Recap / The Julekalender

Note: This is a recap of the Norwegian version. There are some minor differences between the three versions.

Episode 1

The narrator introduces the Nisses, who used to live peacefully in their caves. Then the "Nåsåere" - evil vampire-like creatures attacked. The Nisses were forced to flee as the Nåsåere destroyed every Nisse cave but one, which they never found. The narrator mentions that a farm was later built near the cave Oluf and Gertrud Sand currently live there with their dog. Gertrud asks Oluf where her big box of Christmas decorations is.

The old Nisse Gammelnok (literally, "old enough") is on the brink of death, as the music box that plays his life tune needs to be wound up. He gathers three of the remaining Nisses — Fritz, Hansi and Gynter — and tells them to go to the one Nisse cave the Nåsåere never found, where the key to wind up the music box is. He gives them The Big Book, an ancient tome that contains the answer to almost any question, and tells them to take great care that it does not fall into the hands of a Nåsåer. They are also warned that the Nåsåere have taken the appearance of normal humans, but there is something that makes them regain their original appearance — with fangs and thick-rimmed glasses. The three Nisses set off.

Their plane runs out of fuel and crash lands near the cave. This ruins the propeller (luckily, the rest of the thing is fine). Fritz yells at Gynter, believing he forgot to put fuel on the plane. Both Gynter and Hansi claim that this wasn't their job, and that they were asked to bring the toolbox. They have an argument. Then they use the map to try to find the cave.

Gertrud says she wants a food processor, but Oluf explains they can't afford one. Oluf then goes to answer the phone. The caller is someone who buys potatoes from him illegally. When Gertrud asks who it was, Oluf lies that it was just someone who called the wrong number.

The Nisses have some problems reading the map, but eventually find the cave. They decide to take it easy and look for the key the next day. They sing part of "It's hard to be a nissemand".

Oluf and Gertrud listen to the radio and complain about the the windy weather is terrible. The final shot of the episode shows a mysterious man approaching the farm.

Episode 2

The Nisses wake up at 8:00 p.m. and realise they've slept all day. They get up and start looking for the key to the music box, but get distracted when Hansi discovers an organ. Meanwhile, Gertrud is talking on the phone. Fritz finds the key on the desk and gives it to Hansi. The Nisses sing "It's hard to be a nissemand" (the whole thing). Then they decide to relax after the "long day". Meanwhile, Gertrud finally ends her phone call.

Again, the final shot of the episode shows a mysterious man approaching the farm.

Episode 3

The Nisses sit and think for a while. Gynter suggests straightening out the propeller, which Fritz tries in vain. Oluf plays a game of Solitaire, which he wins. Gertrud talks about Christmas decorations and the food processor she wants. The Nisses are still unable to straighten out the bent propeller, so they consult The Big Book. It instructs them to carve a new one. Oluf listens to the radio, and is informed that the weather will remain stormy. There is a shot of the mysterious man. The Nisses sing part of "It's hard to be a nissemand".

Again, the final shot of the episode shows a mysterious man approaching the farm.

Episode 4

Hansi returns to the cave after finding a log. Gynter starts carving a new propeller according to the instructions in The Big Book. Gertrud talks about Christmas recipes. Hansi finds a barrel of Christmas beer, so the Nisses enjoy some beer and sing "The Støvle Dance". Gertrud decorates their house for Christmas.

Again, the final shot of the episode shows a mysterious man approaching the farm. The narrator asks if we'll ever find out who he is.

Episode 5

The mysterious man knocks on the Sands' door. He introduces himself as a travelling salesman and tells the pretty unconvincing lie that his car randomly stopped when multiple bad things happened to it at once. Oluf lets him in and lets him have dinner with them. The Nisses sing part of "It's hard to be a nissemand". The "travelling salesman" tells the farmers that his name is Benny Jensen. Oluf then introduces himself, his wife and his dog to Benny. Benny asks them if he can stay the night, "only until tomorrow". They allow it.

Episode 6

The Nisses talk about an Uncle Fiffi, who is apparently a businessman who sold beer during the French Revolution and taught Hansi the song "Long Time ago in Bethlehem". Benny and Oluf have been looking for Benny's car, but it was nowhere to be found, so Benny claims that someone has stolen it. Oluf suggests calling the police, but Benny claims that the thieves are involved in organized crime, so he doesn't want to mess with them. He suggests that he can stay with them "only until tomorrow". They once again allow it. The Nisses sing "Long Time ago in Bethlehem".

