I'm a natural fan of historical fiction, and so I was eager to see how this series would fare. So far, I'm very much enjoying it.
As far as likable characters go...well, there aren't many. Or any. At all. But that's not a necessity in a series as THE SOPRANOS has already proved, but none of the characters are particularly interesting, either. That's the one major drawback this series has. It keeps me from being emotionally attached or interested in anyone, and so I don't look forward to seeing any of the story lines develop.
Except, being a fan of history, I'm hugely interested in the history, and that's what keeps me watching. I'm not picky about historical accuracy when it comes to the details, so I won't be complaining about any of that (but thank goodness the Vikings don't have horned helmets).
As far as the story goes, it's been handled well. With the exception of the last two episodes I felt as though the season was building quite well episode after episode. It was only episode 8 (which could have been placed elsewhere) and the finale (which didn't tie up much at all and only confirmed events the audience already knew was going to happen).
Best Episode: A King's Ransom (07) Best Actor: Gustaf Skarsgard