Just when you though, that Viking series are done, we have another treat. Vikings Valhalla.
Set over a thousand years ago in the early 11th century, VIKINGS: VALHALLA chronicles the heroic adventures of some of the most famous Vikings who ever lived — the legendary explorer Leif Eriksson (Sam Corlett), his fiery and headstrong sister Freydis Eriksdotter (Frida Gustavsson), and the ambitious Nordic prince Harald Sigurdsson (Leo Suter). As tensions between the Vikings and the English royals reach a bloody breaking point and as the Vikings themselves clash over their conflicting Christian and pagan beliefs, these three Vikings begin an epic journey that will take them across oceans and through battlefields, from Kattegat to England and beyond, as they fight for survival and glory.
In this sequel to “Vikings,” a hundred years have passed and a new generation of legendary heroes arises to forge its own destiny — and make history.
As this serie has just started, these are the First words after the Season 1, part 1. It seems like Vikings are going to war, again. This time, as before, they will be facing Brits. But is Vikings fighting as Vikings, or are they divided. A big viking army is gathering in Kattegat, Norway, but there are some disturbances in the inner peace of Vikings. It will be interesting to follow how the different stories evolve in Viking Valhalla.
Vikings: Valhalla First Reviews: Critics Say Netflix’s Vikings Spinoff Is a Viscerally Intense ‘Theme Park Ride’
Valhalla, which covers the end of the Viking Era and showcases later-stage notables Leif Eriksson, Canute the Great, and Harold of Norway (among others), is a more straightforward series than Vikings was, more interested in the broader beats of the story than the poetic and spiritual ruminations of the original series. That’s not inherently a bad thing though, just different. – Matt Fowler, IGN Movies
If anything, “Valhalla’s” eight-episode first season improves on the original show — as it should, since it takes place in more interesting times. – Bob Strauss, San Francisco Chronicle
Like its predecessor, Valhalla is a beautiful show, dark and gloomy and vicious, with all the adornments of warfare that make the Vikings so fascinating in the first place. – Shane Ryan, Paste Magazine
Additionally, Vikings’ special effect work (both practical and computer-generated) was nearly seamless, but in Vikings:Valhalla, much of the ocean sequences feel hollow instead of authentic. It’s clear where the green screen begins and the physical ends and it makes it hard to become fully immersed in those moments, and that’s how the series opens. That said, the work done in the fight sequences and religious rituals is just as detailed and intricate as you would expect from the franchise. Finally, the costuming and make-up in Vikings: Valhalla leaves something to be desired. While the gowns and furs are detailed, much of the armor and leatherwork seems generic as opposed to the ornate and detailed costumes in the original series. Add in the simplistic hairstyles and you have moments that could use a strong dose of war paint, braids, and detailed leather. – Kate Sánchez, But Why Tho? A Geek Community
The production value here is very very impressive when it comes to the big action-heavy set pieces. And also, when it comes to the details of Vikings culture, you give me a layered and highly-detailed way of life to explore and I’m going to want to soak in every single ounce of it. In the case of Vikings: Valhalla, that element of the show is just especially effective for the production design element, but also because of how strong the characters believe in being Viking and how powerfully that’s conveyed through the performances. – Perri Nemiroff, Perri Nemiroff
Amid all its longboat rowing, battle-ax waving, cascading hair and fabulous (hopefully faux) furs, the series presents the whiplash upheavals and morphing alliances of the era with clean clarity. – Bob Strauss, San Francisco Chronicle
There’s a streamlined briskness to Vikings: Valhalla when compared to its predecessor that verges on glibness. Stuart takes advantage of his clean slate to tell a story that’s as much Game Of Thrones as Vikings in its appeal to gallop-paced and crowd-pleasing entertainment value over whatever pretensions to historicity the latter series’ aspired. – Dennis Perkins, AV Club
Vikings fans will be familiar with Valhalla’s visceral intensity, and it’s in the fight scenes and action sequences where the show truly shines. The slightly too clean choreography may not mesh as well with the handheld style of direction, but the battles are always entertaining. – Bradley Russell, Total Film
With all of that said, it wouldn’t be Vikings without battles, and Vikings: Valhalla has a lot to offer in terms of combat. With superb editing around fight sequences (both one-to-one and in open battle), the series maintains the violence and style that the original series expertly showed. With both men and women on the battlefield like the series before it, no actor gets the short end of the stick when it comes to showcasing their strength. – Kate Sánchez, But Why Tho? A Geek Community
If valiant death in battle is a straight shot to Valhalla, the road to an epic escape from modern confusion and catastrophe leads straight through the mayhem of “Vikings: Valhalla.” – Thelma Adams, TheWrap
“Valhalla’s” three heroic leads are attractive as ice nymphs, of course, but also possess enough acting chops to express how the era’s political and spiritual conflicts affect individuals. – Bob Strauss, San Francisco Chronicle
Corlett makes for a captivating Leif, who must struggle to resist enemies from within and without, while Gustavsson’s Freydis follows her own journey for most of the season, her destiny very much tied up in the more mystical, religious elements of the show. Gustavsson gives a powerful performance here, infusing Freydis with a noble heart and steadfast stubbornness that helps carry the back half of this season once the major assault on England is over and many characters scatter to other areas of the realm. – Matt Fowler, IGN Movies
I really do think the success of Freydis’ narrative has a whole lot to do with the conviction that Gustavsson brings to the role. She’s just got this intoxicating mix of warmth and ferocity. It just becomes really impossible not to get fully consumed by everything Freydis cares about and wants. – Perri Nemiroff, Perri Nemiroff
We will be posting our own words after we have seen the rest of the Season 1.
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