Vikings: Season 1

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Generally favorable reviews based on 20 Critic Reviews

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Generally favorable reviews based on 775 Ratings

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8.0	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 775 Ratings

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Vikings

Now Playing: Vikings

Season Details & Credits

History | The History Channel | Season Premiere Date: March 3, 2013

Starring: Jessalyn Gilsig, Kevin Durand, Donal Logue

Summary: Ragnar Lothbrok (Travis Fimmel) defies local Viking chief Earl Haraldson's (Gabriel Byrne) orders and sets out to plunder lands to the West.

Creator: Michael Hirst and Michael Hirst

Genre(s): Drama, Action & Adventure

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Season 1 Episodes

tbd
S1:E9. All Change
Air Date: April 28, 2013
tbd
S1:E8. Sacrifice
Air Date: April 21, 2013
tbd
S1:E7. A King's Ransom
Air Date: April 14, 2013

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

Uncle Barky Ed Bark

Mar 1, 2013

Vikings enthrallingly captures the world of Norsemen and oarsmen, circa 793 in the Eastern Baltic but soon heading West to England. Read full review

Nancy DeWolf Smith

Feb 28, 2013

While they are every bit as wild and woolly as the historical figures of Norse sagas, such is the power of Vikings that we come to know and even root for them, so enthralling are they and almost everything else here. Read full review

Tom Gliatto

Mar 7, 2013

History's first scripted series is a headlong tumble into an irresistible and surprisingly neglected genre. [18 Mar 2013, p.41]

Tim Goodman

Feb 28, 2013

While it’s clear that Vikings isn’t going to be Game of Thrones, it’s a series that increases its entertainment value and interest level as it goes along. Read full review

Neil Genzlinger

Mar 1, 2013

Vikings is a mini-series about a band of professional pillagers with a disregard for human life and a relentless focus on gratifying material desires. So it is somewhat surprising that it is also a refreshing study in restraint. Read full review

Clark Collis

Feb 28, 2013

What those two shows [The Tudors and The Game of Thrones] have, and Vikings dearly lacks, is real intrigue. Read full review

David Wiegand

Feb 28, 2013

Mostly, though, Vikings is disappointing because so much of the component parts are good but are ill served by flabby direction and a gassy script. Read full review

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User Score

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8.0

User Reviews

Jitterbug126

Mar 11, 2015

Wow I love this series! I ran out and bought seasons 1 and 2, and looking forward to season 3. Love the characters and the story line! Hopefully they will do more seasons! Thank you History channel!

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

tjanko18

Mar 12, 2013

This is a great first show from History channel. The acting is great, the scenes are awesome, the plot fantastic, and knowing it is made by he History channel one can trust its content. I could only image what it would be like on a prem cable channel. Still a fantastic show!

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

Panzerfaust666

Mar 19, 2013

An interesting mix of drama and history, that seems to well illustrate the differences between these ancient pagan warriors beliefs and modern day morals. The plot is nothing radical, but its solid, well written and well acted add in some beautiful scenery and a little action and your ontoAn interesting mix of drama and history, that seems to well illustrate the differences between these ancient pagan warriors beliefs and modern day morals. The plot is nothing radical, but its solid, well written and well acted add in some beautiful scenery and a little action and your onto a winner.… Expand

13 of 16 users found this helpful133

cortex123

Sep 10, 2013

Set in the period we now call the "Dark Ages", the series "Vikings" is FAR more realistic than many other period productions. The Norse were deeply religious, but in a way which we cannot relate to in the modern western world with our deeply ingrained sense of Judaeo-Christian morality. TheSet in the period we now call the "Dark Ages", the series "Vikings" is FAR more realistic than many other period productions. The Norse were deeply religious, but in a way which we cannot relate to in the modern western world with our deeply ingrained sense of Judaeo-Christian morality. The Norse practised their religious beliefs by HOPING to die in battle and not of old age, believing this would ensure they were selected for the Hall of Valour, "Valhalla" by Odin. They would feast, drink and fight there until the Day of Ragnarok, at which time they would battle the forces of evil, who would triumph over them. A very grim world view indeed, but one which encouraged personal courage and a desire for honour within the confines of their own world view as the ONLY important accolade to have.
"Vikings" captures this aspect of the Old Norse religion and culture better than I have ever seen before.
Some of the black humour and sparse conversational style of the Icelandic Sagas is reflected in "Vikings" screenplay, and the writer must be congratulated for this level of authenticity. The sets and costumes are also to a high standard. In fact, the shaved back of the head shown in Ragnar Lothbrok's son Bjorn IS accurate to a later period of history, the Vikings direct descendants, the Normans, or "Northmen" who landed in Northern France under the command of Duke Rollo.
Not to be dismissive of CRAZYE2000, but the Norse were highly moral, it was just not a morality that we would wish to relate to 1200 years later.
Acting good, sets great, I love it.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Eliasc

