Things I have learnt by watching Vikings

[Orcs]

I am half way through season 4 and have found out lots of things I never knew about the Vikings and England at that time

Nearly all women were Shield Maidens
Viking men regularly shared their wives and girlfriends with other men
Lots of the women were bisexual. Astrid, Lagertha, Tovi to name but a few.
You could sleep with lots of different people in the same village but no one ever finds out.
Vikings used chariots (Ivar)
You could murder someone's relative and be friends with them at the same time
You could betray your countrymen repeatedly and they would always forgive you (Rollo)
There were lots of snakes in Britain at the time both constrictors such as pythons and poisonous ones as well.

[Zippee]

Yep, mostly that sounds like Norfolk - with the possible exception of the snakes, they're probably just a bit of licence.

I'll just assume the shield maidens are Essex ex pats, otherwise they seem to have nailed it for once!

[Techno]

I'm waiting for a certain member of the forum to make a comment about poisonous snakes. 

Cheers - Phil.

[Leman]

Also noted:

Under no circumstances would a Viking wear or possess a helmet.

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.

Ah well, we can but hope.

[fsn]

I'm waiting for a certain member of the forum to make a comment about poisonous snakes. 

Cheers - Phil.

Asp and you will receive!

[Techno]

I'm still waiting.....Perhaps I've put him off. 

Cheers - Phil

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Perhaps he's changing his vindscreen vipers?

[fsn]

They didn't do their research. Here are some proper Vikings showing how Viking really act and dress.

100% Authentic.

[Westmarcher]

I have one to add .. er
.................... here's one of Phil in his Viking suit.

[fsn]

That's what you call sculpting!

[Techno]

 

Cheers - Someone with a lot more hair (on top), no beard or moustache.......and about half that chap's weight......(Unless he's only 2 feet tall). 

[d_Guy]

They didn't do their research. Here are some proper Vikings showing how Viking really act and dress.

100% Authentic.

And here was me thinking the only song viking's sang was "My Mother Told Me"

[Leman]

This poisonous snake thing sounds like a load of old cobras to me.

[KTravlos]

I love both  Vikings and Techno-Vikings. Affect over reality man, affect over reality! :p

[Subedai]

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).

[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.