Cable TV in North America continue to acquire its own original series. I do not succumbed to this fashion trend and Canadian channel «History»: in 2012 the management of the channel announced the order of the "Vikings" from the famous screenwriter Michael Hirst.

The Way to the West

The plot of the series "The Vikings" is very progressive and confident Ragnar Lodbrok (Travis Fimmel). He is young enough and strong enough to take part in the conquest, but believes that his compatriots give up many, going only to the East, while in the West, too, have a settlement, even harder to get to them. Ragnar challenge local ruler - Haraldsson Earl (Gabriel Byrne) and builds a ship to go to the shores of England, together with his faithful friend Floquet (Gustaf Skarsgård).

Returning from a trip to the extraction, Ragnar and his men are punished for something that went against the will of the Jarl. He picks up the prey and allow them to take only one subject. And Ragnar once again surprised everyone by choosing as a reward - a slave Æthelstan (George Blagden), a former monk, who was kidnapped by the Vikings during one of the attacks.

Reliability above all

Definitely, one of the main conditions for the emergence of artistic series on the channel «History» is its historical accuracy. By creating such a project, writers and directors had to work as one team to cater to both the customer and the audience.

On the creation of the "Viking" worked just three experienced director Johan Renk, Ciaran Donnelly and Ken Girotti - each of them took off for three episodes, all in the first season of nine episodes. But most of all concerns fell on the shoulders of Michael Hirst - the author of the original idea. Hirst is known for the creation of scripts for the TV series "The Tudors" and "Borgia", both historical dramas were able to make a positive impression, they were bright, expressive, almost provocative. By the "Viking" was needed another approach that has been obvious from the beginning.

Historical drama turned grim and ruthless, as it should. "Vikings" - a story about the conquerors, often brutal, uncompromising, living by the laws that do not understand in today's society. The existence of these laws there in full, because the whole story is due to decisions taken by people who are used to fight, consider death in battle - the highest award. Michael Hirst managed to walk a fine line between documentary and historical drama, to translate into reality a project that would combine the features of these different genres.

For each series of "Viking" is visible to the painstaking work of the team, creating not only show how to build a picture of the past, animating a legend. Removing the stories of people who lived centuries ago, you can access to available historical records, chronicles, books. Recreating the customs and way of life of the Vikings, Scandinavian peoples - demands not only working with materials written by researchers on the subject, but also to create a certain kind of thinking man of that era, his manners to move, speak and dress.

Artists series created a world filled with the spirit of history, breathed life into it, so that it seemed plausible. The actors also played memorable characters convincing: they naturally look at the background scenery, their actions do not seem to be incorrect, and the words - alien, they brilliantly fit into the context of the story. The "Viking" all carefully selected and connected into a single unit to the screen came to life story, not what it is in documentaries - not staged, but the real, to experience the drama of every moment.

The experiment continues

"Vikings" have managed to please both the audience and the management of the channel. Satisfied Rating in «History» were quick to announce that the series renewed for a second season. The authors plan to continue the stories to tell about how Ragnar Lodbrok became a great leader of the Vikings, the famous conqueror and ruler. In addition to the historical component, viewers will learn more about the family of Ragnar, his sons and his wife maturing. The second season of the project will be released in 2014.

Anna Chizh

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