Vikings - History Channel

[Lflank]

alrighty then, i guess my history on the time of them row row boat is rusty. Cool thanks for the info.

Only blacksmith in town..King has him burned / maned / killed? Not the best idea at times.

Well, it's a fictional story, not a documentary---it is taking quite a bit of creative license for dramatic effect. For one thing, it is not historically clear whether there ever WAS any such thing as a Viking "sunstone"--no definitive one has ever been found. For another, the palette of the movie is almost entirely in drab earth tones of brown and black. This is probably being done for dramatic effect, to symbolize how drab and colorless their current life is before they start raiding all over Europe (and to depict the Earl as a bad guy and show how crappy life was under his rule). But historically, we know that the Vikings had a very well-developed textile and dye ability, and wore lots of bright reds, yellows and greens. And the show depicts nearly all the Vikings as carrying swords -- in reality swords were incredibly expensive and only the highest richest nobles had them (especially at THIS point in history before the raids into western Europe had begun). Most Vikings had only a spear, a shield and maybe a helmet if they were lucky. The nobility's retainers would have had axes and perhaps chainmail armor.

But all in all it is more accurate than most other "Viking" movies I've seen. At least there aren't any horned helmets, thank the gods.

 

[The Wook]

DAMN!...that scene on the beach was frakking TENSE!!

The Wook

 

[firesprite]

DAMN!...that scene on the beach was frakking TENSE!!

The Wook

No doubt! Leave it to Floki to initiate the chaos!

 

[swede]

Lflank,well spoken
you know your history mate
i guess you have visited some important locations over here?

 

[The Wook]

No doubt! Leave it to Floki to initiate the chaos!

True, firesprite, true. lol

And yet, I somehow think even if he hadn't snatched that crucifix, Rollo would've found another reason to swing his axe right there on the beach.

Btw, how 'bout some Viking gossip?! Have we all discussed yet that scene between Rollo and Ragnor's wife in a previous episode? What was goin' on there, have they betrayed Ragnor, or were they an item prior to her relationship with Ragnor?

The Wook

 

[crabra comander]

Silly monks...:lol If they would've been Buddhist monks they would have at least had a chance.

 

[Solo4114]

alrighty then, i guess my history on the time of them row row boat is rusty. Cool thanks for the info.

Only blacksmith in town..King has him burned / maned / killed? Not the best idea at times.

The depiction of the Jarl/Earl is actually one of the less accurate aspects of the show. Viking society did have jarls, as well as kings (jarls are just below kings and are the equivalent of a duke), but the "Thing," which is depicted in the first episode, was actually a bit more democratic than it's shown to be. That's not to say that nobility (such as it was) didn't have power as well, but that their power was somewhat constrained by the Thing.

The notion that the jarl could just off dudes left and right, though, I think that's pretty unrealistic. The vikings had a pretty complex system about this stuff, which is also touched on in the first episode, known as "weregild." The idea that a jarl could flout that and just kill a guy for doing something he didn't like is, based on my admittedly limited knowledge, pretty unrealistic.

But it does paint the jarl as a psychotic badass, so we go with it.

 

[Monkey67]

I think his buddy is just jelous of his wife. She is great mother, worker, fighter, freak in the sheets, beautiful and a spitfire chick. His wife isnt gonna mess with anyone that i can tell. He is her King in her eyes.

 

[firesprite]

True, firesprite, true. lol

And yet, I somehow think even if he hadn't snatched that crucifix, Rollo would've found another reason to swing his axe right there on the beach.

Btw, how 'bout some Viking gossip?! Have we all discussed yet that scene between Rollo and Ragnor's wife in a previous episode? What was goin' on there, have they betrayed Ragnor, or were they an item prior to her relationship with Ragnor?

The Wook

I think his buddy is just jelous of his wife. She is great mother, worker, fighter, freak in the sheets, beautiful and a spitfire chick. His wife isnt gonna mess with anyone that i can tell. He is her King in her eyes.

