VIKINGS: A Look Back with the Lothbroks

Michael Hirst, creator and executive producer

Travis Fimmel

Katheryn Winnick

Alex Ludwig

Clive Standen

Jordan Patrick Smith

Moderator Kate Hahn

Katheryn: It's a bummer that we can't see the fans this year.

Clive: It was the highlight of my year each year. Remember the first year we didn't think anyone would show up? That was the first moment where I realized there was an audience for this.

Katheryn: There were people waiting for hours just to get in. One of my favorite moments was year two or three and I had to wear a mask and there where people dressed in character and how invested they are in making their costumes. We know how labor intensive those costumes are.

Travis and Katheryn are in Valhalla since both Ragnar and Lagertha are gone from the show.

Katheryn: It is bittersweet being so long on the show. It was harder than I thought seeing my death and watching her transition over. It was a bittersweet moment in a lot of ways. It was sad to see it end. Michael wrote me such a great death.

Michael: It was over two amazing episodes and both you and Travis, these deaths were brilliant and highly emotional, and no one will forget them.

Katheryn: When I said 'in my dreams we are always together' was my audition line when I auditioned for the part.

Alex: It's like the environment of our show felt like such a family. I've yet to work with such an incredible crew that was in synchronicity all the time. It was so much fun.

Jordan: I think that's what I enjoyed about the show, there was no hierarchy, it didn't matter who you were working with, a grip or a producer, it was one big family locked in together. You get to know everyone and their personal lives and what's what I miss about the show.

Katheryn: When you step away its crazy how you miss things. When you’re in the rain and covered in blood you want to go home and when your home you want to go back to Vikingland.

Alex: Bjorn's greatest love? {spoiler alert}, he'll never be able to repeat it. After Thoren kind of left, I think he kind of had written off everything. He used his sexual exploits to self-medicate this feeling of never being good enough. I think he saw so much with Lagertha and saw bits of her in other women that he really connected with. I don't know if there is anything that came close to that kind of forever in Valhalla kind of love.

Travis: The goodbye scene with Geeta, it was written so beautifully, and I don't know why it took three minutes for me to remember that scene. The best writing I can memorize like that but other stuff that isn't quite as good I have a difficult time memorizing lines.

Michael: You don't have kids and I was writing literally thinking about a father talking to a dead daughter and it became very powerful and meaningful to me. From the start it seemed very meaningful to you to. That's what really struck me that it was very interesting and fascinating like a moment cut out of time. It’s a very simple scene but very emotional and I felt you were totally inside the scene and I was aware of that.

Clive: I think everything Rollo does is justified from his point of view. When they first agree to go west together, they agree to be equal but in Rollo's eyes some are more equal than others. When Ragnar becomes an Earl, I think that's the start of it, it gnaws at him. He always feels in the shadow. In Paris he stays in the winter camp, it wasn't Ragnar's, he took Paris first and took it before Ragnar could get their first.

Michael: The fight in Paris was intense.

Clive: The stunt team came up with a fantastic fight, it was all swords. It was a beautiful fight. It had to be between the brothers, and we arranged to get rid of the swords as quick as possible and just hit each other. I think its brutal and tragic when you watch it but Travis said let’s make this as simple as possible and have the brothers just go at it. It's really hard to watch.

Travis: For the character, even to that very moment he was hoping that Rollo wouldn't fight him back. Maybe there was a glimmer of hope that his brother wouldn't betray him. When it did it devastated his world and it was the end of his drive. I think he really regretted his life and just wanted to be back home and wished he never went against the Earl. He was sort of broken. I think breaking with Lagertha was the climb to power as well, it broke his heart and he always had hope for that. I think it was the first time in his whole life that he lost hope and he had to get away. I think at the end, after that, he decided that he couldn't go out like that. Michael wrote such a great ending and it was a bit of the old Ragnar. It wasn't written good with a great arc. Being in a show that we could age as well, there aren't many shows where you could do that.

Jordan: I remember my first day on set because Travis slapped me on the face five times. It was big shoes to fill and I walked down the hill the first day and I was told not to mess it up. It was the first time in Ireland together and everyone was so welcome. Like the scene where Travis smacks me in the face he kept doing it and doing it and doing it. My ear was ringing for days after that, it definitely was a Viking introduction. I studied Travis to start with, I noticed that if you've got a big character in your family you have some characteristics. Michael wrote part of Ragnar's personality to each of the brothers. I watched how he held his head and such things you take from your dad over the years. I think my characters curiosity is part of Ragnar but he's thinking about the people and where the world is going in the future and where he fits in that. In the second half of season six, Michael wrapped it up really well. The way he has written it the family dynamic is involved and my character goes on an incredible journey. I don’t' want to say anymore.

