History: Vikings

[Robert Hawkshaw]

Just started watching this new series, its pretty good. It's no Game of Thrones or Rome, but its worth an hour a week.

Anyone else like it?

[Ringtail]

I got rid of cable a while back and was sad that I was going to miss this when I heard about it. I enjoyed Mankind and The Men Who Built America; History had been producing some pretty neat stuff as of late. I might have to pick up the DVDs to catch it when they are released (assuming they are reasonably priced).

[drkfathr1]

I'm enjoying it so far...naturally they can only do so much since it's on a regular cable channel, but it's still been good.

Viking women weren't playing around were they? Those were some rough gals! :)

[DM Torillan]

Definitely enjoying the show. Hope it stays with us a while.

[Andrew Turner]

Ringtail wrote:

I got rid of cable a while back and was sad that I was going to miss this when I heard about it. I enjoyed Mankind and The Men Who Built America; History had been producing some pretty neat stuff as of late. I might have to pick up the DVDs to catch it when they are released (assuming they are reasonably priced).

I'm enjoying the program.

I haven't had CATV for almost four years now--you can watch all these shows through iTunes, Amazon, Netflix, et al. No need to miss it, or pillage your wallet to keep an 80s industry alive.

[Ringtail]

Then I hope this hits Netflix soon; I am eager to catch it. Question; is the show a historical drama, a documentary, or an intermingling of the two in the style of the Men Who Built America?

[zylphryx]

Caught the first episode and was very impressed. As an FYI, episodes can be watched online here.

[Ringtail]

zylphryx wrote:

As an FYI, episodes can be watched online here.

Nifty. Thank you.

[Detect Magic]

I love it. Lagertha (Ragnar's wife) is a badass.

[Detect Magic]

Holy crap, they show 'em early on their website?! Awesome! Thanks, zylphryx. I've got something to look forward to later tonight!

[Grey Lensman]

Ringtail, the show is a historical drama.

[IceniQueen]

Viking woman were tough and DID know how to fight. Woman held power and rank in most places.

Love the show, love Lathgurtha

[Alex Martin]

I had thought it was going to be more narrative documentary style, so I have been mildly surprised by the drama approach. What most interests me so far is the way the Viking raiding and conquest isn't the inevitable or certain thing that history often portrays it to be.
It tries to give a more realistic (albeit dramatic)take on the rise of the Viking Age.

[Spanky the Leprechaun]

Season two's been pretty kick ass.

[Andrew Turner]

Alex Martin wrote:

I had thought it was going to be more narrative documentary style, so I have been mildly surprised by the drama approach. What most interests me so far is the way the Viking raiding and conquest isn't the inevitable or certain thing that history often portrays it to be.

It tries to give a more realistic (albeit dramatic)take on the rise of the Viking Age.

Last month's Smithsonian has a very cool article about this.

[Slaunyeh]

The North will rise again!

*waves axe around*

Ahem. Anyway. I never really could get into that show for some reason.

[Skeld]

This season (3) has been brutal. I also saw that History has opted for a season 4.

[Rynjin]

Just watched the first episode of this a couple of hours ago. Good stuff.

[Pan]

Its not bad but most of the characters are aholes and I dont mind watching them die.

[SmiloDan]

Finishing up season 1 on Hulu right now.

Were Viking barbers cursed by the gods?

Or were Viking barber customers cursed by the gods?

Discuss.

;-)

It's pretty good. Ragnar is a little too closed mouth with his plans sometimes, and I keep expecting that to burn him at some point.

[Cuchulainn]

Pan wrote:

Its not bad but most of the characters are aholes and I dont mind watching them die.

It's a weird show. It is like Game of Thrones Lite as far as the sex and violence goes, but it is even worse than game of Thrones with the vast swath of amoral, opportunistic protagonists. Of course, that may be historically accurate. After all, we're viewing it through the lenses of modern sensibilities.

[SmiloDan]

Essentially, Vikings are really bad farmers who go beat up and steal from their neighbors.

[Rosgakori]

I'm on a weird camp alone, since I prefer Vikings over Game of Thrones.

I love the setting. I'm a huge viking age-geek. Their gods, their culture, way they were both conquerors and merchant-travellers and their interesting society norms.

I really like the characters:

Spoiler:

Ragnar is such a magnificent bastard that even if he does something bad or horrible you can't help but cheer for him. Actor Travis Fimmel manages to walk that fine line of being kind of a a&+++*! and likable protagonist at the same time. Lagertha is such a goddess. She is a powerhouse, and every moment she is on the screen is awesome. Floki has developed as character nicely, from this crazy person living in the woods to more religious fundamentalist. From non-viking characters I really like that other magnificent bastard- King Ecbert of Essex. What a manipulator. I'm still not sure of his ultimate goals and what he really thinks of the northmen. One character that kinda went a nose dive to stupid pile was the Ragnar's current wife Aslaug. First she was this smart and quick-witted, down to earth princess but for some reason she became this dull nad spoiled queen. Not a fan. But then there was the priest Athelstan. What a character! He went from captive slave to be integrated to Viking culture to again "returning to fold" and then he dies a cruel death. It was really sad moment in the series to see him go.

One of the things I realized during season 2 was that I was really concerned for the people of Kattegat and main characters. That is something I have not been for GoT characters in a while. In GoT, evil wins. That's basically the plot. And everybody dies or becomes a$~$!~*s. In Vikings, the protagonist are not saints either, but they show genuine care for other people, not just their titles.

Spoiler:

Gyda's death and Ragnar's speech was so great and Travis again sells it completely. When Athelstan dies, Ragnar takes it very hard and that whole "let me bury him" trip and his sadness and what he is ready to do in order to see Athelstan again is heartwarming and sad at the same time.

Moments like that have been sorely gone from GoT.

So yeah, I love Vikings. Next season, there's going to be two Finnish actors in major roles, so I'm very excited about that.

[SmiloDan]

Oops! I should NOT have read those spoilers!

But you're right, GoT is really pessimistic about human nature. I'll probably still watch the show, but I'm leaning less and less towards reading the novels I haven't read yet.