Tag Archives: Vikings

VIKINGS! On History

History Channel‘s Vikings panel was great fun, not only because it was vastly entertaining but because everyone on the panel was very informative and interesting.

For those who are not familiar with the show, as it enters it’s third season here is how the press release describes the show:

VIKINGS, Season 3 is currently in production and is slated to premiere in 2015. VIKINGS tells the extraordinary tales of the lives and epic adventures of these warriors. The drama portrays the world of these Dark Age raiders, traders, explorers – not from an outsider’s view, but, through the eyes of Viking society. VIKINGS centers on Ragnar (Travis Fimmel), a restless young warrior and family man who longs to find and conquer new lands across the sea and claim the spoils as his own.

Travis Fimmel (Warcraft) continues to lead the stellar cast as Ragnar, along with Katheryn Winnick as Lagertha, an Earl and fierce shield maiden; Clive Standen as Rollo, Ragnar’s impulsive brother; Alexander Ludwig as Bjorn, the intelligent and bold warrior son of Ragnar; George Blagden as Athelstan, a young and not-so-innocent monk; Jessalyn Gilsig as Siggy, beautiful wife of the late Earl Haraldson; Linus Roache as Ecbert, King of Wessex, a man of strength, knowledge and undisguised ambition; Gustaf Skarsgard as Floki, a ship builder who designs the new generation of Vikings ships and Alyssa Sutherland as Princess Aslaug, Ragnar’s new wife.

Joining the cast for season three are Lothaire Bluteau (The Tudors) as Emperor Charles of France, a powerful man who views battling the Vikings as spiritual and earthly; Kevin Durand (The Strain) as The Wanderer, a mysterious man who is not what he seems; and Morgane Polanski (The Ghost) as Princess Gisla, the elegant, self-possessed daughter of Emperor Charles and his most trusted advisor and Ben Robson (Dracula: The Dark Prince) as Kalf, Lagertha’s trusted second in command

As was mentioned on the panel, Lagertha is a powerful woman, living in a complex and violent world.  A time that has not often been shown on television particularly is being explored and they are bringing to life locations and cultures in such vivid culture and with such beautiful effects that as you watch the show you do  not feel a though you are watching a show that uses visual effects.

Ragnar Lothbrok was a real Viking, around whom legends evolved and swirled.  A man with multiple relationships and children it is easy to understand how he captured the imagination of these storytellers and how this fantastic television show has come from the myths, stories, rumors and legends that grew out of his life.  We may never know the truth and details of the real Ragnar Lothbrok, but it is fun to imagine History Channel’s Vikings is giving us a glimpse into the time in which he lived, into the struggles of his era, the complexities and politics of his age, and all the while they are showing us the beautiful, seemingly pristine world in which they lived so long ago.

If you are looking for a show that is equal parts fight and drama, consider flipping over to History Channel and giving Vikings a try, this is an engrossing tale that keeps you coming back from one week to the next, forever curious to know who will react how, and what twist awaits you around the next bend in the plot.

San Diego Comic Con International Quick Start 2014

Comic Con Quick Start 2014 [58:11m]: Download

John Mayo, of ComicBookPage, and Kay Kellam, of PopArtsPlace, give some useful advice to get your Comic-Con international experience off to a quick start.

 

Links:
Comic-Con International: http://www.comic-con.org/cci
Discount Comic Book Service: http://www.DCBService.com
Comics Podcast Network: http://www.comicspodcast.com
League of Comic Book Podcasts: http://www.comicbooknoise.com/league/

Email us at TheGuys@ComicBookPage.com

Join the discussion on our forum at: http://forum.comicbookpage.com

This podcast episode originated on the Comic Book Page feed and website: http://www.ComicBookPage.com

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

2014 – Beyond the Convention Center in San Diego

With each passing year of San Diego’s Comic Con International, the convention which once comfortably shared the current convention center with other conventions, now even with the convention center expanded to twice the size it once was, the convention over flows into many surrounding hotels and venues.

This year, the Omni Hotel will house a playback room, for overflow crowds who were unable to make it into some of the most anticipated panels.  Gotham City will be recreated, in miniature, between the convention center and the Hilton Bayfront Hotel and fans will be able to zip-line through it (130 feet long, and 30 feet off the ground!)

The parking lot beside Petco Park has for the past several years been home to a little village of fun to stop by experiences.  Last year Falling Skies and Gravity, with a 3D trailer available for viewing, were highlights.

Over on 2nd Street (across the Trolley Tracks from the Marriott, roughly) will be the Vikings of History Channel, returning for a second year, and a third season.  Take some time to go get made up as a Viking, and maybe even walk away with a souvenir from your time in the past.

Pop-up stores are a Comic-Con phenomenon that can be hard to explain to someone who has never attended a convention of this sort, but if you see one, take a moment to go in — or stand in line.  You may get green screened into a scene from your favorite movie, or immersed in one of the key locations from a movie, you may find yourself in an art gallery, or product show room (often with food and drink available) ala last years appearance by Samsung Galaxy — which hosted a Veronica Mars party during Comic-Con.  You might also find yourself standing next to someone far more interesting than you ever imagined, like one of the stars of one of your favorite TV shows.

Throughout the gaslamp district, which across the Trolley Tracks and up 5th street, from the Convention Center you will find dozens, perhaps hundreds of food options, and tens of thousands of hungry convention goers.  Fortunately not everyone eats on the same schedule, as mealtimes bend around panel times.

In previous years Syfy has re-branded the restaurant in the Hard Rock hotel based on one or more of the SyFy shows.  During the days of the tv show Eureka the restaurant was Cafe Diem (from the show), complete with the barstools fans recognized from countless scenes.  This year Tin Fish is anticipated to have a Blacklist tie-in.

This re-branding can be seen in lots of different places and ways.  From the elevators in nearby hotels, to the exteriors of many buildings with facades – sometimes changing within a day based on the event going on, all the way out to the airport this year, which will feature TNTs Legends.

The skyline of San Diego visibly changes during Comic-Con, banners that decorate the sides of hotels and buildings can be seen from Cabrillo National Monument across the bay, which is several miles away as the crow flies.