Viking And Norse Mythology Experts React To God of War: Ragnarok

Jacob Bernander and Askur Ingvaldsson from The Viking Museum in Stockholm are joining us to break down some of the Viking and Norse mythology inspirations and history from God of War: Ragnarok.
From Ragnarok's interpretation of Thor, the hidden details in Odin's design, Kratos' Draupnir spear, the walls of Asgard and much more.
00:46 - Thor & Mjolnir
03:22 - The Walls of Asgard
05:39 - Heimdall
07:01 - Odin & Odin's Lodge
09:25 - Sif
10:40 - Þrúðr
12:21 - Einherjar
13:26 - Lyngbakr
15:16 - Draupnir
18:16 - Angrboða
20:00 - Final Thoughts
If you want to see more Expert Reacts videos, as well as everything you might want or need to know about God of War: Ragnarok, make sure to subscribe.
The Viking Museum:
Website: thevikingmuseum.com/en/
KZbin: / @thevikingmuseum1256
Instagram: thevikingmuseum
Facebook: / thevikingmuseum

[@naanless]

I love that you guys went through the effort of inventing the time machine and finding actual vikings for this video.

[@ChaosAngel9151]

They also taught them how to speak and learn modern English

[@PeppyCat210]

@@ChaosAngel9151that part wouldn’t be difficult since most of modern English is Germanic

[@victhebric66]

​@@ChaosAngel9151A lot of them already spoke English during their conflict with England around 1000 AD

[@Offisian]

@@victhebric66 that was not english XD

[@aerthreepwood8021]

​@@victhebric66English wouldn't be mutually intelligible with modern English until like 500 years later.

[@Juggtacula]

The Drapunir Spear is modeled after a Spartan Spear, not a Norse/Viking Spear. Kratos was originally a Spartan and even comments that a spear is the first weapon a Spartan learns to wield. It was created using his blood as a base, so it would take a design more familiar to him as it's the only weapon he uses that was designed specifically *for* him. All his other weapons are either curses(Blades of Chaos), gifts(Leviathan Axe), or stolen from his enemies(Hercules' Cestus, Hades Hooks, etc...). It even has the red ribbon that signifies his time as a Spartan General.

[@fernosbonos5394]

he had one, omce as a spartan captain in ghost of sparta.

[@Juggtacula]

@@fernosbonos5394 Yup. It was a set called "Arms of Sparta" and it was a spear and shield combo he used when he was still human that he gave to his brother Deimos, then used to mark his grave when he got killed.

[@jimsus69]

The draupnir spear WAS belonging to Odin in Norse mythology. Google it. And read the bits from trusted sources, instead of "god of war" articles or wiki ones.. The only thing spartan about the spear was the sash thing 😆 that had vaguely Greek patterns on them 😆

[@Juggtacula]

@@jimsus69 Sorry bud, Draupnir isn't even a spear in the mythology/Eda's. It's a ring/armband like they said that multiplies by 8 every ninth night. In GoW, they combined the ring with Kratos' blood and the other material to *create* the Draupnir Spear, making it a game original weapon based off of a mythological item. That's why Kratos can create multiple copies of it at will. Draupnir Spear even closely resembles Kratos' original spear "Arms of Sparta" from the Ghost of Sparta game. You're probably thinking of *Gungnir* , which is the spear Odin is known for in the lore and used in the last boss fight. Maybe you should've actually Googled it instead of just saying "Google it"? to sound smart. ;)

[@jamesdarr5406]

The spear of Ođin is called Gungnir which is old norse for either the shaking or swaying one. Draupnir is either an arm or finger ring. It means the dripping one in old norse and every nine nights it drips eight copies of itself of equal weight and value. Also the rune on ođin's eye patch is not the fehu rune, but the ansuz rune which is not an F, it's the A rune. Fehu the actual F rune has the ascribed meaning of wealth while Ansuz has been ascribed as the "god rune" specifically ođin, hence it being put on the strap of ođin's eyepatch

[@GamesWriteUp]

I appreciate that you got Magni & Modi to do this video.

[@ex2bot]

These guys are too nice to be Magni and Modi.

[@chadgray3976]

I see why they'd have a pet peeve about the spear wielding but you have to take into mind that Kratos is originally spartan, from Greece. He most likely handles it like he was trained to in his time as a spartan general. Which is why the spear has some Greek elements, like the red banner tied to the spear or the Greek symbol ^ (more or less) the symbol of a spartan

[@VanDamnator65]

Could Kratos wielding a Spear two-handed be a reference to his Greek origin?

