This or Vikings?


I've been looking for a new show to watch, and I think I've narrowed it down to black sails or Vikings, anybody have a recommendation which one I should do first, or any other shows along these lines?

reply

I watch both but I would say Black Sails is a lot better. The Last Kingdom is good too.

reply

I found Vikings very boring though I've heard it picked up the pace from season 2ish.

Black Sails is one of the best shows I've seen and the ships are amazing.

reply

Viking is all over the place. Sometimes it's really great and other times it's laughable.

reply

Why not do both, at the same time or alternating every now and then.

I'm a big fan of both btw, although I would put Vikings at a slighter advantage.

reply

I could do both at the same time but I'm a big time binge watcher, so when I get into a show that's the only thing I watch for a couple weeks. I do plan on eventually watching them both though. Thanks for the responses

reply

Vikings is okay but seriously gets terrible after season 2. Black Sails actually gets better every season. The first season is the 'worst' one and still pretty good.

GO SIXERS!!!
Phillies
Fly Eagles Fly

reply

Yeah it keeps getting better and better so far with you there but still love vikings

reply

Nah. Dont listen to the hate. Vikings is the better show, but Black Sails is simply fking amazing too.

reply

Hate for Vikings is typical internet BS. Go to the Vikings boards, they'll probably tell you Black Sails is the dumbest show ever. Vikings is good, they take some bold leaps, Black Sails relies on nuts and bolt storytelling, and does it deceptively well. Which you'd prefer is obviously a matter of taste, trying to convey the differences for someone who hasn't seen them so they can make up their mind can be a bit tricky.

I'd say Vikings tries to ask spiritual questions, in an action based format. It attempts to be philosophical, and relies on the characters to drive the plot forward. Black Sails asks social questions, in a plot based format. It tries to be humanitarian, and relies on action to drive the characters forward. Characters on Black Sails are more reactive, they're usually (although not exclusively, obviously) trying to hold onto something, and characters in Vikings are always seizing things. I feel like we're much more likely to learn about the characters on Vikings than they are to learn about themselves, and I'd say it's almost the reverse on Black Sails. Black Sails' characters are constantly having epiphanies about themselves, or other people, that may or may not be obvious to us.

That's the best I can do.

--
There's no such thing as the establishment. Everyone knows that!

reply

Vikings is still on going and Odd pick it over Black Sails specially with Ragnar. However Black Sails has a better ending and a better arc and conclusion for both Flint and Silver. Vikings simply isn't the same without Ragnar and hated how he went.

I didn't like The Last kingdom, hard to get behind traitors, it's hard to empathize with them unless they have a varied reason IMO.

reply

Black Sails!

reply

[deleted]

Vikings is way better and historically mostly accurate. Black sails season 1 is pathetic, they spend most of the time sitting on that bloody island, very little happens and is driven by D-list actors.

reply

Black Sails isn't supposed to be historically accurate. It's set in the fictional world of Treasure Island.
Vikings is no saint in that regard too. Ragnar and Rollo were separated by 100 years. But that being partially based in legend, also not a problem.

They all strive to deviate from the norm, but collectively swarm to be all the same.

reply

They weren't separated by 100 years. It's unclear exactly how Rollo was related to Ragnar. There is confusion over whether they were father and son, uncle and nephew, cousins, or brothers. They were related, however, and they lived in the same century.

reply

This how you can tell if somebody actually cares about writing, if plots about characters go down in their mind as "boring" and "uneventful"

--
There's no such thing as the establishment. Everyone knows that!

reply

And this IS how you can tell if some asshole proofreads his posts.

In typical IMDb message board fashion, your “signature” is smug and shallow.

reply

I watch both. Go with Black Sails first. When you watch Vikings, watch the uncensored episodes.

reply

Vikings has incredible story telling in seasons 1 and 2, from season 3 onwards I felt as if the writers weren't sure where to go with the story, so several episodes were all over the place / leading nowhere. Writers trying to manage to many different locations and storylines in too few episodes. Vikings lives from charismatic and enthusiastic actors who visibly love what they're doing.

Black Sails is very good for you if you want to watch a show that immensely cares about character development. Every episode has their meaning in the long run / every detail counts. Acting is strong too but mostly relies on 5 main characters.
A warning though, some episodes however feel as if the executives tried to compare it to GoT - unnecessary gore. That does happen only in 2 or 3 episodes though. I am strongly recommending this show, especially since season 4 is about to start :)

Have fun being sucked into either of those great shows. :)

reply