Michael: The big decision to kill Ragnar obviously when I first wrote the outline, he actually died at the end of season one and making it I realized we were only on the start of his journey. There were plenty of doom-laden warnings to kill off your major character will damage the show and it was a risk. Travis had such a huge reputation, but I sold the show on the bases that this was about Ragnar and his sons. This show also allowed the show for these characters to grow up and there were children and animals in it as well. I just stuck to that. What actually happened was that Ragnar continued to be a presence in the rest of the show. He never really went away. So it wasn't a huge risk after all. It was great to see these young actors as well coming along and taking their chance and Alex being a conduit between them. Alex was in the show for the longest and the show in the sense is about his character if anyone else. Everyone involves into their character and into their fate was an important part and experience of the show.

Katheryn: One of my favorite fights scene is the first one where Lagertha is at home and these two guys come in and she grabs the poke from the fire and fights them off. Another would be that Ragnar tells her not to go raiding and they have a bit of a lover’s quarrel.

Alex: Your last fight scene was tremendous.

Katheryn: It was emotionally exhausting 100% and most emotionally draining.

Michael: It was absolutely brilliant and difficult to watch. I don't believe anyone who was watching that really thought you could win. There was something in your eyes at a certain point where you, for the first time thought you wouldn't survive that fight. It was beautifully done but it was really tough to watch, very emotional. The very first one, we didn't cast Vikings in the conventional way, we took a chance on both you and Travis. People pay a lot of money who pays for these things get jittery if you've made the right decision. In terms of you and your performance, all those jitters and anxiety went away, melted away as soon as the guys in suits saw that scene dealing with those robbers.

Jordan: The battle scene in season five, yea, its all about the story. Fighting always have an underlying story. That fight was Ubbe willing to hand over his life. That took six weeks to rehearse and it was physically draining for me. The stunt guys put to much effort and personal time as well into the choreography and created a story through the whole thing.

Michael: That was one of the reasons I liked one particular battle scene, a battle isn't one event. It's hundred of thousands of events coming together. Each person has a battle in a different way. We would cut back to their memories, their own battles and something happened to the lead characters. Each individual was having their own intense experience. I think the audience found that confusing but that's part of the principle I'm working on. It’s a story of these individual people and having their individual experiences all the time.

Alex: For me the one that stands out is the end of Season Five when they've lost, and he is outside the gates. Michael wrote an amazing speech where he pleads with his friends and neighbors and it's heartbreaking. Credit to everyone making that because I lost my voice screaming the day and the day before and we were trying to crash down the gate. I had no voice by the time of the speech. When sound is messed up you have to re-record it. We thought we should keep it the way it was because it was so heartbreaking seeing how much he's given and on his last leg. It was a huge moment for the show and I'm proud to be part of that.

Michael: Honestly, Alex and Travis before, all of you, I was blessed to have such an intelligent cast. These are deeply thoughtful people and actors and its not always true. So, they excavated their characters to an extraordinary degree and makes me feel extraordinarily proud.

Alex: I think I speak for everyone when we say how lucky we are to have story time, dinner with Michael was story time. He is so incredibly talented and so willing to dive into the character with you.

Katheryn: We are spoiled because we have the best show running out there because we feel like we are building the character with him. We are so invested and with Michael with how warm and thoughtful your minds words and add that to our characters. After six season we wouldn't be here without you, the godfather of it all is you Michael.

Clive: I don't know how you could take any more, you were like a sponge. You listened to all my crazy ideas and sometimes they ended up in the script and you threw away the crap ones. I never had that experience again where the showrunner listened to what I had to say.

Michael: I took on board concerns and things and one of the most radical ideas was Travis' we would have a meeting before and we were going to discuss the last episode of season two and Travis said 'do you think that perhaps it would be a good idea if I don't say anything in this episode accept the lord's prayer?', and it was a radical idea. I went away and looked at the script and thought other people could say those words and it was a cool idea and may get away with it. I told him, 'don't tell anyone' because no one would allow it. Your lead character is not saying what's on the page? So, we did it and I don't think anyone noticed, no one noticed he didn't say anything because he was still in the scene and because he has such a presence they thought he had said something.