No, you're right, Wook. The crew was spoiling for a fight and if Floki hadn't provided the spark, someone else would.

As for Rollo and Lagertha, my thought is that he was probably courting her around the same time that Ragnar was. She ultimately chose Ragnar because he understood her and didn't want to take her warrior identity away from her. The exchange in the first episode where Rollo says she "WAS" a famed shieldmaiden and Ragnar corrected him to she "IS" a famed shieldmaiden was very telling in that regard. Rollo wants her, but if he had managed to win her, he would've destroyed her or wound up dead by her hand. Think Eowyn from Lord of the Rings but with less tolerance for propriety.

How about the Earl's wife, Siggy? My husband suspects she was also a shieldmaiden based on how she beat the snot out of that guy that the Earl tricked into thinking he could bang her.

 

[SmilingOtter]

Fourth episode's up on Hulu now. Probably the best yet.

Watch Vikings | Trial online | Free | Hulu

 

[Solo4114]

I could believe Siggy was a shieldmaiden, although that whole sequence struck me as just...dumb. I get why they did it from a story perspective, but they haven't really established why he's so hell-bent on controlling those around him, and why he'd go to such measures to ensure loyalty.

Actually, at first, I thought it was going to be an interesting version of ensuring loyalty through access to sex, but then they made it a trap. And it just didn't make sense. They haven't explained (at least in the first two episodes) why Ragnar is a threat to the jarl, and why the jarl is so paranoid in the first place. He just seems erratic and loony, instead.

You test people's loyalty by telling them "It's ok if you do this" and then when they do, you have 'em killed? WTF?


I mean, I get (I think) why this is such a big deal. The jarl has the money, which is why he's a jarl. He therefore controls where raiding happens, because he owns the ships necessary to raid. But if someone else can get tons of cash, particularly if he's sharing it out amongst other raiders on an equal basis, then the jarl's power base is diluted and he's just some shmoe with a bunch of rotting, empty ships sitting at the docks. He can't let anyone get too rich -- and therefore too independent -- or he loses his ability to control.


But they haven't made ANY of that explicit. You have to put two and two together, and I don't trust that people would necessarily make the connection. So, while the jarl's moves kind of make sense in that context (but still only kinda -- kill your specialized labor? Test and then kill a loyal headman who only last episode was enforcing the law on your behalf?), it just makes him seem like a cartoony Bond villain otherwise.

 

[firesprite]

I could believe Siggy was a shieldmaiden, although that whole sequence struck me as just...dumb. I get why they did it from a story perspective, but they haven't really established why he's so hell-bent on controlling those around him, and why he'd go to such measures to ensure loyalty.

Actually, at first, I thought it was going to be an interesting version of ensuring loyalty through access to sex, but then they made it a trap. And it just didn't make sense. They haven't explained (at least in the first two episodes) why Ragnar is a threat to the jarl, and why the jarl is so paranoid in the first place. He just seems erratic and loony, instead.

You test people's loyalty by telling them "It's ok if you do this" and then when they do, you have 'em killed? WTF?


I mean, I get (I think) why this is such a big deal. The jarl has the money, which is why he's a jarl. He therefore controls where raiding happens, because he owns the ships necessary to raid. But if someone else can get tons of cash, particularly if he's sharing it out amongst other raiders on an equal basis, then the jarl's power base is diluted and he's just some shmoe with a bunch of rotting, empty ships sitting at the docks. He can't let anyone get too rich -- and therefore too independent -- or he loses his ability to control.


But they haven't made ANY of that explicit. You have to put two and two together, and I don't trust that people would necessarily make the connection. So, while the jarl's moves kind of make sense in that context (but still only kinda -- kill your specialized labor? Test and then kill a loyal headman who only last episode was enforcing the law on your behalf?), it just makes him seem like a cartoony Bond villain otherwise.

I think it goes back to his son being killed, to be honest. He no longer has an heir which means his position of power is inherently weakened. It's also likely why he has such a young hottie of a wife, trying to conceive another heir though it doesn't seem like that's going too well.

