𝙏𝙊𝙋 16 𝙎𝙃𝙊𝙒 𝙊𝘼𝙏
- 𝙴𝚡𝚝𝚛𝚎𝚖𝚎 𝟺 𝚂𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚜 -

Vikings is an epic series that won a legion of fans over its six seasons, bringing a semi-historical view of the world of the Vikings, their beliefs, achievements and personal dramas. Created by Michael Hirst, the series begins by focusing on Mr. Aura Ragnar Lothbrok and his rise from farmer to king, exploring his expeditions and family dynamics. Although it was a captivating series, especially in its early years, some inconsistencies throughout the seasons ended up compromising some of the impact. Still, it's a decent and watchable series, full of memorable moments, especially for those who are interested in Norse culture and mythology like me.

With almost 4.5 stars, I can say that Vikings impressed me in many ways. The setting, the battle scenes and the complex characters are the high points, making it one of the most striking series of the genre. However, the series suffers from its narrative and pacing inconsistencies, especially in the later seasons. These narrative stumbles were what prevented me from giving it a higher rating. But it is important to highlight that, despite these flaws, the series remains a valid experience, especially for its look at Ragnar and the world of the Vikings.

One of the main strengths of the series is the way it manages to portray the brutality and difficult life of the Vikings. The setting is rustic and cold, the battles are savage and conflicts, both internal and external, are constant. Vikings captures the essence of a time of uncertainty, where loyalty, faith and survival were always at stake. The series is also not afraid to embrace Norse mysticism, showing, for example, those scenes of sacrifice and execution that made me sick haha, and this creates very atmospheric moments, with visions, prophecies and references to gods like Odin, Thor and Loki. However, in some parts, these references become confusing and end up not having the necessary depth, which contributes to such inconsistencies.

The central arc of the series, of course, revolves around Ragnar Lothbrok, who is easily the most fascinating character in all of fiction. Ragnar is portrayed as a complex man, full of ambitions but also doubts. He is a leader, warrior and strategist, but also a man in search of something greater, be it glory, meaning or a way to connect with the gods. Ragnar's journey from farmer to king is one of the most well-crafted on TV, and it's easy to see why he becomes a legend.

𝗥𝗮𝗴𝗻𝗮𝗿 𝗟𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗯𝗿𝗼𝗸
Now, speaking specifically about Ragnar, there's no denying that he is the heart and soul of Vikings. Ragnar, played brilliantly by Travis Fimmel, is a character who starts out humble, but soon demonstrates an insatiable desire for knowledge, power and, in a way, immortality, whether through his deeds or the legacy he leaves behind. It is this desire that leads him to question the gods, customs and even destiny itself. He is a man who, while believing in his own great destiny, constantly tests the limits of that belief.

Ragnar's relationship with his faith is one of the most interesting aspects of his character. He begins as a fervent follower of the Norse gods, believing that his success in battle and his victories are proof of divine intervention. However, as the series progresses, we see Ragnar questioning himself more and more about the gods and their role in this great cosmic plan. He interacts with Christianity and finds himself fascinated by this religion that preaches a single God, contrasting with the polytheism in which he was raised. This internal conflict is what makes him so unique, as he is not just a brutal warrior, but a man in search of existential answers.

Another crucial aspect of Ragnar's journey is his relationship with his children and those around him. He is an admired and charismatic leader, but he also has an emotionally distant and, at many times, cold side. His interactions with his children, especially with Bjorn, are filled with a mixture of pride and conflict. Ragnar wants his children to surpass him, but he also carries the fear that his legacy will disappear. This tension between being a father and being a legend is what makes Ragnar such a complex and fascinating character.

However, Ragnar's death, which occurs in the fourth season, ends up marking a crucial turning point in the series. His absence leaves a void that is difficult to fill, and this is visible in the way the narrative shifts focus to his children and the future of his lineage. Although the series manages to explore the consequences of Ragnar's death well, especially in terms of how his children deal with this legacy, it loses some of the strength that came from Ragnar's charisma and depth. He was the emotional and philosophical center of the series, and his absence leaves a narrative hole that the series struggles to adequately fill.

