Droughtlander suggestions: Give Vikings a try

Vikings is an excellent show to help with the long Droughtlander

As Droughtlander stretches on and on, Outlander fans are likely in need of a new show to binge.  If you’re one of those who enjoys the historical underpinnings of our favorite show, you might want to check out Vikings.

One nice thing about Vikings is there’s a lot of it to watch.  There are currently five and a half seasons of the History channel series available on Amazon Prime Video, and TVLine reports that the last 10 episodes will be coming to Prime on Dec. 30.  It is unknown when the final half-season will air on History.

Let’s take a deeper look at Vikings and see why it might appeal to Outlander fans.

What is Vikings about?

Vikings starts out as the tale of Ragnar Lothbrok, played brilliantly by Travis Fimmel.  He and his wife, the former shieldmaiden Lagertha (Katheryn Winnick), are simple farmers, but Ragnar feels the need to explore, raid, and make a name for himself.

We follow Ragnar on his adventures to England and even Paris.  No matter how much Ragnar succeeds, he always wants more for himself and his sons.  In Season 4, the focus shifts to tell the story of those sons: Bjorn Ironside, Ivar the Boneless, Ubbe, Hvitserk, and Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye.  They travel as far as the Mediterranean and Russia and fight over control of their ancestral home Kattegat.

Vikings is also an unapologetic exploration of Viking culture.  These are brutal people, and the show aims to show the truth of that.  The creators never superimpose a lens of modern morality over the characters.  It’s a fascinating look at Viking life and religion.

I once heard the show’s creator Michael Hirst say that Vikings takes religion more seriously than most television shows.  That’s especially true in the early days, when we get to see things through the eyes of an enslaved monk named Athelstan.

Why Vikings will appeal to Outlander fans

Vikings is an interesting mix of legend and history.  Although things are condensed into two generations on the show, many of the events actually happened.  Those who love Outlander for the history are sure to be captivated.

Vikings has a lot of elements that will be familiar to viewers of Outlander.  There are epic, brutal battles and plenty of sex.  There’s no overriding love story so if you’re looking for romance, this might not be your cup of tea, but the characters are so strong.

Ragnar is just plain fun to watch; you never know what he’s going to do next, but you know he’ll do it with a roguish twinkle in his eye.  Lagertha is a strong, complex woman and a total bad**s.  Ragnar’s sons all have their own distinct personalities.

The Viking culture may be jarring to a modern viewer at first, but once you give it a chance, it becomes truly enthralling.  Vikings is an enjoyable ride, and you just might learn something from it!  Even Jamie Fraser has Viking blood so it may help you understand his more violent tendencies.

Have you watched Vikings?  What shows have helped you through Droughtlander?  Tell us in the comments below.

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