Égjultur

**Original release** | 3 September 2012 – present

***Égjultur*** (English: *Youth*) is a Velkanian teen drama web series about the daily life of teenagers at Naríthjábæk Academy, an upper secondary school in Naríthjábæk. Unlike other series, *Égjultur* airs various scenes from each weekly episode in real-time through the VTR website, and later compiles the clips into a weekly episode each Saturday. The series first aired on 3 September 2012.

Created by writer Elin María Júliúsdætr, the series follows a different main character each season. Each season additionally focuses on a various topic; topics have included dysfunctional families, mental health, substance abuse, sexuality, physical abuse, bullying, teenage pregnancy, religion, and forbidden love, amongst others. While casting the series, Elin María primarily auditions young actors who are students at the Naríthjábæk College of the Performing Arts or the Velkanian School of the Arts. All actors in the series have been actual teenagers while filming the show and simultaneously were students; filming was scheduled around the actors' educational priorities.

Since its inception, *Égjultur* has received widespread praise for its writing, plot lines, acting performances, and raw depiction of teenage life. In 2018, *Égjultur* was voted by viewers as the "Best Velkanian Television Series Ever", while critics have additionally ranked it as one of the best television series ever made in the Velkanian Isles. The show's success has sparked international adaptions in a number of countries; as of 2019, adaptations have been created in Forsland, Akraine, Eckland, Helvaria, Dartwall, Fargonia, Regia, Sumaria, and North Fasina.

## Background and development

The concept of *Égjultur* was first created in 2010, after the teenage children of writer Elin María Júliúsdætr expressed to her their dissatisfaction with modern teen shows, citing a lack of realism in both plot lines and characters. Now struck with an idea, Elin María began writing *Égjultur*, taking inspiration from her own teenage years in addition to stories told to her by her children, friends, and in interviews conducted with teenagers at her children's schools.

After writing the pilot episode, Elin María pitched the idea to several television networks in both the Velkanian Isles and Forsland, and ultimately a pilot episode was ordered by Velkanian Television and Radio, the largest television network in the Velkanian Isles. During production of the pilot, the network ordered an entire ten-episode first season. After witnessing the success that the show has had, Elin María has stated that she will continue creating seasons until "people no longer want them", adding that there are "hundreds of stories to be told", and that as the years go one new stories will continue to need an honest portrayal in the media.

While casting the show's main actors, Elin María holds auditions in the Naríthjábæk arts schools the Naríthjábæk College of the Performing Arts and the Velkanian School of the Arts. She requires that all actors be between the ages of 16 and 19 during their first season, in order to add to the realism of the show. Filming is always done around the schedules of the actors, in order for them to not give up on their education to film the show.

## Characters

*Main article: Characters of Égjultur.*

Each of the seasons focuses on a different student at Naríthjábæk Academy. While most of the show's take place within the same friend group, so that the cast is not entirely replaced every season, many characters come and go throughout the show, according to Elin María "as they would in real life".

