Vikings (2013–2020) User Reviews

Ragnar Lothbrook

[avalosraul · 9/10 · 16 July 2021]

Seasons 1-3 and the 2nd half of season 4 are the best this show has to offer. But the rest is easily forgetful I do not remember a single scene that moved me or stuck with me. Ragnar was what made this show great. Vikings is brutal and has some very dark and complex moments. First 3 seasons 10/10 season 4 7/10. Spinoff would have been better for the sons. Ragnar deserved better and Michael Hirst didn't execute.

Loved It

[Supermanfan-13 · 10/10 · 12 December 2023]

I absolutely loved Vikings and already miss it. Obviously, the first 4 seasons were a lot better with Travis Fimmel as Ragnar still on it but the show was still pretty good even after he left...as long as you try not to compare it to those first four seasons. The writing and acting is so good that it just pulls you into their world. Finmel wasn't the only one was great. The entire cast was. Katheryn Winnick (Lagertha), Alexander Ludwig (Bjorn), Clive Standen (Rollo), Gustaf Skarsgard (Floki), Jonathan Rhys Meyers (Bishop Haehmund) and Alex Hogh Anderson (Ivar) all stood out too. Even though the quality went down a little after Fimnel left, I thought the last 10 episodes on Amazon got the show back on track and ended the series on a real high note though.

Absolutely Amazing!!

[Rob1331 · 10/10 · 9 October 2022]

Vikings is one of the rare shows where it is never dull and full of entertainment. It's a show with plenty of violence, drama, mystery, etc. The character development is what keeps the show fresh and interesting. It takes you into this world of Vikings and keeps you intrigued throughout the series. I just loved this show so much and even though it hasn't been gone that long I already miss it! I know everyone keeps talking about how the show dropped in quality when Travis Fimmel (Ragnar) left the show, and it did, but it was still a pretty good show after he left as long as you don't compare it to when he was there. Just take it for what it is and that's still a very entertaining show. For some reason it left the History Channel for Amazon Prime Video for the final ten episodes and thought they did a really good job finishing off the story. It's one of the rare great shows where they didn't botch the ending.

The Norse Remembers.

[southdavid · 8/10 · 8 January 2021]

With the release of the last half of the 6th season we finished the epic seven-year saga of Ragnar Lothbrok and his sons. Whilst I am not sure I'd consider "Vikings" to be amongst the very top tier of shows I've watched in my lifetime; I've certainly enjoyed my time with the Norsemen.

Ragnar Lothbrok (Travis Fimmel) is a farmer and raider who becomes a legendary figure amongst the Viking people by establishing consistent navigation techniques and leading successful raids on the various Kingdom's that would become Britain. Rising to become King, his legacy is cemented by the actions of his sons, particularly Bjorn Ironside (Alexander Ludwig) and Ivar The Boneless (Alex Hogh Andersen) who would rule countries and influence politics far from their homelands.

The first few episodes don't really convey the scale of the ones that would eventually follow. There are lots of great characters that appear across the run but at the start the show rests on Travis Fimmel's shoulders and he's really good. Ragnar is not a good man, or father and the danger of the character always is present in Fimmel's wild eyes but you still understand why his men fought for him and elevated him so highly that his sons could trade of his name. His sons each derive some aspect of him, Ubbe played by Jordan Patrick Smith is the explorer he wanted to be, Bjorn the noble King, Hvitserk, played by Marco Ilso, is the sufferer and addict and Ivar the vicious warlord. I don't really think any of the characters across the run were poorly performed and it's interesting to look back now and remember some of those characters and the stories that only played for a while.

The scale of the show gets bigger and bigger and the battle scenes more and more expansive. I don't feel as strongly as others that the show drops off as it refocuses on the sons of Ragnar but I would accept that some of the stories don't quite end at their natural point or have deviations that don't go anywhere.

It's not, for me, in that top tier "West Wing", "Game of Thrones", "The Wire" category, but it's not far below and I'm happy to have visited Kattegat for these last few years.

The Gods Heard Me!

[pianys · 10/10 · 4 March 2013]

I've been looking forward to a viking film or TV series for many years, and when my wishes were finally granted, I was very worried that this production was going to be total crap. After viewing the first two episodes I do not worry about that anymore. Thank you, Odin:-)

As a person of some historical knowledge of the viking era, I can point out numerous flaws - but they don't ruin the story for me, so I will let them slip. Historical accounts about those days are, after all, not entirely reliable.

