“It’s one part Fargo, a dash of Sopranos and a full serving of pure Scandinavian charm” Tod Hardin, Cultural Weekly

After Frank ‘The Fixer’ Tagliano (Steven Van Zandt) testifies against his Mafia boss in New York, he enters the Witness Protection Programme and makes an unusual demand: he wants to set up with a new life in the Norwegian town of Lillehammer after falling in love with the place whilst watching the ‘94 Winter Olympic Games. Frank knows he is a marked man and figures nobody will ever look for him there. However, vengeful gangsters are only a part of his problems and adjusting to the Scandinavian way of life is driving him crazy! Thrust into a brand new world, it is not long before Frank is back to his old ruthless ways and involved in shady dealings with the locals. Confronted with a colourful cast of characters totally unlike the New York variety, he soon finds out, the past always has a way of catching up with you.

Lead actor Steven Van Zandt is a member of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band. Production of the second season was delayed due to Van Zandt's schedule performing with Bruce Springsteen in the Wrecking Ball Tour. Van Zandt was replaced on the Australian leg of the tour by guitarist Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine) so that filming for Lilyhammer could proceed. In season 3 Van Zandt makes his directorial debut. The episode sees Bruce Springsteen playing Frank’s brother Giuseppe Tagliano. Van Zandt said it was an honour that Springsteen agreed to appear in the episode.