'Vikings' review: History turns to fiction

But his lord, the cruel, vindictive Earl Haraldson (Gabriel Byrne), quite literally wants to keep him down on the farm: "You are a farmer. You should be content with your lot." But Ragnar consults his wife, Lagertha (Katheryn Winnick), enlists his brother Rollo (Clive Standen) for a great voyage, then hires the eccentric Floki (Gustaf Skarsgård) to build a boat.

Watch out, England. The bad boys are coming. This is, by the way, History's first fiction series, produced by Michael Hirst, ("Elizabeth: The Golden Age").

Hirst knows how to tell a story and History knows how to spend money (a reported $40 million on this nine-parter), and a reasonably absorbing tale slowly unfolds. How historically accurate is this? Beats me, and probably beats History, too. Liberties have generously been taken, and the Vikings have no one but themselves to blame if they come out looking bad here -- they were too busy burning and pillaging to leave a written record.

There are a few intriguing didactic touches, such as a sundial that helps to guide the outlaws westward, but not enough of them. History has said it wants this to appeal mostly to young guys who are gamers (seriously). No need to burden them with too many facts.