I’m hooked on the History Channel’s drama series, Vikings.
http://www.history.com/shows/vikings/about
Anyone else following it?
I liked it at first but lately am finding it hard to like any of the male characters. I know it’s about marauding Vikings but lack of morality even in personal relationships is wearing on me.
I am a big Ragnar fan and a closet shield maiden, but I agree with @vistajay that this season is a bit “meh”.
I also agree with vistajay and I will add that it has really become over the top violent.
No comment about the series, just kudos to the title of this thread 
8th century men were not exactly renowned for being PC and in touch with their feelings
The Maslow hierarchy of needs poster was sold out at the bookstore.
My dh and I are enjoying the show. I am really glad that I didn’t live back then!
I am hooked on it. I have watched every season. I don’t like how they stage the seasons, there is too much time between them. But after an episode or 2, I am “re” hooked. DW gave up on it this year for the reasons mentioned. And at times, it is gory for me. But I am appreciating more, the complexity of Ragnar’s character and relationships. His emotion when hearing about the settlement in Wessex, and how he handled that? And what about Flokie and what he did to Athelstan? I think there are going to be some very interesting plot twists coming.
Watching this series and other historical dramas always sparks my interest in researching the events portrayed.
The viking attack of the abbey at Lindisfarne, in 793 AD, was a documented event. And while it is not certain whether Ragnar Lothbrok was a historical or legendary figure, Ivar the Boneless, Bjorn Ironside, Sigurd snake-in-the-eye & Ubba are historical figures. So were King Aella of Northumbria, King Egbert of Wessex, and of course, Alfred the Great who became the first King of England. There is also historical documentation of the viking “blood eagle” execution-- grisly…
My all time fave historical drama was Rome. I was crushed that it wasn’t renewed after 2 seasons. It was a very, very costly production, and it showed.
I love this show. GMT, I find myself researching the characters and events too. I wonder what Ragnar is going to do about Floki killing Athelstan. So many characters are being killed off this season. At least we know Rollo will be hanging around for a while.
The Viking raid on Paris is an actual documented event as well. So, while the producers are taking much dramatic license with the time line of events (the attack at Lindisfarne and the sacking of Paris are some 50 years apart) among other interactions, to tell a story; I believe the way of life and the tribal hierarchy are trying to be accurately portrayed.
Just about the darkest part of the dark ages. By the time the Magna Carta was signed these events were ancient history specially at the fringes of “civilization.” I liked Athelstan a lot. I wonder who will be the new narrator.
good question. I’m gonna say Ragnar himself narrates going forward.
Wed night I start a 3 week - 1 evening per week adult learning course at our state flagship on the Vikings. It will be interesting to hear if they discuss the television series. I am hoping there will be a poster of Ragnar hanging on the wall so I can look at the eye candy if I get bored.
I finished the first 2 seasons last week. I wanted to watch the 3rd one but Amazon wants me to pay for this one.
I wish the gruesome scenes about offering to the Gods and blood eagle were shorter.
I like this one more than other historical series Rome, Henry 8,… because it has less bestial sex scenes.
Is it true that women were treated better by the Vikings than other western cultures during that time?
Watching on Amazon Prime. Spoiler alert: Ragnar is baptized by the French priest so he can see his dear friend Athelstan again in the afterlife. This won’t go down well in Kattegat.
I love how the great unifying English king Alfred is set up to be Athelstan’s son. Of course.
I know this show is just really cheesy but I enjoy it. It’s in my current top three (Justified, The Americans, Vikings, in that order).
We just watched the last episode of Justified this morning.
Still haven’t started watching this season of Vikings though.
I’m watching the 2nd season of Broadchurch.
I didn’t think Ragnar/oops Raylan was that believable when he was talking to Boyd in jail.
Seems like he would have been more solemn rather than amused when relaying the Ava updates.
But otherwise it was satisfying and Im waiting for a Rachel spinoff, like The Closer spun off to Major Crimes.
At the very least I want to see a show that Wynn Duffy gives dog grooming tips.
Wynn Duffy. Best minor character ever:) Sorry to divert this thread OT. Wynn needs his own show like Saul Goodman from Breaking Bad.
Back to Vikings: Athelstan’s conversion scene parallels another Saul’s on the road to Damascus (struck down by a ray of light). Nice literate scriptwriting there. Floki, Athelstan’s nemesis, is enclosed in a cage of blood and fire during the siege of Paris. The Norse gods are gods of blood and fire, not light and water. Very nice symbolic juxtaposition. The scriptwriters of Vikings are upping their game.
The TV series inspired H and I to take a mini university course on the Vikings. It ended up being more about Viking folklore and eddas. I found it fascinating. I am about to order a book called “The Far Traveler: Voyages of a Viiking Woman” by Nancy Marie Brown. The professor said it was a good read and that the main character Gudrid was a very inspirational woman. Google her, but in a nutshell she traveled with Leif Eriksson to America and after returning to Greenland/Iceland she journeyed to Rome.
Emerald - Did you watch Gracepoint? If so, which do you like better… Broadchurch or Gracepoint?