OK so the later series of VIKINGS are not as good as the earlier ones - something which often, or perhaps always, happens in TV series (think Peaky Blinders; think Endeauvour). But it is still hugely enjoyable.
Now we have the shifting loyalties of brothers with various power hubs, whether in England or Scandinavia.
Some of the 'strong independent women' metoo feminism goes way too far - in no way would women have talked to their noble husbands in the way many here do. But then they would not have been fighting in battle either - women were too precious as child bearers to risk losing, except the 'shield maidens' who were more like cheerleaders really. But then the pc elements of this drama reflect our age - not the Viking age. Just like all the 'sword and sandal' epic movies of the 1950s and 60s reflect those ages and not the real ancient world. I must admit groaning at the pc metoo stuff - the series would be better without much of it. It all makes me long for THE VIKINGS the late 1950s movie which made the late Kirk Douglas 's new production company rich (he was angry at being turned down for the Charlton Heston role in Ben Hur so optioned The Vikings immediately and produced and starred it in himself, then sacked the first director and appointed Stanley Kubrick...and the rest is history)
Some great characters here, all male really, the most interesting ones - Ivar the Boneless the snake-like disabled son of Ragnar (though nobody really knows why he was called that - maybe he was just impotent; some believe he had a brittle bone disease). Hvitseck who is great and conflicted. Ubber. The Warrior Bishop played sexily by Jonathan Rhys-Meyers (an improbable King Henry VIII in The Tudors). And even old Stephen Berkoff pops up theatrically in the final parts.
There is a 6th series and I look forward to it. Hard to keep up the momentum though really. This gets 4 stars (maybe 3.5 rounded up) from me - points taken off for the padding here (lots could be cut) and the OTT pc agenda.