" I think that I wanted to put the character into a contemporary situation. In other words, I don't ever think about history as being something separate and long ago."
" I'm conscious of the fact that I'm basing the story on historical realities....and I'm very conscious of that. I'm not interested in fantasy...."
Michael Hurst (author of "The Vikings")
Michael Hurst is a producer of the "Vikings" that blends history with drama. It has fictional portrayals that represent the real past...of history. His input into this particularly fascinating series is unique...for he blends the real history of civilization in relation to lives of the Vikings with the relationships that create a most interesting thought and plot.
I am continually intrigued for the uniqueness of this series.
And...for season 3, which begins filming on June 2nd, 2014...a season including an attack on Paris...and the reality of Christ Jesus is what can be in store for all of us who are "Viking fans"!
"The Vikings" series is filmed in County Wicklour, Ireland...at the Ashford Studios just outside of Dublin. Other places like Sweden and Norway were considered, yet because of expense and latest technology, Dublin was the destined place of this new series.
World 2000 Entertainment actually produces this series and brings with them extensive experience with historical type TV dramas including "The Tudors" and "Camelot".
Yet, for myself it is Michael Hurst and his writing skills and achievements to combine the real facts of past history with the possible thoughts of the fictional characters (although many of their names were of real people...in real history) that has captured the interest of many...throughout the world.
In a recent interview with Michael Hurst, he shares and tries to explain the thoughts and motives of the creation and ongoing saga of this series aptly named: "The Vikings".
Hurst explains his need for a central character that is strong, handsome, interesting, and intriguing... Ragnar Lothbrok (Lodbrok in some historical descriptions) became that figure.
Ragnar was a real Viking leader who did have 2 wives, numerous sons, and did extraordinary things.
Ragnar was the first recorded of the Viking (Norse culture) tribes to cross the open seas to raid England...and then to France. The first season of "The Viking" series focuses much on the family of Ragnar...both his wives and his children. Considered a "son of Odin", Ragnar is ambitious to travel and overcome obstacles he might face...in going west. In reality, the Vikings were a collection of various tribes that were farmers...and not just a bunch of "wildly crazed warriors". In one episode, Ragnar expresses his deep impression of the fertile soils of England.
Ragnar and his Viking warriors first land in Northumbria, in northern England. It was a small kingdom in England and yet numerous battles evolve from the Vikings entering their land.
The first season and particularly their landing in the Northumbria region introduces the conflict of the Viking pagan gods and Christianity. "Athelstan", the catholic monk who is captured and becomes a slave to Ragnar and his family, introduces an inner conflict within the mind and heart of Athelstan...and at one point somewhat embraces the Viking pagan beliefs...causing many "inner questions" to arise in his heart. To a Viking and their beliefs, Christianity was just a "new fad" of beliefs that foreign cultures had recently exalted...in an attempt gain lands and control other peoples.
There is also a somewhat detailed description of who the Vikings believed in and why they believed in their gods....Odin, Thor, Valhalla, etc. Of course, the character "Floki" brings their religious beliefs to light because of his personal dedication to the "Norse gods."
In one episode, Rollo, the brother of Ragnar agrees to be "baptized" in the Christian faith in return for a settlement of land and money with the English, and Floki expresses his displeasure to Rollo by saying to him: "You have upset...the gods!"
Rollo, the brother of Ragnar in the series is a fascinating character in the series. He is a very talented and able warrior, and yet his allegiance seems to be often in question. At one point, Rollo turns against his brother Ragnar, joins the enemy, kills his friend, and then seeks forgiveness from his brother Ragnar for what he had done.
According to Michael Hurst, he says one of the biggest responses to the series is the religious conflict that is in Athelstan...doubting his own faith in Christianity and all the decadence and evil motives that lurk within the Christian culture, and seems to welcome the direct and almost innocent belief of the Norse gods.
Michael Hurst said "The Huffington Post" wrote: " The Viking series is the only show that takes religious beliefs seriously."
