If you're not watching "Vikings" on the History channel, you should be!!

Is anybody watching “Vikings”

How scared would you be seeing these monsters walk on to your beaches? 

Since I’ve been on the road this last month, I haven’t been as tuned in to the tube as I like to be. But that will all change next week. Anyway, back to “Vikings,” I had heard about it on the History channel, so I just assumed it was like any of their other two-hour historic pieces with talking heads and some random reenacted scenes, so I let it disappear from my schedule. What a mistake. “Vikings” is History channels first attempt at scripted programming and they have come out swinging. The first five episodes have been great filled with gory battles, backstabbing and some of the badest beards on TV.

The story follows Ragnar (Travis Fimmel) a smart and cunning Viking, as he disobeys his chieftain (well played by Gabriel Byrne) and sails west with his men. After returning with unforeseen riches, the chieftain tries to eliminate Ragnar, but that doesn’t appear like it’s going to happen. The rest of the casts include Ragnar’s brother Rollo (Clive Standen), the Cheiftain’s sneaky wife Siggy (Jessalyn Gilsig), Ragnar’s ferocious and tough wife Lagertha (Katheryn Winnick), Ragnar’s monk slave Athelstan (George Blagdon) and Ragnar’s woods dwelling companion Floki (Gustaf Skarsgard).

Ragnar leading his men

The Vikings basically invade England and clean out a church, taking with them some monks as slaves. When they return, the Chieftain, as punishment for disobeying him takes all their treasure. Ragnar asks again to head west and the chieftain obliges, but sends his own man on the journey. The Vikings once again head west, but this time they encounter a small group of soldiers. After a lot miscommunication, the Vikings decimate the solders, with one escaping and telling his lord they were as “tall as giants and used axes as weapons.” The Vikings clean out another church, but this time a larger army is waiting and they must fight them, which they do. It’s a bloody battle filled with carnage.They return with more treasure and Ragnar’s popularity grows. After the chieftain tries several times to get rid of him, they attack his village and Ragnar barely escapes with his life.

Now that you’re up to speed, start watching this show!! Overall, it’s been very good mixing gory brawls with soft-spoken moments. Ragnar is a smart man and uses much more than brute strength to win his wars. But there are a couple of bones I have to pick with the show.

One of my favorite characters in "Vikings" is played by Vladimir Kulich (center) (Buliwyf in "The 13th Warrior") the guy is a freaking beast! Everyone has their weapons drawn but him, beast!!! 

First off, when you have Vladimir Kulich in your cast, (Spoiler alert) why kill him off in the third or fourth epside? The guy is a Viking and his character Eric was great. He was awesome as Buliwyf the leader in “The 13^th Warrior” and he was just as great in “Vikings” laughing as the storms pounded down around and chopping dudes in half with his axe. I just can’t believe they would cut him loose that easy, it’s a real shame.

Gabriel Byrnes is such a bitch in this show, hopefully his rule as Chieftain won't last long

Secondly, I hate Gabriel Byrnes. Sure, he did some good stuff in the 90s, but his character on this show is such a whiny little bitch. He is scared, as he should, that some young buck like Ragnar is going to come along and whoop his ass. It’s going to happen, sooner than later and I can’t wait until Ragnar gets ahold of him in a fair fight.

Seriously I’ll shut up now, go watch the show!!!