* Season one focuses on the character of **Verónika Hreimursdætr** (Katrín Georgína Björnsdætr) as she adjusts to high school after moving to Naríthjábæk from Hersingborg in order to live with her father. After befriending classmate Nataníel Fólkisson, Verónika is introduced to his friend group and becomes truly immersed in the world of Velkanian upper secondary school. Verónika's season largely focuses on dysfunctional families, mental health, and isolation.
* Season two focuses on the character of **Nataníel Fólkisson** (Didrik Ólaf Kristfinnursson) as he begins his journey of coming out of the closet as gay. He soon becomes introduced to classmate Petúr Jóngeirsson, and they begin a romantic relationship. Nataníel's season largely focuses on sexuality, coming out, self-acceptance, and young love.
* Season three focuses on the character of **Martína Kristófersdætr** (Anna Hvönn Ingthórsdætr) as she deals with her parents' divorce and the subsequent deterioration of her family. She feels as if she's being forced to choose between her close bond with her father, and her hardworking mother who provides for her, and feels neglected amongst the chaos. Martína's season largely focuses on dysfunctional families, family dynamics, and mental health.
* Season four focuses on the character of **Ingibjörg Anna "Inga" Mjölnirsdætr** (Mjöll Bryntýrsdætr) as she struggles with depression, anxiety, and mental illness following the death of her grandmother. In the midst of this, Inga struggles with understanding who she is and what she wants. Inga's season largely focuses on death, loss, mental health, sexuality, and self-identity.
* Season five focuses on the character of **Samúel Jón Jónsson** (Magnús Vilbergursson) as he is informed of his girlfriend's pregnancy, and is forced to make a decision between his old friends and his new friends, whom he views as behind him academically. Samúel's season largely focuses on teenage pregnancy and sexuality, eternal friendships, growing apart, and the friendship between males.
* Season six focuses on the character of **Pála Pétursdætr** (Ástbjörg Gudbrandursdætr) as she struggles with balancing the demands of her final semester of upper secondary school, and deciding what she wants to do with her life. The season is subtitled "Tíminn", which remains an important theme throughout the season. Pála's season largely focuses on teenage stress, familial expectations, and saying goodbye.
* Season seven focuses on the character of **Alísa María Fridríkursdætr** (Jóhanna Rósalía Kolbjörnsdætr) as she attempts to reinvent herself in a new school, and struggles with an eating disorder. After the previous cast's graduation at the end of season six, season seven introduces an entirely new cast. Alísa's season largely focuses on self-image, eating disorders, and the idea of beauty.
* Season eight focuses on the character of **Thórhildur Elíasdætr** (Viktoría Jakobsdætr) as she struggles with alcohol addiction and an overindulgence in partying. With her addiction, Thórhildur's behavior turns increasingly antisocial and she begins devoting her time to her online boyfriend. Thórhildur's season largely focuses on addiction and destructive habits.
* Season nine focuses on the character of **Kumo Divawale** (Kristófer Issami) as he struggles with being in-between his Velkanian adopted culture and Bolinwarian native culture. His budding relationship with Evgenía Magnúsdætr is also a major plot line. Kumo's season largely focuses on immigration, assimilation, religion, interracial relationships, and an emphasis on tradition.
* Season ten focuses on the character of **Ingrid Kristín Ragnarsdætr** (Lína Kristína Skorrisdætr) as she struggles in an abusive relationship under the guise of perfection. Blinded by the love she has for her boyfriend Ísak Ívarsson, Ingrid Kristín has difficulties in admitting to herself she is being abused. Ingrid Kristín's season focuses on physical abuse, abusive relationships, and female empowerment.
* Season eleven focuses on the character of **Daníel Eiríksson** (Lárus Oskársson) as he must come to terms with the fact that his father is marrying a woman almost the same age as him. Being raised his entire life as an only child of a single father, Daníel begins to feel as if he is not the biggest priority in his father's life anymore, and struggles with that. Daníel's season focuses on blended families, isolation, and abandonment.
* Season twelve focuses on the characters of **Britta Steinmer** (Elsabet Storm) and **Ári Örnsson** (Sverre Nikolas Hjalmarsson) as they begin to contemplate the end of their relationship. Season twelve is the first and only season to feature two main characters. Britta and Ári's season largely focuses on infidelity, heartbreak, forbidden love, and saying goodbye.
* Season thirteen focuses on the character of **Elínóra Bjarkarsdætr** (Dísa María Karlsdætr) as she attempts to discover her true interests and develop a sense of individuality while beginning at a new school. After the previous cast's graduation at the end of season twelve, season thirteen introduces an entirely new cast. Elínóra's season largely focuses on individuality, self-expression, and being yourself.
* Season fourteen focuses on the character of **Björg "Björgvin Kristjánsson" Kristjánsdætr** (Hrafnhildur Anna Svanbjörnsdætr) as he attempts to begin officially transitioning from female to male. This season was subtitld as "Björg(vin)", as "Björg" is a feminine name which is Björgvin's birth name, while "Björgvin" is a masculine name that Björgvin adopts as his new name. While transitioning, Björgvin must also deal with unsupportive family members and unaccepting classmates. Björgvin's season largely focuses on gender identity, mental health, bullying, and familial rejection.

## Broadcast

*Égjultur* broadcasts as a hybrid of a traditional television series and a web series. Full episodes air weekly on Saturdays on VTR. Throughout the week, however, clips from the show are aired on VTR's website. The clips are aired in real-time, meaning that if Verónika is talking to Nataníel on Monday at 11:00, that scene would air on Monday at 11:00. These clips are edited together to create the full Saturday episodes. Fans are also able to follow characters on the social media platforms Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook; every character from the show has a completely usable profile that is frequently updated, in order to add to the realism of the show.

*Égjultur* aired its first weekly episode on 8 September 2012 on VTR; the final episode of season one later aired on 10 November 2012. Each season consists of ten episodes, which chronicles ten weeks in the lives of its characters. Two seasons are aired per year, each chronicling one of the semesters of the Velkanian school year. Since its debut, *Égjultur* has aired fourteen seasons.

### International

Initially, *Égjultur* was created purely for a Velkanian audience and there were no plans of expanding the series to international markets. During the airing of season two, clips from the series began to go viral on social media networks such as Instagram, Tumblr, and Twitter. This social media exposure led the series to gain a worldwide following. Following increasing demand from international fans, VTR began selling the rights to air subtitled versions of *Égjultur* in foreign markets.

#### Remakes

Due to the international success of *Égjultur*, VTR began selling the rights to create international adaptations foreign television networks in 2013. The first remake, *Jungare*, began airing in Forsland in 2015. There have since been eight further international remakes that have begun airing:  *Vlaźin*, *Poordraagu*, and *Jünkla* began airing in Akraine, Eckland, and Helvaria, respectively, in 2015, *Jünkla: Hammar* began airing in Dartwall in 2016, *June*, *Giuno*, and *Khataruli* began airing in Fargonia, Regia, and Sumaria, respectively, in 2017, and *Jünkla: Halina* began airing in North Fasina in 2018.