Christopher Heyerdahl simply IS Swede in Hell On Wheels, and is one of those whose truly outstanding acting makes the series a favorite. His heritage shure makes it easier to get a true accent, and it shines through that both character and actor is Norwegian and not Swedish. Just brilliant. Also, Gundersen was a common Norwegian surname in the 1860's. Like he has states himself - I was blessed with a character face. Humble enough, he truly has been blessed with some acting abilities too?
I really love the Swede. Christopher Heyerdahl is doing an amazing job so far. To any who dont know, Chris used his own father's voice for the accent. After all he is Norwegian/Scottish. I hope that they dont get rid of him. At least keep him for a few seasonsXP
To clear things up here. He Is called the Swede. But he is Norwegian. He says so When he Introduce himself. And he is not swearing in Swedish, he is swearing in Norwegian. Like "Faen and Jævlig" which means "Fuck and Damn / Terrible". I am Norwegian so I know my own language ... And for the people who says he is Swedish Because there was no Norway back then. Here is a history lesson for you. The Union between Sweden and Norway was a union of the two separate and independent kingdoms of Norway and Sweden from 1814 to 1905, which was in personal union under a common monarch. The union is sometimes referred to as "Sweden-Norway," but this is misleading as it suggests a single unified statehood, like Denmark and Norway - which in 1660 was regarded as a single kingdom.
MrPvest This goes back so far it’d be like exposing America from Washington to Trump. It’s impossible. And unfortunately unless you’re from that part of the world or you study history as your major like me or study it for fun (like me - I’m a nerd in that regard and proud! 👍🏻, most people wouldn’t even know about the conflict between these two neighboring Nordic countries ever even happened and that is sad and tragic. There is a reason Thor hated being called The Swede. And it’s also clear that Christopher Hyerdahl did his homework in that area quite deeply and bc if that dedication to his craft he stole every last scene he was in. The Swede truly is one of my favorite characters ever, bc most actors don’t dig that deep. Imo he’s one of the most underrated and under appreciated characters to ever set foot on a set.
2:27 *Thor Gunderson implies that he ate fellow Union POWs. Considering how atrocious Andersonville was, it makes sense a monster like Thor Gunderson would come out of there.*
Andersonville was truly a vision of hell on earth. He wasn't even a monster when he went in. He just wanted to live simply and quietly with his numbers and his equations, not needing much else for company. He was made into what he was. You can't walk into a Hell you didn't deserve and emerge unscathed.
Is this the most underrated and under appreciated character ever? I believe he might be. Here’s very briefly why: After I watched this entire series, when I came to this intro of The Swede to us viewers the 2nd time I was even more impressed and appreciative of Christopher’s performance bc I knew him on such a deeper level. The layers he added to this amazing creation were astonishing. You simultaneously hated, loved, respected, feared, and felt sorry for the same character. That’s incredible! This was a scene where the two stared into each other’s souls and immediately saw a mortal enemy and a reflection of it’s opposite simultaneously. A true yin yang relationship between protagonist and antagonist! Brilliant writing, even better acting! One of the best characters ever and maybe the most underrated and under appreciated character to ever step foot on a set. The one and only Thor Gundersen - from Norway! 👏🏻 😢
@@coraggio93 I liked The Swede (or did I show my hand with the novel I wrote?). Different strokes...But I can see how he might get on some ppl’s nerves.
@@KinnereyB he gets on peoples nerves but that's kind of the point. he's supposed to be an unnerving character. i loved him too--most of the show's watchers do
easily the most interesting character in the series. he's a guy who through suffering has gone beyond good and evil and developed a madman's taste for chaos and death. disturbing cause we don't like to think people are capable of such evil but we all are
One thing I always liked about Christopher Heyerdahl's performance here is that, despite his character speaking with a heavy Norwegian accent, he still uses an informal Western vernacular. "Make them numbers add up." "You gonna hang." It's a subtle but really cool indicator of his humble origins as an immigrant. Rather than learning to speak a more "proper" type of English in a university setting, he probably picked up the language by interacting with everyday American commoners. Hence his more casual Western/Southwestern dialect.
This guy really impressed me. He came from a lot of directions. As an accountant, man, I don't think I'd want him to do my numbers. He's very Frankensteinian. Some scenes are indelible.
Actually a very believable character for someone who survived Andersonville. It was every bit as bad as thor describes it in the show. That kind of place could turn any man into an unrecognizable monster.
he says that he was finally able to "make them numbers add up" as he takes a bite, and gives a nice "mmmmmm" i think he is basically saying that he began to practice cannibalism. What do you think though? am I right? like for a yes.
