I at first thought this series was "Sons of Anarchy" in Viking garb...but after watching a few episodes...and then a few seasons, I realize this is a rare gem confirming there are still genuine artists in the digital age of "television." The casting and settings are of an era in this art form where creativity was placed above risk or budget. This is a CLASSIC the like of which I have not seen for generations. The assembly of such creativity is a rare occurrence and the synthesis and production of such a powerful visual narrative is incredible. While much of this writing is fiction, you would not know it was history. This production digs into the depths of humanity and yields an explanation of the motives of the history of human species.

If you like "Game of Thrones", then this is for you. It is very brutal, but so interesting to learn how Vikings lived, loved, worshipped, and justified their killing. Unlike an HBO show, The Vikings does not have full nudity. Being a Christian myself, it has been quite challenging to witness the cruelty & capture of a Christian priest whom desperately tries to understand their beliefs & customs while maintaining his faith & trust in Jesus. The filming locations are incredibly beautiful lands - just breath taking. The directors & actors choices make the show more real than my stomach can take at times, but it just proves their desire to make it as authentic as possible. Two of my daughters are actresses, so I truly appreciate the talents of the cast & crew that have given viewers the amazing opportunity to witness history on screen in a way that makes me feel like I am actually there with the Vikings.

Just started watching Vikings about a week ago as a filler show since all our current must-see TV shows are hold til mid January. Since watching the first episode, we were hooked and now are eager fans watching at least 2 episodes every night to get caught up with current season. Fun to watch, fun to cheer for the raiders from the North. This shows entertains through every facet of humanity and the acting is great. Travis Fimmel as Ragnar is hypnotic with a supporting cast equally so. Inspires you to go back to History class and learn more about the Viking people and their culture. Don't know of any shows currently inspiring that. Vikings is now added to our list of must-see TV, replacing another that is in its final season. This is definately not filler TV.

Great cinematography, breathtaking settings, perfect casting and solid directing are the basis for this series. Include captivating writing with fantastic actors in authentic villages and wearing period-exact costumes, and you have a series that stands at the top of the list! The savage violence which produces shocking blood and gore may be off-putting to some, but it is totally appropriate and relatively mild when compared to the historical facts. There is mystery, love, greed adventure, betrayal and more. The power machinations of the Vikings and Englanders are the clear antecedent of modern politics: deceit, trickery, force, bluff and betrayal are tools of the political trade. The villains have streaks of goodness; the heroes have streaks of villainy. But, they are all believable and indelible forces who are too magnificent to ignore. You can watch it for the beauty. You can watch it for the shock. You can watch it for the brilliant acting and writing. Or, you can watch it for the raw and overpowering entertainment. It's a visual and emotional feast that should not be missed!

History Channel's "Vikings" is a semi fact-based account of the life of raiding, pillaging, and terror educing people that were known as the Vikings. While the show is undoubtedly Hollywood conjecture with most of its characters and story lines, the show is so very well done that even people who have no interest in history or the Vikings would find something to love about this show.

The show centers around the sagas of Ragnar Lothbrok, a mythological Norse hero and notorious scourge of the West. Ragnar is shown as a humble farmer that rises to fame by raiding into western lands like England with his fellow Vikings like: Rollo his brother, his son Bjorn, and the shield maiden Lagertha. The show centers around the village of Kattegat, Scandinavia, and wonderfully goes through the progressions of what life might have been like over 1,200 years ago for these people. Now you have to realize with a show about Vikings it will contain several things that many people may find offensive: promiscuity, violence and bloodshed, and polytheism in the form of Thor, Odin and Freyr. I have read reviews to where people complain about the exposure to this sort of thing, but people remember your historical context and how the Vikings lived.

As for the cast and the show's production they are both simply amazing and very well done. Travis Fimmel, Katheryn Winnick and Clive Standen are easily standouts of the series with their style and composure in the screen, and their uncanny ability to channel their inner Vikings is truly quite remarkable to me. Other characters like Floki and Athelstan add certain spices to the mix of "Vikings" and keep you guessing on intentions and conclusions. The show's scenery is truly one of the greatest parts of the series. Wow is just about all I could muster the first time I watched the show and saw certain sights where the show was filmed. All the scenery masterfully displays a well planned out series, and coupled with tremendous actors and a well written script, this show is as close to must watch as I have seen in recent years.

I'm sorry to say that I watched the 1st three episodes before losing interest. The photography and setting are absolutely spectacular and everything was very well acted, but the dialog and story just did not do much for me. I watched 3 episodes because I realize that it can take time for a story and the characters to develop, but I just didn't see any improvement from the first episode to the third. I really think the writers are to blame for the shortfall. If I get desperate enough for something to watch, I may come back and watch some more episodes, but for now I'm moving on to other options.

If you have ever wondered why so many of our days of the week are named after Norse Mythological gods this is one very good place to start. While I think sometimes it may suffer from a little bit of political correctness, I have to remind myself that Norse and Christian society women's roles were different and our own is a blend of both. Also the characters depicted here did not leave interviews on e-files.

My favorite characters are Ragnar, Langella, and Aslan the monk who straddles both cultures and comes to me to personify the best of each in our own. But as the series has gone on I keep finding others I really want to know better and better, the knaves as well as the heroes.

The other wonderful aspect to me is how it does not spare us the real effects of violence in its physiological effect on people. Not since I saw the perversity of "Patton" displayed in the kiss of thanks to the officer who has just fought a tank battle and is exhausted. "God forgive me I love it so". Has the weird and twisted effects of violence been so personalized in a painful but positive way.

I would not show this to the kids ( age< 18) nor to those with issues, but for adults looking to understand some of the history of where we come from a must see.

Note it my desperate hope that they carry the series ( now in its third season) forward to the time of Alfred the Great who in effect brought both cultures together in what was to become England even in military defeat, but then that may be too much to hope for.

Started watching this show because I purchased a new smart tv and had prime services. First off, let me say, viewing HD on a true HD capable TV was unusual. I'm so programmed to the standard flat image of Non HD, it was like going from black and white tv to color. When I first started watching the first episode, season 1, I was intrigued but not sure if it could hold my interest. I only watched a few minutes because it wasn't what I expected. I later came back to view it and gave it a chance. It's amazing as it starts out before the Vikings sailed to other lands but quickly shows how they developed and mastered the seas as well as their brutality, all of course consistent with lawlessness and seeking fortunes. The characters are complex. As a matter of fact, the main character is one you love to hate. At times, he seems so reasonable compared to other characters and yet he is deceitful and ambitious, almost to a flaw. I sat down on a Friday and by Sunday, I was finishing up season 1. It's a great series to watch if you have a long stretch of time and want to view every episode but is just as interesting if you have a daily train commute and want to be completely absorbed in a different time where the rules change on a regular basis. All I can say is you will really enjoy this if you like a good script with great characters visualization and cinematography.