The Vikings cast landed in San Diego for Comic-Con, and with the show’s rising fan base, they found themselves being greeted like rock stars during their short 48-hour visit.
I checked in with Gustaf Skarsgård (Floki) and George Blagden (Athelstan) to discuss their feelings about the show’s increasing popularity, and to find out what is in store for their characters for season two.
These two actors’ roles couldn’t be any more different and as they interacted with one another, I was excited to notice how Skarsgård showcases some of Floki’s mischievousness while Blagden can be as introspective as Athelsan is. They also made me realize this was going to be a fun, unique, and interesting interview.
Gustaf Skarsgård on filming: “There is nothing glamorous about it. We’re covered in blood and mud every day.”
Since Blagden also shared how filming in Ireland was like being in a “bubble,” especially as the show hasn’t premiered there yet – I inquired about how they felt seeing so many Vikings’ fans flock to see them during their scheduled Comic-Con events and appearances.
“Having just done that panel, feeling the love and warmth of the audience, it’s great,” Skarsgård stated with excitement. “They really love the show and care for the characters. It’s rewarding!”
From there, the actors proudly discussed the show’s historical perspective while pointing out most people’s, including them, lack of knowledge about the Vikings. “When you start doing proper research about the Vikings, you realize there are lots of things you don’t know. There are a lot of sources, and they’re contradictory. They didn’t write back then, it’s written in stones. Most of the written materials we have from that time [come] from other cultures and how they perceived the Vikings,” Skarsgård noted. He then turneds to Blagden, as if he were in character: “You didn’t quite like us as much as we like ourselves!”
Although not friendly on screen, the camaraderie between Blagden and Skarsgård was evident at the Comic-Con press rooms.
That elicited both agreement and a chuckle from Blagden so Skarsgård continued, being very vocal about the many misconceptions surrounding Vikings today.
“Even in Sweden and in Scandinavia, we share the same misconceptions about Vikings as the rest of the world. Actually, in getting into this, I got surprised by a lot of things. I would read this script – no, that can’t be it – and as I did the research, I was like that’s how it went down, that’s how it worked.”
The interview was interrupted by Travis Fimmel (Ragnar) who, while sitting at the table next to us, unexpectedly slapped Blagden on the back! Blagden gave him quite a look, while the rest of us reacted with a mix of gasps and laughs. All I can think about, aside from *OUCH*, is how the men in the cast interact with another as if they were brothers or fellow fraternity members – all very cool in itself. A grinning Fimmel goes back to his interview while Skarsgård remains amused and Blagden attempts to answer the next question: What is Athelstan up to in season two?
“Athelstan is playing the game even more. He’s really trying to hide from Floki because Floki knows and sees everything, probably more so than Ragnar or Rollo…”
“…Or Athelstan himself!” Skarsgård adds.
Blagden agrees, adding: “Athelstan is playing this big pretender game: ‘I am one of you. Trust me that I can be part of your society.’ We’ll see but it’s very much in the balance.”
Blagden jokingly hints at a bromance between Ragnar (Fimmel) and Athelstan.
Editorial note: I love the camaraderie between these actors. It’s like I’m witnessing an emerging band of brothers who are very in tune and connected to one other in quite a playful way.
The actors then discussed their favorite scenes from last season.
For Blagden, it’s the sacrifice scene. “Michael [Hirst] describes episode eight as his perfect vision of what Viking society is and what it represents and he wants to get that across about the show. Just some of the filming techniques we used I’ve that never done before…It was a really great, expressive and also learning curve through technical stuff-type-of-scene.”
“My favorite scene was probably when I was on the ship in the storm,” Skarsgård said. “They have heavy wave machines, lighting machines and thunder, and it’s really noisy. I have this speech about the gods loving my boat. It’s actually like you’re really having a storm do that. I was soaked and there was this wave machine that hit me straight in the face. That was fun!”
Next, Blagden was asked to speculate about why Ragnar might have saved Athelstan but Skarsgård jumped in, exclaiming, “I think he fell in love!”
“It’s a bromance,” Blagden explained before providing a more serious answer. “Ragnar is an opportunist. That’s what makes him different to maybe Rollo. Rollo is very single minded. Ragnar is an opportunist and an opportunity rose; he discovers Athelstan behind the altar and he discovers he speaks his own language. He’s very smart – Ragnar – and he actually had this whole process, ‘I can use this man, potentially he can use this man in the future’…”
“Wrap it up!”
It’s Fimmel again, injecting himself into the conversation once more but it’s Blagden who has the last word in this playful exchange: “I’m singing your praises here!”
His response also marked the end of our fun-filled conversation. Going forward, it sounds like we can expect some complex and interesting interpersonal dynamics during Vikings’ season two. Personally, I can’t wait to see more of Athelstan and Floki!
More with Clive Standen and Travis Fimmel
Vikings will return in 2014. Check out the Season 2 Teaser
To keep up with show updates, please visit http://www.history.com/shows/vikings.
Follow @HistoryVikings on Twitter.
Vikings Season 1 is out on Blu-ray/DVD on October 15. The Blu-ray trailer is available now at http://youtu.be/i6itoUtILxU.
elleL
Latest posts by elleL (Posts)
- Vampire Diaries: Fall Season Preview by the Cast - July 23, 2015
- Vampire Diaries: A new realm? Don’t expect a happy Mystic Falls. - July 23, 2015
- Season 4 Highlights from Vikings – San Diego Comic Con - July 22, 2015
- San Diego Comic-Con 2015 CBS Press Room: Scorpion – Fall Preview (Season 2) - July 21, 2015
Follow Us!