You're all wrong. The implication that total anarchy ruled meant that he was essentially the camp assassin. He eliminated prisoners for favors/protection... The 1996 Andersonville Television film briefly touched on those types with the "raiders"
well, they call him "Swede" but he comes from Norway, so Heyerdahl doing an amazing job using his own father's voice for the Norwegian accent of the Swede. I hope to see him again in the new season, is a really great actor and the Swede is a lovely bastard =)
A bit of a spoiler but my favorite scene is when hes getting hanged his last words are "I am norwegian" and the subtitles immediately say swede choking. Even the subtitle people didn't like him.
@@montello33 I think a lot of it in the old days was morphine. They didn't know how much to give you when you had trauma. So a lot of people were hooked and not there fault. PTSD with a little drug addiction on the side. That must have been fun for the patient
SPOILERS!!!! - for anyone thats new to the series christopher heyerdahl is such an amazing actor - i could watch everything he is in excluding twilight (even he isn't enought to save that for me). Im so glad the swede didn't die. I hope hell on wheels gets renewed for a 4th season it deserves it.
Im a swede and when I first saw him appeared I could swear I was 100% sure he was a swedish born actor. I sure was suprised and kinda disapointed he wasn't. His accent sounds exacly like swedish :o
Indeed that is one of the jokes on the show. He is Norwegian, but to most people that departed for the U.S. at that time, didn't see much difference and started calling him a Swede and he just rolled with it :)
2:13 he is saying "jävligt.." which is a profanity word you can use to emphasize something, in this case it can be translated into "very" only he does not say anything after. But I think we can conclude from context he thinks about something "very fucking bad/horrible"
The Swede is such a great villain because he starts the series off as a good man. The protagonist was the villain in the early episodes and destroyed his life.
@Laqez Norway became independent in 1905, yes. That doesn't mean the Norwegians didn't exist before 1905. As a swede, however, I think the Swede's accent is more Swedish than Norwegian even though the actor is part Norwegian. Strange but completely believable either way.
I share your enthusiasm but if you'll allow me a tiny nitpick: Norwegian. The character Thor Gunderson is from Norway, Chris Heyerdahl's real life father is Norwegian and he himself is fluent. The difference doesn't sound too big to most, but it's definitely there. "I am Thor Gunderson. From Norway." Poor bastard that he is, one of the only characters that you like, you hate, you're frightened by and you feel absolutely terrible for all at once. Brilliant performance by Heyerdahl and the only reason I kept watching past season 3.
The budget for this entire series was 125 million or so for 5 seasons? This is one scene of one episode and it provides more entertainment and talent in the writing, acting and directing than all 3 Star Wars sequel movies that cost a combined total of 800 million+.
I met some very strange man in a bar on New Years eve, we were talking and he was trying to make me read his musings, which weren't very good. He then proclaimed "I am Norwegian." To which I replied "I thought you were "Swedish." He didn't like that at all.
Because he is mistaken for Swedish even though he is from Norway so everyone at Hell on Wheels calls him the Swede. Creepy but excellent bastard he is (the character I mean...no attack on the person) the show would definitely not be as good without him!!
one of the best characters ever, brilliantly done
This guy can be so silly, but yet so terrifying.....he's like a western Joker XD
That’s just swedes trust me
@@digitallfax He is norwegian
he would have been a good mr freeze in a batman movie
Hilarious Whole Way Through
@Henry VIII that’s exactly what a Swede would say.
Christopher Heyerdahl simply IS Swede in Hell On Wheels, and is one of those whose truly outstanding acting makes the series a favorite. His heritage shure makes it easier to get a true accent, and it shines through that both character and actor is Norwegian and not Swedish. Just brilliant. Also, Gundersen was a common Norwegian surname in the 1860's.
Like he has states himself - I was blessed with a character face. Humble enough, he truly has been blessed with some acting abilities too?
.Christopher Heyerdahl was born a poor black child.
One of the best villains of all time. In his prime in Season 1.
Yeah things got weird and annoying later on...
nahhh. his prime was when he was posing as the mormon leader and walks into Bohannon's trial as the judge and Bohannon is just like "shieeeeeet"
He became even more frightening later when he completely lost his moral compass.
@@GetIsekaid annoying? No not really. He became even more of a villian
@@chrisr3945 agree
Watching this after watching the 1996 TV-movie "Andersonville" gives a whole new debt to his character.
Thank god I found out how to get on American Netflix! Bastards are keeping this awesome show from the UK
Lol not in Norway
no idea
amerikaners halten alle den Fernseher für sich Il Valentino *****
God they really want to neuter you all over there. I don't mean that disrespectfully.
