Ragnar Lothbrok will be getting more opportunities to pillage the West after all. The History Channel announced on Friday that Vikings is renewed for a second season, which will be aired next year.
Vikings debuted in the 10:00 p.m. ET timeslot with a lead-in from the “The Bible” on March 3, and it has proven itself as a ratings success. It now ranks as the No. 1 new cable series of the year, and the first season hasn’t even reached a major climax yet.
“Vikings is a win-win for us,” said Dirk Hoogstra, EVP, Development and Programming for History, in a statement. “As our first scripted series, Vikings has paid off in a big way with critical acclaim, strong ratings and a passionate, loyal fan base. It came out of the gate strong and has stayed on top, solidifying History as a major player in the scripted genre, just as we are in reality.”
The show has indeed built a fan base, but it does face some challenges in the future. Vikings will not have The Bible as a lead-in for the rest of the season, and the show will be off the air for close to a year before its second season premieres.
However, given the ratings it’s earned thus far, Vikings has a good chance to earn its share of the TV market. Look for Vikings to return in spring 2014.
This is good news indeed. I’ve been surprised by the production values in the series so far and the writers have done a good job of providing depth to the main characters.
Actually, I think they can add more depth. :)