I enjoyed this lesson in Dutch history, including the fate of their republic - first in Europe. Due to that it needs to cover plenty of events and details, the plot doesn't flow like in a fictional screenplay, but the settings, cinematography are top notch. Dutch style.
Hilde D. 12/24

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Absorbing, distorting
A show about Vikings is nearly guaranteed to ever draw a big audience, even if peddling stereotypes. It's simply spectacular to see these people in action, men and women, manes in the wind, fearing no one, nor death. I cannot help guessing if telling that half-story was the way to get a big "owned" studio to produce this, as a win-win proposition: commercial success along with an often detrimental portrayal of this Norse-Germanic people. The amount of killings, and purposeless ones, and of their own people, is staggering, to the point of one wondering how their birthrate could even sustain it. You could equally wonder how such apparently mindless warriors could put together their vast explorations of lands and seas, as there is almost no telling of their crafts, technology, buildings, which appear primitive and stay that way throughout the saga. Neither are these people straight and honorable. In the quiet times between the battles, the action switches to all sorts of soap-opera intrigue and betrayals. My review and (-3) honesty rating is probably going to irk some fans, but if we don't flag these distortions made against our peoples, nobody will. If you can look past all that, though, the show is simply absorbing, even through the slower scenes (which drag a bit in the later seasons, actually). The cast is shining and the budget allows for authentic settings, ships and battle gear, clothing and wear, and yes, the great hairdos and tattoos - to just transplant you back in the day. 4 points for "fulfilling" there. Excellent cinematography, too.
Linda N. 8/22

Great feel, with some caveats
This series inspired me to read and learn all about the Viking Age, which the plot draws from in broad lines. Much of the plot deviates from the actual dates and figures, so I don't quite get why this was featured on the History channel, or perhaps I should get it! The series is well made, the cast and scenery are great, and the action is entertaining, except for some slow episodes in the aftermath of battles. I think that the cast (and costumes) really make this come alive, as most of them are genuine nordic types and stellar, but the props and settings are realistic, too. Against all that, I was often confused by the writer's muddling of the characters, who one day are brave and fair, then inexplicably cruel or malicious, and I feel that it's mostly the actors who give them a personality of their own. I was also confused by the writer's fixation with the cripple Ivar the Boneless, as most of the second half revolves around him. Of note, a fictional cult of power of Ivar, and its visual association with Germany's NSDAP decor, appear quite strangely depicted and raise questions about the narrative's intent. Adding to that, in a late episode with the Vikings on North-American shores, an Indian tribe character tells them to remember they're just guests there, another tribesman declares to "not trust blue eyes", which are sort of stunningly misplaced, anti-white remarks (while we also know that the continent was practically unpopulated and that European ancestors had lived there first, millennia prior, should it matter). These are just some examples of the suspect undertones. The military campaigns against the Franks and against the Saxons have just enough extras to make them believable and pretty awesome, and so are the ocean-worthy ship replicas and sailing through the storms. The threat of Judeo-Christianity to the heathens is tilted as expected but not too much, and the relative natural freedom of the latter comes across in interesting ways, such as the man-woman relationship. Overall, for the feel and entertainment, I do heartily recommend the show.
Kieran J. 3/23

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They say that characters are the most important part in moviemaking and it is not immediate that you would think of Demi Moore as a 1960’s London bank executive. She does a great job alongside Michael Caine in this neat, white-glove thriller. The story is original and, although unrealistic, the human-side of it is powerful enough to make you believe.
Hilde D. 5/23

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Gritty fun, straight from the armpit of America.
Antony S. 2/23

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