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marcus_murphy
Reviews
Vikings (2013)
What Television Is Meant To Be
As many other reviews have already pointed out, this show does indeed fall off after the death of its main character, Ragnar Lothbrok. However, the first four or so seasons are terrific. That being said, I will split this review into two sections: the seasons with Ragnar and then the seasons without. I have have a list of pros and cons for both.
Seasons With Ragnar
Pros:
To begin with, the acting is top notch. Every actor gives their all and their hard work pays off. You truly feel happy when the characters are happy and sad when they're sad.
The fight choreography is fantastic. Following true viking fashion, nearly every episode contains a fight or battle scene, and they're awesome every time. There's no side characters waiting for their turn at the main character or pulling any punches. Action packed and chalk full of gore, each fight is visceral.
The story is emotional, enthralling, and flows very well. Very loosely based on the sagas of the real Ragnar Lothbrok and his sons, much of course is fantasy (this is television after all), but it's not a documentary nor does it pretend to be. Full of love, hatred, deceit, religious overtones, and imaginative story telling, you can't help but take part in their world.
Cinematically this series is great. The earlier seasons are dark, gritty, and incredibly well lit. The close up style of shooting brings you in close to the characters and gives you a very personal feel which only adds to the story.
The score is very fitting. A mixture of both studio produced scores and acoustic music produced on period or near-period instruments really acts as the cherry on top.
Cons:
I really hate to include the con of historical inaccuracies for reasons i stated previously, however, nearly all works of historical fiction suffer from at least some kind or another.
Ostentatious outfits. The main characters in this series wear clothing that is very much out of place for the people of Scandinavia during this period. However, while the main characters outfits are fantastical, the costuming done on the extras are very good and quite realistic, being very simple with very little extravagance.
Continuity. I debated whether or not to include this as it only pertains to a select few instances but nonetheless I have. Many minor things, scars and wounds, small storylines, etc. From early in the show are either forgotten or left alone. However, these are very trivial and do not take away from the show in any large capacity.
Seasons Without Ragnar
Pros: Maintaining nearly all of the main cast even as the story shifts focus from one Lothbrok to several was a very smart move. The many beloved characters staying on and staying prevalent really helps the story remain familiar and pertinent.
A smooth transition. Many shows wouldn't dare kill off the main character halfway through the show, but Vikings departs from the norm and succeeds in doing so (at least partially). Although told in two parts, it feels more like a faithful continuation.
Cons:
If the seasons with Ragnar felt half real and half fantasy, the seasons after his death move fully into the latter category. Most will agree that the show falls off at this point and it's not entirely too surprising as it becomes far more fantastical and begins to follow several storylines instead of just one.
The acting, like the story, becomes much more fantastical. It is at this point where we find the many tropes of Hollywood vikings, full of exaggeration and pomp. We leave the realm of marauding farmers and enter the world of killing for killing sake.
Overall:
This series is one of a lauded few that keeps the genre of television alive. Encapsulating and enticing, it is difficult to refrain from binging this entire show in one weekend. I rated this 10/10 instead of a 9/10 as I feel that what the latter half of the series lacks, the first half readily makes up for. I can, and have, rewatched this series more than once as it has great rewatch value. Vikings deserves its place among the great television shows of our era and will most likely go down as one well. Do yourself a favor and give this series a chance.
Pumpkinhead (1988)
So close to being so good
Generally not a fan of horror/scary movies for they're typically poorly made and cheesy. However this movie offered up an interesting story, a really well designed monster, and acting that wasn't too bad. What I most enjoyed about this movie was how beautifully shot a lot of the scenes were. Save for a few cheesy, over-the-top moments, this movie was truly very good. It looks dated for it's release in 1988, fitting in better with the 70's horror category, but it is truly worth the watch.
The Linguists (2008)
Lots of Potential But Falls Short
For being researchers studying rare and dying languages, or anthropologists in general, their people skills aren't the greatest. Their work is undoubtedly important, especially to the people who's languages are the ones in decline, but it was almost painful watching them in the field. I rated this 4/10 with their research being the only redeeming quality. Worth watching if you like rare languages but not much else.
The Mandalorian (2019)
A Return to Star Wars
After a hiatus from true Star Wars themes and storytelling, thanks to Kathleen Kennedy and the Sequel Trilogy, the Mandalorian is the exact revitalization that this universe needed. Our main Protagonist, "Mando" and his adventures drop us straight into the gritty mysticism of the Star Wars world we haven't seen since Return of the Jedi. Filled with awesome easter eggs and stunning visuals, Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni bring the excitement and dedication to the screen as only true fans of this world could, and they keep us enthralled the whole time. The episodes do follow a repetitive narrative but it's easy to look past as you travel the galaxy and discover new people, places, and creatures. Overall, an exciting return to the beloved galaxy far far away that hopefully stays around for a long time.