"Vikings Season 4" is proof that the success of "Vikings" is no fluke. Since History Channel began airing "Vikings" in 2013, the hit series has received various comparisons with HBO's "Game Of Thrones." Among the earlier contentions is that creator Michael Hirst's "Vikings" is a lighter version of co-creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss' "Game Of Thrones." Now, just a few episodes into "Vikings Season 4" and both critics and followers bear witness that "Vikings" is anything but that.
Pitting former Clavin Klein model Travis Fimmel ("Warcraft") as Ragnar Lothbrok, martial artist Katheryn Winnick ("Geostorm") as Lagertha, Clive Standen ("Taken") as Rollo against Sean Bean ("The Young Messiah") as Ned Stark, Lena Headey ("Pride and Prejudice and Zombies") as Cersei Lannister, Peter Dinklage ("The Angry Birds Movie") as Tyrion Lannister, Kit Harington ("Brimstone") as Jon Snow, "Vikings" paid "Game Of Thrones" measure for measure and more. "Vikings" has the distinct advantage of not having received heavy criticism from viewers over gore and sexual violence.
The Telegraph reports that "Game Of Thrones" episode director Jeremy Podeswa revealed that "GoT" creators David Benioff and DB Weiss have reconsidered their approach to the TV adaptation of George R.R. Martin's creation "A Song of Ice and Fire." This was redirection came after "Game Of Thrones" fans reacted strongly to Sansa Stark's (Sophie Turner, "X-Men: Apocalypse") in the hands of her husband Ramsay Bolton (Iwan Rheon, "Sum1") in "Game Of Thrones Season 5."
Cinema Blend reports that Michael Hirst voiced out how he sees the treatment of the material in "Game Of Thrones." "I feel like a lot of other people, that sex in 'Game Of Thrones' and other shows is completely gratuitous and unnecessary and a lot of the violence is gratuitous... It's largely to shock," Hirst said.
Still, "Vikings Season 4" has a full plate without taking on "Game Of Thrones' " problems. Recent reports say that Ragnar will not be the only character that may not survive "Vikings Season 4" as new "Taken" duties for star Clive Standen will take precedence. However, International Business Times reports that Rollo may still share a love story with Princess Gisla (Morgane Polanski, "The Ghost Writer") in "Vikings Season 4." Despite the union being an arranged marriage for Rollo and Gisla, the two may find common ground as "Vikings Season 4" unfolds.
In the meantime, according to Express & Star, Ragnar actor Travis Fimmel said that the stunts in "Vikings Season 4" had been taxing on him. So much so that Fimmel said "Vikings Season 4" has aged him somehow. Still, Travis Fimmel is not saying anything definite about whether or not "Vikings Season 4" will see him go.
Will he prove his father wrong? #Vikings pic.twitter.com/vTWl4j9cRJ
— Vikings on HISTORY (@HistoryVikings) February 24, 2016
Neither is Fimmel confirming that he will go similarly to how real life Ragnar died from being thrown into a snake pit by King Aella of Northumbria. "I'm not exactly sure about the snake thing, that seems to be the way (Ragnar) dies in history," Fimmel said. "We'll see what Michael writes."
Vikings airs airs every Thursday at 10pm ET on The History Channel. Should Ragnar be given another season after "Vikings Season 4?"