The Viking series seems also to identify with the people of our world today. Ragnar's stability of his own marriage with Lagertha is now swept away by the seduction of Princess Aslaug, who brings in a whole new relationship for Ragnar...facing situations like divorce and remarriage we face today. With Ragnar's love for his children, he suggests the possibilities of 2 women living under the same roof, sharing their lives with Ragnar and raising his children. Princess Aslaug seems to have an almost "New Age" look on life and relationships, not necessarily bringing jealousy and hatred toward Lagertha, but rather seeing a purpose in both her life and the life of Lagertha.
Princess Aslaug has a sense of pride in her family bloodline, her own father being a Viking leader and yet with her own mother dieing at such an early age...the Princess grew up in life as as orphan.
As for Lagertha, having a more traditional sense of the meaning of marriage, along with her talents as both a warrior and still having a love for Ragnar, allows us as viewers to almost feel the pain of a love/hate relationship with Ragnar.
The Viking series in season 2 brings Ragnar's character to a more complex figure...his devoted friendship with Floki changing, his decisions as a leader coming more from his rationale of his mind, rather than love from his heart.
Ragnar is faced on dealing with Rollo his brother, and forgiving him for turning on Ragnar and his community. He is faced with raising his children, and in the real historical documents found of Ragnar Lothbrok (Lodbrok), he definitely had a fear of his own children becoming more popular than he himself. As Bjorn (the son of Ragnar through Lagertha) grows into a strong young man with an almost driven purpose in life...Ragnar is met with the challenges of his ability to be a possible threat to Ragnar...even though Ragnar loves him deeply.
And now the series furthers itself in regards to raids, going from the small kingdom of Northumbria in northern England to the large English kingdom of Wessex...with the wily King Ecbert.
Overall, the Vikings series is able to bring real history to life, blending a cast of characters that not only represent real history as it happened, but identifies with many of the issues and trials in life we as people face today.
And yet, in the midst of it all...is a tightly held set of beliefs..both from the side of the Norse gods and its followers like Floki, to the Christian beliefs...filled with treachery and selfish ambitions that cause people like Athelstan...to be challenged to the very core... of who or what he believes in.
The Viking series is obviously well thought out...and causes it audience to...question their own lives, purposes, and motives of why they are today.
As for Season 3...brace yourself...you might find yourself crying out..."Shield Wall"!
" I'm conscious of the fact that I'm basing the story on historical realities....and I'm very conscious of that. I'm not interested in fantasy...."
Michael Hurst is a producer of the "Vikings" that blends history with drama. It has fictional portrayals that represent the real past...of history. His input into this particularly fascinating series is unique...for he blends the real history of civilization in relation to lives of the Vikings with the relationships that create a most interesting thought and plot.
I am continually intrigued for the uniqueness of this series.
And...for season 3, which begins filming on June 2nd, 2014...a season including an attack on Paris...and the reality of Christ Jesus is what can be in store for all of us who are "Viking fans"!
"The Vikings" series is filmed in County Wicklour, Ireland...at the Ashford Studios just outside of Dublin. Other places like Sweden and Norway were considered, yet because of expense and latest technology, Dublin was the destined place of this new series.
World 2000 Entertainment actually produces this series and brings with them extensive experience with historical type TV dramas including "The Tudors" and "Camelot".
Yet, for myself it is Michael Hurst and his writing skills and achievements to combine the real facts of past history with the possible thoughts of the fictional characters (although many of their names were of real people...in real history) that has captured the interest of many...throughout the world.
In a recent interview with Michael Hurst, he shares and tries to explain the thoughts and motives of the creation and ongoing saga of this series aptly named: "The Vikings".
Hurst explains his need for a central character that is strong, handsome, interesting, and intriguing... Ragnar Lothbrok (Lodbrok in some historical descriptions) became that figure.
Ragnar was a real Viking leader who did have 2 wives, numerous sons, and did extraordinary things.
Ragnar was the first recorded of the Viking (Norse culture) tribes to cross the open seas to raid England...and then to France. The first season of "The Viking" series focuses much on the family of Ragnar...both his wives and his children. Considered a "son of Odin", Ragnar is ambitious to travel and overcome obstacles he might face...in going west. In reality, the Vikings were a collection of various tribes that were farmers...and not just a bunch of "wildly crazed warriors". In one episode, Ragnar expresses his deep impression of the fertile soils of England.
