Every season, the Drama After Dark team gathers ‘round the (currently virtual) conference room table to watch the latest and greatest in all things drama. This month, our colleagues at MASTERPIECE are bringing us Atlantic Crossing, a historical dramatization of the relationship between US President Franklin Roosevelt and Norwegian Crown Princess Martha set against the backdrop of WWII. I’m here to recap the show as it happens.
Last week, we watched as Norway pretty much fell to the invading Nazis, so it’s probably not a surprise that this episode is starting off… intensely. Florence the Ambassador, who for some reason didn’t evacuate with the rest of the group, approaches what appears to be the smoking ruins of a city. Meanwhile, in the woods, Olav and other survivors stumble around trying to establish who’s still standing. Olav finds a discarded armband that he seems to immediately recognize as belonging to his dad, and clearly fears the worst, but so far, so good: King Grandpa is still alive, if shaken.
Across the pond, FDR takes in a cheery news reel regarding the situation in Norway. The basic takeaway? Despite Scandinavia’s best attempts to remain neutral, neither the Axis nor the Allied powers were going to let them stay out of it. Denmark and Norway have been brutally invaded, in such a way that it’s pretty clear it was part of the German plan for quite some time.
FDR: Welp, so RIP Norway, I guess.
Advisor 1: Not so fast! Their army is way scrappier than you’d expect, and they’re stalling while they wait for England to, hopefully, save their butts.
FDR: And what about my pals, the royal family?
Advisor 1: Well, we don’t really know where they are, but they fled north. We *think* Martha and the kids might have made it into Sweden.
FDR: Well get Flo on the case! Find them!
Advisor 1: Sure, I’ll have her get right on that, I’m sure she’s got nothing else going on. For real though, that’s probably all we can do: the voters SUPER don’t want us to get involved in this war situation.
FDR: So your plan is to just hang out while Hitler takes over Europe? That’s the plan?
Advisor 1: Come on man, I agree, but if you try and do that you’re gonna lose the election.
Cool, cool, what a great reason for a policy decision that’ll impact literally the whole world! Anyway, back in Norway, Olav and the boys are working on their war plans. Unfortunately for them, the expected English backup army is a) not prepared for fighting in the Norwegian climate (apparently James Bond’s ski bunny persona is a LIE, or at least not representative of the greater British military) and b) made up solely of reserves, i.e. the B squad.
Olav: Look, I know I’m just a figurehead, but want my two øre?
Military Guy: By all means.
Olav: We may be smaller and poorer than the German army, but we are way better at moving around in this weather. What if we maximize our limited resources by letting units operate independently? Decentralized groups can really throw a wrench in the works, at least until the Allies can get their butts in gear.
Military Guy: I like the cut of your jib, kid.
Over in Sweden, Florence the Ambassador arrives at the hotel where Martha and the kids are currently hiding out.
Florence the Ambassador: Here’s the deal — the latest attack was definitely targeting your husband and King Grandpa, but they survived. Unfortunately there were a LOT of civilian casualties.
Martha: WTF? Who does that?
Florence the Ambassador: …
Martha: What? What aren’t you telling me?
Florence the Ambassador: We’re hearing chatter that they might bomb this hotel.
Martha: Ok first of all, no one knows we’re here, and also we’re in Sweden, which is neutral!
Florence the Ambassador: They have spies everywhere, dude, I don’t know what to tell you. Until recently we didn’t think they’d actually attack Norway or Denmark. You have to get outta here ASAP.
Martha, not one to take chances, listens to Flo, and gets Ragni to start packing their bags. Over in Norway, Olav finds out from Military Guy that a dude named Hambro just created a new job, which would basically be THE top military office in the country, other than King Grandpa.
Olav: Oh, well that could actually be good for us — you’re a top general, you’ll be perfect for that!
Military Guy: Well, we have a different plan in mind. See, our crown prince has experience AND political connections. If you’re into it, we want YOU (to be the chief of defense).
Olav, having a full Sally Field at the Academy Awards moment: Me? Yes, it would be an honor!
Military Guy: Great, we’ll tell the cabinet.
Olav is super excited, because he gets to be useful and contribute. Gotta say, Olav’s massive need to be liked and help out? A big mood. Hopefully this doesn’t bite him in the ass. In Sweden, Martha and the kids leave the hotel by car.