Ich herunterladen amerikanischen Fernsehen
I really love the Swede. Christopher Heyerdahl is doing an amazing job so far. To any who dont know, Chris used his own father's voice for the accent. After all he is Norwegian/Scottish. I hope that they dont get rid of him. At least keep him for a few seasonsXP
They kept him.
I am on round 4 of watching the series lol
@@chrisr3945 indeed. it was like a joker vs batman rivalry all throughout the series
As a swede I can hear his accent is more norweigan then swedish. Still awesome!
Agreed. More Norwegian. But very very good. Like someone who really tried to learn English at an adult age.
One of the most compelling villains ever in a series. Always fascinating.
To clear things up here. He Is called the Swede. But he is Norwegian. He says so When he Introduce himself. And he is not swearing in Swedish, he is swearing in Norwegian. Like "Faen and Jævlig" which means "Fuck and Damn / Terrible". I am Norwegian so I know my own language ... And for the people who says he is Swedish Because there was no Norway back then. Here is a history lesson for you. The Union between Sweden and Norway was a union of the two separate and independent kingdoms of Norway and Sweden from 1814 to 1905, which was in personal union under a common monarch. The union is sometimes referred to as "Sweden-Norway," but this is misleading as it suggests a single unified statehood, like Denmark and Norway - which in 1660 was regarded as a single kingdom.
Fan is a Swedish curseword aswell.
Yes. Fan. But not Faen. Two different ways to pronounce the words.
Han sier det jo selv da i serien. Han blir kalt for "the swede" men han er egentlig er norsk. Også er jo Christopher Heyerdahl halvt nork :P
MrPvest This goes back so far it’d be like exposing America from Washington to Trump. It’s impossible. And unfortunately unless you’re from that part of the world or you study history as your major like me or study it for fun (like me - I’m a nerd in that regard and proud! 👍🏻, most people wouldn’t even know about the conflict between these two neighboring Nordic countries ever even happened and that is sad and tragic. There is a reason Thor hated being called The Swede. And it’s also clear that Christopher Hyerdahl did his homework in that area quite deeply and bc if that dedication to his craft he stole every last scene he was in. The Swede truly is one of my favorite characters ever, bc most actors don’t dig that deep. Imo he’s one of the most underrated and under appreciated characters to ever set foot on a set.
Faen means damn, not fuck.
2:27 *Thor Gunderson implies that he ate fellow Union POWs. Considering how atrocious Andersonville was, it makes sense a monster like Thor Gunderson would come out of there.*
Andersonville was truly a vision of hell on earth. He wasn't even a monster when he went in. He just wanted to live simply and quietly with his numbers and his equations, not needing much else for company. He was made into what he was.
You can't walk into a Hell you didn't deserve and emerge unscathed.
Is this the most underrated and under appreciated character ever? I believe he might be. Here’s very briefly why:
After I watched this entire series, when I came to this intro of The Swede to us viewers the 2nd time I was even more impressed and appreciative of Christopher’s performance bc I knew him on such a deeper level. The layers he added to this amazing creation were astonishing. You simultaneously hated, loved, respected, feared, and felt sorry for the same character. That’s incredible!
This was a scene where the two stared into each other’s souls and immediately saw a mortal enemy and a reflection of it’s opposite simultaneously. A true yin yang relationship between protagonist and antagonist! Brilliant writing, even better acting! One of the best characters ever and maybe the most underrated and under appreciated character to ever step foot on a set. The one and only Thor Gundersen - from Norway! 👏🏻 😢
Ugh...great analysis, but I got tired of that guy fairly early on.
@@coraggio93 I liked The Swede (or did I show my hand with the novel I wrote?). Different strokes...But I can see how he might get on some ppl’s nerves.
@@KinnereyB he gets on peoples nerves but that's kind of the point. he's supposed to be an unnerving character. i loved him too--most of the show's watchers do
If anyone was wondering. At 2:14 he is saying "jævlig", which in this context translates to "terrible".
oskar356 Jævlig* Han er Norsk.
Man hör knappt vad han säger dock
@Ralph 🖕
@Ralph Det var ett fuck you finger
One of the best scenes I've seen on tv for a long time. Christopher Heyerdahl is amazing.
I love the swede, he's a sadistic fuck but he's so damn interesting, I can't help but like him.
easily the most interesting character in the series. he's a guy who through suffering has gone beyond good and evil and developed a madman's taste for chaos and death. disturbing cause we don't like to think people are capable of such evil but we all are
For the record, this is how you do a villain origin story. Short, sweet, and to the point.
