Vikings

[Maryrose]

I’m always late to the scene but I just started watching Vikings. I’m only 2 episodes in but so far I’m really enjoying it. Anyone else watch it?

[Maryrose]

I just started the December BOTM and was delighted to discover that Ragnar is in the story. 🙂 Now that I’m immersing myself in The Vikings, I have a pretty visual of Ragnar in the books. Travis Fimmel is not too bad on the eyes. When I get around to watching The Last Kingdom, I’ll have to get used to seeing Ragnar with a different face.

[GWTW1939]

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.

[Maryrose]

I get what you’re saying. I feel like because it’s a History channel show, the development isn’t quite up to par with what you get on the premium networks. It’s actually why I put off watching it for so long. I think it helps me that all I knew of the Vikings is that they were raiders. That pretty much limits the extent of my knowledge. I tend to follow the English stories more.

But Ragnar is worth it. lol Holy smokes he can be gruesome and violent one second and goofy the next. I love that. Plus I’ve always loved a good shield maiden so Lagertha had me at the first episode. And since I’m not spoiler free, I like what I’ve seen.

And really – ITA about the GOT comparison. GOT is 100% fantasy – why try to compare it to a historically driven show? Oranges and apples.

[GWTW1939]

I will definitely enjoy it more if there are hot guys haha! I love some good historical fiction eye-candy. I have so many historical fiction TV boyfriends in the stable, I’d love to add one more!! 🙂

I see that Jonathan Rhys Meyers is in it too. Although he’s a Bishop, and not a main hottie haha! Poor guy has had so much trouble in his personal life with addiction, I am glad he is working and persevering. Maybe it’s good that he’s a backup character and not a main guy, because he has struggled so much the past few years. I always felt like I betrayed him on The Tudors because I loved Henry Cavill so much more than JRM haha!

Bernard Cornwell has notes at the end of Last Kingdom & says that the word “viking” is actually a verb, it’s what the Danes “did.” But, that the Danes & other invaders at that time are not historically referred to as “Vikings.” Hmmmm, interesting. Cuz I totally never knew that. You definitely learn in school that they are called “Vikings” as a group. I love the different points of view! History is so fun!!

May be Vikings spoilers…If you’re trying to avoid, just skip my next paragraph 🙂

My Mom watches Vikings, and we always joke that when the characters are constantly getting killed off on that show, that they then show up on the historical fiction shows I watch. For example, I watched Versailles this year, and I was telling my Mom how much I liked George Blagden. And she’s like “oh, he just got killed on Vikings.” So, whenever people die on Vikings, she tells me & we wait for them to show up on my shows 🙂

[Maryrose]

Oh yeah, no, I’m not a spoiler free person. I’m more relaxed when I know what’s going to happen. 🙂

But I love Athelstan (George’s character) in the show. It’s interesting seeing him change and evolve over time. He reminds me of Uhtred in The Last Kingdom (book). I’m always nervous that his time has come. I know what happens to him and by who. I just don’t know when exactly it happens. He’s survived much longer than I ever expected – that’s for sure.

[Author]

Posts