Episode 7

Gynter complains that his knife has gone blunt. Fritz tells him to sharpen it, which he does. Shortly afterwards, he accidentally cuts himself while whittling, causing Fritz to yell at him. Oluf asks Benny about his occupation, and gets a not-so-convincing story. The Nisses sing "It's hard to be a snittermand". Benny asks the farmers if they have a basement, claiming that he's interested in architecture. They say that they don't. Benny once again decides to stay "only until tomorrow".

Episode 8

Hansi goes out to get some fuel for the plane. He brings a map so that he can find his way back to the cave. Benny asks the farmers if they know about any nearby cave, which they don't. He then asks about seeing weird footprints, which they haven't. He then outright asks them about elves, which they once again haven't seen. Hansi loses the map. The Nisses don't sing in this episode.

Episode 9

Gertrud tries standing under the mistletoe, but gets upset when no one kisses her. Benny tries to show Oluf a card trick. Hansi finally returns to the cave with a can of fuel, complaining that he couldn't find his way back to the cave. He admits that he lost the map. Oluf tells Benny that he has found a map, and lets him take a look at it. It turns out to be the Nisses' lost map, so Benny suddenly gets very interested in it. The Nisses sing part of "It's hard to be a nissemand". Benny takes the map, claiming that he's going to deliver it to a museum.

Episode 10

The Nisses consult The Big Book to find information on the Nåsåere. Notably, it's revealed that alcohol is what can force them to revert to their original appearance with fangs and glasses. Gertrud tries the mistletoe again, but both of the guys ignore her this time too. She complains that she hasn't got a food processor and that no one bothers to thank her for putting up all the Christmas decorations. Benny borrows Oluf's bike and says he's going to take it to a museum. In reality, he looks for the Nisse cave. Gynter sings "Snit a Little Bittle". Benny finds the entrance to the cave. Gynter says he thinks the propeller will be finished tomorrow.

Episode 11

Gynter proudly shows off his finished propeller. Unfortunately, as Hansi points out, it's too small — Gynter didn't take into account that the model in the book was drawn to scale. Gynter's mistake infuriates Fritz to the point where he decides to leave the whole julekalender. At the farm, Oluf and Gertrud wonder where Benny went. Oluf tries calling the hospital to make sure nothing had happened to him, but the call keeps getting transferred. Hansi goes out in the woods to find another log so that Gynter can carve a new propeller. Oluf finally gets a response from the hospital, which amounted to "we don't know". While Gynter is alone in the cave, Benny hits him in the head with a hammer, knocking him out. The Nisses don't sing in this episode.

Episode 12

Fritz returns to the cave and tries to apologize to Gynter for his behaviour from yesterday. Hansi returns with a log shortly afterwards. They notice that Gynter is unconscious. Hansi pours water in Gynter's face, which wakes him up. However, Gynter now believes he's a German tracking dog. As he now speaks German, Fritz and Hansi no longer understand him. Benny returns to the farm with The Big Book and tells some obvious lies to Oluf when he asks what it is. Fritz and Hansi attempt to communicate with Gynter by using a phrase book. It doesn't go very well. Gynter sings "Jäger-Lied". Benny asks if he can spend his "two-week holiday" at the farm, which Oluf agrees to. Hansi suggests looking in the book to find out what to do about Gynter, only to find out that the book is gone.

Episode 13

The Nisses discover that Benny's hat was accidentally left in the cave. Benny tests the black magic in the book, which sets fire to a Christmas decoration. Fritz and Hansi decide to see if Gynter can use the smell of the hat to track down the book thief. Oluf sells some potatoes illegally, and both makes a Suspiciously Specific Denial and tells Blatant Lies about it. The Nisses make it to the farm and see that the book is indeed there. Hansi sees Gertrud, and it's love at first sight.

Episode 14

Gertrud complains that Oluf still hasn't found the big box of Christmas decorations. Benny's black magic makes the coffee pot explode, which the farmers don't seem to find very unusual. Hansi accidentally hits Gynter in the head with a log, knocking him out. Benny continues practicing black magic. Hansi pours water in Gynter's face, which wakes him up, back to his usual self. Gynter decides to start carving the new propeller. The Nisses complain that they have to get the book back somehow. They sing part of "It's hard to be a nissemand". Benny turns on the radio, which reveals that his "tax terror" was succesful. He's so thrilled about it that he randomly goes to the bathroom to drink some mouthwash(?). The farmers point out that Benny is a bit weird.

