5. The Acting
The casting for Vikings is really strong all round but especially in main character and leading man, Ragnar Lodbrok. Travis Fimmel plays a clever, charismatic, ruthless leader who is at home joking with his preteen son as he is commanding a crew or facing down an army. Ragnar is such an interesting mix of shrewd and impulsive, charming and deadly, family man and warrior that he could carry the show on his own. Fortunately he doesnt have to: Katheryn Winnick plays his formidable wife Lagertha, with Clive Standen as his power hungry younger brother Rollo, George Blagden (of Les Mis fame) as Aethelstan and (surreally) Jessalyn Gilsig, better known as Terri Schuester from Glee, as the wife of the local Arl.