[@marduk87]

In the game Kratos himself says the spear is the first weapon young spartans learn to use. So hes probably using it the spartan/greek way which can mean using it two handed. You CANT use any weapon in the game in conjuction with shield which is basicaly 95% of spear usage. So using it two handed makes sense from gameplay standpoint.

[@VanDamnator65]

@@marduk87 Well there you go, I didn't know this information since I have yet to play the game so thank you for confirming my theory!

[@FLStyle]

I literally thought of the 300 movie every time I've seen Kratos using the spear.

[@AJCherenkov]

Given the famous Greek Phalanxes, I'd imagine Greek spear fighting was also mostly done one-handed alongside a shield. But I'm no expert

[@VanDamnator65]

@@AJCherenkov Fair enough. I'm not saying that wielding a spear two-handed is the best way to wield a spear, I just thought that there might've been an in-game explanation for why Kratos chooses to wield his spear with two hands (other than the obvious mechanical reason).

[@fragmegrowler]

I would totally watch these two talk more about Norse mythology, or tell some tales from the gods.

[@lokiwolfwhisperer518]

A Skald telling the story of Loki his own way is the perfect description of the GOW Norse Saga. Great video.

[@HishamA.N_Comicbroe]

Love the way this video's been done! So much more interesting than one expert breaking the whole thing down.

[@Phanthief95]

It’s funny how they describe Thor as a biker type when one of the biggest roles his actor has done is playing a biker.

[@procrastinator99]

I laughed at that too!

[@bully3510]

In the opening, that's not the "F" rune, that's the "A" rune in Elder Futhark, or possibly short-twig Younger Futhark. The reason is that the name of the "a" rune is "As", meaning "god".

[@ImUrLight_]

Thank you 😂 I was like how dare you confuse Oden's rune with Freyja's rune bahaha I can see how the brain would see it as "f" or fehu but I'm glad someone pointed it out

[@thedemonkingdurst]

Thank you GS, Jacob and Askur for this awesome video, I enjoyed the previous video they were apart of and this one was just as good, I love hearing these guys talk Norse mythology ❤

[@benhenderson8952]

Imagine if they reacted to Record of Ragnarok 💀 Love these two 💯💯

[@nicholascrooks8465]

Excellent content!

[@caprise-music6722]

Great video! Very entertaining

[@kaejuka6249]

I would like to point out that Kratos is Greek originally, so things like how he fights with a spear would be more akin to Greek fighting styles. now, I don't know if the game is accurate to that either, but if it's not accurate to norse fighting styles, that might just be because it's supposed to be a greek style

[@bradcook1537]

Bring these two back for the Ragnarok DLC for Tyr and his weapons, and maybe someone else for the other mythologies Tyr shows off with his weapons.

[@Legion31]

I enjoyed their banter

[@RobKelly-lg8pi]

Is it just me or, does anyone else want these two to tell and break down the sagas? Also, I’m fairly certain I own that same axe.

[@dannynw713]

great content

[@joelphillips7979]

just from the intro i heard him say the f rune which is fehu but the actual rune on the eye patch is the a rune ansuz. fehu looks similar but the stave goes past the two branches a little. and the two branches are angled the opposite way. fehu means wealth, cattle, new beginning, adunbance, and luck while ansuz means god or ancestor. it also represents odin so thats why hes wearing it. lol maybe he needs to do his homework. but he had the info about fehu right just the actual rune itself wrong i have fehu tattooed on my hand to signify me trying to better myself and having a new beginning towards life. also loki getting back sifs hair resulted in him getting his face cut open and also getting mjolnir for thor and gungnir for odin due to his betting.

[@zedre7633]

I'm not familiar with the sagas and I'm sure it's apropriating a lot, but I'm a fan of how the game depicted the gods at least in terms of look/personality and particularly Asgard. Most wear bright colors with lots of detail and not just black biker leather with fur cloaks like lots of viking media, and live in what looks like a somewhat realistic scandinavian town instead of a big golden castle.

[@rockmanx20]

the spear is more of a Soartan desing and also he battles in a spartan way, because it is HIS, not borrowed like The axe.

[@ex2bot]

These are always fun.

[@vengefulhero]

They back!!! 🫡🫡🫡

[@joshuafaries9815]

I love these people with their charming accents.

[@harrisntemar4052]

I'll gladly buy both Jacob and Askur a PS5!!

