Vikings: Season 2 (DVD)

Every few years a show is brought to television which changes the paradigm of what may and may not happen in a television show. Lost did it by bringing an entirely new type of series, filmed in locations which give the show a feel like no other. 4 years ago we were lucky enough to see 2 such shows alter a paradigm when The Walking Dead along with Game of Thrones gave us shows where no character is safe. Well, 2 years ago it was Vikings.Vikings is new and exciting in that it tells an epic tale, on an epic stage. Much like Game of Thrones, every 2 episodes or so, when combined, feel like a full length movie within themselves, not only visually, but in the scope of what was happening historically in their time. Vikings does not limit itself to a few, or even several years out of time. No... it is a show of decades, and they tell the tale of Ragnar and the sons of Ragnar, which are some of the oldest and most interesting stories told of Scandinavia, in a time when Denmark was just starting to reach ithe heigth of its glory, having already raided and conquered and settled most of Europe and West Asia, finally sailing and establishing kingdoms in the British Isles.Certainly people have heard stories of the Vikings, but few are aware of just how glorious a civilization they were (for those who watch the show Star Trek, you will recognize a whole lot of Klingon in the Vikings, especially since the Klingons were based on the Vikings--or so Gene Roddenberry said). As a an American Dane, I grew up hearing the tales of Ivar the Boneless, and Bjorn Ironsides,, right next to Broomhilda, Grendel, Thor, Odin, Freyr, Loki, and so on. Whereas you have to take every fictional show with a grain of salt as to how accurate it is (I mean, none of the producers nor the writer ever lived in the Dark Ages, so there's very little we have to go by as to exactly how they lived and what the land looked like during the time the Vikings ruled the known world), but that's what makes the show so wonderful. It's a show telling the story of one of the greatest sagas in Scandinavian history (see The Saga of Ragnar Lodbrok), and just in seasons 1 and 2, we've seen the peasant famer Ragnar, through ingenuity, go from peasant farmer with very young children to fighting alongside his son, as Earl, and eventually... well, I don't want to ruin it for you... Really, watch it, and be aware it's not ALL about Ragnar.If I could think of a style of filming and production to compare to this, I would look at the FIRST movie "300," only I would let you know you get to watch the very best and the very worst that society had to offer over decades, not just about one famous battle, and we're but 2 seasons in. I'm already salivating at the thought of season 3.Note: Though there is a LOT of graphic violence, they do an excellent job of making you realizing the savagery of hand to hand battle without forcing you to watch arms and legs chopped off. There's also a fair degree of sexual content. I think parents ought to be warned about it, and should probably watch the show themselves before judging whether or not your kids should be allowed to see it, but should they be old enough, and you allow it, they'll be in for a treat, just like you.

What a fantastic show so far. This review is based on the First season of Vikings.::Historical Accuracy::I can't claim that this show is accurate or inaccurate, as I have no idea either way myself. I didn't expect this show to be a factual history lesson on vikings, but rather a "historical fiction" drama/action series. Watching the show has certainly made me more interested in actually researching the real history behind the series. When it comes to "historical fiction", I'm of the mind that, a story that intrigues you enough to go research and learn about it, is far superior to a story that just tells you the 100% factual & realistic truth. This show entertains me thoroughly, exactly as it is.::Characters::All comparison to "real history" aside, these characters are fantastic. I don't want to add any spoilers so I'll keep this part brief. Travis Fimmel's character Ragnar Lothbrok is very engaging. Ragnar, along with most of the others, operates in shades of moral grays and has had me, alternately, laughing to tears and fuming. The characters are flawed and go through life with very different motivations. The shipbuilder, Floki, is a chaotic mess but is quick to come to the aid of friends. Ragnar's brother Rollo jumps between being one of my favorite characters and me wanting to see a sword through his eye. I can't pick a "favorite character" because they are all so darn... human! One moment I want to hit them through the screen, the next I have pain in my torso at the feelings they invoke. Brilliant characters and acting.::Lack of Sex Scenes::Now, as I understand it, there is an Australian version or something that has considerably more nudity than the one I'm watching here on Amazon (which has essentially none). That is just fine with me! It's hard to find a good, gritty, action/drama (that isn't a cop show!) that I can watch with my GF (who does not enjoy the non-story-related excess sex scenes that some shows have - extra scenes that are just "sex", not "plot"). You might think that a show about vikings would be chock-full of sex and rape but this show is incredibly well done. Again, I'm not speaking to the historical accuracy of the series, just the entertainment value. I don't mind excess sex scenes but I'd like to be able to watch shows with my significant other sometimes, this fits the bill.::Production/Overall::Everything from the writing, to the acting, to the filming locations, to the props - everything is fantastic. I might have lower expectations than some but I have nothing but good things to say about Vikings. There were moments that made me uncomfortable or angry but it was purely in response to good writing/filming/acting/storytelling - not the show's fault! It's just doing what it's supposed to.Watch this!