Clive: I remember there was a day for some reason we were doing a scene and one of the Vikings was to be beheaded on a block. They set it up and we said, 'no Vikings wouldn't do that' and I remember the director said 'its just a t.v. show' and I remember we all went 'not to us it isn't'. It was a polite argument, but we wanted to make it different because we care about these people.

Katheryn: I think it was all living away from home and living in Dublin making friends into family and make us bond quicker and it is evidence on camera.

Alex: Yea, we probably won't be allowed back.

VIKINGS Sets to Return in December

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to The History Channel on December 4th is the long awaited return of one of the channels most stunning and epic series to date is VIKINGS.

The last season ended with a battle between Ivar the Boneless (Alex Hogh Andersen) and brother Bjorn Ironside (Alexander Ludwig). Now Ivar has escaped with his life and Bjorn has taken the throne of Kattegat. Immediately the new king lets his people know that he wants to expand the city becoming an important route for trade. This will help all the people of Kattegat prosper.

On the road, Ivar travels on The Silk Road discovering things he didn't know existed. While on the road he is captured and taken to the Russian leader and proclaimed old Viking Kievan Rus Prince Oleg (Danila Kozlovsky). Discovering he has Ivar the Boneless, the Prince makes it clear from the onset that he is more merciless than Ivar ever thought he was. When the Prince asks what it is that Ivar wants, the name Kattegat is uttered and Ivar is assured that his vengeance will come but first, the royal has his own family problems to deal with.

In Kattegat, Lagertha (Katheryn Winnick) tells Bjorn that she no longer wants to be a figurehead of his reign. Instead, she is tired and wants nothing more than to go back to where she had a life with Ragnar and farm in peace leaving the life of a shield-maiden in the past. The women of the village come to see the famous Lagertha and tells her that most of the men have been killed in wars and attacks. The attacks aren't over as a new, formidable and the recognizable leader wants nothing more than to hurt everyone in his path and he has Lagertha in his sights.

Ivar in Kiev is beginning to understand what it is that motivates Oleg and his viciousness. Proving with ease that the Prince will destroy anyone who gets in his way, he takes young nephew Igor to raise. Ivar makes slow moves in order to place himself in a position that allows him to outwardly seem afraid but behind those eyes is a game that the Prince might not be prepared to play.

In Kattegat, Bjorn receives a message of help from a prior enemy and feels the need to do the right thing. Before leaving, he asks about Floki and what has happened to him. Not getting the answer he wants, Bjorn makes it clear that he will discover the truth and if anything has happened to Floki, someone will be held accountable. Ubbe (Jordan Patrick Smith) and Torvi (Georgia Hirst) are sent to the place now called Iceland to find answers.

The message of help turns out to be something totally different as Bjorn, Harald and Olaf come to a meeting of the minds and the suggestion that a vote be taken to find a King of Norway. Olaf believes that the ruler should be Bjorn Ironside but there are others who might have a different opinion.

What happens at that vote might change everything as the leaders know it.

Ludwig as Bjorn Ironside has taken the helm of Kattegat just as his father Ragnar (Travis Fimmel) did in the Vikings series. From the beginning, Ludwig has always been in the shadows as we have watched him grow into a storyline that is harsh but the reality of history in the Dark Ages. The character of Bjorn has grown slow and steady rising further into the storyline and Ludwig has given us every reason to remain curious as to how his story will end. The character of Bjorn tries everything possible to not be like the leaders that have gone before, including his father, mistakes are made but Ludwig's Bjorn leans quickly.

Winnick as Lagertha has been through the wringer and back again. Starting as a farmer with husband Ragnar, becoming Queen, not Queen and then Queen somewhere else and back to Kattegat taking out enemies along the way has just worn this lady out. Winnick has returned season after season giving her character strength, courage and eventually the ability to weed out those who are trying to destroy her. In all of this she has kept her sense of family, even children that are Ragnar's she has tried to embrace. 

Andersen as Ivar continues to intrigue audiences with the duality of his insane brutality and moments where we all think he might have a chance to be human after all. He believes himself to be a god but certainly discovers that shouting it from the rooftops brings about unsavory characters who don't care about his divinity. Andersen continues to surprise with his performance and with this final season I am truly interested where this character will be taken.

Franzen as Harald is another Viking who has ideas of his own about how things should be done and who should do them. Always with the slight of hand in his planning I am keeping an eye on him. Smith and Hirst are the couple who are trying to help find answers in Floki's Iceland. That is a part of the storyline that I am so interested in and partly because I think Floki has been through just as much as the Lothbrok line.

Shout out to Marco llso as Hvitserk for what he is about to put everyone through!