Happy to see Travis Fimmel in a role that totally suits him. A physical and intense character, with that spice of humor that is the viking trademark from the sagas. Gabriel Byrne plays a stern leader, that made me think of him in "Prince of Jutland", and Clive Standen seems like he's going to surprise us.

Been pondering the Game of Thrones comparison, since I love that show too, but in my opinion Vikings has its own thing going on. Way fewer lead characters to begin with, and also a more straight forward approach. Plenty of room for more series with this high class!

Can I wish for more than the planned nine episodes, PLEASE!!!

From an excellent TV show to an average one

[nilsonsc · 7/10 · 16 April 2018]

The first 3 seasons are excellent. I used to recommend this series to all my friends. Few episodes, good story, unique characters. Then the fame came and brought greed. History Channel decided to double the earnings by doubling the number of episodes in season 4. Without enough content to fill the episodes, the show became slow and boring. I decided to stop watching it by the end of season 4 because I realized it was declining. I don't want to screw up my good memories.

Vikings is the opposite of wine, was the best when it was made.. and got worse every season.

[vldmlnk · 5/10 · 21 January 2018]

It is my first review on IMDB, with such disappointment i felt like i had to do it and as a big fan, it is really hard for me to rate this gem so poorly but here is my reasons:

First seasons was so great, i was telling everyone that this show is way better than Game of Thrones and was so hyped about it,and i guess this is the reason for the big failure followed by next seasons. Not sure whether the producers decided to make it as provocative and shocking as GoT or they were out of ideas and decided just to add random boring side stories and dialogues. I wont mention specific scenes to avoid spoilers, but the last season is such a waste of time, there is like 10 percent progress and the rest is boring, emotionless, banal dialogues with characters who you got no emotional bond with and even question their existence in this series (not minding the horrible acting from some of these).

* I would like to mention, that those who just started watching or about to start, please mind that the first 3 seasons are excellent and worth watching.

**Sorry for my poor English as it is not my main language.

Finally a Viking series!

[bueandre · 9/10 · 15 March 2013]

I've been waiting for someone to make a good series about the vikings. I'm from Norway myself, and I'm naturally interested in our history. I've only seen two episodes so far, but I have to say - it really looks promising. The surroundings and nature in the two first episodes is exactly how it looks in "Vestlandet", the western parts of Norway. Stunnings fjords with waterfalls cascading down the sides. It really looks authentic.

The acting is mostly top notch, a few short scenes aren't that great but it's hardly mentionable. It seems like in the beginning, people are speaking an incomprehensible Norse/English mix, and then they continue speaking a modern English. It's pretty clever actually. Fun fact: When the Vikings invaded the British isles they could understand each other's languages.

The story itself is really exciting, and I just want to watch more.. I can hardly wait for the next episode to be released.

I don't know so much about the Ragnar Lodbrok character, but Rollo (Gangarolf) is a very famous character in the Norse sagas.

I highly recommend this show, and I really hope they continue making this for several seasons.

Hard and cruel, but somehow tempting way of life

[Bored_Dragon · 8/10 · 19 January 2018]

19 January 2018

I'm not a fan of historical and quasi-historical films and series, so I had no high expectations for "Vikings". But the first season bought me right away. It's completely different from anything I've seen so far, and there are more dead than in "Game of Thrones". Now I finished the second season and the series just keeps getting better. It seems to me that there are more scheming and twists than in GoT. The acting and characterization are excellent, and the action scenes are incredibly believable and realistic. It gets more and more complicated and tense and will not only hold your attention but also your breath.

7 April 2024

I finally made it to the end. In the later seasons, the story branches out in too many directions and gets overly complicated. The series in most respects maintains the level until the very end, but the story begins to repeat itself, the same plots revolve around different generations of characters and, although it cannot be said that the quality decreases, it all becomes a bit monotonous. Some of the denouements delighted me, some disappointed me, and some felt unfinished, but I guess that's a matter of taste. All in all, an above-average series, but I think they should have ended it earlier. Definitely a recommendation, if for no other reason than because of the original and striking performances of the entire cast, among which Katheryn Winnick, Gustaf Skarsgård, Alex Hogh Andersen, and Travis Fimmel stand out the most.

8/10.

Thanks, History Channel!

[jonasgildea · 10/10 · 5 March 2013]

I've watched the two first episodes of the series and I can say that I'm POSITIVELY surprised.