Kids: Wait, what about papa?
Martha: I told him where we’re headed, and that’s gonna have to be good enough. Anyway, it’ll be nice to see your other grandparents again, right?
Kids: Sure, whatever. I bet they won’t give us ice cream to stop us asking about the war like King Grandpa does.
In Stockholm, we get to meet these other grandparents, and before you assume they’re some kind of lame non-aristocrats, be aware that these Scandinavian royal families are all interconnected. In short, Martha’s mom was/is a Danish princess and her dad is a Swedish prince, so they’re doing just fine, thank you very much.
Princess Grandma: So you guys are ok though?
Martha: Uh… no? We’re all worried about Olav, and before you ask, no, I haven’t heard from him yet.
Princess Grandma: Ok, simmer down. I’m just worried about you!
Mother-daughter relationships, am I right ladies? Anyway, inside, the Swedish King (Martha’s uncle) has a chat with one of his ambassadors, who I realized after a few seconds is speaking German (uh-oh).
Ambassador Bad Guy: So you’ve got a political refugee here, huh?
Swedish King: Bro, that’s my niece, don’t be weird.
Ambassador Bad Guy: Come on, dude, we all know your niece is a big deal in international politics, weirdo.
Swedish King: Not right now she’s not.
Ambassador Bad Guy: Don’t make me have to question your loyalty… you wouldn’t want your soft family feelings to put your whole country in danger.
Swedish King: Are you threatening me right now?
Ambassador Bad Guy, threateningly: No. But as your friend, your niece is in trouble.
Back in Norway, Olav walks into the settlement where the Norwegian leadership is chilling, just bursting with excitement to tell his papa about the whole “I get to run the military” thing. But before he can talk to King Grandpa, an advisor butts in to say that since Olav’s been gone, King Grandpa has been refusing to eat, drink, or talk to anyone.
King Grandpa, making an entrance: So, what did Military Guy want to talk about?
Olav: Great news, they want to appoint a commander to lead the entire Norwegian army.
King Grandpa: Oh, that’s a great idea, and Military Guy is perfect for the job — it’s right there in his name!
Olav: So, fun fact: he wants me to do it. :)
King Grandpa: Uh huh, ok ok ok. I’m just gonna go somewhere else for no reason at all, bye.
So that’s a mixed bag! Over in Sweden, Martha has to make awkward small talk at a fun royal dinner party instead of doing what she probably really wants, which is to worry about her husband. Most of the guests are, to say the least, not big fans of Hitler, and they want to tell him where to stick it.
Swedish King: Enough of this. You guys need to pipe down, because we need to be super careful with how we handle this German situation. We are NOT getting involved in this war, no matter what.
Martha: So you think keeping the peace is more important than doing the right thing?
Swedish King: Sure do! If we don’t maintain our neutrality we’re doomed; haven’t you noticed what’s happening back in Norway literally right now?
Me, Martha, and everyone else at the party: 😒
Prince Grandpa: Well *I* am not neutral. Here’s a toast to King Grandpa, my daughter, and her family, and may they be able to return to a free Norway soon.
Swedish King: *uncomfortable*
Over in Norway, King Grandpa and Olav convene with the cabinet, where pretty much everyone agrees that not only will it be useful to have Olav in charge of the army, it will also be a good look, symbolically. King Grandpa, protective of his baby boy, still has a few tricks up his sleeve.
Cabinet member, after getting the high sign from King Grandpa: Well, let’s not forget that Olav has another important symbolic position: he’s the heir to the throne. The prince should be the prince.
King Grandpa, glaring at everyone: Well, let’s vote, while we’re all still alive.
In a surprise to no one except Olav, the motion fails, and he’s stuck on the sidelines. He’s a pretty chill guy, so he keeps it together in the meeting room, but I feel like King Grandpa is going to get an earful later. And indeed, later that day they assemble for some real talk by the light of the setting sun.
King Grandpa: Look, I get it! You want to strap on some skis and go to war. You’ll get to do stuff one day.
Olav: Dude, “one day” is today.
King Grandpa: What are you trying to prove?
Olav: You were democratically elected; I just inherited this role. I need to prove that I’m worthy, and guess what pal, now is the time. Our people are watching.
