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Anyone Here Watching "The Vikings" on History Channel?

Phog Allen

Phog Allen

Good afternoon. So, is anyone following this new series? I do not subscribe to cable or satellite anymore and have to rely on internet streaming for programming. History.com has the first two episodes up on their website for free viewing. I haven't any idea if follow up episodes will be free to view. I certainly hope so because the series looks promising.

The cast looks great and there are enough acting chops to keep this from being another fantasy/sword and sorcery lightweight. Gabriel Byrne as the paranoid Jarl(Earl to us English speakers. At least I think so) Haraldson is going to be superb. The man playing Ragnar is unknown to me but he really carries a presence as the show's lead. His menacing brother is a good character as well. The zany boat builder Floki is a nice comic/manic touch. Of course there are a couple of gorgeous Viking women as well there should be.:biggrin1: Another nice touch is the addition of Vladimir Kulich in a supporting role as one of the Vikings who sets out with Ragnar to plunder toward the west. You may remember him as the stoic leader of the Norsemen of 13th Warrior. He is a real presence on the screen and I recognised him immediately even with a half foot long beard on his gob. I hope he has more than a bit part.

Visually the series is quite nice. Avoiding the constantly overcast look of most programmes about the middle ages. It has some of those moments but is not completely dominated by it. And thankfully they have so far avoided the stereotypes of knuckle dragging Norsemen incapable of comprehending how to properly tie their shoes leggings. We shall see how it pans out but so far it looks promising.

Cheers, Todd
 
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Hunter

Hunter

I watched the first episode, I liked it... I will keep watching so long as they don't end up jumping the shark.
 
oc_in_fw

oc_in_fw

Fridays are Fishtastic!
I havent seen it, but mentioning the Vladimir guy reminds me I need to re-watch the 13th Warrior.
 
Hunter

Hunter

The one thing I really like about it is that after years of Game of Thrones and Spartacus, this is a show that is really really grounded... apart from Ragnor seeing Odin and Valkyries.
 
ButtermilkJones

ButtermilkJones

I managed to catch the first episode, and so far I like it. I'm a big fan of the HBO series Rome, and to me it has the same feel. I hope that once they do set sail, it won't just focus on the voyage and will actually show the impact that it has back home.
 
J. Roger

J. Roger

Phog Allen said:
The man playing Ragnar is unknown to me but he really carries a presence as the show's lead.
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I've watched since the beginning, and at first too believed he had a lot of presence.

Now, I think the guy uses Botox cause his face is always frozen in the same expression.

Reminds me of Vin Diesel, OK for an action movie, but doesn't convey enough emotion for anything else.
 
Hunter

Hunter

So far I'm enjoying it, it has picked up steam after the very slow first episode. I will be interested to see how it ends and if History carries on with (proper) scripted shows or just stick with the usual "reality" tv they have given us over the years.
 
Hunter

Hunter

Lesmore said:
Don't think the cast members look too Vikiningish...especially those with modern hair dos.
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If I remember correctly they actually have rather authentic hair styles with the sides shaved and the hair longer and braided on the top. But I'm trying to remember after a few years of not researching them and a bit of a foggy brain from a busy day of work. I also studied more English history than Norse so again I could be wrong...
 
L

Lesmore

Hunter said:
If I remember correctly they actually have rather authentic hair styles with the sides shaved and the hair longer and braided on the top. But I'm trying to remember after a few years of not researching them and a bit of a foggy brain from a busy day of work. I also studied more English history than Norse so again I could be wrong...
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I don't know how they would know what hair styles were authentic ....given they go back many centuries without much in the way of pictures....if any. Authentic style clothes I can understand...there is some that I'm sure that has remained preserved in some way. I would think the closest they could come to actually determining exact hair styles would at best be subjective conjecture.
 
Hunter

Hunter

Lesmore said:
I don't know how they would know what hair styles were authentic ....given they go back many centuries without much in the way of pictures....if any. Authentic style clothes I can understand...there is some that I'm sure that has remained preserved in some way. I would think the closest they could come to actually determining exact hair styles would at best be subjective conjecture.
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There is a lot of documentation of the Norse people, and even more once Northern England became the Danelaw (sp?) And since they had a written language we do have a bit more of an insight into their past than we did with other cultures like the Celts.
 
Jut

Jut

gooser said:
i have followed it from the first episode , only thing i hate are the commercials ...lol...
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my wife watches some other show the same time as vikings, so i tivo vikings, and thus don't have commercials...but then the show only lasts like a half hour
 
L

Lesmore

Hunter said:
There is a lot of documentation of the Norse people, and even more once Northern England became the Danelaw (sp?) And since they had a written language we do have a bit more of an insight into their past than we did with other cultures like the Celts.
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I don't know. I've got both Norwegian and Celt in my background and also a history buff. I would say if anything we have more info on British Celtic culture....but that's just my opinion.

I do think both cultures are fascinating and I would say the value of a series such as this Viking series would be to further interest people in early Scandinavian history/culture.

I'm not being negative....but I do know how difficult it is to accurately determine aspects of every day life of early cultures. There are always educated guesses and of course speculation, based on incomplete information.

But in the end...it's challenging and for many of us...fun. :biggrin1:
 
Phog Allen

Phog Allen

Hunter said:
http://www.vikingrune.com/2009/02/top-ten-myths-about-vikings/

Doesn't have citation but does mention norse hair styles, which is visible in the show, other than just having long hair.
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Thanks for posting that. The ugh, ugh, we are cavemen stereotype is precisely what I DO NOT miss from this series. The Vikings were quite skilled sailors, tradesmen and warriors. The dirty white Norseman is mostly a reaction from their contemporaries(no one ever pits their enemies or conquerors as anything else) and modern cinema pc. I need to see if there are more episodes uploaded. At some point if it is successful you can bet they only way you'll get them is subscription.

Cheers, Todd
 
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