After eight years of entertainment, it was unfortunate for the fans to say goodbye to the Vikings, as the six seasons and 89 episode show came to an end. To most of us, this show has become a part of us. It is said that we may not get to feast upon the eyes of Ragnar (Travis Fimmel), Bjorn (Alexander Ludwig), and Lagertha (Katheryn Winnick).
The Vikings has been one of the most thrilling historical TV shows, attracting new and old viewers alike. Like Game of Thrones, the characters grow into the show. However, even though the writer Michael Hirst has promised a spin-off, every show has to come to an end at some point.
Most fans are now looking for shows similar to Viking to at least quenching their thirst for an excellent historical show similar to Vikings by style, theme, period setting, and premise. My three favorites are; The Last Kingdom, Black Sails, and Knightfall.
The Last Kingdom
Directed by Peter Hoar, Jon East, and Anthony Byrne, this TV show is inspired by The Saxon Stories novels by Bernard Cornwell. It takes us back to the 9th century AD when England was separated into seven kingdoms. The Viking Danes had subdued all other kingdoms, and only King Alfred of Wessex remained.
This show is based on the story of Uhtred, whose parents died following the raid by the Vikings on their village. He is taken as a slave by Earl Ragnar and grows up in the ways of the Vikings. However, a particular life-changing event puts his loyalty to the test as he is forced to choose between the Vikings who raised him and his country of origin.
Uhtred sets out on a dangerous and challenging quest that forces him to play both sides to claim his birthright and capture his ancestral kingdom. There is no dull moment in this show as it is packed with thrilling action sequences in each episode.
Like Vikings, the show has many killing scenes by crucifixion, stabbing, and gruesome swordfights.
The show has no Emmy Awards nor Golden Globe awards despite being nominated.
Cast: Eliza Butterworth, Alexander Dreymon, Ian Hart, David Dawson.
Da Vinci’s Demons (April 2013- Oct 2015)
Given the complexity of the story and the scientific aspects, some have considered it better than Game of Thrones. Directed by Peter Hoar and David S. Goyer allows the viewers to see historical discoveries and stories without being tedious. Even though this show didn’t have as much viewership as GOT, it had a solid fanbase which enables it to bag two Primetime Emmy Awards.
The story is based on the young Leonardo Da Vinci in his quest for scientific knowledge during the Renaissance in Italy. Leonardo, a famous inventor, struggles with his inner demon and his rowdy imagination. The story also depicts the relationship with his estranged father.
This TV show is similar to Vikings in that they are both based on the life of a famous historical figure.
Cast: Tom Riley, Eros Vlahos, Gregg Chillin
Norsemen (Aug 2017- Nov 2017)
Directed by John Vatcher and Brad Peyton, the story takes us away from the typically serious nature of the Vikings and brings a bit of comedy. Norsemen present power struggles, sibling rivalry, and betrayal. It was set in the 8th century; it revolves around a small Viking village that finds it hard to cope with the concept of modernization. It also has a darker and grimmer side but has been made to be fun and silly.
It may not be the typical Viking show, but just like the Vikings, it has social issues and political strife.
No major award for this show
Screenplay: Peter Blackie, Rob Blackie, Brad Peyton
Cast: Jason Momoa, Zoe Boyle, Greg Bryk, Lando Liboiron
Knightfall (Dec 2017-May 2019)
Knightfall is one of the best if you are looking for intense drama and palace intrigues. Directed by Douglas Mackinnon, Metin Huseyin, and Rick Jacobson, this show is based on the historical journey of success, persecution, and the death of the Knights Templars. Based on the core values of the templars: faith, loyalty, and brotherhood, the story revolves around a fictional templar leader named Landry Lauzon and the tragic dissolution of Friday the 13th. Though unreal, there are a few facts about these warriors of the 14th century.
This show may lack the same viewership as the Viking, but it is fascinating to watch nonetheless. It has only aired for two seasons, but fans are still hopeful that a season three is on the way since there has not been any information on its cancelation yet.
Though nominated two times the show has not won any major award.
Screenplay: Don Handfield, Richard Rayner, Kristen SaBwrre
Cast: Tom Cullen, Simon Merrells, Julian Ovenden
Roman Empire (Nov 2016-April 2019)
The show brings about the Reign of a dictator Commodus and Julius Caesar, the emperor of Rome. Directed by Richard Lopez, John Esler, and David O’Neal, it shows a two-part story depicting the different leadership styles of these two Roman leaders that slowly led to the fall of the republic. Just like the Vikings, where we see the rise and fall of Ragnar and his children taking over from him, the same power struggles and the battle we see in this Tv series.
