"Viking ShieldWall" Topic

Saw Episode 4 of "The Vikings" History Channel mini-series. I am really liking this. In this episode they had a really good example of Vikings using thier shieldwall formation in combat. About 20 Vikings going up against 30-40 enemy infantry. Very well done.

The Vikings did well, for a collection of Hell's Angels led by a sociopath. Ah, but he's the nicest of sociopaths, and has dreamy blue eyes, as I'm told.

Alas, the Northumbrians appeared utterly Keystone Cops-ish, from their odd scale armour and oversized helmets to their amateurish 'ride around like idiots' cavalry charge and general air of haplessness. "My armour is cardboard, so I am in no way better protected than my enemies in tunics."

Does anyone else think Floki is the kind of man who has a court order demanding he stay more than 200 yards from playgrounds? Creepy, pervy and unpleasant.

Good observation:
"The Vikings did well, for a collection of Hell's Angels led by a sociopath."

I agree on the Floki character.

I'm looking forward to catching this when it reaches mainstream UK TV, not because I'm expecting it to be any good, but because a load of our re-enactment society were hired to take part…

I'm curious to see how wrong they can get things through disregarding just about every suggestion we made, and re-dressing an awful lot of our equipment from simple props to large things like replica longships….

TV work is always good for the bank balance but not always so good for academic credibility, so it is at least pleasing to hear one or to positive comments. Our warriors can put on an impressive and well researched show and have done so for many TV documentaries, directors for dramas often have "different" ideas about what looks right.

Put it this way, I wouldn't want Floki to be my neighbor. It might have looked a bit better if the some of the Vikings at least wore helmets.

I quit watching after the third episode. Why don't the vikings ever wear helmets? And what's with the 1990s grunge haircuts? I thought for a second that band members from Soundgarden and Alice In Chains were in it.

I hear a lot of b***hing and moaning but I personally found the show to be fun. Yes I would like the Vikings to wear helmets, etc. Still the whole thing is better looking than The Long Ships or any number of enjoyably bad movies I loved as a kid. Praise Odin, I am not watching more reality TV!

And for Adrian Campbell, as we say in the Carolinas "Yer boys done good!"

Why don't the vikings ever wear helmets?

Whilst I suspect the directors reasoning was so that the lead actors faces could be more clearly seen. Ragnar " Hairy breeches" is a famous saga character and as such although he can't be reliably and firmly linked with any definite person from history it is probable that he and his exploits stem from mid 9th century.

For all the fact re-enactors, gamers and public alike feel all Vikings should be heavily armed and armoured, at this period there is little archaeological evidence to suggest many Vikings would wear helmets (at least metal ones) or mail, even swords would be a real status symbol. Another 200 years later towards the end of the Viking period and access to plentiful iron and steel had changed this.

And what's with the 1990s grunge haircuts

that's purely the art director, contemporary saxon sources mock the Vikings for being obsessed with personal hygiene and grooming, so from what we can tell, most wouldn't look out of place in a business suit in a modern corporate boardroom with their neatly trimmed and regularly washed beard and hair.

I really like Vikings, including the grunge Haircuts and Ragnar's dreamy blue eyes ;-).
I really don't expect my history lessons to come from a tv drama (or movies), so I can lean back and enjoy a IMO well told story.
Now, off to buy Saga!

I haven't watched this since the beginning and I was wondering what is up with that Floki guy. His mascara is always running. In the end it is just entertainment.

I found it entertaining but the silly haircuts and dreadlocks made them look like "Occupy Northumbia" I wondered about the lack of helmets – surely at least the leader would have one.

Spot on about the Keystone cops Saxons though! :)

The skirmish on the beach was ridiculous – having forced them into a shield wall, the obvious move was to flank them with archers while feinting a frontal attack….

Still, it doesn't have the compulsory "ethic minority" character and it is vastly better than swamp road Ax pawn truckers on ice………

Well said # 4.

I loved Vikings growing up, this show bothers me.
1) I never realized that the Vikings were so bloody boring, at least Kirk Douglas and Tony Curtis believed in action.
2) while I realize that the Vikings were a complex society, the various trials just seem bizarre, I keep expecting the "doink doink" from "Law and Order". Law and Order Scandinavia anyone?
3) I never realized that all Viking Women (and evidently the men too) were into threesomes.
4) Never realized how many Vikings wore the "smokey eyes" look of bad eye shadow.
5) Personally I don't think they're bloodthirsty enough
6) Did Saxon Kings actually wear their crowns everywhere?

And yet I watch. I was intrigued by Gabriel Byrne's performance. It wasn't what I thought a Viking Earl would be like, and then I realized why. He wasn't playing it like an Earl, he was channeling Donald Trump. Those courtroom scenes were just like the boardroom scenes in "The Apprentice", except that instead of firing them he had them executed.

Just my opinion, as I say I watch it, not thrilled by it, a show about the Vikings could have been so much better, BUT, at least it doesn't take place in a Pawn Shop or a Swamp or an Alien Spaceship or a semi, so I am glad that there will be another season.

I hope there will be another season as the first one just sort of fizzled out after several very boring episodes. Must do better next time

Those who can, do. Those who can't, complain. Great series. Accept it for what it is, good fun. Thank you very much.