This historical drama created by Michael Hirst began with the story of Norse hero Ragnar Lothbrok. We have seen almost everything possible with love, family, deception, intrigue and battles that hold nothing back. This is the final season and Viking fans, like myself, know that all good things come to an end but we aren't happy about it at all.

In just the first few episodes, the stage is set for changes that all of this has been leading up to. The cast is doing a wonderful job of taking us on this final leg of the journey.

Hirst created another of my favorite shows from Showtime with The Tudors followed with Camelot for Starz. Back to Showtime for the series The Borgias and MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS with Saoirse Ronan, ELIZABETH and ELIZABETH: The Golden Age. Hirst has such an amazing ability to bring a richness to the stories he tells but some outstanding actors to bring it all to the screen.

The History Channel brings Vikings back on December 4th so get through turkey day safely because once you are back at Kattegat, the ride will have begun and there is no turning back. Everything that we have come to embrace about each character is going to keep us coming back until the very last scene.

As salve to our open wound, it has been announced that Hirst is creating a series called Vikings: Vahalla that will be seen on Netflix. Said to be set one hundred years later there will be a new group of famous Vikings and their fight for survival in an ever-changing world.

Even with that, we all can agree that our excitement about Vikings came from Ragnar Lothbrok and all the intrigue that followed. Prepare to see how it all plays out with the return of Vikings on the History Channel December 4th!

VIKINGS Season Five Volume 1 Deserves Serious Revisiting

Jeri Jacquin

On Bluray from 20^th Century Fox Home Entertainment is the epic and successful series that has brought a long forgotten culture to the forefront again with VIKINGS Season Five Volume 1.

Ubbe (Jordan Smith) and Hvitserk (Marco Llso) are now ruling over East Anglia and it hasn’t been that long since the death of Sigurd. Everyone begins to depart in different directions as King Harald (Peter Franzen) makes his way back to Kattegat with Bjorn (Alexander Ludwig) and Halfdan (Jasper Paakkonen) setting out going back the Mediterranean. Ivar (Alex Hogh) is on another mission to get the brothers to take the city of York and while there gives them a big surprise.

Floki (Gustaf Skarsgard) has other ideas wanting to get as far away as he can to find something else in dealing with the loss of his wife. He lands on an island he believes belongs to the Gods and wants to bring others to share his vision of this new land.

Lagertha is holding Harald in prison but all he wants is to make an alliance through marriage. Of course the Queen of Kattegat isn’t about to share the throne after working so hard to get it back. What the Queen doesn’t see coming is a rescue and taking Astrid with an offer for her as well – become a queen herself.

Discovering the Vikings may be coming to York happens as Athelstan comes in a vision to Prince Alfred (Ferdia Peelo). The King knows it is time to bring his soldiers together to prepare for battle.

Bjorn arrives in the Mediterranean and Sindric (Frankie McCafferty) thinks it might be advantageous to hide who they truly are. It will allow them to travel with a caravan meeting Emir Ziyadat Allah who greets them as a friend. When one of his men vanishes, the Emir explains about what happens to people who are disloyal or untrustworthy. Bjorn, Halfdan and Sindric find themselves in a precarious position at best.

Ivan continues to break the brothers even further apart after winning the battle against King Aethelwulf (Moe Dunford). Ubbe and Hvitserk want peace but Ivar, well Ivar wants blood and to be the new and only leader of their army. Ubbe decides it is time to return to Kattegat but Hvitserk stays behind.

Floki returns to Kattegat trying to explain what he has found and Lagertha isn’t listening to any thought of him taking her people. Once several of them have made clear that they intend to leave, she allows it with misgivings. What is even worse is that everyone on the ship is disheartened by what they see once arriving to Floki’s island.

Ivar and Heahmund (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) make plans to once again attack Kattegat and Lagertha attempts to make ready. Margrethe (Ida Nielsen) also has a plan of attack and that is to make Ubbe betray her from the inside so that a war is avoided and he can become King. She clearly doesn’t know Ivar that well does she?

Ivar and Heahmund believe that their plan is flawless and they too have underestimated their opponent. Bjorn is back in Kattegat to help his mother but there is another army that has also sided with the Queen. First they try peace and it is rejected by both men and as the battle begins.

Heahmund finds Lagertha interesting and pledges loyalty to her but the battle is hardly over. Hvitserk turns to Rollo (Clive Standen) for help and Bjorn tries once again to find peace with Ivar and Harald but Ivar only sees blood.

