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Revision as of 16:58, 1 April 2016 by Uriah923 (talk | contribs) (→Episodes: Period and comma inside quotation marks)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) Season of television series| Vikings (season 4) | |
|---|---|
| Season 4 | |
| File:Vikings Season 4.pngPromotional poster | |
| Release | |
| Original network | History |
| Original release | February 18, 2016 (2016-02-18) – present (present) |
| Season chronology | |
| ← Previous Season 3 Next → Season 5 | |
| List of episodes | |
The fourth season of the Canadian-Irish historical drama television series Vikings premiered on February 18, 2016 on History in Canada and in the United States. The season will consist of a double order of 20 episodes, which are to be split into two parts of 10 episodes, with the second half set to air later in 2016.
Filmed in Ireland, Vikings is inspired by the tales about the Viking Ragnar Lothbrok, one of the best-known mythological Norse heroes and notorious as the scourge of France and England. It portrays Ragnar as a Viking farmer who pioneers the first daring raids into England with the support of fellow warriors, his ex-wife, the shieldmaiden Lagertha, and his brother Rollo.
Series overview
The series is inspired by the tales of the raiding, trading, and exploring Norsemen of early medieval Scandinavia. It follows the exploits of the legendary Viking chieftain Ragnar Lothbrok and his crew and family, as notably laid down in the 13th-century sagas Ragnars saga Loðbrókar and Ragnarssona þáttr, as well as in Saxo Grammaticus' 12th-century work Gesta Danorum. Norse legendary sagas were partially fictional tales based in Norse oral tradition, written down about 200 to 400 years after the events they describe. Further inspiration is taken from historical sources of the period, such as records of the Viking raid on Lindisfarne depicted in the second episode, or Ahmad ibn Fadlan's 10th-century account of the Volga Vikings. The series is set at the beginning of the Viking Age, marked by the Lindisfarne raid in 793.
Plot
Ragnar and the Vikings have returned to Kattegat after raiding Paris. While Ragnar recovers from his wounds suffered in Paris, he meets a new slave Yidu who he grows close to. He must also deal with Floki, who has been imprisoned by Bjorn for the murder of Athelstan. Bjorn also reveals to Ragnar that he intends to travel into the wilderness to find himself, but not before Kalf and Erlendur plot against him. Meanwhile the Viking women have growing ambitions, as Lagertha and Aslaug both attempt to plot themselves back into power. In Paris, Rollo and the Franks prepare for the eventual return of Ragnar and his Viking warriors, and Rollo attempts to build a relationship with his new wife Princess Gisla. In Wessex, relationships are tense as Ecbert grows closer to Judith, while his son Aethelwulf forms a relationship with Queen Kwenthrith. Along with King Aelle, this alliance prepares to restore Kwenthrith to power in Mercia, while also keeping in mind the eventual return of Ragnar and the Vikings, whose settlement was slaughtered by Ecbert. King Harald Finehair arrives in Kattegat with his brother Halfdan, both eager to raid with Ragnar in Paris. However, Harald has desires to become the King of all Norway, but in doing so must overthrow Ragnar. Older, wounded, and lacking the desire to explore like his early years, Ragnar faces enemies on all sides.
Cast
Main
- Travis Fimmel as King Ragnar Lothbrok, the head of the Viking Earldom of Kattegat who became king after Horik's death
- Katheryn Winnick as Lagertha, a shieldmaiden and Ragnar's ex-wife; she controls the Earldom of Hedeby calling herself Earl Ingstad.
- Clive Standen as Rollo, a warrior and Ragnar's brother; the character is based on the historical person who was the great-great-great-grandfather of William the Conqueror.
- Gustaf Skarsgård as Floki, a gifted shipbuilder and a friend of Ragnar
- Alexander Ludwig as Björn Ironside, Ragnar and Lagertha's son, who has fallen in love with the shieldmaiden Þórunn
- Alyssa Sutherland as Queen Aslaug, Brynhildr's daughter and Ragnar's second wife
- Ben Robson as Kalf, a Viking warrior; he shares the control of Hedeby with Lagertha.
- Lothaire Bluteau as Emperor Charles
- John Kavanagh as The Seer, the seiðr of Kattegat
- Peter Franzén as King Harold Finehair
- Jasper Pääkkönen as Halfdan the Black
- Kevin Durand as Harbard, a charismatic wanderer and storyteller
- Linus Roache as King Ecbert of Wessex, the ruthless king of Wessex
Recurring
- Maude Hirst as Helga, Floki's long-suffering lover and wife
- Owen Roe as Count Odo of Paris
- Morgane Polanski as Princess Gisla of West Francia, the daughter of Emperor Charles
- Luke Shanahan as Ubbe, eldest son of Ragnar and Aslaug
- Stephen Rockett as Hvitserk, second son of Ragnar and Aslaug
- Huw Parmenter as Roland, Count Odo's first-in-command and Therese's brother
- Karen Hassan as Therese, Roland's sister and Count Odo's mistress
- Amy Bailey as Queen Kwenthrith of Mercia
- Dianne Doan as Yidu, Queen Aslaug's new servant
- Moe Dunford as Prince Aethelwulf, son of King Ecbert
- Edvin Endre as Erlendur, son of King Horik
- Jennie Jacques as Princess Judith, daughter of King Aelle, wedded to Aethelwulf
- Seán T. Ó Meallaigh as Prudentius of Troyes, a monk serving at the court of King Ecbert
- Elijah O'Sullivan as Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye, third son of Ragnar and Aslaug
- James Quinn Markey as Ivar "The Boneless", fourth son of Ragnar and Aslaug
- George Blagden as Athelstan, an Anglo-Saxon monk and friend of Ragnar. He was killed by Floki and appears in Ragnar's and Ecbert's dreams.
