29 November 2018
6 reasons to get stuck into Vikings Season 5
Update: Vikings S1-5 are no longer on Showmax. Stream new episodes of S6 here.
The second half of Vikings Season 5 is now streaming first and only on Showmax, with new episodes coming weekly every Thursday, express from the US. Here are six reasons you should be bingeing HISTORY’s breakthrough drama.
1. You’ll rethink everything you know about vikings
As Africans, we should know better than to trust histories written by the victors.
As Jordan Patrick Smith, who plays Ubbe, says, “When you look up all the history of vikings, it’s all written from an English perspective, so it makes the vikings look like a bunch of bearded lunatics who killed and raped everybody, but there was a lot more to them than that.”
In fact, Vikings creator Michael Hirst (The Tudors, Elizabeth) says that “their attitude toward women was much more enlightened than societies around them – England, France, Spain – and they were more democratic than most other societies.” It’s not often that you can watch something this entertaining – and say you’re learning something at the same time…
“As good, if not better, at a lot of the elements familiar to fans of George RR Martin’s epic.” – The Guardian
2. It’s widely acclaimed as one of the best shows on TV
Vikings has 11 Emmy nominations, a 93% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and an 8.6 rating on IMDB, where it’s listed as one of the Top Rated TV shows of all time.
Huffington Post praised it as “one of the most visually striking shows on TV;” Salon wrote that its “contemplative view and portrayal of religion is unique among television series;” and The Guardian compared it favourably to Game of Thrones, describing it as “altogether more streamlined” and “as good, if not better, at a lot of the elements familiar to fans of George RR Martin’s epic.”
As the Rotten Tomatoes critics consensus for season four puts it, this is a show full of “fantastic performances, epic battles, and sharp writing sure to please its barbarous hordes of fans.”
3. Lagertha is “the most exciting feminist character on TV”
Katheryn Winnick plays Lagertha, a fierce shield-maiden who fights alongside the men and rises to become Earl Ingstad and, by the start of Season 5, Queen of Kattegat. She’s an independent woman who has no patience for the patriarchy, but she’s also a caring mother with a touching relationship with her son Björn. As Entertainment Weekly wrote, “she may be the most exciting feminist character on TV.”
It’s not an act for Winnick either: in real life she’s a former bodyguard with black belts in both Taekwondo and Karate and has founded three martial arts schools.
4. The fight scenes are epic
“We do battles very well, better than other shows,” says Hirst – not very modest but entirely true.
As Inverse says, “Vikings has hands-down the best battle scenes of any network TV shows.” The good news is that season five has some of the most epic sequences yet, up there with the siege of Paris, as civil war looms…
5. Now starring Jonathan Rhys-Meyers
“There are many pleasures, some admittedly base, to be taken from Vikings,” wrote Entertainment Weekly, just before calling the show “a visual feast of sweaty men with the physiques of CrossFit coaches.”
Sadly, Ragnar Lothbrok, played by former Calvin Klein underwear model Travis Fimmel, is no more, but Season 5 has no shortage of heart-throbs, including Golden Globe winner Jonathan Rhys-Meyers (The Tudors), who joins the cast as Bishop Heahmund, a warrior bishop.
6. Season 5 is a good place to start
If you’ve never watched Vikings, we recommend you start at the very beginning on Showmax, but Season 5 sees the show shift focus from Ragnar to his sons, so it also works as a place to start fresh.
“I always said from the beginning that the show was not just about Ragnar, but about Ragnar and his sons,” says Hirst. “In fact, in many ways his sons became more famous than Ragnar. Björn did actually go to the Mediterranean and Tunisia and Ivar the Boneless was a very famous viking. I seem to have waited a lifetime to get Ivar the Boneless into the script – who knew the most important viking leader was a cripple, considering what the assumptions are about vikings? Ivar was one of the cruellest and most successful vikings and we are very lucky to have Alex Hogh Andersen playing him – he is brilliant.”
Original African stories by local talent
Empini S1
Stream the Showmax Original drama series Empini from 23 May 2024.
Original Sin: My Son The Killer
Original Sin: My Son The Killer follows the murder of Andrea Venter by Gerhard Jansen van Vuuren, who then went on the run from South Africa to Brazil.
Tracking Thabo Bester
From the makers of Devilsdorp and the director of Convict Conman comes the true-crime documentary South Africa has been waiting for. Two episodes now streaming, and the remaining two episodes land on 22 March 2024 on Showmax.
The Illuminated
The Showmax Original docuseries The Illuminated explores different religious movements in South Africa. Stream now, with new episodes every Wednesday.
Koek S1
The crime comedy Koek, starring Cindy Swanepoel, now streaming on Showmax, with new episodes every Thursday.
Ekhaya Backpackers S1
Stream the Showmax Original comedy series Ekhaya Backpackers, with new episodes every Thursday.
Cheta M
Cheta M explores the love story between Adanna and Nnanna, young lovers who battle the spiritual and political forces in their way. Stream now, with new episodes Wednesday to Friday.
Youngins S1
Stream Tshedza Pictures’s first teen drama, Showmax Original Youngins, with three new episodes every week.
The Winning Ticket, a Showmax Original
Youngins S1 episodes 1-20 recap
More Mzansi gold
Youngins Season 1 episodes 31-33 recap: Revelations
Amo and Mahlatse become a couple, Tumelo ditches Sefako, and Khaya sees both Sefako and Principal Mthembu in a new light in episodes 31-33 of Showmax Original Youngins.
Interview: Knock knock, it’s Youngins’ Tshepo!
Tshepo Matlala talks about how he brings class clown Tshepo’s jokes to life, and what’s behind the mask, in Showmax Original Youngins.
Siyabonga Thwala stars in action-packed Empini
Showmax announces new action-drama series Empini, starring three-times SAFTA winner Siyabonga Thwala. Premieres 23 May on Showmax.
The Mommy Club S2 episode 9 recap: Mrs Mops’ launch event
In episode 9 of The Mommy Club, Mrs Mops launches her skincare range and Barbra and Mantshi make amends. New episodes every Monday.