Floki is discovering that being a leader of a new settlement is far more difficult than he could ever have imagined. When arson and murder are the first infractions on their new home island, Floki tries to find middle ground with a sacrifice to the gods.

Ivan and Harald once again strike Kattegat and this time it is friend against friend, brother against brother and loved one against loved one as they all come falling down. Bjorn and Lagertha retreat waiting for a miracle – and they don’t have to wait long. 

Winnick as Lagertha continues to be as much of a bad ass queen as she wants to be. She certainly looks lovely in gowns and a crown but man does she wear armor well. Continuing her refusal to surrender Kattegat, especially to the likes of the blood thirsty Ivar, Winnick gives her character so many depths and dimension. I absolutely love waiting to see what she will do next.

Ludwig as Bjorn is trying to avoid confrontation at all fronts but finds that being away from home only brings different ones. Wanting to be the explorer of the family, he does dare to push the limits of being in a foreign land – until this latest outing. Skarsgard as Floki can’t get over the loss of his wife and knows that perhaps its time to start over somewhere else where the memories aren’t so painful. I think he learns a painful lesson about what it takes to lead people and might even give him an insight to all those years with Ragnar and now Lagertha.

Smith as Ubbe isn’t weak strength wise but he certainly can be when it comes to women. Brothers aren’t easy either for him but he chooses to walk away from Ivar. Llso as Hvitserk on the other hand makes a last minute choice that might come back to cut him deeply.

Franzen as Harald isn’t happy that his suggestion to Lagertha isn’t accepted or appreciated. So if he can’t have one queen, he will certainly hurt her by creating another from someone she cares about.

The two characters that stand out this season are Hogh as Ivar the Boneless who proves that there is nothing to the name. Not afraid to fight or to take anyone out who tries to stop him, Hogh has made this role so deliciously evil and I can’t imagine anyone else who could pull it off. He does a credit to the role and makes Ragnar look pretty tame in some cases. Well done!

The other is Meyers as Bishop Heahmund who started out with the opposite side with his plots and plans – of course all in the name of the church. Seeing Lagertha might have changed things for him and, as we have seen with many Vikings, loyalty can change as swift as a sharp swinging blade! I have always loved Meyers in these types of era pieces, he is just a master with them and in VIKINGS its no exception.

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment brings award-winning global product and new entertainment to DVD, Bluray, and Digital HD. There amazing collection offers fans an opportunity to expand their own home libraries with the best films. To discover what other titles they have please visit www.fox.com.

The 3-disc set includes the episodes The Departed – Part 1, The Departed – Part II, Homeland, The Plan, The Prisoner, The Message, Full Moon, The Joke, A Simple Story and Moments of Vision.

There are also Special Features including Deleted Scenes and Extended Versions of All Episodes, The Creator’s Audio Commentary with Michael Hirst, I am Boneless, and Bringing the Invisible People to Life: The Sami.

What can be said about VIKINGS that hasn’t already been said? Words like epic, amazing, astounding, original, bloody, intrigue, twists, turns, character driven, treachery, back stabbing, family and so much more.

So how does the creator of VIKINGS Michael Hirst tell us it all started? “Many years ago I was writing a film script about Alfred the Great, who fought against the Vikings. I was fascinated to discover that a lot of what I thought I knew about the Vikings was wrong. I knew nothing about their attitude towards women, which was much more progressive than most other societies.”

This isn’t the first time I’ve fallen head over heels for something Hirst has written. He is behind the 1998 Oscar winning film ELIZABETH and another of my favorite television shows THE TUDORS. It should be no surprise then that with as much history as there was with those two films, I would expect Hirst to dive into Viking history with the same enthusiasm.

He found Ragnar Lothbrok in Norse history and discovered he was a warrior. What Hirst also discovered was a history about women, family and battle that have become the series VIKINGS that has made it into its fifth season (with a sixth not far behind).

So until that day arrives, 20^th Century Fox Home Entertainment invites you to revisit the set up of a battle for the one thing they all want – revenge, the crown and Kattegat!

In the end – drawing blood has nothing to do with family!

Friday's Line-Up Include Zombies, a look at HALLOWEEN and a BUMBLEBEE

Jeri Jacquin

It's Friday and that means we are at the halfway point of San Diego Comic Con 2018 - yet it doesn't feel like it! That's a good thing because it's another early morning gathering up badges, laptops, phone (with extra charger) and water, water and more water.

