Vikings – The Really REALLY Bad Boys
Two years ago I wrote a post about the hotness factor in gladiators. At the time, the show Spartacus was on and gladiators were having a resurgence of sorts. But that was then and this is now, and it’s time we talked about Vikings.
If you haven’t seen the show, by the gods remedy that – pronto! It’s a delicious feast for the senses – entertaining, compelling plotlines and visually stunning scenery … and I’m not only talking about the jaw-dropping views of mountains and fjords. I’m talking about the gorgeous cast. Travis Fimmel, anyone?
Here’s Travis in his early days when he was just a young ‘un modeling for Calvin Klein. Even back in the day it’s easy to see why he was eventually cast as legendary Norse ruler Ragnar Lothbrok. The chiseled face, blond hair and piercing blue eyes make for a pretty picture as a model, and an intimdating one as he gets older and plays the fearless leader who believes he’s destined for greatness. Now, admittedly, Fimmel isn’t the greatest actor to ever grace the screen. But seriously, with that face – and those abs! – who cares?
Although Fimmel may be the star of the show, he’s not the only gorgeous guy in the cast. Let’s take a moment and talk about Clive Standen. Never heard of him? Well, ladies, let your eyes raid this:
Any complaints? I thought not.
Ragnar Lothbrok also has a pretty hot son, played by Hunger Games actor Alexander Ludwig, who now in Vikings’ 3rd season is all grown up and ready to plunder.
The females in the cast are just as beautiful. I particularly adore Katheryn Winnick as Lagertha, Ragnar’s former wife. She’s as badass as they come, fighting right alongside the men during the fiercest of battles. Actress Winnick is perfectly, cast, too. In real life she’s an accomplished martial artist, obtaining her first black belt at age 13. She’s also a licensed bodyguard and owns a string of taekwondo studios. In other words. don’t f**k with her.
It’s true that historical vikings were nothing to admire. They raided, they pillaged, they raped women, they killed innocents, they took what wasn’t theirs. They weren’t bad boys to be admired, they were truly bad boys from which to run far far away. And to be fair, the History Channel’s series doesn’t entirely look the other way when it comes to the harsh reality of what vikings were and did. A friend of mind, in fact, doesn’t watch the show because she says it’s too violent. The battle scenes are bloody, it’s true, although for me the most gruesome scene of the entire series thus far was the “blood eagle” ceremony from season 2. If you don’t know what that is, brace yourself. Or hit the fast forward button.
Alongside the beautiful cast and scenery, the plotlines keep me hooked. There’s really compelling subtext going on in the character of Athelstan, a former monk who was captured and later befriended by Ragnar. Athelstan suffers pangs of spiritual crisis, hovering between his former Christian identify and his new Pagan one.
So grab a cup of glog and giving Vikings a try. It’ll bring out the warrior in you.
