In recent days, a variety of films and TV shows are emerging that have been influenced by Norse mythology. From Norse gods to Vikings, there has been a re-emergence of Nordic folklore in modern-day media. Much like with most other mythology, like Greek and Roman, the creators have taken a creative license to the myths. However, this does not mean that the portrayal of Nordic folklore is completely inaccurate or that there isn’t any truth to what is seen on screen. In fact, many of these TV series and films have realistic and gritty designs that give off a more realistic feeling. Let’s take a closer look at some of the best TV shows and movies about Norse mythology:
9The 13th Warrior (1999)
Based on Michael Crichton’s 1976 novelEaters of the Dead,The 13th Warrioris a 1999 American historical fiction-action film. The movie follows a Muslim ambassador, portrayed by Antonio Banderas, as he joins forces with a group of Vikings to help them defend their homeland from flesh-eating monsters. WhileThe 13th Warriormight not be the most historically accurate film, it does give the audience a small glimpse into Viking culture. In addition, the film is packed with quite a few thrilling action sequences, which isn’t very surprising considering thatDie Harddirector John McTiernan handled the project.
8Ragnarok (2020-present)
Netflix’sNorwegian fantasy drama series,Ragnarok,is set in the modern-day fictional town of Edda in western Norway.Ragnarokfollows a teenage boy, Magne, who discovers that he’s a reincarnation of Thor, the God of Thunder, who tries to use his powers to prevent the end of the world. Interestingly, the narrative of the show merges modern-day problems with mythology, which in this case is industrial pollution and climate change, which leads to a war between gods and other mythical creatures. Thor isn’t the only one from Norse mythology who is mentioned in the show. One of the main antagonists, the Jutul family, whose factories are the cause of industrial pollution in the town, are actually four Jotunn, giants in Norse mythology that have supernatural strength.
7Vikings (2013-2020)
It would be unfair to talk about Norse mythology and not mentionVikings. The show first aired in 2013 on History, a Canadian network. The series ended in 2020 when the final season was released on Amazon Prime. A sequel series titledVikings: Valhallapremiered on Netflix in February 2022. The show follows the legend of Ragnar Lodbrok, alegendary Norse hero, as he slowly climbs his way up, starting off as a farmer and eventually being crowned as a Scandinavian king. The later seasons of the show follow the adventures of his sons. The creators of the show do take a creative license to some historical events, but in terms of portraying Viking culture accurately, it does a pretty decent job. It highlights the importance of a good death, talks about what a blood eagle is, and other aspects of Viking culture.
Related:Thor: Ragnarok: 5 Differences Between the Marvel Comics Storyline and the MCU Movie
6American Gods (2017-2021)
Contrary to the “American” in the title,American Godsdoes an excellent job of covering awide range of mythology. The series follows Shadow Moon, who finds himself in the middle of a large-scale conflict between the Old Gods and the New Gods after he meets a man named Mr. Wednesday. The Old Gods include those from Nordic, Slavic, Egyptian, Ghanaian, Hebrew, Irish, and Roman mythology, while the New Gods include Technology, Media, and Globalization. The series is adapted from Neil Gaiman’s novel of the same name,American Gods. Fans of the author will be pleased to know that the TV show does a great job of interpreting Gaiman’s characters. Interestingly, the series pays more attention to the portrayal of characters than it does of portraying the larger narrative, which is a unique approach, to say the least.
5Vinland Saga (2019-Present)
Adapted from Makoto Yukimura’s manga,Vinland Sagais an anime series that follows a young man from Iceland, Thorfinn, who is set on a journey toavenge the murder of his father, Thors, a Jomsvikings warrior. However, Vinland is far from the typical revenge story. What makesVinland Sagaunique is that from the get-go none of the main characters are good people, each of them being morally grey. Interestingly, the characters are based on real people from Norse history. Askeladd, Canute, and Thorkel are all examples of this. In addition, the show gives the audience a glimpse of Viking culture, including the raiding and murdering that recent media has associated with them. Currently,Vinland Sagahas only one season, with season 2 expected to air in January 2023 on Netflix.
Related:How Netflix’s Ragnarok Became an International Hit
4How to Train a Dragon Franchise (2010, 2014, 2019)
DreamWorks’ animated action-fantasy franchise,How to Train Your Dragonis filled to the brim with Norse gods and Vikings. The film centers around Hiccup, an undersized Viking who wants to become a dragon slayer but fails to do so and ends up befriending a rare dragon. Given that the film is directed towards a younger audience, it’s more light-hearted, but it is loosely based on actual historical events. The franchise has had three movies, five short films, and also has a television series which has eight seasons.
3The Northman (2022)
Directed by Robert Eggers,The Northmanis an epic historical action-thriller film that is based on the legend of Amleth and is heavily influenced by Norse mythology. It follows Amleth, portrayed by Alexander Skarsgård, a Viking prince who seeks to avenge his father’s murder. From the grim imagery to the tragedy surrounding Amleth’s life, the film has everything that’s needed for a good Viking film. Unlike many other films, which lack in terms of accurate historical portrayal, Eggers devoted quite a lot of time and effort to ensure that everything from the outfits to the weapons reflect authenticity. WithThe Northman, not only does one get a compelling narrative, but the audience also gets to learn a lot about Viking culture.
2Thor (2011)
Any mention of Norse mythology would be incomplete without mentioning MCU’s Norse Gods brother duo, Thor, the God of Thunder, and Loki, the God of Mischief. Both Thor and Loki were first introduced in the MCU in the 2011 movieThor. Within the context of the film, Thor is banished from Asgard to Earth, after triggering a war. He’sstripped of his power and his hammer, wandering Earth as his brother Loki plots to take over the Asgardian throne. Since the 2011 movie, Thor has made many reappearances in the MCU, including three sequel films,Thor: The Dark World(2013),Thor: Ragnarok(2017), andThor: Love and Thunder(2022). He’s been one of the main characters in all theAvengersfilms and has also made a cameo inDoctor Strange(2016). In terms of historical accuracy, the MCU might not be the best, but one can’t argue that Marvel’s Thor earns quite a lot of credit when it comes to the popularization of Norse mythology in modern times.
1Loki (2021-Present)
MCU’s God of Mischief gained so much popularity with the audience that Marvel released an entire series dedicated to the Norse god as part of its fourth phase. Released on Disney+,Lokitakes place after the events ofAvengers: Endgame(2019) and follows atime-variant version of the God of Mischief. The series offers the audience a better glimpse of Loki as he explores his powers of shapeshifting and telekinesis. Interestingly, what setsLokiapart from the rest of the MCU is that it heads into sci-fi territory. Fans of sci-fi work such asBrazilandHitchHiker’s Guide to the Galaxywould really enjoy the world-building in the series.Lokiis heartfelt and playful at the same time, making for quite an enjoyable watch. In addition, there are moments when the show makes one forget about the rest of the MCU. Overall, the series is quite charming with its excellent cast and the retro-futurism aesthetic that encapsulates the world of the show.
