I love Vikings on History Channel, and not just because it portrays my people.
That's right. The earliest Storeys (spelled Stori) were proud Norsemen (we've checked out the genealogy), who raided and plundered and ended up in northern England around 1100.
The rest is history -- Arkansas in 1830, via North Carolina in 1720 and western Tennessee in the early 1800s. There was no raiding and plundering (as far as we know) once we hit these shores.
Vikings is a fascinating saga loosely based on historical characters. Artistic license is taken, but it's fascinating (and sometimes bloody) to see the bold warriors with their longboats, swords and shields. Bounded as they were by the frigid fjords of the north, the Vikings eagerly awaited raiding season to venture forth and strike terror on unsuspecting inhabitants from Britain and Russia to the Mediterranean.
They did a lot of exploring while they were at it.
The second part of Season 4 continues at 8 p.m. Wednesday with a leap in time forward since the April 21 midseason finale. Note that this is a new night.
When last we saw our intrepid band, Ragnar Lothbrok (Travis Fimmel) had been defeated at the gates of Paris by his brother Rollo (Clive Standen) and then disappeared to lick his wounds and ponder life's vagaries.
Ah, but there is much more calamity, revenge and death on the horizon.
We're now about six years in the future and Ragnar has wandered back home to Kattegat in southern Norway, where his unexpected return has triggered a complicated and confusing chain of events.
Part of my confusion is trying to keep all of Ragnar's sons straight. They are all grown men now, always sort of grubby, and speak with a clicking, mysterious accent designed to invoke Nordic mystique.
In addition, with all these grown boys it would seem that Ragnar would be an old geezer by now, but he appears to be relatively young still.
At any rate, as we return, Ragnar wants to assemble a fleet and head to Wessex to settle the score with the duplicitous King Ecbert (Linus Roache).
Meanwhile, Ragnar's (still young and beautiful) first wife, Lagertha (Katheryn Winnick), plans a power play in Kattegat, and their first born, Bjorn Ironside (Alexander Ludwig), is preparing to explore the Mediterranean in the nifty new longboat built for him by Floki (Gustaf Skarsgard).
That's where we are as the season renews.
As a handy reminder, here are some of the main characters.
Ragnar Lothbrok: Once a simple farmer, Ragnar's goal as king is to find farmland abroad for his people. But he still yearns for a good old-fashioned Viking raid from time to time.
Lagertha: Ragnar's first wife is now an earl and a fierce shield-maiden. It seems the gods have a plan to bring them back together. Besides Bjorn, she and Ragnar had a daughter, Gyda, but she died of a fever.
Bjorn: He loves and admires his father and wants to follow in his footsteps.
Queen Aslaug (Alyssa Sutherland): Ragnar's beautiful and cunning second wife has provided him with his prophesied "many sons."
Ubbe (Jordan Patrick Smith): The sensitive and oldest son of Ragnar and Aslaug. His birth broke up the marriage of Ragnar and Lagertha.
Hvitserk (Marco Ilso): Their complex and resentful second son.
Sigurd Snake in the Eye (David Lindstrom): Their third son, he has grown up feeling estranged from the family.
Ivar the Boneless (Alex Hogh Andersen): Ragnar and Aslaug's fourth son, he was born with deformed and useless legs. In real life, Ivar became the most cruel and feared Viking of all.
Floki: A religious zealot and genius shipbuilder.
Aethelwulf (Moe Dunford): The son of King Ecbert is being groomed for the throne.
Season 5 is under production in Ireland and will feature new cast member Jonathan Rhys Myers (Elvis, The Tudors).
• Scientology exposed. A&E's eight-episode documentary Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath debuts at 9 p.m. today. The former star of King of Queens "gives a voice to victims of the Church of Scientology despite public attempts to discredit them."
A&E says, "The series delves deep into shocking stories of abuse, heartbreak and harassment experienced by those who have left the church and spoken publicly about their experiences."
Remini says in the series, "This is about sharing the truth about Scientology. Truth born out of very personal experiences. It is my hope that we shed light on information that makes the world aware of what is really going on."
The TV Column appears Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. Email:
mstorey@arkansasonline.com
Style on 11/29/2016