"I`ll find you, Ezraaa!"
lol that was pretty good scene
Kasper Lehto "I always do..."
lol, he actually didint...
What a glorious bastard. More of an antihero than a villain. Episodes without him seem pointless
He is pretty much a villain
Crack was definitely smoked before this comment was posted.
Great actor ...plays his part perfectly !
hey this guy can act ,,,keep it runnin swede dont get killed now
This is one of the greatest rivalries I've ever seen and I bet you agree too
Best acting I've seen in a tv show in a long time.
Thanks for uploading this! I love The Swede, and this is one of my favorite scenes from the show so far.
I spoke norwegian with Heyerdahl at a Supernatural convention last year! He looks really scary, but man is he a sweetheart!
Hurdagurdaflurga
One thing I always liked about Christopher Heyerdahl's performance here is that, despite his character speaking with a heavy Norwegian accent, he still uses an informal Western vernacular.
"Make them numbers add up."
"You gonna hang."
It's a subtle but really cool indicator of his humble origins as an immigrant. Rather than learning to speak a more "proper" type of English in a university setting, he probably picked up the language by interacting with everyday American commoners. Hence his more casual Western/Southwestern dialect.
This guy really impressed me. He came from a lot of directions. As an accountant, man, I don't think I'd want him to do my numbers.
He's very Frankensteinian. Some scenes are indelible.
was so glad to see a Norwegian (he's actually norwegian and scottish) on an American TV show, concidering im Norwegian! :D
He’s definitely canadian lol.
What an actor damn legend
great acting!!
So creepy and bad a$$ like he's totally on my zombie apocalypse team.
My favorite part of the whole series is when the Irish dudes tar and feather him.
Really good job with the accent! Sounds like my father
Actually a very believable character for someone who survived Andersonville. It was every bit as bad as thor describes it in the show.
That kind of place could turn any man into an unrecognizable monster.
It’s honestly like he’s doing his own Max Von Sydow impression. Resulting in one hell of an antagonist!
His character in van hellsing is fucking savage
Both great actors..
he says that he was finally able to "make them numbers add up" as he takes a bite, and gives a nice "mmmmmm" i think he is basically saying that he began to practice cannibalism. What do you think though? am I right? like for a yes.
Mmmmno. He said he lost weight, probably was eating only the scraps he was given. He said mmmmm because he was appreciating his meal
@@pluckybellhop66 He did actually practice cannibalism. Or it was at least implied.
You're all wrong. The implication that total anarchy ruled meant that he was essentially the camp assassin. He eliminated prisoners for favors/protection... The 1996 Andersonville Television film briefly touched on those types with the "raiders"
The sheer brilliance of this scene can't be understated.
This guy is so amazing he makes eating sinister!
well, they call him "Swede" but he comes from Norway, so Heyerdahl doing an amazing job using his own father's voice for the Norwegian accent of the Swede. I hope to see him again in the new season, is a really great actor and the Swede is a lovely bastard =)
Finally a show that doesn't insert a german accent on a scandinavian character! Our accent doesn't sound like the german accent!
This dude, were he after me, would drive me into a bomb shelter.
love the accent 😁
Magnificent actor! Great series too.
The best psychopath character hed make you hate him then hed make you feel sorry for him over and over again!
BEST VILLAIN EVER!!
well I'm italian and I don't know how to distinguish norwegian and swedish accent but. . . he is a GREAT actor in any case!! ^^
A bit of a spoiler but my favorite scene is when hes getting hanged his last words are "I am norwegian" and the subtitles immediately say swede choking. Even the subtitle people didn't like him.
Whether it is called the old soldiers disease or what ever, it is still PTSD
Yep just a political correct renaming of such things.
@@montello33 I think a lot of it in the old days was morphine. They didn't know how much to give you when you had trauma. So a lot of people were hooked and not there fault. PTSD with a little drug addiction on the side. That must have been fun for the patient
Love Christopher Heyerdahl, very good actor!!
SPOILERS!!!! - for anyone thats new to the series
christopher heyerdahl is such an amazing actor - i could watch everything he is in excluding twilight (even he isn't enought to save that for me). Im so glad the swede didn't die. I hope hell on wheels gets renewed for a 4th season it deserves it.
This movie takes place in 1860's I believe. There WAS no Norway until 1905. Swede is an appropriate name for him.
3:11 He really pronounce the word fan like a native. Is the actor fluent in norwegian?
No but his dad is from Norway and he learned how to speak in the accent from him.
