Things I have learnt by watching Vikings

[fred.]

The Saxons at this time differentiated themselves by wearing different helmet styles, wearing different armour styles, carrying different styles of shields, thus each kingdom presented a uniform appearance.

The kingdom of Wessex invented the C16th burgonet in the mid-C9th.

Yes, the different uniforms for the Saxons is pretty grating. But it does at least let you know which faction is which, a thing that TV dramas are big for, Game of Thrones does a similar thing, but gets away with a bit more due being fantasy.

At least with the actual Vikings they have gone for a style, but then mixed it up between individuals (apart from the shields!)

All this said I'm really enjoying it as a series - started watching around Christmas, and am now most of the way through the first part of Series 4 (I don't quite understand why series 4 has double the number of episodes, without it being series 4, and series 5).

[Orcs]

Sorry Mick I did say I was half way through Series 4,initially.  I don't think I have given much of the actual plot away.

[Westmarcher]

Talk about bl**dy spoilers! I'm only on the fourth episode of Series 1 -now that it's on Freeview- so now all my fun has been spoilt by you lot! You could have put a warning label up first.

Yours

MickS (A disappointed Vikings watcher).

Not to worry, Mick. For guys like me who know a little about Dark Age history, I kinda know what's going to happen next - despite that it's interesting for me to find out how the writer is going to include (or distort this) within the story. Still enjoyable as far as I'm concerned despite all of the other 'Hollywood' shortcomings.

(e.g., I live relatively close to Dumbarton Rock in Scotland. A viking force led by Ivar the Boneless besieged the fortress there in 870 AD. I wonder if that episode will be included in a future season?)

[d_Guy]

IIRC - the companion series - "the making of The Vikings" or such like,  had an episode where they were following Ivar around and prehaps found his burial place. They spent a bit of time at Dumbarton Rock (which is dang impressive BTW) and Ivar's siege. Strategically he had to control it for his invasion of Ireland.

The time they spent there convinced me that it would be part of season 5 (which actually seems like it should be 6 given the weird splitting of season 4)

[Leman]

Must admit that, despite its historical shortcomings, I have watched it avidly on Amazon as it's damn fine storytelling. I just treat it as if I was sitting at the fire in a great hall listening to a saga.

[d_Guy]

I think you just nailed it Leman.

[Leman]

Gosh, this thread is so much more fun than 'sorry, it's just not for me.' Shan't be going there again.

[fsn]

Splitter. 

[Subedai]

I didn't really think that the clothing issues would be that important to the show, at least the idea of horned helmets have gone the way of the Dodo. (I wonder where that originated from...anyone know?)

As a famous newspaper person of questionable morality is reputed to have once said 'Why let the truth get in the way of a good story?'.

Don't worry, it's my fault, I didn't realise until just now that I hadn't put a at the end. I will still carry on with watching and are categorising it under 'Rollicking good yarn'.

MickS

[DanJ]

I will still carry on with watching and are categorising it under 'Rollicking good yarn'

I haven't seen any Vikings yet, mostly because we don't have Skye or whatever channel it's on but I'd mentally classed it as 'Primary Source Material', along with Kelly's Heroes, Sharpe and the whole Asterix cannon.   

[toxicpixie]

I didn't really think that the clothing issues would be that important to the show, at least the idea of horned helmets have gone the way of the Dodo. (I wonder where that originated from...anyone know?)

It'll be the bl**dy Victorians again.

And yes, the Saxon "uniforms" grated, but I'm also willing to overlook it for the rather good story it's telling. Think of it as modern myth, like a Saga and such conceits just drop away

[Malbork]

Not quite sure what series I'm up to, somewhere in 3 I think, but I agree with Leman;

Take it as a saga and the problems disappear.

[Ithoriel]

I haven't seen any Vikings yet, mostly because we don't have Skye or whatever channel it's on but I'd mentally classed it as 'Primary Source Material', along with Kelly's Heroes, Sharpe and the whole Asterix cannon.   

The Asterix books were on my university Archaelogy course Required Reading list. Prof Piggot reckoned it gave the best depiction of real druids available at the time!

[Luddite]

Vikings


Not Vikings