I really like seeing the juxtaposition of Lagertha and Siggy and how they deal with the men in their lives. The way that Siggy is manipulating the Jarl leads me to believe she's got some larger game she's playing. I'll be interested to see how that plays out.

Frankly, I don't think the Jarl is unreasonably concerned. Ragnar is ambitious and charismatic. Such men are always threats to individuals who've been in power for a long time and who are as world-weary as the Jarl appears to be. He's tired of being in charge, but he'll be damned if he'll let some upstart like Ragnar take his power from him.

 

[Solo4114]

I've only seen the first two episodes thus far, so if they explain that, it must happen later. It certainly wasn't made apparent to me before the scene where Siggy beats the snot out of her "suitor."

 

[Monkey67]

Ragnar and Jarl are going into Thunderdome later on. They showed them fighting with everyone making a ring on bodies for them to duel.

Yeah Jarl wife isnt too happy that her man cant get it up anymore. She was telling him how great n powerful he is now. How he can have anything he wanted. Then he fails to get a chubby when she is grinding him. Game over man, game over.

 

[crabra comander]

All the drama thrown in, necessary to keep me interested. And to hate that damn jarl.

 

[swede]

so,i downloaded the first 2 episodes and watched the first yesterday! funny enough being a swede,reading about it here on RPF was the first time i ever heard about it.
not only is alex skarsgaards brother starring in it,but the director is also a swede so i think it should have been more covered in the media but..

cant give any opionions yet,having watched only one episode
but the environment (very much norway) and scenery were beautiful! villages,clothes,weapons and also the longboat were accurate to what we have found in scandinavia and as long as it doesnt turn into 13:th warrior/lord of the rings i might be hooked!

 

[SmilingOtter]

...and as long as it doesnt turn into 13:th warrior/lord of the rings i might be hooked!

Well, Vladimir Kunich IS in it... but he has a relatively minor role. (For what it's worth, I thought "13th Warrior" was a fun movie. Absolutely insane armor choices, but very watchable.)

 

[The Wook]

Another great ep tonight. :thumbsup

And another kickass beach battle! I loved the scene when the Vikings first arrive back at the beach. The first one around the corner sees the English soldiers and says, "Halt!", to his fellow Vikings...but Ragnar never hesitates and rounds the corner, with such a look of disdain on his face as he sizes up the English forces. The actor who plays Ragnar is really good.

Didn't realize 'til tonight that Rollo was Ragnar's actual brother. And in the close-ups of Rollo, while being courted by the Jarl, I realized he does look like he could be his blood brother.

Kudos to Rollo for staying loyal to Ragnar. I thought for sure, especially once the Jarl's hot daughter was brought in to sweeten the deal, that Rollo would turn. Glad he didn't. Let's see how long he'll stay loyal.

And ya know, Ragnar could throw him a bone every once in a while and tell him what he's planning. Like why it was best to attack on Sunday. I suppose he's leading the way he is, in an effort to elevate himself above the rest, including Rollo. But he's playing with fire.

Great show. I actually opted for watching this tonight over The Bible, which is high praise, because that mini-series is also awesome! (Can't wait to watch it tomorrow night.) The History Channel is on fire right now!

The Wook

ps~Just watched the preview for the next ep, my last recording had cut it off. I don't know how in the name of Thor that Ragnar is gonna get out of the peril he's in next week!

 

[crabra comander]

I know. History Channel needs to keep this going! I don't care about a few inaccuracies for the sake of plot movement!

 

[Monkey67]

I dont think Rollo is just perfectly loyal to his brother. I think the Queen is Sizing Rollo up for herself. She is playing more behind the sceens then letting off. Her lord is old n busted and cant not give her a child anymore. Seeing that his days seem to be done very soon. Why not set herself up for a better future. So if Rollo helps Ragnar by protecting him, he also sets up the down fall of the lord. The village is on ragnar side of this battle.

next weeks episode looks crazy