Vikings Valhalla is the sequel to the Vikings series that originally ran on the History Channel and originally debuted back in 2013. Following up on that original show, Vikings Valhalla debuted on Netflix in 2022 and has just recently landed a physical media release on Blu-Ray thanks to Warner Bros. This two-disc set features includes all eight episodes from the first season without any extras or bonus content to speak of.
After the exploits of Viking Ragnar Lothbrok (from the previous series) have faded into legend, the Vikings have settled across Europe where tensions between them and the English are rapidly coming to a head. Leif Erikson and the other Viking leaders are soon involved in the aftermath of the St. Brice’s Day massacre and the fallout of a rather large number of plots threads involving attacking London, revenge for past offenses and the ever shifting alliances on both sides of the conflict.
The show is well acted and the story kept me engaged through the nice tight eight episodes although I must admit the my knowledge of Viking lore is rather limited and I had to look up certain events and characters online to “fact check” where the inspiration was coming from. At times it may feel a little like a “Game of Thrones” lite version but it eventually stands alone and finishes with a more satisfying conclusion than GoT managed.
What is undeniable is that this Blu-Ray set looks and sounds absolutely gorgeous. Outside of some dodgy special effects the entire show looks great on my home theater setup. Beautiful locals make for an enjoyable watch and the colors and costumes really pop without the bandwidth restrictions of streaming. The complete lack of extras is the only bummer in this set, perhaps I have been spoiled by past television show collections but I have come to expect a certain amount of behind the scenes content in these sets. Historical dramas are particularly suited for more in depth looks at the creation of the show so it is a shame that there is nothing here for fans to explore. Do not let that deter you from checking this set out, it looks better than streaming and the DTS-HD 5.1 audio makes the surround sound really pop during action scenes. This is one for the physical media collection for sure.
Vikings Valhalla: The Complete First Season
Blu-Ray * $29.99 * Warner Bros.
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