No CGI, no glamour — just forest, savannah and two men finding joy in hunting, food and the absurdities of everyday life. For 16 seasons, Nak & Æd has entertained, provoked and inspired. The show reminds us that some experiences are best enjoyed with calm, respect and a crooked smile.
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Disclaimer: Apropos Magazine received access or a review copy. As always, we share our own impressions — unfiltered.
Six stars
After 16 seasons, 134 episodes and more than 200 hours in the field — from Danish forests to African savannahs — Nak & Æd says goodbye in the format we know and love. We have followed two men on the hunt, cooked everything from roe deer and pheasants to hippos and wild boar, and visited more than 26 countries across four continents. The number of animals that have been caught and prepared is almost impossible to count, and so is the number of times we have held our breath, laughed out loud or wondered what on earth they were up to.
The format is simple — almost childishly brilliant: “shoot or catch an animal, and cook it.” But that simplicity is also the show’s strength. There are no fancy effects, no overdramatization; just two men from different generations — Jørgen and Nikolaj — finding common ground in the hunting field and getting to know each other, for better and for worse. For us viewers, that means we get to share in the suspense, the small mistakes, the laughter and the quiet moments when nature simply is, without filters and without noise.
This is not a show for everyone. Nak & Æd is raw, direct and unfiltered, and at times it can feel provocative — especially in an age when everything is supposed to be politically correct. But for those who have followed along, it has been a rebellion against fast, soulless TV, where profit always sits at the top of the list. There are no ads for lives we can’t reach; no flashy tricks or overblown plots. It is authentic, and that is exactly what makes it so addictive and worth returning to.
Every episode has its own rhythm. From planning and scouting the terrain, to the tension when an animal appears in front of the camera, to the calm, almost meditative slowness of cooking over a fire or in a tent. The pace Nak & Æd masters is rare in today’s TV world, where everything has to move fast and ideally earn likes in under 10 seconds. Here, you can breathe, enjoy the landscape, laugh at the mishaps — and be impressed by both the challenges of the hunt and the result on the plate.
In recent seasons, we have seen Jørgen bow out — a milestone that marks the end of an era. The future of Nak & Æd is uncertain, and no one knows what comes next. But one thing is certain: it will never be the same. Jørgen’s dry humour, experience and respect for nature have been the heart of the show. Without him, the tone will change, and even if Nikolaj continues, it will always be with a glance back at what we have had the privilege to experience — and with a touch of longing in the voice when you remember Jørgen whispering something about “Karen Volff gingerbread” or his endless ability to make an animal look like a challenge worth meeting.
POLITICALLY INCORRECT
And then there are the politically incorrect moments. In a time when everything must be said and done the right way, it is strangely liberating to watch Jørgen blast a seagull in the middle of Horsens or shoot a hippo in Africa — always with a smile, but also with respect for the animals and their surroundings. It is the balance between raw realism and a respectful approach that makes Nak & Æd more than a hunting show. It is a study in patience, teamwork and attention to detail — and in some cases in creative improvisation, when you are standing by a fire with just a little too little cooking gear.
And then there is the food. Every episode is a reminder of how nature’s resources can be turned into something that both satisfies and delights. It is not Michelin, but it is food with soul — and sometimes with a little black smoke around the edges when something burns. We watch two men from different generations share experience, learn from each other and find joy in something that might seem simple to many, but which in Nak & Æd becomes an experience.
AN ERA IS OVER
For me, Nak & Æd is a show I return to. Not because I can’t remember what happens, but because the pace, the atmosphere and the interplay are absolutely perfect. It is a break from the endless stream of stress and shallow entertainment. It is calm, it is humour — and yes, sometimes it is a little absurd. But it is also honest and human, and that is exactly what we need on TV today.
So THANK YOU, Jørgen and Nikolaj. Thank you for the journey through forest, city and savannah. Thank you for the honesty, the laughter, the food and the quiet respect for nature. Thank you for reminding us that TV can be more than the hunt for clicks and ad revenue. Nak & Æd has been a journey, a breather and an experience — and even though it ends now, it will always have a place in television and in our own memories.
