The History Channel's, Vikings, is one of the most successful historical dramas on television, but not every season of this iconic show is equal.
The History Channel's original series, Vikings, garnered massive popularity over its 6-season run, however, like any show, not every season of this iconic historical drama is equal. Any TV show that receives an extended run on-air is bound to have its ups and downs. Some shows get better as they go, rounding out characters and finding a nice flow of events. Other shows lose some quality as they go, suffering from cyclical plotlines or an imbalance of spectacle and reason. Whatever the case may be, it's extremely difficult to make a TV series that remains on an even keel for its entire run.
Vikings is no exception to this. While the show maintains a certain level of quality even at its low points, there are clear peaks and valleys across Vikings' six seasons. The quality of each individual season is often related to the writing, but the available budget, revolving cast, and historical approach play important roles as well. Moreover, the most heartbreaking deaths in Vikingscan stir emotional responses that may contribute to the audience's enjoyment of the season, whether for better or for worse. Based on all of these things, Vikings' six seasons can be reasonably ranked by the overall quality.
Season 5
Vikings season 5 is not a bad season of television, but it does not live up to the high standard set across the first four seasons of the show. This is the first season of Vikings without its original protagonist, Ragnar Lothbrok. The void left by Ragnar Lothbrok's death is massive, and while plenty of strong characters remain after Ragnar's death, they all seem a little duller without his involvement. Ragnar is one of the most layered, engaging characters on television, and Travis Fimmel's portrayal of the iconic Viking leader is nothing short of masterful.
Moreover, the tension between Ragnar's sons after his death can be unpleasant to watch. Flawed as Ragnar was, he's a character that the audience comes to care for, and watching his sons turn against each other is conflicting. In many ways, the show functions as a loose biopic of Ragnar up to this point, and without him to follow, the show just falls a little bit flat. Even so, there are some great moments in Vikings season 5, and it is still an entertaining season of television.
Vikings season 6, the final season of the show, comes in second to last, but like season 5, it's still an entertaining watch. Similarly to season 5, Vikings season 6 struggles to fill the void left by Ragnar's death. However, at this point, the show has had time to invest in other characters, growing them into worthy successors of Travis Fimmel's Ragnar. Ragnar's sons, Bjorn (Alexander Ludwig) and Ivar (Alex Høgh Andersen) become the main focus of the show. Their rivalry is tense and loaded, and it comes to a head in one of Vikings most epic scenes.
Despite these strong points, the final season of Vikings cannot compare to its peak. Part of what made Vikings so popular is its grounded approach to history, but season 6 largely misses out on this. Vikings certainly take liberties with its historical interpretations and reenactments, but the early seasons place a much stronger focus on taking the audience into the life of a Viking. Season 6 struggles somewhat because it steers away from that, becoming more of a typical historical epic that is more focused on spectacle than anything else.
Vikings season 4 is a strong season of television, but it's probably just a smidgen beyond the show's peak. Vikings still has Ragnar to lean on in this season, but it focuses largely on his decline, which is decidedly less satisfying to watch than his rise. Even so, the writing in this season is still very strong, and Ragnar's descent is extremely thought-provoking. Moreover, the main cast of Vikings has expanded substantially by this point, which allows for a broader scope.
The expanded cast also hurts the show at times, however, because it becomes a bit overstretched trying to juggle so many arcs. Vikings fans see Ragnar plots his own death toward the end of this season, which can also leave a bad taste in the mouth, even if it is done well. All in all, Vikings season 4 is a really good season of television; it's just not as excellent as the first three seasons of the show.
Vikings season 1 is nothing less than excellent. This season really introduces the audience to life as an 8th-century Viking, showing viewers how they governed, what their religious practices were like, how they farmed and sustained themselves, and other minutiae of daily Viking life. This season also benefits from extremely strong writing. The plot is highly entertaining and well-reasoned, and it is inhabited by deeply layered characters. Creator Michael Hirst excels at crafting complicated characters, which he does with aplomb in Vikings season 1.
Vikings season 2 is everything that season 1 is, plus a bit extra. With the main cast already introduced and developed, Vikings season 2 is able to get deep into character growth, and explore some of the more interesting historical events of the age. The relationships between characters, especially Ragnar and his brother Rollo, drive the show to new heights, raising the stakes and eliciting a strong emotional response. Vikings season 2 also excels at creating an entertaining spectacle without skipping the necessary legwork to make it meaningful.