- Georgia Hirst as Torvi, wife of Erlendur
- Philip O'Sullivan as Bishop Edmund, serving at the court of King Ecbert
- Conor Ó Hanlon as Alfred, Princess Judith and Athelstan's son
- Des Carney as Waerferth the Scout, serving King Ecbert
- Ivan Kaye as King Aelle of Northumbria
- Nathan O'Toole as Bjorn, Ragnar and Lagertha's son
- Rosalie Connerty as Angrboda, daughter of Floki and Helga
- Niall Cusack as Abbot Lupus, serving at the court of Emperor Charles
- Maxim Boshell as Ivar's Axe Boy
Guest
- Søren Pilmark as Stender, a farmer whose family was killed in Wessex. He was killed by Ragnar and appears in his dreams.
- Frankie McCafferty as Sinric, a former drifter and Rollo's adjutant
- Steve Wall as Einar, a scheming troublemaker
- Cillian O'Sullivan as Eirik, a Viking warrior in Paris
- Robban Follin as Berserker, an assassin recruited by Erlendur and Kalf
- Ruby O'Leary as Gyda, Ragnar and Lagertha's daughter
Episodes
See also: List of Vikings episodes| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ' | ||||||||||||
| 30 | 1 | "A Good Treason" | Ciarán Donnelly | Michael Hirst | February 18, 2016 (2016-02-18) | TBA | ||||||
| 31 | 2 | "Kill the Queen" | Ciarán Donnelly | Michael Hirst | February 25, 2016 (2016-02-25) | TBA | ||||||
| 32 | 3 | "Mercy" | Ciarán Donnelly | Michael Hirst | March 3, 2016 (2016-03-03) | TBA | ||||||
| 33 | 4 | "Yol" | Helen Shaver | Michael Hirst | March 10, 2016 (2016-03-10) | TBA | ||||||
| 34 | 5 | "Promised" | Helen Shaver | Michael Hirst | March 17, 2016 (2016-03-17) | TBA | ||||||
| 35 | 6 | "What Might Have Been" | Ken Girotti | Michael Hirst | March 24, 2016 (2016-03-24) | TBA | ||||||
| 36 | 7 | "The Profit and the Loss" | Ken Girotti | Michael Hirst | March 31, 2016 (2016-03-31) | TBA | ||||||
| 37 | 8 | "Portage" | TBA | TBA | April 7, 2016 (2016-04-07) | TBA | ||||||
| 38 | 9 | "Death All 'Round" | TBA | TBA | April 14, 2016 (2016-04-14) | TBA | ||||||
| 39 | 10 | "The Last Ship" | TBA | TBA | April 21, 2016 (2016-04-21) | TBA | ||||||
Production
An Irish-Canadian co-production, Vikings was developed and produced by Octagon Films and Take 5 Productions. Michael Hirst, Morgan O'Sullivan, John Weber, Sherry Marsh, Alan Gasmer, James Flynn and Sheila Hockin are credited as executive producers.
The production team includes cinematographer John Bartley, costume designer Joan Bergin, production designer Tom Conroy, and composer Trevor Morris.
Reception
Critical response
The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 100% approval rating, with an average rating of 8/10 based on five reviews.
References
- Matt Webb Mitovich. "Vikings Gets Supersized Season 4, Premiere Date, 'Last Supper'-y Poster – TVLine". TVLine.
- Mathew, Ilin (July 3, 2015). "'Vikings' Season 4 Spoilers: Queen Aslaug to be Leader; Will Rollo Follow Ragnar's Footsteps?". International Business Times. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
- ^ "History's Hit Drama Series "Vikings" Returns for Season Four on Thursday, February 18 at 10 PM ET/PT". The Futon Critic. December 17, 2015. Retrieved January 4, 2016.
- "Breaking News - "Vikings" - History's Hit Drama Series Sails Again for Season Three Thursday, February 19 at 10 p.m. ET - TheFutonCritic.com".
- Hayner, Chris E. (July 13, 2015). "Kevin Durand heading back to 'Vikings' to create Season 4 chaos". Zap2It.com. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
- ^ "Vikings: Episode Guide". Zap2It. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
- ^ "VIKINGS Tops The Ratings With 8.3 Million Viewers". Irish Film Board. 5 March 2013. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
- Cummins, Steve (26 June 2012). "Emmy Award-Winning Cinematographer John Bartley Joins 'Vikings' Crew". The Irish Film & Television Network. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
- "VIKINGS: SEASON 4". Rotten Tomatoes. Flixster. Retrieved March 4, 2016.