U didn't know at this point that here is the main villain of the show ;)
Seeing Christopher on peacemaker I was excited. Then.. They killed him Off in last episode. Man I love watching this guy act.
when you wake up to a guy eating your arm, you know your a heavy sleeper...
😅
This guys swedish-english accent is so authentic that I was surprised to see he was from Canada when i googled him
His father is Norwegian or actually from Norway, can’t recall. He’s related to Thor Heyerdahl.
Funny how similar they both seem!
The Swede has the look of Max von Sydow and the accent is very swedish (and even more norwegian).
Hey anybody else recognize him from from Are You Afraid Of The Dark?
Im a swede and when I first saw him appeared I could swear I was 100% sure he was a swedish born actor. I sure was suprised and kinda disapointed he wasn't.
His accent sounds exacly like swedish
:o
But his character is not swedish. He's Norwegian
Indeed that is one of the jokes on the show. He is Norwegian, but to most people that departed for the U.S. at that time, didn't see much difference and started calling him a Swede and he just rolled with it :)
Tobi The Viking Pretty much the same case yes :)
His accent is not Swedish.Strong Oslo accent
@@The91strecon All scandinavian accents in english sound alike. I am swedish and I can tell apart danish but swedish and norwegian can be hard.
The illest character in this whole thing..
2:13 he is saying "jävligt.." which is a profanity word you can use to emphasize something, in this case it can be translated into "very" only he does not say anything after. But I think we can conclude from context he thinks about something "very fucking bad/horrible"
The Swede is such a great villain because he starts the series off as a good man. The protagonist was the villain in the early episodes and destroyed his life.
@Laqez Norway became independent in 1905, yes. That doesn't mean the Norwegians didn't exist before 1905. As a swede, however, I think the Swede's accent is more Swedish than Norwegian even though the actor is part Norwegian. Strange but completely believable either way.
"Faen!" xD
Fantastic swedish accent! Flawless! Can hardly think he has born in Canada.
I share your enthusiasm but if you'll allow me a tiny nitpick: Norwegian. The character Thor Gunderson is from Norway, Chris Heyerdahl's real life father is Norwegian and he himself is fluent. The difference doesn't sound too big to most, but it's definitely there.
"I am Thor Gunderson. From Norway." Poor bastard that he is, one of the only characters that you like, you hate, you're frightened by and you feel absolutely terrible for all at once. Brilliant performance by Heyerdahl and the only reason I kept watching past season 3.
Best villain in TV history From 2000 and UP
I love him so much :( he didn't deserve to be traumatized like this, he was such a sweet guy before prison
The Swede is the most dark character ever !
Before we had Lalo Salamanca we go this man he's top tier evil next to Walt, and Gus.
I loved this scene. :)
What does Thor say in Norwegian after he is hit by Brigham Young??
Faen, in english it means damn it or fuck
Who is here after seeing him on Star Trek Discovery?!!!
5Mariner Fuck you.
Lost 114 lbs that still gets to me
I love to hate the Swede, a real character, like many in this show!
thanks for spoiling that
Oh, I agree with you. Look at him this season!? I wonder what he has up his sleeve....
"But... I am Norwegian..."
Who's here after watching PEACEMAKER?
This character reminds me of the judge from blood meridian
The budget for this entire series was 125 million or so for 5 seasons? This is one scene of one episode and it provides more entertainment and talent in the writing, acting and directing than all 3 Star Wars sequel movies that cost a combined total of 800 million+.
Makes you wonder what it would be like to meet a PTSD suffering, ex pow, ex cannibal in real life.
He's electric - dat acting.
not really, both norway and sweden are part of native scandanvia and hail from the same cultural background as such.
i love the swede
"Sverige? But I'm from Norway... I'm Norwegian."
He reminds so much of Max von Sydow, very similar voice too
I met some very strange man in a bar on New Years eve, we were talking and he was trying to make me read his musings, which weren't very good. He then proclaimed "I am Norwegian." To which I replied "I thought you were "Swedish." He didn't like that at all.
He kinda reminds me of Judge Holden from Blood Meridian
the Sweede is awesome, I hope he is still alive.
He ded boi.
A really creepy character
Good to see Michael Schumacher getting into acting after retiring from F1
Because he is mistaken for Swedish even though he is from Norway so everyone at Hell on Wheels calls him the Swede. Creepy but excellent bastard he is (the character I mean...no attack on the person) the show would definitely not be as good without him!!
In Norwegian and Swedish folklore the trolls are huge monsters who eat Christians.
The swede and the scruffy guy.
3:03 - the best "hm?" ever.
So badass! * shrugs *
Being a Norwegian myself I would not accepted the nickname of "The Swede".
We're different, really!