History Channel - Vikings

[Solarmist]

The real Ivar lived to conquer a lot.

Ironically, a Swedish friend of mine lives in Asia now, because he couldn't stand the Viking instincts at home.

Is that as of today?

Yes he was a cold blooded conquer according to history, but a lot of the tales in this series are just Hirst's version of the known facts.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

Yes, the Scandinavians I've known do retain their Viking heritage & they're very proud of it!

One Swedish guy I know, not the aforementioned, has an actual Viking sword on his Harley.
The scabbard runs down from the gas tank to the rear.

So far he's had no troubles from the cops, but he's in Thailand.

 

[MJ5150]

Is that as of today?

Yes he was a cold blooded conquer according to history, but a lot of the tales in this series are just Hirst's version of the known facts.

I have always appreciated Hirst in this regard. He's a writer, a story teller.
When I first started watching the show I dug into Viking history, Rollo, Ragnar, Lagertha, Jarl Borg, etc and criticized the show for not being accurate with regard to known history.
Then I saw/read interviews with Hirst and other cast members and realized what they were going for. In all I've read/watched, no one has claimed the show is a recreation of historical events.
From then on, I've loved the show with the exception of some episodes.

-Mike

 

[sagagirl]

Hello All!! Just starting watching again, one the 2nd part of Departed. History Channel SUCKS, they make you watch ads now, and the screen goes black and there is no way to go back to watching the show so it is taking forever to watch. Why is it that everyone wants to make a damn buck these days? Used to be Hulu and History.com were free and commerical fee.

Anyway...trying to make my way through it. Any suggestions???

Glad to see familar Vikings watchers still hanging in here!!

 

[MJ5150]

Welcome back @sagagirl.
I watch on the History Channel Roku app and just deal with the ads.

-Mike

 

[Solarmist]

Last season on the mini-series "Real Vikings" the opening segment was on Viking settlements in Iceland, and it looks like Floki was the first one there!

 

[Solarmist]

I have always appreciated Hirst in this regard. He's a writer, a story teller.
When I first started watching the show I dug into Viking history, Rollo, Ragnar, Lagertha, Jarl Borg, etc and criticized the show for not being accurate with regard to known history.
Then I saw/read interviews with Hirst and other cast members and realized what they were going for. In all I've read/watched, no one has claimed the show is a recreation of historical events.
From then on, I've loved the show with the exception of some episodes.

-Mike

I just finished watching "The Saga of Lagertha", and at the end, the cast members (that hosted) said that M. Hirst does all the writing ... that's amazing when you think about it. According to what I've read, a lot of the Viking history has a lot of holes and vague spots, so what Hirst has done is taken what he could from 200 years of history, and combined it all into this excellent series we love.

 

[MJ5150]

Last season on the mini-series "Real Vikings" the opening segment was on Viking settlements in Iceland, and it looks like Floki was the first one there!

I remember reading/watching something about that too. Previews for this season showed Floki interacting with people, so I'm hoping once this trippy storyline finishes, it'll get more into that.
Then again, we see his boat fixed and him stocking it, so maybe that was him back at Kattegat trying to convince others to go back with him. He does say something about this being what the gods wanted.
This is where I get myself into trouble, speculating about the season based on a preview.

-Mike

 

[sagagirl]

Welcome back @sagagirl.
I watch on the History Channel Roku app and just deal with the ads.

-Mike

Hey Mike! Well I am now on episode 3. The boys just triumphed over Athlewulf and the Bishop. Ivar is a freak show man, he is just over the top, insane. Not loving that tension, watching him just gives me the creeps.

What ever will happen to Astrid!!! Ugh!

 

[Killed_by_Death]

I love Ivar, he's the same type of megalomaniac I'd be if I were born a Viking in that time.

 

[grimjim]

Yeah, I'm hooked on it too.

 

[XXL]

Ive been hooked, wish I could watch the new season.

 

[Solarmist]

I remember reading/watching something about that too. Previews for this season showed Floki interacting with people, so I'm hoping once this trippy storyline finishes, it'll get more into that.
Then again, we see his boat fixed and him stocking it, so maybe that was him back at Kattegat trying to convince others to go back with him. He does say something about this being what the gods wanted.
This is where I get myself into trouble, speculating about the season based on a preview.

-Mike

That's exactly what I thinking the minute we saw the active volcano (and knew where he was) - he's going back to tell all of this new world where they can be free, and farm.

 

[Solarmist]

I love Ivar, he's the same type of megalomaniac I'd be if I were born a Viking in that time.

He's a very intriguing character and a true psychopath, portrayed very well by Alex Høgh Andersen.
He really brings out the evil of Ivar through his eyes, facial expressions, and body language.

 

[MJ5150]

I haven't liked Ivar from the beginning. Back to when he was a child and put an axe through the skull of another child he was playing with.

-Mike

 

[Killed_by_Death]

I thought that was a great foreshadowing scene. Ivar the Great!

 

[MJ5150]

Hirst spends lots of time setting the stage for big dramatic episodes. That's all I felt like episode four was, getting us ready for a Viking beatdown.
Ivar is going to eventually be outdone by Heahmund. The Vikings aren't going to keep beating the Saxons over and over, especially now since Aella's army has joined forces with them.
However, I wonder if this is setting up for a Heahmund/Northumbria rebellion against Aethulwulf/Wessex.
I thought Hirst started laying the seeds for that with the confrontation between Aethelwulf and Heahmund, then the uneasiness Heahmund showed as the Northumbria troops arrived at the Wessex camp.
I wonder where Alfred fits in. He is getting lots of screen time. Aethulwulf will have to die for him to become king, so that's coming.

I don't like the Lagertha/Ubbe alliance. Now that Margrethe is in Ubbe's ear, I don't see that ending well.
That was a powerful speech Lagertha gave Margrethe. Have the courage to be loyal to me.

Bjorn and Halfdan.....that storyline is losing me. When did Bjorn turn into some nice guy who hangs around for dinner? Kill people, get your loot, move on to the next city.

-Mike

 

[MJ5150]

Oh, and Harald/Astrid. Boring!

-Mike

 

[Killed_by_Death]

I keep expecting Astrid to pull a knife from under her garments & stick it in Halfdan's neck, LOL!

 

[MJ5150]

What the heck Hirst? Ragnar/Athelstan 2.0?
Go ahead and kill off Lagertha already. This is dragging out far too long. She has no allies anymore, except maybe Torvi, and people are coming from around the world to kill her.

-Mike