people for who they are instead of through upper class eyes.
- Jørgen Varnæs — Bent Mejding Younger brother of Hans Christian Varnæs. He is a slick lawyer and would-be MP living in the fast lane. His wife leaves him when she learns about his affair with Gitte Graa and eventually his life takes a turn for the worse not least due to his alcoholism and utter inability to live within his means.
- Elisabeth Friis — Helle Virkner - Sister of Maude Varnæs -. Lives with Maude and Hans Christian and tends to their two children Ulrik and Regitze as well as looking after the house. Falls in love with Mads Skjern's brother Kristen when he arrives in Korsbæk. The relationship is broken due to the bad relationship between the Skjern and Varnæs families. During the war she enters the Danish resistance movement together with Doctor Louis Hansen and Kristen Skjern and through that re-enters the relationship with Kristen. Eventually marries Kristen and moves away from Korsbæk and their respective families.
- Ulrik Varnæs — Søren Bruun, Jens Arentzen - A spoiled child. In love with Ellen Skjern. Impregnates a servant girl while studying at the university and eventually marries her, much to his mother's regret. Is destined to take over the bank from his father.
- Regitze Varnæs — Camilla Hammerich A spoiled child that's well behaved in her younger years, and becomes an independent freedom-seeking woman. While in her tweens she all but rejects her mother due to being denied a puppy because of Maudes pregnancy with Helle. This creates a permanent rift between Regitze and her mother than never fully heals. Becomes rebellious and is said to be involved with a married man in Germany where she moves to work as a censor of German letters.
- Helle Varnæs — Ditte Maria Norup - A "late arrival" of Maude and Hans Christian Varnæs. Little is known of her fate. She becomes the primary reason for a permanent rift between Regitze Varnæs and her mother.
- Minna Varnæs — Ellen Winther Lembourn - Wife to Jørgen Varnes. Divorces him and destroys his political career, as her father is highly placed in the conservative party.
- Gustav Friis — Finn Storgaard - Elizabeth and Maudes younger brother. Infrequent occurrences in the series. He has political ambitions and takes an interest in Vicki Hackel.
Friends of Varnæs
- Doctor Hansen, MD — Ove Sprogøe - Doctor of medicine, moved to Korsbæk from Funen. Is, like Laura, a person that evolves only a little, and is also a de facto centre of the series. He attends all walks of life and is anything but a snob. Among the conservative upper class in town he is an odd figure because of his political sympathies for the Radikale Venstre. He is in love with Elizabeth Friis, which is made obvious later in the series, and once it is mentioned that he may have been divorced and has a child.
- Mrs. Fernando Møhge — Karen Berg - A 100-year-old lady that's the town original. Despite having no money she's counted among the leading citizens of Korsbæk. Is deaf, greedy and borderline senile.
- Misse Møhge — Karin Nellemose - The chaste, spinster daughter of Mrs. Fernando Møhge. Is tyrannized by her mother whom she pushes around town in a wheelchair, despite her mother's ability to walk. Eventually marries Teacher Andersen.
- Colonel Ditlev Hackel — Bjørn Watt-Boolsen Pompous, gruff army officer and garrison commandant i Korsbæk. He is rarely seen out of uniform. He belongs to local high society and is the father of Vicki Hackel.
- Consul Emmanuel Holm — Karl Stegger Background character. President of the board at Korsbæk Bank and, along with his wife, a frequent guest at the Varnæs family. Along with Skjold-Hansen he campaigns against Mads Skjern.
- Mrs. Consul Holm — Else Marie Juul Hansen - Wife of the Consul. Conservative to the bone.
- Master Jessen — Poul Reichhardt - Upper middle class eventual chairman of Korsbæk Banks board.
- Mrs. Jessen — Bodil Udsen - the very direct wife of Master Bricklayer Jessen. A horrible person who has it in for Jørgen Varnæs and provides, through her husband, Jørgens downfall.
Servants at Varnæs
- Laura Sørensen — Elin Reimer Faithful servant of the Varnæs family through many years. Laura is the de facto centre of the series, as all things somehow passes through her kitchen, the only real place where high and low both appear. She is also the only character that doesn't evolve throughout the series, insisting on maintaining a divide between the classes .
- Agnes Jensen — Kirsten Olesen Becomes the matriarch of "the third family". Originally she was a mere housemaid at the Varnæs house. She marries Røde and settles for a traditional family, but keeps working odd jobs. She eventually becomes an entrepreneur, starts her own business with great success. Towards the end of the series she starts working for Mads Skjern, and it's hinted at that she might one day take over that business, as Skjern's own children want nothing to do with it, and she has insisted on obtaining stocks in the company as part of her promotion.
- Miss Hollenberg — Christiane Rohde - A troublesome maid at Varnæs' house at some point during the war.
- Esther — Birgitte Bruun - A maid at the Varnæs' house. Finds employment at the Skjern's much to Laura's dismay.
