Vikings: Season 1

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Generally favorable reviews based on 20 Critic Reviews

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Generally favorable reviews based on 770 Ratings

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8.0	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 770 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

See all Seasons and Episodes

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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User Reviews

Allthat

Feb 26, 2015

Easily one of the best things ever on TV. On par with Game of Thrones in my opinion, it isn't too slow and it has a very good story line... And lets face it, who doesn't like the Vikings.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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

sandraxxx

Oct 12, 2013

Vikings is a historical drama and adventure TV series directed and written by Michael Hirst ('The Tudors','Elizabeth'), for the television channel History.
It premiered on March 3rd 2013, with 6.21 million U.S viewers for the first episode 'Rites of Passage'. It currently has a full oneVikings is a historical drama and adventure TV series directed and written by Michael Hirst ('The Tudors','Elizabeth'), for the television channel History.
It premiered on March 3rd 2013, with 6.21 million U.S viewers for the first episode 'Rites of Passage'. It currently has a full one season, that includes nine 42-44 minutes episodes, and season 2 in process (which will include 10 episodes and will release somewhere in 2014).

The show is based on a very annoyed and skilled Viking, named Ragner Lothbrok, who is played by Travis Fimmel ('Restraint', 'The Experiment').
His Earl is perhaps not the best example of a true Viking. Many of his people are fed up with the fact that each year the Earl commands they raid to the east, to the lands they know. A safe and easy way, but one that sends them to raid people as poor as they are. Ragner, a farther of two and a loving husband, wants more than just enough money to get his family by. He is tired of it all, and so without gaining the permission of the Earl, he gathers a crew and builds a sturdy ship that will take them West. To a land rumoured of riches and gold.
But what will happen if he gets more than he bargained for? What if all his actions lead to him becoming.. something far more than just a legend?

I'd say this show is not exactly 'historically accurate', or as accurate as it can get.
There are some major mistakes that I think are extremely important to correct, and are a big part of the Viking history -like the horned helmets the Vikings wore. That element is forever absent.
But the actions, or ways, of the Vikings did manage to overlook that issue, and it made the characters and the show seem shockingly real.
The director/writer gave a fabulous and excellent effort though.

The actors and actresses are brilliant, I think only the best of the best can play in films or tv shows like this one, and these definitely did not disappoint.
The Vikings are north Germanic people so the actors obviously had to learn their accents and even sometimes bits of another language, and they did it remarkably well. Not once did I hear, or perhaps notice, their accents slip. They were always the same and I just can't believe how outstanding they were!

The cinematographer did a good job with filming, especially during battle scenes (I was actually quite shocked at how realistic the scenes looked). The camera was kept straight, occasionally went a bit all over the place and shaky, but I barely noticed. The music and costumes suited everything perfectly and I was pleased.

Overall, Vikings is a really, really good new historical TV series that I think you will love if you're a fan of Game of Thrones, and movies like Braveheart and Conan The Barbarian.
Though I highly advice you to at least watch 2-3 episodes to really get into it. The series is also 14+ due to violence and adult content, so if you're uncomfortable with that this is not something for you.
But I personally love watching things like Vikings and nothing bothered me. The characters are great, and trust me, they will all find their way into your heart before you realize.… 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

Unurautare

May 2, 2014

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. A fictional follow-up of an even more fictional viking called Ragnar, watch him as he goes into high adventure and becomes king by his own head, included are exaggerated characters(99% of the show) with 21st century liberal views of the world, militant feminism(in the sense that even the mythical sagas don't have as many woman warriors that get beaten, bruised and/or killed, as this show) and sexy vikings. Overall interesting to watch and better than most TV series out there.… 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 113 REVIEWS

Seasons & Episodes

74

Series Overview
Season 7

tbd
- Season 7 Overview
  Air Date: March 3, 2013
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