Most of the elements in Viking, such as betrayal, war, and politics, are in Roman Empire. The show, however, has some historical fiction, and it is best not to use it as a study guide through Roman history.
The show has won four Emmy Awards, Seven Primetime Emmy Awards, and a Visual Effect Society Award.
Screenplay: Christian Baker, Dan Benamor
Cast: Aaron Irvin, Sean Bean, Aaron Jakubenko
Borgia (July (2011- Sept 2014)
Directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel, Metin Huseyin, and Christopher Scheme, the show is based on the story of the Borgia family that rises to become the most infamous family in the Vatican. It shows the actions of the crooked Rodrigo Borgia, who pines for the holy seat and becomes a pope in medieval society.
The infamous character in the history of Catholic church history under the rule of Borgia is depicted throughout his ruthless reign. The conflict within the family as rumors of incest revolves around them, bringing his children Juan, Casere, Lucretia, and Goffredo into conflict. The best part about this show is that it depicts actual historical events. Moreover, the show does not shy away from graphic scenes, sex, and just like Vikings, it has brutal violence.
It does not focus on one character, as Rodrigo is not the only main character, but gives room for character development in every cast, ensuring that the viewers are captivated from start to finish.
It has bagged three Emmys and 16 nominations.
Screenplay: Tom Fontana
Cast: Mark Ryder, Isolda Dychauk, Diarmuid Noyes
Reign (Oct 2013-June 2017)
This show should never be missing on your watch list for the royal historians and the lovers of the medieval stories of kings and queens. Directed by Fred Gerber, Holly Dale, and Norma Bailey, Reign is a thrilling historical drama series based on the life of Mary, Queen of Scotland.
Mary faces challenges in her arranged marriage to Francis, the French prince, as she tries to adjust to the outdoor life after living her entire life in a convent. Every season chronicle shows how Mary manages to deal with various issues such as religious conflict, political dynamics. In France, she rises to power and becomes very influential as the queen of France.
She eventually becomes a widow and goes back to her homeland to reclaim her power. The love between Mary and Francis is so captivating for viewers, who eventually become emotionally invested in those two.
Just like the Vikings, the show has love scandals, betrayal, greed, and even death. Moreover, it also has some historical facts about Mary, Queen of the Scots. After four seasons, the show came to an end, leaving fans wanting more as they felt there was more to tell, especially with the return of Mary to her home county.
It has won the 2014 Peoples choice award, wiki awards, favorite new drama awards, etc.
Screenplay: Laurie McCarthy, Stephanie Sengupta
Cast: Adelaide Kane, Celina Sinden, Megan Follows, Toby Regbo Mary
The Crown (Nov 2016- )
Just like Reign, every season covers a different story of Queen Elizabeth II. It covers her early married life to Prince Philip. It looks at events that helped revive the British empire during her reign from its ruins brought about by political disarray. A well-researched script takes a deep look into the private life of Queen Elizabeth, the longest-serving monarch of the British kingdom, and some of the scandals surrounding British nobles.
With such a detailed depiction of events, this series has attracted worldwide viewership and won the Golden Globe award. The portrayal of each character has been done perfectly.
Based on real-life events, the show tells some things that cannot be found in history books. This makes the series captivating from start to the end and teaches lessons such as courage, honesty, devotion, which can win a country or even a person. Like the Vikings, where Ragnar was willing to cross oceans in search of a better life and became revered, so did the queen’s courage make her famous in her reign.
Directed by Benjamin Caron, Philip Martin, and Stephen Daldry, nothing can have depicted truer historical events chronologically than this series.
Awards: two Golden Globe awards
Cast: Claire Foy, Matt Smith, Olivia Colman, Tobias Menzies
Spartacus (Jan 2010- April 2013)
Spartacus is the top contender for raw violence, graphic scenes in bed and on the battlefield. Directed by Jesse Warn, Michael Hurst, and Rick Jacobson, the show portrays the life of the Thracian Gladiator Spartacus, who is set on a quest for vengeance that eventually leads to a revolution against the Romans who betrayed him.
The show itself is covered in bloody, epic battles, extreme nudity, and unrestricted sex scenes. This historical fiction has by far more steamy scenes than the Outlander and Game of Thrones. Like the Vikings, the show gives the audience serious thoughts about love and power.
Awards: One Emmy Award
Cast: Liam McIntyre, Lucy Lawless, Manu Bennet, Andy Whitfield
The Tudors (April 2007- June 2010)
Directed by Ciaran Donnelly, Dearbhla Walsh, and Jeremy Podeswa, it narrates a story of the young King Henry VIII, whose reign is threatened by political turmoil in his kingdom. Henry fears the future as he tries to sire a male child and through many of his wives. He also faces opposition from his enemies who are working to see him fail.
