Whatever becomes of Ragnar, Vikings has emerged in its second season as a series of appreciably higher quality. Its characters and storytelling, all within a world quite unlike any other on the TV landscape, have gone far beyond the cardboard stage.
The indomitable Ragnar (played with great intensity by Aussie Travis Fimmel) is now an earl and finds that politics can be more treacherous than hand-to-hand combat.
Second season of Vikings is one of best that I’ve seen recent in years. The evolution of story and character is absolutely perfect and new actors and relationship introduced increase the necessity to stay focused on the show.
Vikings exceeds expectations, so long as those expectations aren’t up in “Game of Thrones” territory. What could be a silly exercise in quasi-historical swordplay is instead an earnest, tightly told family drama.
As it did last season, the show thoughtfully explores ideas about how belief systems spread and what people do when confronted with gods--or a God--that makes little sense to them.
Favored storylines get sufficient weight and heft, but balancing its disparate narratives has never been Vikings’ strong suit, and though it feels as though there’s a definite endgame in mind, the middle can occasionally be rough going. Still, with a cast as game as ever and plenty of plot to slash through, this year’s Vikings promises a sometimes-messy season as swiftly entertaining as the last.
Finally a series not centered on sex or political,also a great reconstruction of the history.
wonderful the characters and great the actors,especially Travis Fimmel,Katheryn Winnick,Clive Standen and Gustaf Skarsgard.
Simply spectacular!
I love these series,and i wait for the third season!
This season seemed to be somewhat caught up in the gravity of Game of Thrones epidemic which has affected it for the worst. The show almost forces itself to be full of edginess and supposedly clever plot twists, which in my opinion have nowhere near the same impact as GOT or for that matter any show with good plot twists. That being said very little seems to be happening throughout the series, I found the focus of some of the episodes a bit thoughtless and pithy.
Certain character developments have made the show seem a bit like a low brow sitcom which is disappointing. I could write a whole separate review on the absurdity of Rollo still existing ( I have lost track of how many times he has betrayed Ragnar and co) but it will suffice to say I find his whole part very unbelievable.
There are some redeeming elements to season 2, principally the portrayal of the brutality of Viking life, although heavy handed does keep the viewer watching. Furthermore the increase in characters in England and the development of Athelstan has been quite interesting.
I am a **** for films or series that depict historic figures especially violent ones at that. There are several historical inaccuracies and yet the show presents itself as having done its research by portraying certain viking rituals such as Jarl Borgs blood eagle. This is perhaps only an issue to the historical pedant and is to be expected from the History Channel, however it did at times stray into the frustratingly unbelievable.
Ultimately, this season and indeed the whole show seems to awkwardly attempt to straddle historical drama and fantasy when it chooses. Perhaps an intention of the director to reproduce on screen the feel of a saga, nonetheless the way it manifests itself does not do such an ambition justice.
How sad is it when the "History channel" has a severely limited interest in telling history. I guess in a "post-modern" approach, history doesn't matter near as much as ratings. I'm surprised that they didn't hire Oliver Stone as a historical consultant. Maybe the History channel could consider call itself the neo-history channel.
Apart from it's stunning lack of history- the series is well cast, costumed, and filmed. Too bad there isn't a character worth caring about.
Stopped watching this patchetic garbage at the sixth episode of the second season. Travis Fimmel is a poor actor, not to mention most of the cast, but I forgave that, since it is a series that is set in an historical era I love. The writers don't have the foggiest idea about the norsemen of that age.
It was particularly upsetting that they tried to portrait the vikings raiders some sort of "good bad guys" by letting Lagertha kill on of the warriors trying to **** some wench he grabbed back in season one. Cause murdering innocent priests with a battleaxe is ok, but **** is not. Vikings ethics you know. Oh and yes, there is no evidence that there were actually "shieldmaidens" or fighting women amongst viking raiders. It's entierly mithological and they portray it as a fact. Women might have picked up arms with poor efficiency when a village was raided, but thats all.
Ragnar Lodbrok and the 10 wonder-extras he takes raiding defeats a well prepared english cavalry force with the only tactic they know: shieldwall. Totally believeable if you ask me.
Everything in the story can be expected. Here's the pattern for every episode of the Vikings: Ragnar gets into trouble-->Ragnar wins. I totally never expect him always winning, may it be a Holmgang, slaughtering an army by himself, or convincing Rollo with his eyes to stop fighting.
Another thing about Ragnar Fimmel, that he is a total **** to his women. Yes, norsemen treated their women better than in most countries in europe, but this show must be directed by an **** group. Lagertha slaps him around like a little **** quite a few times and he's unable to stand up for himself. Way to humiliate a legendary historical figure. In season two he kills Jarl Borg, like a f*ckin' slimy coward, who comes in good faith to reconcile their differences after raiding Kattegat, in return, because Ragnar broke his word. And what for? Because his **** wife said so. Sleeping two nights in a barn is enough reason to kill another chief in such a cowardly manner. It's like they are trying to rip off the unexpected plot twists of Game of Thrones, but they fail poorly every time. After this I was really beginning to think that monkeys with typewriters must be behind this show.
I really started to like the King of Wessex storyline, and Björn and his girlfriend, but it is not nearly enough for me to continue watching this awful show. This series is neither historically accurate or entertaining. 1/10, because I had a good day.