Friday is also the day fans of the zombie world are hoping to get answers about their favorite characters but let us not jump ahead too much. The first panel of the morning is the DR. HORRIBLE'S SING-ALONG BLOG brings a reunion of Joss Whedon, Jed Whedon, Nathan Fillion, Felicia Day and Maurissa Tancharoen back to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the show. To be honest, anytime Nat Fillion is on a panel I will be there with bells on, he's hilarious!

AMC brings a double dose of zombies with FEAR THE WALKING DEAD and the cast panel to talk about where the show left off midseason and the shocker that everyone is still talking about. Scott M. Gimple, Robert Kirkman, Gale Anne Hurd, Dave Alpert and executive producer Greg Nicotero give fans teasers as the show prepares to return to finish out the season on August 12th.

There wouldn't be a FEAR THE WALKING DEAD without the next panel of AMC's THE WALKING DEAD with Andrew Lincoln, Norman Reedus, Danai Gurira, Melissa McBride and Jeffrey Dean Morgan with new executive producer Angela Kang. Let us hope the issue of Rick's coming or going will finally be put to rest in a room where 7,000 people won't misunderstand. Kirkman, who was on the IMDB boat with Kevin Smith earlier said about Lincoln’s departure, "It's looking that way. It does make the differences between the comic and the show more pronounced. But at the end of the day, it's about Andrew Lincoln. This is a human being. This is someone I have known for almost a decade, somebody that I love. He's been sweating in Georgia, away from his family, for so long."

After promising that Rick Grimes' end will be extremely satisfying, he continues with, "He [Lincoln] cares about his fans. He cares about the show deeply. He wants to do something special on the way out. We have something amazing planned. I wouldn't want to spoil anything, but anybody who has been a fan of his journey, who loves Rick Grimes, who loves the world of THE WALKING DEAD; you're going to want to see what we do."

I have a feeling there will be tons of questions for the cast and those in the know but trust me when I saw that after all the years of covering THE WALK DEAD panels - they give nothing away, are very vague and relish in watching us all become grumpy at not getting answers. That being said, it is still fun!

To lighten the zombie mood a little, CBS's hit show STAR TREK: Discovery brings of journey of the U.S.S. Discovery. The cast and producers bring the panel to talk about what to expect for the next season.

Universal Pictures is bringing two of the most anticipated films to their block with M. Knight Shyamalan's GLASS and David Gordon Green's HALLOWEEN. In GLASS, Bruce Willis, James McAvoy and Samuel L. Jackson return in the characters that have been destined to meet up and I am thrilled beyond reason to see how it all plays out. HALLOWEEN reunites Laurie Strode with Michael Meyers and how it plays out forty years later. I'm going to bet Laurie is much tougher and wiser than Michael could ever imagine, plus I think Jamie Lee Curtis is awesome!

Paramount Pictures brings an early Christmas with BUMBLEBEE along with director Travis Knight and star Hailee Steinfeld and the story of the most adorable and probably slightly more famous than Optimus Prime - the yellow wonder that is Bumblebee.

The evening continues with Sony Pictures first bringing VENOM and Tom Hardy playing the title role means that fans will be flocking to see how he plays the role of duality. Speaking of duality - the creator's of Spiderman will be bringing their wisdom to fans who want to know so much more about their webbed icon and a look at the upcoming animated movie with Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.

AMC has the final say of the evening with the hit series PREACHER and a panel of stars including Dominic Cooper, Ruth Negga, Joseph Gilgun as well as the show's producers Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg. It's time to talk season 3 and what direction is the story going to take for another season.

In Ballroom 20, ComicCon wouldn't be the same without a peak inside THE BIG BANG THEORY Writers' Room where fans can get a sneak peek are some of the highlights of season eleven and prepare for the series return for season 12 this fall. Perhaps you are looking for something more, well viking-ish? Then the History Channel happily brings you the hit series VIKINGS along with Kathryn Winnick, Clive Standen, Alexander Ludwig, Alex Anderson, Georgia Hirst and Michael Hirst who is the creator/writer of this amazing show. Of course I am a little partial being a huge fan of the show (p.s. I miss you Ragnar!)

One of the most anticipated events at ComicCon is the Hulu World Premier Screening of CASTLE ROCK. This is a collaboration of J.J. Abrams and Stephen King hometown horror. After the screening is the panel including executive producers Sam Shaw and Dustin Thomason along with the amazing cast of Sissy Spacek, Bill Skarsgard, Melanie Lynskey and Jane Levy to talk about this small American town full of disturbing events.

Marvel Television brings Olivia Holt, Aubrey Joseph, Emma Lahana, Ally Make and Joe Pokaski and their new series MARVEL'S CLOAK & DAGGER. Bringing footage and panel discussion, Marvel fans have another show to be thrilled about.

