I’m pretty sure Last Kingdom Ragnar (the older & younger) are a different Ragnar than in the Vikings show. It was a common name. I think the Vikings’ Ragnar Lothbrook is referred to “off-screen” in Last Kingdom, but he is not shown as a character. I’ll bet Bernard Cornwell took some of the Ragnar Lothbrook info. and combined it with other historical figures to make an amalgamation of a character. That’s what it seems like. Because, he basically did that for Uhtred.
I need to revisit Vikings! I watched the first few episodes when it came out, and I did not like it. I need to just enjoy it for what it is, and stop being so critical of it. That’s the history freak in me haha!. I tend to expect so much from any historical show, and need to try to suspend my belief more. I’m going to get kind of technical here…Now, it was like 4 years ago when I first tried to watch it, but I remember being critical of the history combined with the fiction. I think, because it’s a History Channel show, I expected more. And the writing is just not superb. So, it felt kind of dumb at times. This may sound bad, but to me, because it was a History Channel show, it seemed to walk the middle of the road. Like, the bad language and the blood & guts, sex scenes, etc. can be so much more extreme on other kinds of networks. But, it’s not deeply simple either. It’s hard to explain, but I guess either extreme appeals to me, but walking in the middle is harder for me to watch. I get tired of people comparing any historical show to Game of Thrones. I never do. That’s definitely not my issue, and besides, I don’t like GOT that much. It’s like when Outlander gets compared to GOT. Ugh, hate that! I just like great writing, great character development, combined with the historical elements (like costume, set design, location), and a great combination of the history and fiction. I would love to give this show another chance. A goal for 2018!
So, History Channel just premiered “Knightfall,” and my complaints are similar. The writing is just not too good. And it would be so much edgier on another network. It has so much potential to be better, but it falls short. I’m enjoying it for what it is, and just going with it. Trying my best not to overanalyze, which, as you can see, is not easy for me when it comes to shows/movies.