Perhaps one of Ragnar's greatest legacies is his search for something beyond what the mortal world could offer. He didn't just want to be a king, but someone who transformed the destiny of his people. And, in a way, he achieves that. Expeditions to England, France, and other distant places show Ragnar's desire to explore, to see what lies beyond known borders, not just out of curiosity, but because he believes the destiny of the Vikings is greater than just their lives. icy lands and their internal struggles. His vision is what shapes the future of his descendants, even when he is no longer there to guide.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗥𝗮𝗴𝗻𝗮𝗿
Starting with Ragnar's death, Vikings suffers from a series of inconsistencies, both narratively and in terms of character development. His children's journeys, fortunately, become the focus, and manage to be executed in a decent manner. The series tries to expand Ragnar's legacy, showing the impact he had on his children and how they try to assert themselves in the world, but, in many moments, the narrative seems fragmented.

Bjorn, who starts out as Ragnar's closest son, has an interesting arc, but ends up being hampered by the lack of consistency in his character development. He goes from a young, inexperienced warrior to a great leader and eventually king, and at least Vikings was able to keep Bjorn an consistently engaging character. The series seems to rush certain crucial moments in Bjorn's journey, which weakens the emotional impact of his decisions and achievements but at least doesn't disadvantage his character.

Ivar, on the other hand, is a polarizing character. He is brutal, merciless and, in many moments, detestable, but the series tries to justify him with his tragic past and his physical conditions. Ivar is a complex antagonist, and the series clearly wants the audience to have a love-hate relationship with him, and the ending easily demonstrates that. His trajectory oscillates between strategic genius and unbridled cruelty, which makes him one of the best characters in the entire series.

The final two seasons are marked by this fluctuation in quality. At times, the series delivers epic battle scenes, political tensions and family conflicts, but at others, it seems that the writers are lost as to where to take the narrative. There is an imbalance between trying to maintain the epic tone of the series and the development of the remaining characters, and this ends up compromising the overall experience.

𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀
With all these criticisms in mind, I still really liked Vikings. The initial seasons, especially those focusing on Ragnar, are brilliant, with an emotional and philosophical depth that elevates the series beyond a simple narrative of battles and conquests. The look of the series, the battle scenes and the way it portrays Nordic culture are high points, and even with the inconsistencies, it is a series worth watching.

Inconsistencies end up ruining part of the experience, but not irreversibly. Vikings is still a decent and watchable series, especially for those who have an interest in historical and mythological stories. Even with its flaws, it offers an intriguing look at the world of the Vikings and raises questions about destiny, faith and legacy in a way that few series can.

These ups and downs are what led me to give Vikings 4 stars. It's a series that engaged me, that made me reflect, but that also frustrated me at certain times. If he had maintained the consistency of his first years, he could have easily achieved a higher ranking. However, even with its flaws, Vikings is a memorable series, and Ragnar Lothbrok's journey is undoubtedly one of the best ever portrayed on television.

𝙏𝙤𝙥 10 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨:
1. Ragnar Lothbrok - 𝐓𝐨𝐩 3 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐎𝐀𝐓
2. Ivar, the Boneless - 𝐓𝐨𝐩 7 𝐀𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐎𝐀𝐓
3. Bjorn Ironside - 𝐓𝐨𝐩 19 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐎𝐀𝐓
4. Lagertha - 𝐎𝐧 𝐓𝐨𝐩 10 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐎𝐀𝐓
5. Floki - 𝐎𝐧 𝐓𝐨𝐩 10/15 𝐒𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐎𝐀𝐓
6. Athelstan - 𝐓𝐨𝐩 15 𝐃𝐞𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐎𝐀𝐓
7. King Ecbert - 𝐎𝐧 𝐓𝐨𝐩 30 𝐒𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐎𝐀𝐓
8. Ubbe
9. Rollo
10. Hvitserk
+11. King Harald

𝙏𝙤𝙥 10 𝙀𝙥𝙞𝙨𝙤𝙙𝙚𝙨:
1. All His Angels - 10.0 "𝐓𝐎𝐏 5 𝐄𝐏𝐈𝐒𝐎𝐃𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄"
2. King of Kings - Low 9.8
3. Breaking Point - High 9.7
4. The Last Act - 9.7
5. The Last Ship - 9.7
6. Ragnarok - High 9.6
7. To the Gates! - Low 9.6
8. The Lord's Prayer - 9.5
9. In the Uncertain Hour Before the Morning - 9.5
10. Moments of Vision - Low 9.5

