Parents' Guide to

Vikings

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Violent, mature drama has amiable, legendary hero.

TV History Drama 2013
Vikings Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

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age 16+

Based on 26 parent reviews

thill1760
thill1760 Adult
October 16, 2022
age 16+

EXTREME VIOLENCE & GORE RUINS IT

I absolutely love historical dramas, but I just cannot watch Vikings. I tried twice now and cannot get past the first season, due to the extreme violence and gore. I watched when it first came out and stopped at episode 4... But the show is so popular! Since I've watched everything else on Netflix, Prime etc. and after loving Game of Thrones (but suffering/skipping past the extreme violence) I decided to give the famous Vikings another try now in late 2022. Nope, STILL, WAY to violent and gory. Maybe I just don't find the story interesting enough to stomach it. I understand from other reviews I've read all over the net that the storyline, characters and costuming all get much better as the seasons progress – yet the violence gets even much more extreme after season 1. So, for my part it's just too much of an unpleasant chore to watch. It is actually kind of worrying how many people don't have a problem with the extreme violence. Again, I say this after watching and loving Game of Thrones. With GOT the extreme violence and behaviour of evil twisted characters is also extremely disturbing and difficult to watch. However, the viewer is compensated with the outstanding story (right from the first episode) and character development, plus amazingly good costuming, locations and filming (right from the beginning and until the end) ... And in GOT I would say there is somewhat less gore than in Vikings. I came here looking for others' experiences to see if it perhaps calms down on the gore, but from all accounts it only increases as the seasons progress. I also understand that (unbelievably) the Prime version, which I have tried twice, is supposed to be the light version. I find that hard to believe! (Maybe because I am in Europe, I am getting the uncensored version.) Young people shouldn't be desensitised to this kind of disturbing imagery. 16+ and parents should discuss these topics with their children.
shamique.43
shamique.43 Adult
July 1, 2022
age 17+

Worth watching

The first few seasons re great. The rest aren't bad either. Though it is not historically accurate, it gives you a decent idea of viking culture. All this mixed up with some violence and other stuff, just to make it entertaining.
See all 26 parent reviews

What's the Story?

VIKINGS centers on Ragnan Lothbrok (Travis Fimmel), a farmer and hired raider under the direction of chieftain Earl Haraldson (Gabriel Byrne). While Haraldson is content sending his men to pillage the impoverished lands to the east of Norway, Ragnan is drawn to the unexplored western sea, guided by new directional tools and a strong sense of destiny. He enlists the help of his friend, Floki (Gustaf Skarsgard), to create a stronger, faster ship that can weather the unknown, and joins forces with his brother, Rollo (Clive Standen), for the dangerous journey, leaving his wife, Lagertha (Katheryn Winnick), at home with their children.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (26 ):
Kids say (37 ):

From the writing genius of Michael Hirst (The Tudors, Elizabeth) comes an inspired, artistic series based on real people and events that gives viewers a unique inside-out look at this mysterious clan of historical players often represented as ancient street thugs. Vikings tries to change that long-held impression, putting a surprisingly sympathetic spin on Ragnan and telling the tale from the point of view of this celebrated visionary, devoted father, and spiritual devotee who rose to power because of his impulse to push boundaries. Crafty cinematography drops viewers into a land of long ago, carrying them along for the dangerous but exhilarating ride alongside Ragnan, his family, and his men.

But for all of Vikings' historical value, the show is never lacking action, adventure, romance, intrigue, and suspense, making it an extraordinarily enjoyable watch. Don't sweat it if your knowledge of Norse legends is limited to Thor; you'll find yourself quickly caught up in this real-life drama played out by the talented Fimmel and a sensational supporting cast. If your teens can stomach the raw violence and mature sexual content, this is a fantastic series that will introduce you to a whole new set of historical figures and may inspire some supplementary research into the legends that inspired the show.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the challenges that accompany new adventures. How do you know when a risk is worth taking? What can be learned from failure? Is success any sweeter because of the risks taken?

  • How reliable are cultural legends and oral history? What role do they play in your beliefs about history or religion?

  • Is Ragnan a heroic character? Is he violent, or is that a product of his surroundings? How do we assign fame today? Are modern-day heroes any more or less deserving of their stations than someone like him?

TV Details

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