This week, Justin, Dave, and Ashley watched Vikings: Valhalla, Episode 1. Here’s the synopsis: Plotting to avenge a massacre in England, Viking armies converge in Kattegat. However, siblings Leif and Freydis exact a different kind of retribution. Donna Trembinksi, an actual real-life professor of history who teaches a university course on vikings, joined the crew and discussed a major plot point that this show got very very very very wrong about viking culture/history. Ashley was a fan of the oiled up men in the show, while Dave was too distracted Googling viking facts to enjoy himself. Justin advocates for swapping our democratic capitalist system for a viking-style revenge-based society, but nobody is on board with his proposal.

Donna's academic website: https://www.mystfx.ca/history/donna-trembinski

Donna's book: Trembinski, D. (2020). Illness and Authority: Disability in the Life and Lives of Francis of Assisi. University of Toronto Press.