 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Vikings
Common Sense Media says
Violent, mature drama has amiable, legendary hero.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Vikings is a gritty historical drama that chronicles the rise of legendary Norse revolutionary and hero Ragnan Lothbrok from a common raider to eventual Viking king. The series is violent, often exceedingly so, with graphic battle scenes that show close-up fighting, stabbings, stonings, beatings, and even the occasional beheading. Other mature topics like rape emerge, and steamy love scenes keep nudity to a minimum (women cover their chests with blankets, men are shirtless), but play up sexy foreplay and explicit bedroom talk. But set against the backdrop of this brutal era is a dynamic story of a loving family man whose foresight and determination took him to unexplored lands and eventual fame and power.
What's the story?
VIKINGS centers on Ragnan Lothbrok (Travis Fimmel), a farmer and hired raider under the direction of chieftain Earl Haraldson (Gabriel Byrne). While Haraldson is content sending his men to pillage the impoverished lands to the east of Norway, Ragnan is drawn to the unexplored western sea, guided by new directional tools and a strong sense of destiny. He enlists the help of his friend, Floki (Gustaf Skarsgard), to create a stronger, faster ship that can weather the unknown, and joins forces with his brother, Rollo (Clive Standen), for the dangerous journey, leaving his wife, Lagertha (Katheryn Winnick), at home with their children.
Is it any good?
From the writing genius of Michael Hirst (The Tudors, Elizabeth) comes an inspired, artistic series based on real people and events that gives viewers a unique inside-out look at this mysterious clan of historical players often represented as ancient street thugs. Vikings tries to change that long-held impression, putting a surprisingly sympathetic spin on Ragnan and telling the tale from the point of view of this celebrated visionary, devoted father, and spiritual devotee who rose to power because of his impulse to push boundaries. Crafty cinematography drops viewers into a land of long ago, carrying them along for the dangerous but exhilarating ride alongside Ragnan, his family, and his men.
But for all of Vikings' historical value, the show is never lacking action, adventure, romance, intrigue, and suspense, making it an extraordinarily enjoyable watch. Don’t sweat it if your knowledge of Norse legends is limited to Thor; you'll find yourself quickly caught up in this real-life drama played out by the talented Fimmel and a sensational supporting cast. If your teens can stomach the raw violence and mature sexual content, this is a fantastic series that will introduce you to a whole new set of historical figures and may inspire some supplementary research into the legends that inspired the show.
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Families can talk about the challenges that accompany new adventures. How do you know when a risk is worth taking? What can be learned from failure? Is success any sweeter because of the risks taken?
How reliable are cultural legends and oral history? What role do they play in your beliefs about history or religion?
Is Ragnan a heroic character? Is he violent, or is that a product of his surroundings? How do we assign fame today? Are modern-day heroes any more or less deserving of their stations than someone like him?
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Adult
March 14, 2013
AGE
More sexual scenes then told.
To add to all the other sexual situations, a viking rapes a woman ( though no skin is shown its implied that isnt what the woman wants. Many scenes are shown with a man and woman physically abusing each other in between there make out moments.
I thought this would be an educational show to watch considering its the history channel, but there are many things that I dont need or want children to be educated about. ( take the sex out ) and it would be a lot better.
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Teen, 16 years old
April 2, 2013
AGE
"Vikings" IS BAD
This Common Sense Media review doesn't accurately review the show because it is only based on the 1st episode. The review doesn't add the fact that their are multiple scenes of rape (some attempted and some successful).
The main character can be a postive influence but he like many other characters in the show disrespect the culture of other lands, like Christianity in England. This is likely due to the creator's desire to accurately display the vikings.
Few scenes with some sort of strong drink. Lots of violence in this show during fight scenes.
It's a good show for adults, but it's not for kids due to sexual content and violence.
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Teen, 14 years old
March 31, 2013
AGE
I love it
I really really like this show. And honestly, it's a show about the Vikings, who are notorious for being gruesome. I am not a squeamish person, at all, so honestly I haven't even cringed at the blood. Did you honestly think this was going to be a family show? I think the amount of sex and violence is accurate to what the Viking society was actually like, and being historically accurate is the point of this show isn't it?
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Educator and Parent
April 14, 2013
AGE
Parental Guidance Suggested and permission given to keep teacher out of trouble. 16 and up.
I don't have kids but I do teach. For better or worse most of today's kid are sexaully aware more so than what we would have could we control it. My feelings are that this show is probably okay for your average high school history class maybe at about junior year or possibly sophmore year depending on the kids and depending on how conservative the area and the district. Biggest challenge with history is bringing it to life and much more so with today's generation who think the world was made the day they were born and it chiefly consists of their facebook page. Now when you want to teach the. That there was a world before they were born and outside of facebook the Vikings does it. I had a 6 th grader ask me one day "Why didn't the Indians grab some AKs" when the conquitadores were being cruel to to them. I had a high schooler ask me if I was in WW II when I was 38 back in 98. You need every tool and every trick you can get to bring this generation out of its shell. Yes ideally a lot of the intimate scenes could be taken out but the only solution I could think of now is to send permission slips home and let the parents decide. Also I wouldn't show it to any kid below sophmore or maybe junior year.
The biggest issue I have with the show is that it gives a sympathetic view toppeople that were Invaders, commiting rape, plunder, and pillage when they could balance it out by making a show about Alfred the Great who sucessfully fought them off or even something along the lines of King Arthur when he was fighting Saxon invaders who later become tame and themselves face the Vikings. Anytime you tell the story from the point of view of the aggessor or the conqueor something is missing from your telling.Look at the story of the US and its own conquests and colonizing.
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| Topics: | adventures, history |
| TV rating: | TV-14 |
| Network: | History |
| Cast: | Gabriel Byrne, Katheryn Winnick, Travis Fimmel |
| Genre: | Drama |
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