Created by Michael Hirst (Showtime’s The Tudors), Vikings premiered in 2013 on History. It followed the life of legendary Viking, Ragnar Lothbrok (Travis Fimmel), beginning in the year 793. It was darkly humorous, but the epic war scenes were no joke, and it featured an especially gorgeous-looking cast.
Ragnar is a politically-minded and ambitious farmer whose story truly starts when he decides to begin leading raids West, to what would become known as England. His foresight and military prowess facilitates his rise to king. By his side are captive-turned-trusted friend Athelstan (George Blagden), an ex-priest, his first wife, the shieldmaiden Lagertha (Kathryn Winnick), and their warrior son Bjorn (Alexander Ludwig). As the decades pass, the show shifts focus to Bjorn, and Ragnar’s younger sons with his second wife, who follow their father’s footsteps and also become infamous.
