LOS ANGELES - Fans of basic cable savagery can let out a primal "Yawp" of delight. History's "Vikings" will be returning for a second season.
The scripted one-hour drama is currently still airing its first season (there are four episodes still left to go in the nine-episode season), but it's doing well enough in the ratings to merit at least 10 more episodes.
The series premiere drew in an audience of over 6 million viewers, topping all the broadcast networks in the key 18- to 49-year-old demographic. And it's continued to do well, averaging around 5 million viewers per episode.
Travis Fimmel stars as Ragnar Lodbrok, the legendary viking warrior, who clashes with his local chieftain, played by Gabriel Byrne, as he expresses his desire to discover new civilizations across the sea.
The series was created by Michael Hirst, who also created the Showtime series "The Tudors," and is History's first foray into scripted drama.
In a statement, History EVP Dirk Hoogstra said, "'Vikings' is a win-win for us. As our first scripted series, 'Vikings' has paid off in a big way with critical acclaim, strong ratings and a passionate, loyal fan base."
The show's first-season finale will air April 28.
• Read more articles by PATRICK KEVIN DAY
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