Friday Art & History Feature - The Vikings of History Channel & Lagertha

Vikings poster for Season 2 (History Channel)

I'm a big fan of the History Channel's Vikings, which is currently in its second season, and has already been renewed for the 3rd season.

Vikings does a beautiful job of setting up dark, moody atmosphere in each episode. The morality and the choices of these Vikings are often teetering on the edge of good and evil, only its not seen as good and evil but a fact of life. They live by different rules and they die by different rules. The ruthlessness of vikings is well documented, but this is how they survived, how they conquered and how they lived.

The show also does a formidable job of bringing strong women to the forefront of the story, whether the shield-maiden (warrior) Lagertha, the first wife of the powerful Ragnar Lothbrook (the main character of the show), or princess Aslaug, Ragnar's second wife, whose strength lies in her maternal instincts and character.

Lathgertha by Morris Meredith Williams, 1913

The historical Lagertha comes to us through the 12th century Danish work of history called Saxo Grammaticus. The account in this tale talks of Ragnar meeting this shield-maiden when she fought, along with other abused women, on his side when he came to avenge the death of his grandfather, Siward. She is described as a skillful fighter, her hair loose around her, fighting with the courage of a man. The legend continues with Ragnar courting Lagertha, and her setting two wild beasts on him to protect her home, which he ends up killing, so winning Lagertha's hand in marriage. He had a few children with her but, still not forgiving that she set beasts on him, he eventually divorces her and marries another woman. While this tale is considered a fiction for the most part by scholars, it clearly shows how she was perceived as a noted warrior and courageous personality. There are a few different theories about the real Lagertha, which all lead us to believe that she held considerable power and was possibly a ruler in her own right.

In the Vikings TV show, Lagertha is played (superbly, I might add) by Katheryn Winnick.

Do you enjoy Viking history? Do you watch The Vikings on History Channel? How do you like it?

New TV Shows I'm Looking Forward to in 2013

 Yes, TV is a bit of an addiction to me, although apparently I'm not as bad some of the people that I know. Actually, my list of favorite TV shows that I watch religiously is pretty small by some comparisons - Vampire Diaries, The Walking Dead, The Borgias (The Tudors when that was on), Spartacus, Game of Thrones. Both hubby and I are embarrassed to say we watch The Mob Wives - I curse myself during each and every show for watching it. lol Two of my dear friends finally got me into watching Once Upon A Time, as well.  And lately, I've been quiet addicted to the HGTV (Home/Garden), and all the remodeling and renovation shows. But that's probably because we're buying a house and I'm looking for design ideas.

I'm always on the look out for a good TV show, with a riveting storyline and great writing. I need these shows. To me, they are like similar to a good reading session. They take me away from the everyday problems and stress, if just for a little while.

So here's a list of some of the shows that are coming to a TV near you this year that I'm looking forward to experiencing and, hopefully, enjoying.

Vikings

As you can see by the list above, I'm a big fan of historical shows. Vikings is from the creator of The Tudors and The Borgias, Michael Hirst. The story will revolve around a historical figure, a warrior by the name of Ragnar Lothbrok. I love that one of the main characters is Ragnar's first wife, Lagertha, who is a warrior in her own right and often fought at her husband's side. To me - awesomeness! It also doesn't hurt that one of the stars of the show is Gabriel Byrne, one of my favorite actors!
Vikings will premier on March 3rd on History Channel.

Here's the trailer: 

Da Vinci's Demons

Ok, so those who read my blog even occasionally will know that I'm a huge fan of Leonardo da Vinci. He was my hero and one of the most interesting man who ever lived, at least to me, since I was a little kid. I have to admit that I'm very cautious about this show. It will center on da Vinci in his mid-twenties. It looks like a mix of history, adventure, mysticism and romance. I really don't know about this one...But I will be definitely there for the pilot episode.
Da Vinci's Demons will premier on April 12th on Starz

Here's the trailer: 
 

The Americans

Felicity grows up. Kerri Russel plays an embedded Soviet KGB agent, whose mission is to impersonate American citizens. Hey, it's a spy show. I like spy shows. And, if they do it right, the story twists could be really good.
The Americans premiers on January 30th on FX

Here is the trailer: 

L.A. Noir

This show is bbout the decades-long battle between Los Angeles Police Chief William Parker and mob figure Mickey Cohen. It is the child of Frank Darabont of the Walking Dead. And the main reason I'm going to watch it is because Jon Bernthal, whom you might remember as Shane on the Walking Dead, is going to be starring.

The series will air on TNT but there is no date for the pilot released yet and no trailer so far.

Show I'm not looking forward to:

Celebrity Diving. Really? Need I say more?
Premiers March 19th on ABC


And of course, don't forget:

The Vampire Diaries is back from it's mid-season hiatus today, January 17th on CW11! 

The Walking Dead is back from it's mid-season hiatus on Sunday, February 10th on AMC

 Game of Thrones is back for another season on March 31st



Which TV shows are you addicted to? Which shows are you looking forward to this year?