When Vikings first aired on the History Channel in 2013, it was initially seen as a cheap imitation of Game of Thrones.
Critics were swiftly disproved, however, as it grew into a unique and bold show of its own. The show has a lot to thank Travis Fimmel for, who gave the performance of a lifetime as Ragnar Lothbrok.
The impact of Vikings can be seen throughout the entertainment industry, with the online slots market upping its content based on the Norse seafarers. Fimmel may be to credit for kickstarting the Viking’s boom in the online casino industry.
Countless Viking-Themed Slots on the Market
Online bingo sites offer a large variety of slots with any number of themes, but it appears that Viking games are often more popular than others.
At Paddy Power online bingo, there are more than eight games with ‘Viking’ in the name, along with many that are clearly inspired by the Norsemen. These titles are found alongside bingo rooms and other games, and they are a huge draw to attract players to a site.
The games include titles like Vikings Unleashed Megaways, Vikings of Fortune, and Vikings Empire Treasures.
There’s also the officially licensed Vikings slot that’s based on the series. Fimmel’s character appears on the reels, highlighting the popularity of this iconic character. It’s hard to think of anyone in showbiz who’s had a greater impact on the slots market.
Fimmel’s Role in Vikings Boosted the Series
During the early seasons of Vikings, most critics agreed that Fimmel’s role as the leader of a fearsome clan of Northmen was the highlight of the series. In fact, Fimmel deserved at least three Emmys, according to Looper.
The show around the Australian actor’s incredible performance, and gradually attracted more viewers as the seasons went on.
Unfortunately, Michael Hirst opted to kill off Ragnar in season four, and the series was visibly weaker afterward. Indeed, reviews of later seasons were nowhere near as strong as they had been for the earlier episodes, as Ragnar was the glue that had held it all together.
Leaving Vikings wasn’t a big deal for Fimmel, though, as his profile had risen dramatically while on the History Channel series. After his work as Ragnar, he landed numerous high-profile roles in film and on television.
What’s Fimmel Working on Now?
Fimmel has plenty of opportunity to cause another cultural sensation that could also spill over into a seemingly unrelated industry, as he’s now one of the most sought-after actors in television. One of the best series he’s worked on recently is Raised by Wolves, an excellent series.
Unfortunately, it was canceled after two seasons.
Fimmel is still playing the role of Anderson in That Dirty Black Bag, and he is set to star in Black Snow in 2023. He’s also filming another major project, which could be his biggest work to date. Dune: The Sisterhood will be a spinoff series on HBO Max set in the Dune universe.
If any Fimmel series is deserving of related slot games, you could argue that Dune would be the one.
Fimmel played a massive part in boosting Vikings in the mainstream and there’s a chance that this is what led to the influx of Viking slot games in the online bingo industry. The star could do it again in the future, as he’s set to appear in some big-budget television series that may have related media on other platforms.