He’s not wrong, and King Grandpa has to sit with that. Over in Sweden, a magazine prints a positive story about the little monarchy that could (i.e. King Grandpa and Olav), and Swedish King? He’s not happy about it!
Swedish King: This is basically propaganda! We can’t be doing stuff like this, it’s gonna provoke Hitler.
Martha: Not sure why you’re yelling at me about this, do I look like a journalist to you?
Me: No, you’re far too well rested, and you have job security.
Martha: Well, I for one am glad that my husband and father-in-law are alive.
Swedish King: Yeah, yeah, me too.
Martha: And I’m also glad that you let us stay here.
Swedish King: Well keep it under wraps then! No one can know you’re here; the whole country is crawling with spies, and if Hitler finds out I’m keeping refugees here, we’re screwed.
Martha: Don’t worry, we’ll be out of your hair just as soon as the Allies liberate Norway, which I’m sure will be any day now.
A couple of months later, FDR gets an urgent update from one of his advisors. US Intelligence has intercepted a communique full of bad news. Over in Sweden, Hambro, that dude who’s a big deal in the Norwegian military, visits Martha to deliver probably the same news.
Martha: What’s happening, are Olav and King Grandpa ok?
Hambro: Oh, yeah, they’re fine for now. But, uh, the Allies are pulling out of Norway.
Martha: WHAT?
Hambro: We’re going to have to surrender.
Somebody better tell that to Olav, because I feel like he’s not going to be on board with this surrender plan. His general friend, Military Guy, sums up: the Allied withdrawal is a disaster; without their help, the Norwegian Army can’t even hold part of the country.
Olav: So what’s next?
Military Guy: Well, some of the cabinet is planning to hightail it to England.
Olav: I guess that’s fair; can’t really expect them to just stay and get killed.
Military Guy: What about King Grandpa, will he leave? It would be a conflict with our constitution. Look, I’ll respect him no matter what, but think carefully about the consequences of whatever you decide to do. Here’s my book report on the situation.
Olav, always a serious dude, takes the paperwork and heads back to the encampment for a think, followed by a chat with his papa.
King Grandpa: The ship is coming, and people are going to say I’m putting my safety in front of the people.
Olav: Here’s the thing though, what good will it do our people if you surrender? You’ll be locked up, you won’t be able to talk to them or help out at all.
King Grandpa: A king is a symbol.
Olav: A symbol of what? You want to be a pushover and surrender like your brother did in Denmark?
King Grandpa: Ugh, no.
Olav: Look at what Military Guy wrote: he wants us to surrender and make peace with the Germans. He thinks Norway as a nation will cease to exist if we jump ship.
King Grandpa: Yeah man, that’s what I’m worried about!
Olav: No way. I’ve seen Thor: Ragnarok, and much like Asgard, Norway isn’t a place, it’s a people. More importantly, the constitution says that you can still be king from abroad if you’re “in the field” — as long as we’re fighting against Germany, you’re good to go. No surrender! Norway keeps our status as a country! Loophole!
King Grandpa: But people will still feel like I abandoned them.
Olav: Well I have a plan for that too: I’ll stay.
King Grandpa: Yeah, what’s your plan for when the Germans capture you and say they’ll kill you if I don’t surrender? I don’t want to hold you back, but you’re more important than me. I’m old. You’re the future. I need you to be safe with me, so you’re ready to take over when the time comes. Also, like, let’s not forget about your wife and kids. They can meet us in London.
Over in Sweden, Martha gets the news from Ragni: a plane is coming to pick the family up and bring them all to London. The family packs up their suitcases, full of excitement. In Northern Norway, Olav and King Grandpa wait for the rest of the family as they prepare to board the boat to England. A car pulls up, and Olav can’t contain his excitement, which quickly turns to concern when instead of his wife, her fabulous hats, and their kids, a general hops out of the car.
Olav: Uh, you’re not my wife.
Military Guy: I just found out the air force won’t fly them here. They decided it wasn’t safe.
Olav: WTF. I guess I’m waiting here for them then; the plane will just have to take off.
Military Guy: It’s not gonna happen. And getting them here over land will take two days. You need to get on that boat now.
Olav: Thanks, I hate it. But ok. We need to arrange for the rest of the family to be sent directly to England from Sweden.
