Heil og sæl, it’s time for Vikings

Here’s what’s happening in the world of television for Wednesday, December 26. All times are Eastern.

Top pick

Vikings (History, 9 p.m.): Things have gotten pretty complicated ’round those Vikings parts. Here’s our own Dennis Perkins from a few weeks back, on the show’s current state of affairs:

That Ragnar’s shadow has loomed over Vikings since his death (and the departure of Vikings’ chief asset, Travis Fimmel) was clearly part of the series’ plan. With Ragnar’s legacy split among five (now six) sons, all striving to live up to and outdo their illustrious father’s example, Vikings clearly sought to examine how the sweep of history and the pull of reputation were—in times where history was framed in epic terms—intertwined. With Ragnar gone, his sons all sought to both continue his legacy and forge their own, a second-generation conflict that saw Bjorn, Ivar, Ubbe, Sigurd (remember Sigurd?), Hvitserk, and now Magnus struggling to assert themselves while still clinging to the fame their father’s accomplishments brings them.

Whether the show has pulled any of that off is a conversation for another time (like, say, when Perkins’ recap posts this evening). But if you like drama with a long, drawn-out couple of vowels, then hey, Vikings has got draaaaaaamaaaaaaaaa.

Regular coverage

Wild card

Fleabag, complete first season (IFC, 11 p.m.): Y’all like Killing Eve? We’d like to once again direct your attention to Fleabag, Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s acclaimed, melancholic comedy series which was one of 2016's best TV offerings. This isn’t a new season (though we’re supposed to see one in 2019). Instead, it’s the first linear run of the series on old-fashioned television (as opposed to Prime, which is where it’s been available to U.S. audiences thus far). Honestly, the less you know about Fleabag going in, the better—just know that it’s insanely well-written, and also features Broadchurch’s Olivia Colman, who’s currently bowling audiences over as The Favourite’s Queen Anne.