Vikings

Vikings (2013) 

The real Viking experience that we have been waiting for since reading the “Northlanders" comic book series. This is first and foremost a straightforward relaxation show, while not making fools out of the audience, despite often utterly ignoring historical authenticity. And does it matter? Not a bit. The greatest problem is the how it is so inconstant; the last two episodes are about something completely different from the rest of the series, and this applies to everything. It’s most noticeable in Travis Fimmel. Who gives a damn that while trying to cover up his Australian accent so hard he trips up over his tongue. And it’s not such a problem that he can’t act, as the fact that he doesn’t even try to act. His “actor’s" recipe for everything from hunting, through sleep to watching his nearest and dearest being slaughtered is a cheeky grin, half-closed eyes; simply the classic Blue Steel in practice. And where’s the inconsistency? Even though everybody out-acts him by miles (even the kids!), it doesn’t matter so much, because he oozes with charisma which makes it easier to believe why everybody just accepts that he is changing established traditions. As a result, the first season serves the same purpose as its main protagonist, Ragnar Lothbrok, does in the main storyline; it holds promise for the future. Season two offers basically the same, just a little tighter and basically with the continually repeated concept of “increase the tension between characters for one or two episodes, and then we let them beat each other to death". Which isn’t so bad, the problem (even though that is a strong word, better would be “snag") is however, that it is uncomplicated in its political relations storylines (at one point absolutely idiotic) and so too transparent; it is generally clear who, how and why double-crosses love to/decapitates whom. In any case, it might be a good idea to stop playing at something more ambitious than it has capacity for. It would be more than enough to remain in the straightforward (but not dumb!) historical battle mode. It suits the Vikings most in this mode. Season three immediately at the beginning disintegrates into several unrelated backstories which simply make variations to themes seen before in the series and run on the spot for so long it’s embarrassing. But the whole season is pulled from the doldrums by the concluding episodes with the siege of Paris. All of a sudden it’s fully focused on one place and thanks to this (but not only this) we’re back with our good old familiar Vikings. I hope the creators learn a lesson from this for the coming seasons. | S1: 4/5 | S2: 4/5 | S3: 3/5 | (22/10/2013)