Back in Sweden, Martha gets the bad news. Like the boss she is, she handles it pretty gracefully, but YIKES. On the boat, a miserable Olav sits in his bunk thinking about his family, and how he’s missing his daughter’s birthday. King Grandpa won’t let him sulk; they’re still alive, after all. Though maybe not for long, because the Nazis are also not willing to let Olav sulk in peace. A ship nearby, crewed by 1500 sailors, has come under attack. It’s a ploy to get the boat carrying the Olav and King Grandpa to come help out, which they are under strict orders not to do.
Olav: That’s a lot of guys who are getting attacked though?
English Sea Captain: Look, I’m not allowed to go help, I have my orders.
Norwegian Military Guy: Even if we could, our small boat won’t be a match for the German boats and, in the immortal words of Admiral Ackbar, it’s a trap!
So the entire group just has to sit there and listen to the other ship go down. Back in Sweden, Martha has the kids say their prayers and puts them to bed. They’re pretty sanguine about the whole situation (fairly impressive, given that the oldest one only just turned 10) but big world events do indeed have a way of making one grow up too fast. In England, Olav and King Grandpa arrive and are greeted by English king George VI and his wife.
Queen Mum: Sorry about your family — hopefully they’re ok!
Olav: Yeah, I’m gonna get them here as soon as I can.
King’s Speech: TBH we were lucky to get you here.
Olav: Can’t we just fly them over?
King’s Speech: No, dude, it’s really dangerous — the German blockade is legit.
King Grandpa: Well thanks for taking us in, that was a horrible thing to hear!
Queen Mum: That’s what family is for!
And guys, she means that literally, because King Grandpa is King George VI’s uncle by marriage. Honestly, you’d think they’d all want to add some outside genes to the mix at this point, but that’s none of my business. Anyway, back in Sweden, Martha is getting equally bad news from her uncle, Swedish King. There really does not appear to be a safe way to get Martha and the kids to England.
Swedish King: Also there’s something else I want to talk to you about — want to go back to Norway?
Martha: The Norway that we JUST confirmed is being occupied by the Nazis?
Swedish King: Well, we’re hearing that now that the battles are over most people are going to go back to their normal lives! Same as in Denmark; they’re gonna negotiate it with the Germans.
Me: Seems fake, but ok.
Martha: King Grandpa is not gonna go for that negotiation.
Swedish King: I’m gonna be real with you: Norwegians think King Grandpa abandoned the country. It would be good optics if you and the kids went back.
Martha: What if I say no?
Swedish King: The Germans will disband the government and make a new one. And it’ll be the end of the monarchy — nay — Norway as a country.
And with that creepy pronouncement, which I’m sure isn’t at all motivated by the Swedish desire to remain neutral, Swedish King leaves Martha to stew. Even worse, it seems that she’s destined to stew in peace, because despite Olav’s efforts, he’s not able to get a phone call to the Swedish palace connected. Is it because everyone is too busy singing songs about how baller Swedish King is for his birthday? Who can say? At dinner, Swedish King starts going on about how he thinks the whole Norway problem is King Grandpa’s fault: if he’d just caved and agreed to make a deal with the proverbial (and let’s be real, pretty much literal) devil, i.e. Germany, everything would be fine! Even the BELGIAN king surrendered with his troops, after all! Martha patiently listens to this nonsense, though not without an epic amount of well-deserved side eye for her uncle.
Swedish King: Seriously, the only way to save Norway would be to install your very young son as the king, with you as the regent.
Swedish Prime Minister: Have you thought about that plan, Martha?
Martha: Oh, I’m thinking about it now.
Swedish Prime Minister: But there’s a deadline. Tomorrow!
Martha: I don’t know what the Germans think.
Swedish King: I can help with that!
And with that, this guy up and leaves dinner, dragging Martha and some high-ranking Swedes along with him.
Swedish Prime Minister: Hey let’s not mess up our situation here: we have to stay neutral.
Swedish King: Oh, I don’t think Hitler will mind if I just ask for this teensy favor.
Martha: I’m sorry, you’re on friendly terms with that monster?
Swedish King: Well why would I spend all this time trying to set up a diplomatic solution when I could just talk to the guy in charge?