Episode 15

The Nisses go to the farm to steal the book back. The farmers come home after vising someone and find a cake on the kitchen table. Benny says he bought it because it's his birthday. The farmers decide to celebrate. Oluf prepares a very alcoholic drink. Benny tries to refuse it by saying he's a teetotaller and has some unnamed condition that prevents him from drinking, but he gives in when Oluf pressures him to drink it. After getting drunk, Benny makes a terrible attempt to tell Oluf a That's What She Said joke. The Nisses reach the farm and look through the windows, but can't find the book. After Gertrud goes to bed, the two guys decide to keep drinking. The Nisses try to spy on the farmers, but Hansi tends to get distracted by the "potato woman". When Benny gets drunk enough, he gains fangs and glasses, revealing him to be a Nåsåer. Once the Nisses see this, they decide to retreat to their cave and try to come up with a plan.

Episode 16

Fritz comes up with a plan (which is just "go to the farm and steal the book back tomorrow"). The Nisses find some instruments to prepare to celebrate this, ahem, progress. At the farm, Benny is suffering from a bad hangover. Oluf isn't looking great either. Oluf notes that he thought Benny's appearance changed, but he and Gertrud blame it on his drunkenness. The Nisses sing "The Dæjlig News Blues". Gertrud reveals that she has given away "all of the old books" that just were just "collecting dust" anyway. Benny is infuriated and runs away once he realizes that this includes The Big Book.

Episode 17

Gertrud is very sorry about accidentally giving away Benny's book. Oluf tries to comfort her. The Nisses discuss their plan. Gertrud complains about not having a food processor, and Oluf once again tells her that they can't afford it. Hansi dreams about the "potato woman". The Nisses make it to the farm. Fritz and Hansi try to break into a window before discovering that Gynter is already inside. He mentions that the door was open. The other two follow him. Gynter tells the dog what has happened so far in the julekalender. Hansi and Fritz look for the book, but are unable to find it, and deduce that the Nåsåer has taken off and the book is gone. The Nisses don't sing in this episode.

Episode 18

It's not going well for the Nisses. The book is gone and (as far as they know) known to be in the hands of a Nåsåer. Gynter keeps making mistakes while carving. Benny, having found the book, returns to the farm and is still upset with Gertrud. Fritz has been thinking and thinking, but can't come up with a plan. Benny tries to impress the farmers by telling them some questionable "facts" about the origins of a certain word. At this point, Gynter is too depressed to work on the propeller. The other two Nisses are also pretty far down. They decide that Fritz should sing "The Blues" (after a discussion that makes it sound like they're contemplating suicide).

Episode 19

Benny uses a Voodoo Doll to torture Gynter, and then tries to tell the That's What She Said joke to Gertrud. He messes up and rambles a lot, but Gertrud still laughs and says she gets it (it's unclear if it's a case of Strange Minds Think Alike, or if she was just being polite). Gertrud asks Oluf what he wants for Christmas, and he wishes for a new pipe. Gertrud complains that he asks for that every year, so Oluf tries wishing for a pack of tobacco instead (and, later, some pipe cleaners).

Hansi, who has probably tried to spy on the "potato woman", returns to the cave and announces that the Nåsåer is back with the book. The Nisses plan to steal the book back. They look through the window and see a drunken Benny practising black magic. Gynter wants to beat up Benny, but Hansi and Fritz point out that they're just supposed to get the book back, and that Nisses don't use violence. Benny has too much to drink and passes out. The Nisses sneak in through the door (which wasn't locked this time either). Fritz and Gynter carefully take the book from Benny, while Hansi dreamingly looks at a picture of Gertrud.

Episode 20

Benny wakes up with a hangover. The farmers offer him coffee and painkillers, but he decides to have a drink himself. He transforms into his Nåsåer form, and the farmers don't really think about the change. Benny tries to remember what he did last night. Back in the Nisse cave, Gynter is happily carving now that he has the book back. The Nisses decide to lock the cave to make sure that the Nåsåer can't come back. The farmers tell Benny that they're leaving, and one of Gertrud's comments makes Benny realize that the book is gone. He angrily blames Gertrud for its disappearance, and then storms outside. Hansi is still dreaming of Gertrud. For the last time in the series, the Nisses sing part of "It's hard to be a nissemand". Benny reaches the Nisse cave, but can't open its door.