I didn't know if this would be any good but I'm most certainly intrigued. It's well written, exciting and charming. The show is very enjoyable, especially if you're interested in Scandinavian/European history.

I love Norse Mythology and I am very happy that this show aired, I just hope it continues going in a good direction. :)

All in all I can't wait for the remaining episodes and if you're considering picking this show up I'd definitely recommend it.

Fantastic new show really shows Viking world

[Bobdatart · 10/10 · 5 March 2013]

I really enjoyed this first episode. Writing is strong. Acting is good and more importantly I am really fascinated by the characters. The most impressive thing however was the look of the show. Photography, art direction and just whole look is so lush and rich looks like a feature film. Cant wait for episode 2! Both Travis and Gabriel Byne both shine in their roles. I do hope a season 2 is in the works. I have read a lot about vikings and I can see the makes really went to great lengths to bring the true viking ways to the screen. Especially the religion and gods. I am a fan GOT and this show is great that it delves into the ancient world, but this show has a different flavor. More raw and intense, but still with a nice magical feel to it.

Something a bit different and very enjoyable.

[pk1873 · 10/10 · 11 March 2013]

There have been one or two negative reviews posted about this show and I have to say that after 2 episodes, I really like it... nit pickers may say that there are historical inaccuracies, but there are also many myths dispelled ... and with the appearance of Valkyrie on the battlefield at the very beginning of ep1 to take fallen warriors souls, unless you are deluded and believe in that being factual it was clear from the very outset that there was always going to be some dramatic license used. Others say the show is too Hollywood, this has to be the case to some extent but by no means is this another mass produced piece of garbage, unless you want the show cancelled after the pilot it must appeal to a mass American audience as entertainment it isn't a documentary. I personally feel that the show DOES have a European feel which is absent in many historical dramas, the locations are beautiful, the cast has been well selected and act their parts fantastically well. The good guys are instantly likable where as the bad guys you just can't wait to see them get whats coming to them, that is always a good sign as far as I am concerned as i want to see what happens to them and am looking forward to the next episode. So don't be put off by the pedantic armchair historians out there give vikings a chance.. it is what it is.

Great entertainment

[Robin_clarke41 · 9/10 · 6 March 2013]

As usual on IMDb fictional dramas set in a particular period in history attract the bores that insist on bleating 'its not historically accurate'. Well just ignore them as this is a fantastic and exciting look at the relatively unexplored Viking world. In the same vein as other fictional historical dramas such as Spartacus or Rome the plot centres around a single character and their family. We then take a brief look into their world and are shown how dangerous a place the world was at this time. The show has a quality feel to it not like some of the more poorly made historical drama around today (sorry but Camelot was just awful!). The sets are impressive and believable and the direction and framing of each scene is obviously set by a skilled hand. The characters are all interesting and likable and the acting is top notch. The only negative I could draw on was that there could have been a bit more action in the first episode but what action there was was very well done. My advice to you, just watch and enjoy it for what it is and don't be out off by the history buffs. If we insisted on only ever watching historical drama that was 100% accurate I'm pretty sure we would be watching none at all. Great show, a solid nine out of ten.

Vikings tv series is losing rate after ragnar

[arashhadadian · 7/10 · 19 January 2020]

After last season (S6) , clearly you can see a few youngs actress are trying to be good enough like Travis Fimmel or i see they are pretending. this make vikings to a low quality series , it was fantastic but now ...The storyline and role-playing are really weak. -3 for the last two seasons.

A Medieval "Godfather"

[loufalce · 9/10 · 17 March 2013]

Maybe it isn't real 100 percent history. Some liberties were taken, but for the most part is seems to ring true.At times it almost seems like a contemporary crime drama, but the facts are there-the raids on British monastaries that did occur in the late 8th century, a fairly realistic depiction on what Norse life was probably like at this timeline, the spectacular countryside with its majestic forests and rivers, and the depictions of the Vikings themselves. Savage, eager to loot and plunder, but nevertheless bound by a sort of code of honor. Their acts are savage and the chieftan seems more like a medieval Godfather who uses his power for his own personal gain and who is not above killing somebody on the spot if he is displeased with his actions. The storyline is fairly literate and not the usual mindless adventure that too many of these movies present to us, and the characters are convincingly drawn and likely motivated. The music is good and the full size replicas of the ships are very accurate. Even the deliberate pace works to its advantage, we are never rushed and the story develops as it moves along. It is never dull and there is plenty of interest to engage the viewer. However, if you are put off by graphic violence , don't watch it. Those times were fairly brutal. Fine entertainment . Enjoy it.

