Vikings the Complete Third Season Blu-ray Review
Summary: Vikings Season 3 is a brilliant series and in my opinion is starting to outdo Game of Thrones
4.5
Viking Perfection!
The Complete Third Season of Vikings has arrived on Blu-ray and DVD which collects all the episodes from this turbulent season as we return to King Ragnar (Travis Fimmel) and his warrior Vikings who once again leave the Norse shores in search of wealth, power and battles. To date, it’s easily the best season and if you’re a fan of Vikings, you’ll definitely be in for a Norse treat!
The first episode of Vikings sees Ragnar questioning his rise to Kinghood, whereas his former wife Lagertha (Katheryn Winnick) has sought a mystic in order to see if she will have another child and when she will die. We also see the religious divide between the Norse and the Saxons explored even more in this season and of course, the politics that revolve around Ragnar, his allies and enemies. Needless to say, the behind the scene politics and backstabbing is quite prevalent in season 3.
Furthermore, the third season seems to have stronger writing which in turn creates more interesting characters that draws you into their violent and political world and with just ten episodes, you will easily watch this entire series in just a handful of sittings. It’s also good to see the budget behind Vikings increase which makes the season feel more realistic and not as “TV” like in its presentation.
Season 3 also starts a little slow which again establishes the key players of the series and gives the viewer some hints on how the season may play out with the theme of Christianity quite a strong story throughout the episodes. Add in battles, violence, romance and drama and Vikings Season 3 definitely ticks all the right boxes for gripping TV.
Another highlight in the season is of course Katheryn Winnick who plays Lagertha and it’s great to see her character grow considerably thanks to this amazing actress plus the extra attention her character receives. Other actors of note include Clive Standen, Gustaf Skarsgard and Jessalyn Gilsig who really get into the headspace of their fictitious characters and in turn supports the story well. Creator Michael Hirst should consider himself quite lucky with all these amazing actors.
The final episode of Vikings Season 3 entitled “The Dead” is a great way to see this season end as the Vikings repercussions from their attack on Paris is felt but it came with a great cost to all involved. Add in a great twist that involves both Ragnar and Rollo plus the Emperor of Paris and it’s a fitting way to end this series on a high. All in all, Vikings Season 3 is filled with drama, turmoil and quite a heavy amount of intrigue… not to mention some great action scenes.
Episode Listing
- Mercenary
- The Wanderer
- Warrior’s Fate
- Scarred
- The Usurper
- Born Again
- Paris
- To the Gates!
- Breaking Point
- The Dead
Video, Audio & Special Features
The video quality of Vikings the Complete Third Season on Blu-ray is spectacular which boasts vibrant colours, sharp images and deep blacks with no artefacting whatsoever. To compliment the video, the audio supports a DTS-HD track which has excellent sound levels and really assists in the immersion factor of the series.
There’s also some great special features that include commentaries, deleted scenes and a featurette revolving around the politics of the Vikings that really takes you behind the scenes of the characters and the dynamics which often clash in this violent world.
Special Features
- A City Under Siege Creating and Attacking Paris
- Heavy is the Head… the politics of King Ragnar’s Rule
- The Guide to the Gods
- Athelstan’s Journal Parts 1 & 2
- Audio Commentaries
- Deleted Scenes
Final Thoughts?
In conclusion, Vikings Season 3 is a brilliant series and in my opinion is starting to outdo Game of Thrones because the storyline is more focused and its protagonists have more wins. Sure, they are both excellent series but you can only take so many depressing stories and this is not the fact with Vikings.
Sure, it’s an artistic approach on history but the stars of Vikings are the powerful characters and the actors behind them who create this compelling series about life during the time of the Vikings.
Recommended!
Blu-ray Details
Actors – Travis Fimmel/Clive Standen/Gustaf Skarsgård/Katheryn Winnick/George Blagden/Jessalyn Gilsig
Film Genre – TV Action
Label – 20th Century Fox
Audio – English (DTS-HD 5.1)
Aspect Ratio – 1.78:1
Region Coding – B (Blu-Ray)
TV Standard – PAL
Rating – MA15+
Year of Release – 2014
Primary Format – Movies/TV – Blu-Ray
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