SPLICED Magazine SPLICED Issue 05 June/July 2014 | Page 54

SPLICED FEATURE / TEN TV SHOWS YOU SHOULD BE WATCHING Vikings Genre / Historical drama cast / Travis Fimmel / Clive Standen / Katheryn Winnick / Vikings! Creators / Michael Hirst What is it about? The History Channel brings us Vikings, providing us a glimpse into a long forgotten world of Viking heroes and Norse gods. The show follows the adventures of Ragnar Lothbrok, a farmer and warrior of his tribe who longs to find new lands to raid and conquer. When Ragnar calls upon master ship builder Floki to build him a vessel that can travel long distances and a new way to navigate the seas Ragnar’s longing becomes a reality, one that will set him on a path to becoming the Viking King. Why watch it? This being a History Channel production, every aspect and detail of Viking life has been captured with such striking authenticity, from the costume design, and accents used, to the Norse traditions and worshipping of the gods Odin and Thor to the politics of the scattered Viking tribes across Scandinavia. Travis Fimmel as Raganar, Clive Standen as his brother Rollo and Katheryn Winnick as his wife and shield maiden Lagartha are excellent, and badass too. Vikings is one badass show! Just imagine what Sons of Anarchy would be like set in the time of Vikings with ships instead of motorcycles. Awesome, right? 54 ISSUE 05