What happened??

[cathkvam · 4/10 · 9 January 2019]

S1-3= 10 stars....and then the show died. S4 and 5 is a complete mess with no substance...sooo disapointed.

Good show

[pkelly12002 · 10/10 · 10 March 2013]

There are some Hollywood liberties taken during the show this is to be expected it is a show. If you made a show about everyday life during the vikings time most would be dull and not exciting it is not like they went to battle everyday. The show has a lot of historical basis with some liberties taken to liven the show up. It is well produced and has great cinematography . If , you are however looking for a straight fact based view on vikings go to the library and pull anthropology research journals out. For everyone else if you like battles with historical styles, understandings of how they navigated and views on the social structure of the vikings then you will get a understanding. You will also see how laws and ethics were for the vikings so yes there is some historical accuracy to the show . All in all if you want entertainment mixed with history it is a great show.

A binge-able entertaining show

[rockdude-68045 · 8/10 · 7 December 2022]

The seasons of the show all would be ranked differently for stars out of ten but overall the show was good and I enjoyed it. It was entertaining enough for me to rewatch it a couple of times and refer it to others. The acting was good, the storyline was good (for awhile), and it felt like glimpsing into the viking era through the dramatic tv lense that's fun to get lost in!

Seasons 1-3 are the best. Hands down the strongest and most developed storylines with good character development and action. There's a couple characters that drag a little but end up having an arc making it worth while.

Seasons 4-5 start to slide down the slope a bit. It's where the real driving force behind the show goes off the path and ends up kind of a tangled mess that starts erasing some of the good from the prior seasons. It also starts the downward spiral in quality for storyline and characters especially marking the transition of focus for main characters.

Season 6 definitely struggles until everything starts coming full circle and starts wrapping up. Then it feels like the original three seasons get honored a bit and leaves the show on a much better note than if it failed to do this.

Overall the first couple seasons carried most of the rest and the pre-established connections from them are the lifeline to the rest. You could honestly stop watching after season 4 if you wanted. Everything after it is more like a spin-off / continuation storyline that kind of performs like an ok sequel to a great movie. Regardless it was still entertaining enough to finish through but it drops in quality and at times it even got a bit annoying or dull. The show itself from start to finish was entertaining and it's why I'd rewatch it or recommend giving it a chance to others. 8/10.

Discovered this a few weeks ago - quickly becoming one of my favorites.

[therskybznuiss · 9/10 · 22 July 2021]

First things first - the characters, brought to life by the brilliant performances are... spectacular. The writers, producers, directors, and most of all the actors were -all- so inspired - so much passion for the product, that every scene evokes its own life. Though the show is super serious, it dosent always take itself too seriously which is rare and very welcome.

Every character has redeeming qualities and I must say... This is quite the amazing show. I didnt know there were more than 4 seasons, so maybe I'll finish with what's on Netflix and leave it there, cuz a lot of you guy's really seem to note a quality dip..

A must watch - one of my favorite newer series.

Near Impossible To Do Better

[TC2021 · 9/10 · 4 March 2022]

The first five seasons of this series are almost perfect. The characters and their arcs are soooo good, the actors and actresses topnotch. No, the show wasn't all that historically accurate, but oh my gosh, was it entertaining!!! The only "historical" series I've seen that comes close to this is Black Sails.

Not a History lesson

[kosmasp · 10/10 · 19 January 2021]

Well I doubt that any Historian would find this to be 100% accurate. And that is not just the fact that you can hear the main characters mostly talk in english, instead of their native language. But the show makes it clear that it is just when eveyone understands each other that we as viewers also hear them talk in english. Otherwise you'll get different languages thrown at you.

But let's start from the beginning or season 1 here. After all the praise I was hearing over the years, I was a little bit underwhelmed by it to be frank. Don't get me wrong, it already has many of the ingredients that made it a great show (one of them being amazing battle and fight scenes), but it felt like this was a contained world. The scope seemed miniscule. But that is of course a bit harsh. Considering what shows cost and then making a period piece like this, with costumes and ships and all that (not that many in season 1 as I said, but it made sense from a budget point of view ... you never know if this takes off or not). One thing it got right from the start is the main villain it starts off with! You can never go wrong - Garbiel Byrne! Fantastic actor, awesome performance and character.