Ragnar and his Viking warriors first land in Northumbria, in northern England. It was a small kingdom in England and yet numerous battles evolve from the Vikings entering their land.
The first season and particularly their landing in the Northumbria region introduces the conflict of the Viking pagan gods and Christianity. "Athelstan", the catholic monk who is captured and becomes a slave to Ragnar and his family, introduces an inner conflict within the mind and heart of Athelstan...and at one point somewhat embraces the Viking pagan beliefs...causing many "inner questions" to arise in his heart. To a Viking and their beliefs, Christianity was just a "new fad" of beliefs that foreign cultures had recently exalted...in an attempt gain lands and control other peoples.
There is also a somewhat detailed description of who the Vikings believed in and why they believed in their gods....Odin, Thor, Valhalla, etc. Of course, the character "Floki" brings their religious beliefs to light because of his personal dedication to the "Norse gods."
In one episode, Rollo, the brother of Ragnar agrees to be "baptized" in the Christian faith in return for a settlement of land and money with the English, and Floki expresses his displeasure to Rollo by saying to him: "You have upset...the gods!"
Rollo, the brother of Ragnar in the series is a fascinating character in the series. He is a very talented and able warrior, and yet his allegiance seems to be often in question. At one point, Rollo turns against his brother Ragnar, joins the enemy, kills his friend, and then seeks forgiveness from his brother Ragnar for what he had done.
According to Michael Hurst, he says one of the biggest responses to the series is the religious conflict that is in Athelstan...doubting his own faith in Christianity and all the decadence and evil motives that lurk within the Christian culture, and seems to welcome the direct and almost innocent belief of the Norse gods.
Michael Hurst said "The Huffington Post" wrote: " The Viking series is the only show that takes religious beliefs seriously."
The Viking series seems also to identify with the people of our world today. Ragnar's stability of his own marriage with Lagertha is now swept away by the seduction of Princess Aslaug, who brings in a whole new relationship for Ragnar...facing situations like divorce and remarriage we face today. With Ragnar's love for his children, he suggests the possibilities of 2 women living under the same roof, sharing their lives with Ragnar and raising his children. Princess Aslaug seems to have an almost "New Age" look on life and relationships, not necessarily bringing jealousy and hatred toward Lagertha, but rather seeing a purpose in both her life and the life of Lagertha.
Princess Aslaug has a sense of pride in her family bloodline, her own father being a Viking leader and yet with her own mother dieing at such an early age...the Princess grew up in life as as orphan.
As for Lagertha, having a more traditional sense of the meaning of marriage, along with her talents as both a warrior and still having a love for Ragnar, allows us as viewers to almost feel the pain of a love/hate relationship with Ragnar.
The Viking series in season 2 brings Ragnar's character to a more complex figure...his devoted friendship with Floki changing, his decisions as a leader coming more from his rationale of his mind, rather than love from his heart.
Ragnar is faced on dealing with Rollo his brother, and forgiving him for turning on Ragnar and his community. He is faced with raising his children, and in the real historical documents found of Ragnar Lothbrok (Lodbrok), he definitely had a fear of his own children becoming more popular than he himself. As Bjorn (the son of Ragnar through Lagertha) grows into a strong young man with an almost driven purpose in life...Ragnar is met with the challenges of his ability to be a possible threat to Ragnar...even though Ragnar loves him deeply.
And now the series furthers itself in regards to raids, going from the small kingdom of Northumbria in northern England to the large English kingdom of Wessex...with the wily King Ecbert.
And yet, in the midst of it all...is a tightly held set of beliefs..both from the side of the Norse gods and its followers like Floki, to the Christian beliefs...filled with treachery and selfish ambitions that cause people like Athelstan...to be challenged to the very core... of who or what he believes in.
The Viking series is obviously well thought out...and causes it audience to...question their own lives, purposes, and motives of why they are today.
As for Season 3...brace yourself...you might find yourself crying out..."Shield Wall"!
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