Martha: I want to talk to Olav first.
Swedish King: No time! The monarchy, and your son’s future, is at stake! Also Hitler is pretty chill and he’ll think what we’re asking for is reasonable. I’ll just send him a little telegram — it’s my birthday, I can ask a friend for a present!
Me: RUN, GIRL.
Unfortunately, Martha isn’t really in a position to run. In England, King Grandpa starts yelling what we’ve all been thinking — Swedish King is a cowardly, backstabbing Nazi sympathizer, and we hate him!
Olav: Yikes, this can’t have been Martha’s idea.
King Grandpa: Oh, of course it wasn’t, but she doesn’t have a lot of options. I’m so pissed, someone write this down so we can send a message to Sweden: The plan to have a regency during German occupation goes against our constitution, and it will never EVER happen.
Olav: We need to get my family out of Sweden ASAP.
Nikolai: And we can’t bring them here.
Olav: Let’s send them to America — it’s a dangerous journey but they are definitely not safe where they are. If the Germans get Martha and the kids they’ll be hostages; the Nazis will use them to force King Grandpa to abdicate.
Nikolai: Ok, smart guy, how are you going to get them to the US?
Apparently, it’s to be neither planes, nor trains, nor automobiles: the plan is to send a boat to sneak the family out. The American advisors are not keen on this plan, but FDR, who secretly wants to be more involved in WWII, and as we recall from last episode, thinks Martha is neat, is super on board.
Advisor: Dude, we’ll have to sail through German occupied waters!
FDR: We can just ask Hitler! We’re neutral, he has no reason to argue… we just won’t tell him who’s on the boat!
Advisor: Yeah, and he’ll find out they’re on the boat; what then?
FDR: We’ll just say the passengers are Americans who want to go home. Great idea, let's do it! Paint a big honkin’ flag on the sides of the ship! Mission accomplished!
Advisor, flatly: Awesome. Great. Perfect.
In Sweden, things are ALSO “Awesome. Great. Perfect.” Martha’s parents are worried about her, and the fact that it’s seeming like she’s going to get sent back to Norway to be under the thumb of the Nazis. But things are about to get a lot more stressful, because Martha just got that angry note from King Grandpa, which includes a message that Martha should evacuate to America. She breaks it down with Florence the Ambassador: if she stays in Sweden, there will be political consequences. If she goes back to Norway, there will be political consequences. And now she’s supposed to add fleeing to the US into that mix?
Florence the Ambassador: Look, I know this sucks. But here’s another data point for you: the Germans asked the Swedes to give them free passage to Norway.
Martha: But they won’t say yes to that, it’s a breach of neutrality.
Florence the Ambassador: Yeah, and the cabinet refused, but your uncle threatened to abdicate if the cabinet wouldn’t play ball.
Martha: WTF? We’re not safe here!
Florence the Ambassador: Correct! You can’t trust your uncle.
Things just keep getting better: later on, one of Martha’s younger relatives passes her some cyanide capsules. She can use them in case the family is captured by the Nazis, so that she won’t have to see her children executed, or worse. So that’s super upsetting, but frankly this young fella is a real one and I appreciate him! Princess Grandma walks in before they can finish this very dark conversation, and Martha stuffs the container into her bra for safekeeping. Her mom also comes bearing gifts: a jewel encrusted crown that Martha can sell if things become dire. Gifts in hand, the family makes their way into Finland to catch the boat to the US. Florence the Ambassador is waiting for them, and accompanies them onto the boat.
Florence the Ambassador: Just FYI, there are a bunch of Norwegians around, so be cool: we don’t want anyone to know you’re on this boat.
Martha: I never figured if I had another Atlantic Crossing I’d be fleeing the country.
Me, and probably you: Hey, that’s the name of the show!
The group makes their way out to the ship, and despite their attempts to play it cool, a bunch of Norwegians immediately clock them. But instead of being hostile, they’re proud. They salute the family, and begin singing a patriotic song. Given that they’ve been spotted, Martha stands up, holding her son (who’s next in line after Olav) aloft, as the family prepares to bid farewell to Scandinavia, at least for a while. Will their journey go smoothly? And what’s going to happen to Martha’s non scum family who are left in Sweden? We’ll all just have to watch episode 3 to find out.
