Thursday Reviews: Vikings
This TV show should not work. The History Channel does not make scripted TV shows (a side-note, TV channels that change their focus but not their name offend me, MTV should be Exploitive Reality Show TV, not Music TV. But, I guess that ERSTV is less flashy than MTV). Vikings should not be this interesting. You should not be feeling this much sympathy for Vikings. But, it does work and it is very good.
The show follows the semi-historical Ragnar Lothbrok as he gains fame and power after leading some of the first raids on England. This is a show that is more Sopranos, than it is boring film strip. Imagine Game of Thrones, without as much magic and dragons, though more sex than one would expect from the History Channel.
It has a great cast. Gustaf Skarsgård, as the crazed Floki, and Donal Logue, as King Horik would be standouts, if it was not for Travis Fimmel, as Ragnar, and Katheryn Winnick, as his first wife, the shield-maiden Lagertha.
The plot flies along and dumps the data you need to understand the world gracefully. It does not shy away from the more gruesome parts of how they live or what they do. These are men and women who raid others for their livelihood and it is shown in graphic detail.
For those of you worried you can’t wait another year for the next season of Game of Thrones, catching up on Vikings might be a really good choice. It was just renewed for a third season, so there is a good amount to binge upon.
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