Vikings: Season 1 [DVD] [2013]

This is the first and possibly the best season of one of my favourite TV series, so ti is good to have it at home on disc.The most recent seasons (or half-seasons) are getting a bit tedious and the storyline more fanciful, less historically-accurate. But I would rank the first few seasons of the Vikings high up there along with GoT, Breaking Bad, Narco’s, Rome and The Handmaid. First of, because all I’m a history, early-medieval fanatic and I like good story telling. Secondly, because it is phenomenally well made; the atmosphere and setting feels genuine and the cinematography is quite good, though perhaps not as large-scale epic as GOT (yet Vikings gets away with it as the battles and certainly the raids were probably of modest size in the depicted era). Thirdly, and not least important, the story line makes sense and the events are not too repetitive. Also there is character development. And everything is progressing towards a sensible end of the narrative later in the series, rather than endless meandering until the series is abruptly cancelled, as is the case with some streaming series.Here you get a brilliant portrayal of Ragnar who progresses from a nice Scandi neighbourhood bloke to a warrior of visibly mythical proportions. We see how he and his band develop long distance sea voyages. Then there is the friendship with Floki the shipbuilder and the tension between his Ragnar and his brother. But frankly the series is filled with interesting, attractive characters. What I really liked is how they all speak not only with Scandinavian accents but also with the typical intonation - I have many Scandinavian friends and it is mostly well done. Although I would have preferred the dialogue to be in old-norse and Anglo Saxon dialect just to add to the authenticity,. The fact fact that it was produced along with History Channel more ore less ensures a proper historical background (although in the later seasons this is abandoned to some extend).

Okay, let's get serious for a moment. This show, start to finish is simply superb, we are blessed with ONE WRITER, Michael Hirst, and he does a fantastic job to ensure the story is consistent in every episode. These days we have issues with the likes of The Walking Dead and Game of Thrones where we'll be offered one or two decent episodes, some episodes full of side story which we don't care about and the most annoying thing ever.....filler episodes that do nothing to move the story forward.The Vikings, they are not a race of people, Viking was a profession, and that profession was one of brutal raids upon other lands where they killed without hesitating, these are the bad guys that you hate to love.The lead character played by Travis Fimmel is Ragnar Lothbrok, a farmer with a family and Viking raider when required, the story follows his ascent to legendary status through a need to rid the land of greedy earls, to his need to learn and understand other cultures, his friendship with christians that was seen as unacceptable in the Scandinavian culture and his desire to simply settle down to being a farmer once more.The acting is honest, the dialogue pulls you in, it has drama, beautifully subtle comedic moments and it has the violence we would expect from such a show.Unlike the Game of Thrones, this show doesn't feel the need to fill every episode with ridiculous sex scenes and constant over the top swearing, it doesn't have heavily convoluted storylines and this benefits the storytelling greatly.Give it a go and stick with it, you won't be disappointed!

I happened across a teaser for this while looking up some Viking info for my niece, and I'm so glad I did. I absolutely loved this. No surprise though as it's created by Michael Hirst who was also responsible for the excellent Tudors.I thought the plot was perfectly paced, slowly building my curiosity about each of the characters rather than relying on shocks and big cliff hangers. I found I wanted to know what happened next and admit to watching one disc a night. I found the acting to be superb. There were a few accent wobbles early on but either they got better or I was so engrossed I stopped noticing.As it is based on historical fact (based, not a historically accurate reproduction) it made it more interesting for me and has resulted in me wanting to learn more about Vikings and that period of british history.I know a lot of people have been comparing it to Game of Thrones (which I am a huge fan of) but that's not really fair. If you are expecting Game of Thrones then you will be disappointed, but if you watch this in the hope of seeing a well scripted, well acted historical drama you can't go too far wrong with this.

I really enjoyed this and even though you are watching from the side of the vikings, you do realise what bloody and vicioius people they were... The series is quite graphic and it certainly does deserve its rating. I love the title music and imagery at the beginning of the DVD. I think I could watch just that bit alone. Thankfully the content and story line does ensure that I watch further.I'm not sure if it is very historically accurate but I just don't care. I got into this on a long haul flight and bought it. I think my teenage daughter and I must have the same taste in men as we both fell for the charms of the main character ;-) The hairdressing department for this series must have had a lot of fun braiding and beading not only hair and beards. Very impressive and wonderful location. Makes you want to live there if you weren't so susceptible to having your head cut off.Cannot recommend enough. It is definitely one for a darkened room and booming speakers.Please make more soon....

All I can say, it's fantastic. Once you start, it's difficult to stop watching. My wife and I love it. I ordered the next two seasons.

Ich denke das meiste wurde hier ohnehin schon bemerkt und gesagt, Vikings ist auch in meinen Augen eine grandiose Serie.Was man aber besonders hervorheben und auch loben muss ist die Tatsache, dass Vikings mit überraschend wenig Gewalt und Sexuellen Darstellungen abläuft. Der Sex wird nur angedeutet und ein richtiger Akt ist nie zu sehen, genau sie wird auch mal Blut gezeigt aber unnötige Gewaltdarstellung bleibt ebenfalls aus.Wer in so manch anderen Serien mit Schild und Schwert zu viel davon gesehen hat, kann und sollte mal ein Auge auf Vikings werfen.

Alles O.K!

This was a gift, but I have watched every season of the Vikings so far and I love the show. Hopefully they are making many more to come.

Great product. Good price. Timely delivery... would definitely do repeat business.