At the Indigo Ballroom Hilton San Diego Bayfront, Cartoon Network brings the best to celebrate 10 years of ADVENTURE TIME. Another fan favorite, THE VENTURE BROS. takes questions from fans about there seven seasons on air. My personal favorite, ROBOT CHICKEN is back for it's always hilarious return to ComicCon with Seth Green, Matthew Senreich, Douglas Goldstein, Tom Root, Breckin Meyer and Tom Sheppard. This panel is always unexpected and hilariously entertaining.

More hilarity follows as BOB'S BURGERS brings some of my favorite voices to panel with H. Jon Benjamin (also of ARCHER fame), Dan Mintz, Eugene Mirman, John Roberts, Kristen Schaal, Larry Murphy and David Herman bright never-before-seen footage and a panel that always has me laughing to the point of tears. Following hot on its comedy heels is ARCHER and H. Jon Benjamin, Aisha Tyler, Jessica Walter, Chris Parnell, Amber Nash and Lucky Yates to make sure that when it's all said and done, our funny bones will never be the same.

The 30th Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards overlooks 31 categories to recognize comic creators for their work. Also presented are the Russ Manning Promising Newcomer Award, Bob Clampett Humanitarian Award, Bill Finger Award for Excellence in Comic Writing, and the Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award. It's going to be a fantastic evening of celebration!

The evening, for me at least, is topped off with a trip to the Horton Grand Theatre for a 25th Anniversary showing of Tim Burton's THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS screening.

Now it's time to rest up as Saturday means more panels, more presentations and more people flocking downtown with their families to have an amazing experience like no other. This is as it should be because San Diego Comic Con is an adventure that has now ventured outside the Convention Center and spilled into the streets in such an awesome way that I constantly tell people to put on their comfy shoes, water up, hop the trolley and make an amazing weekend out of this.

Till Saturday!

The Most Successful Norseman Series Brings its Fourth Season to Bluray with VIKINGS

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to Bluray from 20^th Century Fox Home Entertainment is the series that has fans coming back for more with VIKINGS Season 4 Volume 2.

Ragnar (Travis Fimmel) wastes no time upon his return to Kattegat challenging his sons if one of them wants to be King. The one to step forward is Ubbe (Jordan Smith) but for a completely different challenge. Wanting his sons to return to England with him, he is surprised when Bjorn (Alexander Ludwig) tells Ragnar that he has his own plans with Floki (Gustaf Skarsgard), Harald (Peter Franzen) and Hvitserk (Marco Llso) to take the Mediterranean.

Lagertha (Katheryn Winnick) also has no intention of going to England with Ragnar even after he apologizes to her for everything that has happened. Thinking that his time might be up in this world, the ravens have other plans for Ragnar. When he returns to Kattegat it is to ask Ivar (Alex Hogh) to go to England. Before anyone leaves, Ragnar wants Bjorn to find peace with Rollo while Lagertha refuses to find peace with Aslaug (Alyssa Sutherland).

Before he leaves, Aslaug reveals a vision she’s had but Ragnar and Ivar won’t be stopped from going to England. When a storm capsizes the boat, Ragnar and Ivar get to shore and King Ecbert (Linus Roache) is told. Trying to find peace with Rollo (Clive Standen), Bjorn ends up in jail with his companions but safe passage isn’t far away.

Lagertha decides it’s time to reclaim what is hers and takes Ubbe and Sigurd captive with every intent on removing Aslaug from the throne. Proclaiming herself queen, Lagertha hears from Aslaug that she will tell her sons not to fight back if she can leave free. Of course the new queen has a plan of her own with Astrid keeping Ubbe and Sigurd in check.

In Aethelwulf, Ecbert promises that nothing will happen to either Ragnar or Ivar and introduces them to Magnus. Ragnar makes a claim about Kwenthrith and Ecbert admits a few truths of his own. After a few drinks the two reminisce about Athelstan and Ecbert is surprised when Ragnar asks him for death. Refusing to take part in it, he instead agrees to take Ragnar to King Aelle so that Ivar can go home. In the same agreement, he tells Ecbert that Wessex will not be the focus of his son’s revenge.

Before returning home, Ivar learns from Ragnar of his plan and when Ivar lashes out promising revenge before he is taken to a ship going home. Ragnar sees Alfred and gives him a gift of his father before a journey where he has time to rethink all that has happened. Ecbert can not stay away and when the time comes, he knows that he has lost a friend.