The thirst for political power is shown all over the show, depicting the monarch’s reign and his relations with his advisors, adversaries, and female companions. Just like most of the presentations discussed above, it contains lots of nudity and sex scenes. It is misrepresented to the influence behind the release of other good historical shows such as Vikings and Outlanders.
Even though it does not give an accurate historical interpretation, it provides a compelling chronological narrative about the Reign of King Henry VIII.
Awards: Four Emmys
Cast: Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Anthony Brophy Natalie Dormer, Henry Cavill
Medici: Masters of Florence (Dec 2016-)
The main character, Richard Madden, best known for his role as Robb Stark in Thrones, portrays Cosimo de’ Medici. Directed by Christian Duguay and Jon Cassar, the story revolves around the main character, who inherits his family bank following his father’s death, making a very wealthy man. The show follows his life and the challenges he faces as a result of his inheritance.
It turns out that his father was killed, and he sets on a mission together with his brother Lorenzo to try to find out the killer’s identity. The show is marked with treachery, scandals, politics, and many more. These elements give the viewers a nicely blended emotional series. It also has a few historical facts, just like Vikings.
Awards: capri, Hollywood 2016, Premio Berenice 2018.
Cast: Richard Madden, Daniel Sherman, Jacopo Olmo, Annabel Scholey
Versailles (Nov 2015- May 2018)
This show is based on King Louis XIV. Fierce and courageous as Ragnar, King Louis XIV wages war against Spain and as he builds Versailles. The courts transferred the courts from Paris to Versailles and turned a former hunting lodge into the most fabulous palace in Europe. The noble, the famous, and rich men of Europe came together for entertainment as the kind used the opportunity to spy on them.
From Versailles, he forced the French nobility to submission, controlled the French aristocrats who wanted to rebel and observed his enemies. The king mainly sees his young brother as a threat and puts him on dangerous younger grounds in the middle of political turmoil and conflict. Directed by Cristian Langois, Thomas Vincent, and Richard Clerk, this show is a delight to watch.
Awards: none yet
Cast: Anna Brewster, Evans Williams, Alexander Vlahos, George Blagden, Stuart Bowman
Salem (2014-2017)
This series is based slightly on the actual historical event about the trial of a powerful witch, Mary Sibley. Mary, the witch, wants to summon the devil and let fear and chaos execute her evil plan. Her plans are delayed by her long-lost lover, Capt. John Alden returns and brings back old feelings. His alliance with Rev. Cotton, who works hard to protect the town from witches, frustrates her motives.
Salem brings about a new twist in the stories about witches with a complex and well-executed storyline. This show is filled with a lot of twists and turns and suspense. The show contains intense violence, just like the Vikings, but the horror scenes will surely satisfy viewers of the horror genre. It is directed by Nick Copus, Alex Zakrzewski, and the cast includes Janet Montgomery, Tazmin Merchant, Shane West, and Ashey Madekwe.
Awards: Four Emmy nominations
The Witcher (2019-)
This particular show has caught fans worldwide with a detailed first season that lets everyone talk about it. This show contains some incredible battles, just like the Vikings, and well-choreographed fight scenes. Unlike the Vikings, it has historical fantasy with monsters, magic, and a good sense of adventure. This fantasy drama is based on the book The Witcher by Andrzej Sapkowski.
Directors: Lauren Schmidt Hissrich
Cast: Henry Cavill, Anya Chalotra Freya Allan, Eamon Farren, Joey Batey, Royce Pierreson, Myanna Burning
Awards: Not yet
Merlin (2009-2013)
This is one of my all-time favorites and the most thrilling shows I’ve ever seen. It is based on the historical fantasy of the famous King Arthur of Camelot and Merlin the wizard. Though the story is more fantasy and not actual historical events, it contains some comedy, especially in the first includes, and becomes more serious towards the end. In this series, the main characters are each struggling to accept their fates.
Merlin is seen as the weakest and one of the most foolish people in the kingdom, yet his unique powers make him the most powerful witch. Since witchcraft is banned in the kingdom, Merlin uses it from time to time to save King Arthur, but since he cannot show his magic to the king, he makes it look like the king’s strength and skills defeated the enemy. Towards the end, the show becomes tense, dark, and very intriguing.
Directors: Alice Troughton, Jeremy Webb
Cast: John Hurt, Colin Morgan, Bradly James
Awards: BAFTA awards 2011, National Television Awards, UK 2013