- Mr. Stein — John Hahn-Petersen - Accountant in "Korsbæk Bank" and Hans Christian's right-hand man. Very competent yet subtle. He is Jewish and the catalyst of Maude's most significant development, as she is a vital factor in his escape to neutral Sweden during 1943's rescue of the Danish Jews. Much like Laura he doesn't evolve much throughout the series.
- Ulla Jacobsen — Karen-Lise Mynster - Trainee at Korsbæk Bank. Engages in an affair with Hans Christian that ends very unhappily.
Working class characters
- Frede "Fede" Hansen — Benny Hansen - A good-hearted painter. He's a corpulent man who is seen eating in almost every scene he's in. He is a friend of Røde and Oluf with whom he shares a table at the local restaurant. To his friends amusement it is revealed upon Mrs. Fernando Møhges death, that he is the bastard child of the late Fernando Møhge and thus half-brother to Misse Møhge.
- Marie Hansen — Kirsten Hansen-Møller - Neutral person who is a friend and eventual employee of Agnes Jensen.
- Lauritz "Røde" Jensen — Kurt Ravn Communist railroad worker and later husband to Agnes Jensen. He is often too preoccupied with political work and not spending time with his family. This lack of responsibility towards his family once nearly cost him his son's life, and his marriage. It was during Daniel Skjern's confirmation where Agnes served as a temporary maid that she relied upon him to look after the children. He failed at doing so as visitors from important party members kept him away from home, and in the meantime their oldest son fell in the nearby pond, almost drowning. Later, he is forced to flee to Sweden upon the German invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941.
- Waiter Boldt — Per Pallesen Background character who serves mostly as comic relief and an incurable gossip, which at times turns out to be decisive information for other characters' actions.
Characters in Damernes Magasin
- Albert Arnesen — Preben Mahrt - The owner of "Damernes Magasin", who is married to Vicki Hackel. Old money. He dies early on from a heart attack, but is widely reported to have killed himself with either a duelling gun or gas. The fate of Albert initiates the long-running feud between the Varnæs and Skjern families.
- Mr. Schwann — Arthur Jensen - He has worked his entire life at "Damernes Magasin" and is utterly incapable of adapting to any new situation. He is an extremely proxy snob, who ends up living at Mrs. Vinther's and working as a debt collector until his death. Even though it is never clearly stated in the series, he is a closeted homosexual as he never shows any interest in women and doesn't have a physical relationship with Violet Vinther.
- Miss Jørgensen — Vera Gebuhr - Employee at "Damernes Magasin". She is an old maid who is secretly in love with Albert Arnesen, but because she is of a lower class, never acted on her feelings. She despises Albert Arnesen's young wife, Vicki Hackel. She lives a meagre existence for some years, not adapting to any change until she finds a place as a housekeeper for Agnes Jensen.
- Arnold Vinther — Esper Hagen - Modern person who rebels against the society's norms, but not an anarchist. Early on, he changes workplace from "Damernes Magasin" to Mads Skjern's business, much to his mother's dismay. He is a symbol of the transition between old and new. He has high ambitions and is disappointed when Mads promotes him to manager of a minor subsidiary of his business, but learns to see it as an opportunity. He ends up settling nicely with his annoying longtime girlfriend as his wife and their son.
- Vicki Hackel — Sonja Oppenhagen - A young girl who married the much older businessman Albert Arnesen in order to escape from a strict home. She is a bit of a tease and rather a spoiled brat in the beginning. However, she is the character that evolves the most throughout the series. At the end of the series, it is suggested that she finds a romantic interest in Gustav Friis, Maude and Elizabeth's younger brother.
Characters relating to the Skjern family
- Gudrun — Anne Jensen - Maid and later employed as a saleswoman at Skjerns Magasin.
- Baron von Rydtger — Bent Rothe - Local nobility and a friend of the Skjern Family. He provides the Skjern family with backing both socially and financially. It is suggested that he has a mental, if not a physical relationship with Ingeborg, especially towards the end of the series.
- Baroness von Rydtger — Birgitte Federspiel - Wife of the Baron. Eventually goes mad. She is of noble German descent.
- Godtfred Lund — Hardy Rafn - Secretary to the city council. Has a burdened economy and illegally helps Mads get a building approvement for a factory through bribery and deceit.
Other important characters
- Gitte Graa — Susse Wold – An heiress to the Graa family fortune. She is a loose woman, who likes nothing better than to drink champagne every day, and party the night away. Although she is a wealthy member of the upper class, she primarily uses men to pay for her expensive lifestyle. Quoting Ernst Nyborg "She is like a carousel, bringing joy to all around her. No one should expect to get all the rides, this is Jørgen's problem." She is the ultimate object of Jørgen's fascination which leads to his ultimate ruin.