Ivar returns to Kattegat to find Lagertha on the throne and his mother gone. When he challenges the new Queen she ignores it and focuses on building Kattegat’s back up. But a longship brings a mysterious stranger and more challenges begin. Bjorn reaches the Mediterranean and along with Rollo they attack Algeciras. Coming in contact with praying men in the mosque, Floki wants their lives spared. The news of what has happened to Ragnar reaches Spain and Bjorn and Lagertha is told by a mystic that a son of Ragnar is planning to take her down.

A return to England is on the minds of Ubbe, Sigurd and Ivar as a way to revenge Ragnar. Help is also on the way when Earl Jorgensen brings his ships to help the Lothbroks. Floki knows that Ivar will stop at nothing to go to war and so he builds him a chariot and now he had the ability to be a true leader of the troops.

Ivar wants total leadership of the armies but Bjorn has something to say about it. As the Viking troops advance, Athelwulf knows he needs more help and turns to Ecbert and in Northumbria, King Aelle is taken and his fate is sealed.

A surprise attack on Kattegat brings the capture of Egil who lets it be known that it is King Harald that ordered the attack. The Viking army is still on the move and Prince Aethelwulf tries everything to stop them. When he is forced back to Wessex, he tells Ecbert to retreat which he will not do. Instead, turning his crown over to his son, Bjorn then allows him to decide his own fate.

As the brothers decide where they will go next, it is Ivar that stands out with an action that brings even Bjorn into shock.

Fimmel as Ragnar has taken this character to depths that are absolutely amazing. He is not a vocal character by any means but when he does speak, the clan better listen. As Ragnar has grown season by season, it is clear that both the good and bad choices of his life are coming to a decision that had the viewing audiences’ jaws dropping. I can not think of one actor that could have done what Fimmel has for the role of Ragnar.

Winnick as Lagertha has also gone to hell and back as a woman in a world where wielding a weapon and shield is equally as important as having a family. Lagertha has also made good and bad choices but is solid and strong even when she is wrong. I have to give props to a bad ass chick who can give a look that says ‘yea, I was wrong – what about it?’ Winnick is powerful and she’s back on the throne!

Ludwig as Bjorn has grown out of his father’s shadow. Wanting to get back to the sea and do what Vikings do is now his motivation. Making a name and life for himself, Bjorn also begins to understand Ragnar more and more. Standen as Rollo grabs onto the creed of ‘once a Viking always a Viking’ and it’s good to see him back with the axe of nightmares.

Andersen as Ivar is one crazy individual who doesn’t have a problem being without legs. His mind is sharp and his decisions are sharper. Being the son of both Ragnar and Aslaug means he isn’t someone to be toyed with as he can mix plotting, war and revenge in a wine cup and swallow in one breath. Sutherland as Aslaug doesn’t fair as well with Lagertha this time around as her own plotting just doesn’t have the umph that hers does.

Roache as King Ecbert has played the game with Ragnar to the point that they are both played out.  

 Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment brings award-winning global product and new entertainment to DVD, Bluray, and Digital HD. There amazing collection offers fans an opportunity to expand their own home libraries with the best films. To discover what other titles they have please visit www.fox.com.

 VIKINGS Season 4 Volume 2 also contains the special features of The Queen and the Shield Maiden, Vikings – Valhalla and the Legacy of Ragnar Lothbrok, Creator’s Audio Commentary with Michael Hirst and Linus Roache on Selected Episodes, The Journeys of Bjorn Ironside and Deleted Scenes. There are ten unrated episodes with extended and deleted scenes not shown on television.

The episodes include: The Outsider, The Vision, Two Journeys, In the Uncertain Hour Before the Morning, All His Angels, Crossings, The Great Army, Revenge, On the Eve and The Reckoning.

The History Channel has brought a magnificent series to television and it just gets better and better. Yes I hate when the show loses characters but I know that means more room for the story to go in another direction as it should. There is so much more to come and I, for one, will be there when it happens.

Of course if you have ever been to San Diego Comic Con International you know that fans wait in ridiculously long lines to see the actors from the series. They want to know as much as can possibly be shared and share their own costumes of proud VIKINGS. Of course I have my own drinking horn that is always used when watching VIKINGS.

If you are looking for action, adventure, intrigue, fantastic costuming, intense story lines and all wrapped up with actors who have made VIKINGS a smash, then this is the show for you. Catch up on all the prior season of VIKINGS and look for VIKINGS Season 4 Volume to on Bluray!

In the end – heavy is the head that wears the Viking crown!