Rites of Passage [HD]

One Step Closer To Valhalla: History Channel Presents Its First Scripted Series With The Nine Episode "Vikings"
After scoring blockbuster ratings as well as multiple EMMY nominations for the dramatic miniseries "Hatfields & McCoys," the History Channel is forging forward with its first ever scripted series in "Vikings." I don't know about you, but a series about Vikings seems perfectly attuned to a television market that is currently enjoying a plethora of dark and complex adult dramas on cable networks! Created by Michael Hirst, this nine episode series was shot in Ireland and looks absolutely terrific. One of the things that most surprised me on checking out this endeavor is just how expensive the series looks in terms of period recreations, sets, locations, and effects. It shouldn't be too surprising, Hirst has worked on a number of noteworthy historical dramatizations including Showtime's "The Tudors" (which he created) and "The Borgias" (on which he is an executive producer). As with any fictionalization, though, you should expect some liberties to be taken with the subject for the...

This show is great and more than fairly historically accurate.
Being raised in Iceland we started learning about our history at nine years old and we read our history as far back as Ragnar Lodbrok, we also learn to read Edda in its original writing, but that depends more on how long you stay in school. Lot of the knowledge also comes from archeological dig sites and artifacts. We are proud of our heritage so our history is relentlessly drilled in our heads. I know these characters fair to say, pretty well. Although a lot of the history of the Vikings was word of mouth until the 12th century, when the history of the Early Vikings- Icelandic- and Norse- saga was chronicled, mostly by the Icelandic historian Snorri Sturluson, it is fair to say that History Channel did their research extremely well, from the script down to detailed props on the set. The story in the first season, I have seen are accurate but of course, since this is not a documentary some fictional drama is woven masterfully into the story.

The actors are ALL great and...

Norsemen (and Shield Maidens) rule!
For far too long, history has condensed the story of the Viking people into a comic book saga filled with primitive characters raping, plundering, and wearing funny horns, breastplates, and flaxen braids. Thanks to the History Channel, we have the opportunity to appreciate an engaging, well-acted, fairly accurate picture of these intelligent, spiritual, self-disciplined, and hardy craftsmen, clansmen, and seafarers whose skills and civilization in the 8th and 9th centuries was more advanced than that of much of the European continent. Consummate shipbuilders and navigators, Vikings managed to traverse the deadly seas of the North Atlantic (in open longboats!) to discover North America centuries before Christopher Columbus was even born. They settled much of Ireland, England, Greenland, Russia, and Iceland. The Norsemen didn't manage to accomplish all that they did by being rage-filled, crude, undisciplined savages. This show capably demonstrates the high degree of cooperation...

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