𝙏𝙤𝙥 6 𝙈𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨:
1. 𝖱𝖺𝗀𝗇𝖺𝗋'𝗌 𝖢𝗈𝗇𝖼𝗅𝗎𝗌𝗂𝗈𝗇 - All His Angels
2. 𝖱𝖺𝗀𝗇𝖺𝗋 𝖳𝖺𝗅𝗄 𝖶𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝖲𝖾𝖾𝗋 - All His Angels
3. 𝖡𝗃𝗈𝗋𝗇 𝖢𝗈𝗇𝖼𝗅𝗎𝗌𝗂𝗈𝗇 - King of Kings
4. 𝖨𝗏𝖺𝗋 𝖢𝗈𝗇𝖼𝗅𝗎𝗌𝗂𝗈𝗇 - The Last Act
5. 𝖱𝖺𝗀𝗇𝖺𝗋'𝗌 𝖵𝗂𝗌𝗂𝗈𝗇 - Two Journeys
6. 𝖠𝗍𝗍𝖺𝖼𝗄 𝗈𝗇 𝖯𝖺𝗋𝗂𝗌 - To the Gates!
+ 7. 𝖣𝖾𝖺𝗍𝗁 𝗈𝖿 𝖠𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗅𝗌𝗍𝖺𝗇 - Born Again
+ 8. "𝒩ℴ ℴ𝓃ℯ 𝓌𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝒻ℴ𝓇ℊℯ𝓉 𝓉𝒽ℯ 𝓃𝒶𝓂ℯ ℬ𝒿ℴ𝓇𝓃 ℐ𝓇ℴ𝓃𝓈𝒾𝒹ℯ" - Ragnarok
+ 9. 𝖤𝗇𝖽𝗂𝗇𝗀 - The Last Act
+ 10. 𝖢𝗈𝗇𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗌𝖺𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇 𝖻𝖾𝗍𝗐𝖾𝖾𝗇 𝖱𝖺𝗀𝗇𝖺𝗋 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖪𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖤𝖼𝖻𝖾𝗋𝗍 - In the Uncertain Hour Before the Morning
+ 11. 𝖢𝗈𝗇𝖿𝗋𝗈𝗇𝗍𝖺𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖳𝗋𝖺𝗂𝗍𝗈𝗋 - The Lord's Prayer
+ 12. 𝖫𝖺𝗀𝖾𝗋𝗍𝗁𝖺 𝖵𝗂𝗌𝗂𝗈𝗇𝗌 - What Happens in the Cave
+ 13. 𝖨𝗏𝖺𝗋 𝖪𝗂𝗅𝗅𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖧𝗂𝗌 𝖡𝗋𝗈𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋 - The Reckoning
+ 14. 𝖱𝖺𝗀𝗇𝖺𝗋 𝖣𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗅𝗈𝗉𝗆𝖾𝗇𝗍 - Last 3 Episodes of Season 3
+ 15. 𝖢𝗈𝗇𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗌𝖺𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇 𝖻𝖾𝗍𝗐𝖾𝖾𝗇 𝖨𝗏𝖺𝗋 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖡𝗃𝗈𝗋𝗇 - The Best Laid Plans
+ 16. 𝖨𝗏𝖺𝗋 𝖫𝖺𝗌𝗍 𝖳𝖺𝗅𝗄 𝖶𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝖡𝖺𝗅𝖽𝗎𝗋 - Baldur
+ 17. 𝖱𝖺𝗀𝗇𝖺𝗋'𝗌 𝖱𝖾𝗍𝗋𝗂𝖻𝗎𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇 - Unforgiven
+ 18. "𝒴ℴ𝓊 𝒞𝒶𝓃'𝓉 𝒦𝒾𝓁𝓁 ℳℯ. 𝒟ℴ𝓃'𝓉 𝒴ℴ𝓊 𝒦𝓃ℴ𝓌 𝒲𝒽ℴ ℐ 𝒜𝓂? ℐ 𝒜𝓂 ℐ𝓋𝒶𝓇 𝒯𝒽ℯ ℬℴ𝓃ℯ𝓁ℯ𝓈𝓈" - Homeland
+ 19. 𝖵𝗂𝗌𝗂𝗈𝗇𝗌 - Moments of Vision
+ 20. 𝖫𝖺𝗀𝗁𝖾𝗋𝗍𝖺 𝖥𝗎𝗇𝖾𝗋𝖺𝗅 - The Ice Maiden
+ 21. 𝖫𝖺𝗀𝗁𝖾𝗋𝗍𝖺'𝗌 𝖣𝖾𝖺𝗍𝗁 - Death and the Serpent
+ 22. 𝖧𝖾𝗅𝗅 𝖶𝖺𝗋 - Hell

𝙎𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙨:
4 > 2 > 3 >> 1 >>> 5 > 6
8.7 > 8.6 > 8.5 >> 8.2 >>> 7.6 > 7.4

Specials

Season 1