History Channel Has First Foray Into Scripted Television With ‘Vikings’

The History Channel has announced that they will take their first step into original scripted television with a 10 episode drama, Vikings, which will chronicle the world of the mighty Norsemen who raided, traded and explored during medieval times.

Vikings follows the adventures of Ragnar Lothbrok, an actual historical figure, and the greatest hero of his age. The series tells the sagas of Ragnar’s band of Viking brothers and his family, as he rises to become King of the Viking tribes. As well as being a fearless warrior, Ragnar embodies the Norse traditions of devotion to the gods. According to legend he was a direct descendent of Odin, the god of war and warriors.

According to The History Channel, the series “will boast a polished, stylized look that pushes the boundaries of television drama” and will feature “imaginatively choreographed battles that emphasize individual points of view, strategies and ruses rather than mindless, graphic slaughter.”