But with season 2 the show really gets you, if it didn't before. More characters are introduced and you get a deeper feeling for those already in the mix (be it Floki, Lagertha or others who are not Ragnar). And what the show also does: it actually keeps you on your toes when it comes to who survives and who dies. Or how they die if they do. While Season 1 and 2 had somewhat predictable "endings" (or twists you probably saw coming a mile a way), the next seasons got better with it.

And the mentioned battles also got tweaked from time to time, especially after a character named Ivar gets introduced, but you'll see for yourself. There is a lot of mystic power behind this, a lot of believing or not ... and a lot of otherworldly stuff that keeps sort of happening. Morally you disagree with certain things, while the slaughtering was probably not seen as something bad, but just as a side product of looting and taking over land. All is fair in war and love, right? Well again, the show does not pull punches in certain areas, which fragile viewers may find disturbing. There's also a certain amount of nudity and sexual situations, though not nearly as much as I felt Game of Thrones had.

Speaking of the obvious comparisons that may come: especially at the beginning of the show, this felt more like Sons of Anarchy (no pun intended), than GoT. But depending on what you've seen and your perception you may feel different or even compare it with something else entirely.

This is not for the faint of hearted and was able to conclude in a way that may seem sudden to some, but is refreshing and fulfilling to others. No matter if I felt a bit of a slow down at the start of the final season, it picked the pace up again fairly quickly. So in the end, the praise was warranted as the story goes ... or fades ...

An epic conclusion

[arabnikita · 10/10 · 2 January 2021]

Vikings (2013 - 2020)

The twilight of the Gods is upon us as the age of Viking heroes comes to an end. It has been an 8 year journey filled with great characters, multilayered narratives and countless emotional moments of both joy and heartbreak. There have been ups and downs throughout the seasons but I loved every moment and now I am satisfied with the way everything has ended.

The final season has been one of the most interesting ones for me personally because Vikings have played a huge role in Russian history. The creators brought in one of Russia's best actors, Danila Kozlovsky, to play Prince Oleg and he turned into one of the show's most enigmatic characters through his nuanced portrayal of an ambitious ruler.. There were some blatant inaccuracies when it comes to certain historical elements and I can see how it might trigger some people. Personaly, the amount of admiration I have for this series, overshadows the occasional faults it has exhibited.

Season 6 was a deserved conclusion to the saga of Ragnar Lothrbrok and his sons. It had everything that fans love about the show such as conquests, political intrigues and of course the colossal battles. There has been a lot of loss as we said goodbye to our beloved characters and the emotions that came with these moments is what will stick with me for many years until my next rewatch.

This series has always been a mixture of history and fiction as it's first objective was to entertain the audience with the rich lore of Viking culture, the Gods and exploration of the world. The way facts were neatly intertwined with fiction resulted in a highly enjoyable show despite sporadic inaccuracies and slow moments. The gorgeous cinematography, the breathtaking music and the spellbinding intro have elevated the intriguing storyline to the level of a TV Epic. Farewell Vikings. Valhalla awaits!!!

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was a 10 now it's an 8

[the_real_smile · 8/10 · 7 February 2019]

Each season the series gets lamer ans lamer, first seasons were great, lot of violence, gore, nudity, you name it. Last seasons the action hardly has any gore, nudity is restricted to an elbow, it;s just not the same anymore. My advise, watch seasons 1 - 4 and stop at 5, so not to get too much disappointed.

It becomes increasingly worse as the show progresses

[banned-52653 · 4/10 · 2 January 2020]

I had given this show 9/10 earlier and the first few seasons without a doubt deserved it. However things became increasingly worse as the show progressed. I did not expect historical accuracy to be a thing here ever since second season or so, however I also did not expect inaccuracy and unrealism to reach this stage. Lagaratha is what? Like 80-100 years old? Yet she without concentration or effort kills multiple skilled vikings in their prime. I don't know what's going on with current forced women characters and power in vikings but it certanly unnoticable and that's just plain stupid and annoying

Season 1-3 binge worthy. Season 4 confusing. Season 5 just walk away.

[kmosskev · 8/10 · 7 December 2020]

They should have just stopped after season 3. Season 5 was so bad that I couldn't finish the last 2 episodes without forcing myself to watch just to confirm how bad this was.