Vikings: Valhalla: The Complete First Season

"Vikings: Valhalla: The Complete First Season" is the follow-up series to "Vikings set 100 years later and focusing on the adventures of some of the most famous Vikings who ever lived –– the legendary explorer Leif Erikson, his fiery and headstrong sister Freydis Eriksdotter, and the ambitious Nordic prince Harald Sigurdsson. As tensions between the Vikings and the English royals reach a bloody breaking point and as the Vikings themselves clash over their conflicting Christian and pagan beliefs, these Vikings begin an epic journey that will take them across oceans and through battlefields, from Kategat to England and beyond, as they fight for survival and glory. All eight episodes are presented. (Gary Reber)

There no special features.

The 2.00:1 1080p AVC picture, reviewed on a VIZIO Quantum X P85QX-JI UHD/HDR display, was photographed digitally using the Sony VENICE camera system and sourced from a 4K Digital Intermediate. Picture quality is excellent. The color palette exhibits warm and rich hues, which often seem quite filmic, Earthy hues appear natural and realistic. Reds, as in graphic bloody sequences, is realistic. Water surfaces glisten with the movement of shadow waves. Costumes appear thick in dark hues. Flesh tones and complexions are natural. Contrast is realistic with good black levels, deep shadows and natural white levels. Resolution is excellent with fine detail exhibited throughout, especially during closeups and even in fairly low lighting. Facial features reveal skin pores, lines, blood-caked flesh, beards and hair. Costumes exhibit fine textural fabrics. Structures and objects are realistic. This is a well-crafted motion picture that is visually stimulating. (Gary Reber)

The DTS-HD Mater Audio 5.1-channel soundtrack is dynamic sounding with realistic atmospherics and sound effects, Environmental atmospherics are an effective sound element to create realism. Also, the sound of person-to-person combat with the sound of swords clanging, knive stabbings, as well as pounding wooden shields is prominent –- the sound of mayhem The orchestral/choral score is dynamic and at times rhythmic sounding/ The music element is spread wide and deep across the soundstage, extending aggressively to the surrounds to envelope the soundfield. Deep bass extension is powerful. The surrounds are regularly engaged both for background ambient environmental effects in the numerous outdoor scenes, and also for discrete directionalized sound effects accompanying the hand-to-hand fight or larger intense battle sequences. Dialogue can be challenging to understand but generally spatial integration is decent. There are scenes with seemingly hundreds of men screaming and cheering for victory that fills the soundfield. This is a thrilling nicely boisterous holosonic® surround experience. (Gary Reber)