Following the widely acclaimed success of developer Santa Monica Studio’s return to the franchise with God of the warfans counted the days until the freshly released and equally lauded release Ragnarok. Now that the game is out, countless are surely continuing this thrilling soft-reboot adventure filled with cathartic action and thoughtful character development of its redeemed protagonist.
However, for fans hungry for more, there are a few standout TV shows and movies to stream on Prime Video and Hulu after playing to hunt that Norse-themed patch. Robert Eggers’ recent Viking epic is one such choice, and there’s also an ongoing animated series more than worth investing in for its take on Norse lore.
The Man from the North (2022)
The last great Norse epic to hit theaters, that of Robert Eggers (The witch, Lighthouse) The man from the north is pure, unfiltered Viking action. Starring Alexander Skarsgård in the lead role, the story follows Viking prince Amleth as he embarks on a bloody quest for revenge after his uncle murders and usurps his father.
The man from the north is a revenge story through and through, and there’s something admirable about a film being fully aware of what it is and playing to its strengths. Even more alluring, the film and its interpretation of the world weave ambiguous elements of mysticism. Skarsgård is expected to deliver an incredibly pristine performance, with Anya Taylor-Joy leaving a memorable impression, as always in this second team with Eggers.
The man from the north is available to stream now on Amazon Prime Video.
Vikings (2013-2020)
For TV Viking’s serialized action, the aptly named vikings is one of the best Nordic-themed shows to stream. A historical drama, this series is loosely based on real-world Scandinavian stories, most notably through its main character Ragnar Lothbrok. It begins with Ragnar as a simple farmer who gradually rises to fame as a warrior, with the story taking the characters to England and beyond.
For fans of history, medieval Norse tales and meaningful dramatic plots, vikings is an immersive epic spanning six narratively satisfying seasons. The series was particularly praised for placing equal emphasis on character writing and heart-pounding action, something similarly themed movies and shows sometimes fail to do.
The six seasons of vikings are available to stream now on Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and Peacock.
Vinland Saga (2020-)
On the anime side, Wit Studio’s masterful adaptation by writer/artist Makoto Yukimura Vinland Saga with Season 1 is a very gripping watch for its storytelling and fascinating cast of characters. This historical fiction anime follows young Thorfinn Karlsefni as he grows from a bright-eyed young boy to a vengeful warrior after the murder of his father at the hands of the Viking mercenary Askeladd.
In revenge, he joins Askeladd’s band of mercenaries to gain the strength to kill him in a duel. In addition to the compelling writing, the score is beautiful, the atmosphere is compelling, and the story plays well with themes of redemption, letting go of the past, and living for the future.
Season 1 of Vinland Saga is available to stream now on Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, and HIDIVE, with a second season slated to premiere January 10, 2023.
The Last Kingdom (2015-2022)
vikings is not the only critically acclaimed Nordic television series, as The Last Kingdom deserved an equally strong reception. The series ended with its 5th season this year, with the plaudits always going to its impressive overall production value.
It begins by following Uhtred, a man raised by the Danish Viking band who captured him and killed his father, causing the character to develop an interesting internal conflict as he was eventually accepted as family. Like with vikings, The Last Kingdom was also well received for placing as much emphasis on engagingly written characters as it did on bloody, bloody action.
The five seasons of The Last Kingdom are available to stream now on Netflix, along with a movie sequel titled Seven kings must die premiering on the streamer in 2023 to wrap up the story.
Editors’ Recommendations