- Viggo Skjold-Hansen — Axel Strøbye - Uninhibited local lawyer who buys Jørgen Varnæs' stock in Korsbæk Bank and thus a seat on the board. He finds his way into local high society, where his direct hell-raising approach is met with disapproval - not least by the Varnæs family. During the war he engages in businesses with the German occupiers and makes a lot of money. Immediately after the war he is falsely accused of being an informant to the Germans. During the liberation of Denmark he suffers a stroke that changes his personality to the exact opposite. He is saved by the intervention of Elisabeth Friis and the doctor who carries a lot of weight within the resistance movement. He is married to Musse Skjold-Hansen.
- Musse Skjold-Hansen — Birthe Backhausen Wife of Viggo and source of Viggo's economic resources. She is Nouveau riche through her late father.
- Iben Skjold-Hansen — Ulla Henningsen Daughter of Viggo and Musse Skjold Hansen. Independent, restless young woman. Marries Kristen Skjern. Divorces him at the end of the war. She is hinted at being a lesbian.
- Herbert Schmidt — Paul Hüttel - German poet and refugee who arrives in Korsbæk. He lives with Lauritz and Agnes Jensen for some time before he escapes the German invasion. Vicki Hackel and he are dating for a while, and she remains in love with him for the entire series. He is close to Katrine and Oluf Larsen who takes him in when he can't stay with Agnes and Lauritz Jensen anymore. The character Herbert Schmidt may have been based on Berthold Brecht who actually did flee the Nazi regime and settled down in Denmark for some time.
- Violet Vinther — Lis Løwert - Dance instructor and widowed mother of Arnold Vinther. At first she keeps the company of Mr. Schwann and later Frederik Andersen for a while. She, like Laura, is a character that "connects the dots" and doesn't evolve throughout the series. Late in the series she develops a fondness for alcohol and loose relationship with businessmen.
- Ernst Nyborg — Morten Grunwald Artist who briefly visits Korsbæk. He was once Maude Varnæs' art teacher and attempts to seduce her and start an affair with her while he is in Korsbæk. The affair never occurs as he turns to Gitte Graa, but Maude's feelings were mutual and she acted on them. This experience provides her with a moral excuse for forgiving Hans Christian's affair with an employee.
- Teacher Frederik Andersen — Helge Kjærulff-Schmidt - An older, strict teacher and widower that is freeloading off the single women of Korsbæk and an absolutely unappealing character. He has it in for Mads Skjern's son Daniel. Eventually, he marries Misse Møhge for her money.
Minor characters
- Oscar Andersen — Nis Bank-Mikkelsen - Nephew to Frederik Andersen. Minor role.
- Olsen — Holger Perfort - Waiter at Postgaarden
- Miss Mikkelsen — Hanne Løye - Headmistress of the private school in Korsbæk.
- Lily Lund — Tove Maës - Distressed, helpless wife of Godtfred Lund.
Trivia
- Coined by series writer Paul Hammerich, the name of the town Korsbæk is a portmanteau of the two Danish towns Korsør and Holbæk. Series creator Lise Nørgaard based much of the provincial feel of Korsbæk on her experiences with the town of Skælskør.
- Even though Korsbæk was originally a fictional town, it has been built 1:1 in the Danish amusement park Dyrehavsbakken.
- Matador is also the name of the localized Danish version of the board game Monopoly. According to the series' creator, Lise Nørgaard, this board game served as inspiration for the title of the series. A group of characters play the board game in episode 11, which is set in 1936, the same year the boardgame Monopoly/Matador was introduced in Denmark.
- Matador was broadcast on Bosnian TV during the 1990s Yugoslav wars, allegedly because the theme of a war-struck Denmark related to the Bosnians' situation.
- Matador was shot entirely on 16mm film, as opposed to video. Prior to its release on DVD in 2001, all the master negatives and magnetic sound tapes had to undergo a thorough physical and digital restoration. Technicians spend months restoring the sound score, physically removing dust and dirt from the image negatives with the use of ultrasound, while digitally correcting light, color, contrast, a reddish tint, and holes and tears in the picture. In 2017 it was restored to 1080p High-definition television prior to the series' sixth rerun on Danish TV.
- Karin Nellemose was nearly a year older than her on-screen mother Karen Berg.
- When theater comes to town, the character "Fede" says he prefers more well-known actors like Arthur Jensen, a celebrated Danish actor since the 1930s, who plays Mr. Schwann in this series.
- On the show, Swedish costume designer Ulla-Britt Söderlund laboured to ensure an accurate representation of the period's many changes in fashion. A very respected costumier at Nordisk Film, she had previously won an Academy Award designing the costumes for Stanley Kubrick's film Barry Lyndon.
- In one episode, the character Mads Skjern is awarded the Order of the Dannebrog for his contributions to industry. In real life, series actress Elin Reimer was awarded this chivalric order in 1984, on the back of her portrayal of Laura, the faithful servant of the Varnæs family.