Movies - TV
How Vikings' Creator Tried To Avoid Comparisons To Shows Like Game Of Thrones
By LYVIE SCOTT
The success of “Game of Thrones” changed the face of TV, but many shows that have followed suffered from constant comparisons to the monumental series, especially those in the high fantasy or historical fiction genre. This “Game of Thrones” effect has caused many writers to work overtime to set their shows apart, such as “Vikings” creator Michael Hirst.
Premiering roughly two years after “Game of Thrones” Season 1, it wasn’t long before viewers began comparing “Vikings” to the HBO hit. Hirst shared his precautions for his own work, explaining that he tries to “avoid watching too much drama on TV,” including “Game of Thrones,” so the writer wouldn’t be influenced by their stories and prevent comparisons.
Instead, the “Vikings” creator cited classic cinema as a strong influence, saying, “In the show I reference actually quite a lot of the movies I like, so there are little hints here or there of movies.” Other sources of inspiration, which Hirst admitted to “smuggling” in, come from different mediums, explaining, “I allude to some of my favorite poets often, or a line by John Lennon or something.”