Episode 21

Benny unsuccessfully tries to blow up the door to the Nisse cave. The Nisses hear the bang, but don't worry about it because The Big Book says it's probably nothing. Gertrud writes a misspelled wish list in which she wishes for a food processor. Hans still dreams of Gertrud, and sings "Will She Mon Wait For Me". Benny, who was injured in the explosion, returns to the farm. He claims he was testing some fireworks. Gertrud gives him first aid, but he refuses to go to the doctor. Oluf faints after seeing Benny's blood.

Episode 22

Hansi sings a short, unnamed song about the "potato woman", annoying Fritz. The propeller is almost finished, so the Nisses consult The Big Book to find out how to attach it to the plane. Benny tries to leave the house, but Gertrud doesn't allow it because he's injured. In the Nisse cave, Fritz gives Hansi one order too much, which causes him to snap at Fritz. He sings "Knokkel Pukkel Man", chews the scenery and terrifies Gynter. Gertrud decides that Benny will stay for Christmas. Fritz finally decides to do one thing himself, but Hansi, apparently regretting his outburst, explains that he'll do it.

Episode 23

The Nisses sing "Thousands of Vendings". Gynter announces that the propeller is finished. Fritz awards him with a medal. Gertrud hangs up her misspelled, one-item wish list. The farmers listen to the radio. Gynter says he has to pee. The other two Nisses are annoyed, and Fritz tells him to go pee outside. Gertrud notices that Benny is gone. After a discussion about Christmas decorations, they find out that Oluf's rifle is also gone. While looking for it, Gertrud finally finds her big box of Christmas decorations. Benny finds Gynter peeing, and points the rifle at him.

Episode 24

Benny is in the cave and has the three Nisses at gunpoint. He introduces himself and asks for a beer. Gynter is defiant, Fritz tells Hansi to get Benny a beer, but does it himself when Hansi also refuses. Benny asks who he should shoot first. Fritz goes, "not me! Not me!". Gynter volunteers to be shot first, but Benny points the rifle at Fritz anyway. Benny reveals that the rifle wasn't even loaded, steals a book, mocks the Nisses and runs back to the farm. Luckily, Hansi points out that Benny accidentally stole the wrong book. They leave the cave in a hurry to get away before he returns to look for the real The Big Book. He doesn't notice until he's back at the farm. He then gets furious, which Gertrud and Oluf hardly seem to notice or care about — they're just happy that they're celebrating Christmas and have a guest. Benny storms out, and throws a tantrum when he sees the Nisses' plane leaving.

The Nisses return to Gammel Nok with the key. Nok doesn't react. Gynter thinks he's already dead, but Fritz decides that they should try to wind up the music box anyway. Nok still doesn't react. The Nisses blame each other for Nok's death: Fritz first blames Gynter for forgetting the fuel to the plane. Both Gynter and Hansi deny that this was their responsibility. Then Fritz yells at Gynter for taking too long to carve the propeller, even ripping off the medal he had recently awarded Gynter. He then calls out Hansi and his "potato woman". Hansi tells him not to bring her into that, and calls him out for spending most of the julekalender sitting on his butt, drinking and telling Hansi to do everything. Fritz claims he saved them from being killed by the Nåsåer, which Hansi doesn't buy. Hansi claims it was Fritz who forgot the fuel. Then Gynter hears the music box, and Nok finally wakes up.

At the farm, Oluf and Gertrud enjoy their Christmas celebration. Benny is stuck with them and is having a pretty miserable time. When he complains that he was so close to winning, it makes Oluf think he's gone mad, and Gertrud feels sorry for him. She then gives him a Christmas present from the family — a book about Nisses. He says he can't stand it, but they seem to think he likes it. Oluf gets the pipe he wanted from Gertrud. Gertrud gets the food processor she wanted from Oluf, and asks him how he knew she wanted one. Gertrud stands under the mistletoe, and Oluf finally agrees to kiss her. The shot stops as soon as their lips touch.

The Nisses sing "It's good to be a nissemand". Fritz takes out his phrase book, and the Nisses fondly remember some of the phrases they've said in the series. Nok wants to say his lines, but Fritz tells him it's too late because the julekalender is finished. He complains that he's a famous actor and didn't come there to lay in a bed for 24 episodes. His English is so bad that even Hansi notices that there's a problem. "It's good to be a nissemand" is played during the credits.