Five (+1) Reasons to Watch the History Channel's Vikings

I didn't exactly need a new show to be hooked on, but the History Channel gave me one anyways: Vikings, about Ragnar Lothbrok, a Viking warrior who wants to do what no Viking has done before and sail west for new lands to plunder. The second episode doesn't air until tomorrow (Sunday) at 10 pm EST, but the History Channel already has it, along with episode one, available for free on its website.

They're really, really good. You should watch them. Here are five reasons why, plus one bonus reason that will definitely convince you if the others don't.




1) It's a fantasy show without the fantasy. By which I mean it's taken the traditional trappings of an historical fantasy show—epic voyages, battles, unfamiliar (to the general audience) cultures, weird names—and replaced magic and dragons with historical things like boats and raids. So for fantasy nerds who also love history (and I know there are a lot of us out there), it's the best of both worlds.

Granted, the History Channel takes some creative license when it comes to historical accuracy. But it's more historically based than.. I dunno, Pawn Stars. Whatever they air these days. They stopped doing all those documentaries about Hitler, right?

2) As with Game of Thrones, there's a good mix of heavier stuff (Viking power struggles, the politics of boat-building—hey, it's more interesting than it sounds) and flashier things like sex 'n' violence. But Vikings doesn't hit the extremes as much as Game of Thrones, so if you like the gritty tone of the latter but find yourself getting weary of the sexposition and gratuitous (your mileage may vary) violence from time to time, Vikings might be right up your alley.

Sail away, sail away, sail away

3) It's a gorgeous show, and I don't just mean the actors. (Them, too.) Vikings isn't so extravagant as Game of Thrones or The Lord of the RIngs (forests! hills! snowy mountains! more hills! I kid, I kid, I love it.) when it comes to scenery porn; it's less exotic than the former and grittier than the latter. But damned if they don't take the browns, greens, blues, and grays of ancient Scandinavia and make them absolutely breathtaking.

4) The main characters are great—hubristic Viking warrior Ragnar Lothbrok (Travis Fimmel) is being set up for such a fall from grace, and it's going to be glorious—but I want to talk about the supporting cast here, because I always like the sidekicks better than the heroes.

His name's one letter away from Loki,
of course fans will love him.

There's Floki (Gustaf Skarsgård), the delightfully crazy eyeliner-sporting boatbuilder who goes off on wild-eyed tangets about trees and boats and fate. I see him as something of a Daryl Dixon—the guy's so weird and out-of-place that you can't help liking him, and then BOOM, fan favorite.

There's Athelstan (George Blagden), the monk-turned-slave who only pops up in episode two, so we don't know much about him yet other than he's been captured by Vikings and he's kind of adorable. I'm going to enjoy seeing his character dragged through the wringer. Not even sorry.

There's Jarl Earl Haraldson, the main antagonist, played by Gabriel Byrne. He's menacing and badass and there's something mysterious in his past. I can't wait to see what it is.

And, because she's a reason to watch Vikings all by herself:

Pictured: A more violent Eowyn

5) Lagertha (Katheryn Winnick). Shield maiden. Wife to Ragnar. Mother to his two children, including the Tintin-haired Bjorn. Professional badass. Some dudes attack her in episode one and she beats the crap out of them, because "You couldn't kill me if you tried for a hundred years." There's some similar badassery in episode two, and judging by the promo to the right there's bigger and better to come.

But it was this exchange with brother-in-law Rollo (Clive Standen) that cliched my love for her:

Rollo: Your mother was a famous shield maiden.
Lagertha: Was? *death glare*
Rollo: Is.

Yeah, that's right, Rollo. Step back. Don't mess with the shield maiden.

And a bonus reason, the coup de grâce: One of the Viking shields is a Pokéball.

Tell me your eyes didn't go straight to the Pokéball. No, please,
tell me, I need some solidarity here.

There are, however, some things about the show that I'm not quite sold on:

Rollo: Because every show needs a douchebag

1) The relationship between brothers Ragnar and Rollo. Ragnar's the golden boy, the man with the plan, the woman, the glory. Rollo's the black sheep who resents Ragnar's success, and everyone can see how awful and skeezy he is except for his brother. I feel like I've seen this dynamic about a hundred times before. It's pretty much Rick and Shane from The Walking Dead, but with Vikings. Or, to a certain extent, Marvel's Thor and Loki with Norse mortals as opposed to Norse gods. I hope Vikings does something new with it.

2) The character of Siggy (Jessalyn Gilsig), Earl Haraldson's wife, is like a watered-down Cersei Lannister without the presence of a Lena Headey. That said, she really hasn't had a chance to do anything yet. I have my reservations, but the jury's still out on this one.

Categories: Game of Thrones, history, The History Channel, TV, Vikings