Nov 30, 2014

'Vikings' is one of the better attempts of historical fiction by the History Channel which has never been know for historical accuracy. Although they get a lot of details of vikings wrong, most are forgivable, minor, and excusable. The general portrayal of early viking culture (8th century)'Vikings' is one of the better attempts of historical fiction by the History Channel which has never been know for historical accuracy. Although they get a lot of details of vikings wrong, most are forgivable, minor, and excusable. The general portrayal of early viking culture (8th century) is very accurate. Occasionally however, the plot lines mix up early Viking history with later Viking history. For example, referring to 'Russia' before the term was actually used (in the 11th century I think), or having a main character named 'Rollo' (a northman name from when northman controlled 10th and 11th century France). But after all it is fiction, and the basic portrayal of early Scandinavian culture in very accurate. For simplicity sake, the series implies that these Vikings are Norse when in fact this culture was from all of Scandinavia including modern day Sweden and Denmark. But if we wanted that amount of accuracy we wouldn't get those beautiful scenes of Norwegian fjords. The actors are very good and carry the story forward very well. The series suffers somewhat by a limited budget that limits the shooting locales to just 2 areas, but that will probably be remedied when the productions moves to France for the third session. This is a good historical series and worth your attention.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

pythag0ras

Mar 24, 2016

season 1-3 are exceptional. season 4 is slow and has alot of filler episodes. S04E06 actually skips a battle scene ffs. As usual , something that started great , is now being watered down to stretch content...wish writers would learn what the chase is and how to cut to it already. because ofseason 1-3 are exceptional. season 4 is slow and has alot of filler episodes. S04E06 actually skips a battle scene ffs. As usual , something that started great , is now being watered down to stretch content...wish writers would learn what the chase is and how to cut to it already. because of season 4 im taking my score from a 9 to a 7… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Charlemagne

Mar 3, 2017

Inauthentic soap-opera trash - Vikings were democratic. I had so much hope from this, mostly from the starting theme song, but alas the starting theme is the only thing good about it. The History channel fails at everything. I also like that they only cast actual Scandinavians as the badInauthentic soap-opera trash - Vikings were democratic. I had so much hope from this, mostly from the starting theme song, but alas the starting theme is the only thing good about it. The History channel fails at everything. I also like that they only cast actual Scandinavians as the bad guys and Anglo-saxons for the characters meant to be liked. I was also amused by the French accents and stereotypes.… Expand

0 of 9 users found this helpful09

SEE ALL 116 REVIEWS

Seasons & Episodes

74

Series Overview
Season 6

tbd
- Season 6 Overview
  Air Date: December 4, 2019
Season 5

tbd
- Season 5 Overview
  Air Date: November 29, 2017
Season 4

tbd
- Season 4 Overview
  Air Date: February 18, 2016
Season 3

81
- Season 3 Overview
  Air Date: February 19, 2015
Season 2

77
- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: February 27, 2014
Season 1

71
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: March 3, 2013
- tbd
  S1:E9. All Change
  Air Date: April 28, 2013
- tbd
  S1:E8. Sacrifice
  Air Date: April 21, 2013
- tbd
  S1:E7. A King's Ransom
  Air Date: April 14, 2013
- tbd
  S1:E6. Burial of the Dead
  Air Date: April 7, 2013
- tbd
  S1:E5. Raid
  Air Date: March 31, 2013
- tbd
  S1:E4. Trial
  Air Date: March 24, 2013
- tbd
  S1:E3. Dispossessed
  Air Date: March 17, 2013
- tbd
  S1:E2. Wrath of the Northmen
  Air Date: March 10, 2013
- tbd
  S1:E1. Rites of Passage
  Air Date: March 3, 2013