[@therealwall-e]

I cannot overlook the fact that Odin in this game looks like Dr Glassman and sound like Dr Glassman from the good doctor show

[@bole3019]

I wonder why that is 🤔🤔🤔

[@theodorebear6714]

The rune on the hat is Ansus not Fehu. They're really easy runes to mix up though. Not like Perun and Gebo which are more distinct.

[@DavidDrakeZeta]

he was not talking about the hat, he was actually talking about the eyepatch, that has a rune too

[@republicofsandles]

Wow these guys get along like a house on fire

[@MW_Asura]

?

[@harrisntemar4052]

Jacob: "Don't go to Iceland." Askur: "It's a terrible place." Gryla: "NO!!" Me: Ok I get the message!!!!! Also me: (proceeds to go to Iceland anyway for the cat) 🤣

[@SpyGuysX]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="1125">18:45</a> the elephant in the room

[@gianna-rm9if]

Odin drip is kinda gold

[@robertrosen2703]

Spears were not all 2,5 m long. They were tailored to the body size of the warrior. Also Kratos is from Sparta, how he uses the spear hasn't to come from Norse fighting styles.

[@darthplagueis13]

I know a lot of people got upset by Angrbodas design, but frankly, I think it's an interesting take. The thing is, to my knowledge there's never any physical description of her, at least not one that dates back to the viking age, like the Eddas or Sagas, which are generally a bit stingy with describtions. Angrboda is, of course, a Jötunn, which often gets translated as "giant", which is a bit misleading as they don't have to be that big. And simular to the titans of greek mytholigy, the Jötnar are not exactly a separate species or something from the gods, but more so a separate faction. They live in a different realm and have different goals and interests from the æsir gods, but there's examples of gods and giants being related to each other or marrying each other. And if we then consider that the old norse were competent sea travellers who had trade routes all the way into Baghdad and who would also own and trade slaves from all sorts of places, you could argue that the presentation of Angrboda as a person whose ancestry is very clearly not norse actually makes a whole lot of sense, as her being a Jötunn means she's basically a foreigner to Mirdgard and Asgard in a mythological sense, so she presents a good contrast.

[@TheMasochistKnight]

There are a few descriptions on how she looks. I remember her being described as a larger old hag that can take the form of a wolf. She can appear in dreams, though in the form of a very muscular woman with hair, the color of blood, so presumably, some type of red or auburn hair

[@knightofrose115]

Except the fact that this mythology was being told before they had any knowledge of people who looked like her. Now, let’s stop pretending there’s a good reason behind the blackwashing of Norse mythology and call it like it is. A work diversity cast

[@phreedomphart4293]

@@knightofrose115 This is true.

[@easttowest7839]

That'd be compelling if we didn't already know that the reasoning is just shallow identity politics completely separate from any in-game explanation. You've put more thought into it than the developers

[@AntiDegenerate1971]

What a dum take. We already know she is supposed to be a red head. But instead they made her black

[@AE1OU]

Probably should add some subtitles because abit hard to pick up some of the words they're saying.

[@jimsus69]

You can switch subtitles on and off in the settings

[@AE1OU]

@@jimsus69 yes but its auto generated captions which are not accurate especially trying to decipher thick accents.

[@Snaaake_Beater]

Got the feeling that sweden is the head of game development now

[@fernosbonos5394]

better than gameology's poor gameplay, but this is the best react.

[@mohdimansaifullizan6193]

Choose your side Zeus Greek or Thor Norse

[@ForThePeople777]

Thrud one of my favorite female characters i can remember i hope shes in the next game

[@animematt99]

Note that they talked a ton about how the other gods looked. But when they got to Angerboda...not one word at all.

[@MindAndMyth]

Thats because there's not much to reference. All the other characters have famous design aspects. Angrboda doesnt have any important things from the mythos to note how she looks besides the fact she's.a shapeshifter.

[@somethingsomething7890]

Wow .....that VOICE

[@redsnorlax1945]

For the big guy ragnarok is on ps4 and it looks and runs very nice on it i have a standard ps4 not even ps4 pro and the games runs like melted butter on there

[@sawyershippy6185]

Weapons reacts to the magnificent seven its got tons of western weapons

[@jpisback]

Kratos is 6'4", thor is over 7.

[@konahrikb1578]

Any chance of them taking a look at Assassin's Creed Valhalla? Or do they treat that game like a piece of Chernobyl's destroyed reactor when it comes to mythology?

[@jimsus69]

Valhalla is way more accurate than "plop of war" 😂

[@edwardking9359]

​@@jimsus69Valhalla is not remotely accurate, mate. God of war is also explicitly mythological, rather than realistic.

[@jimsus69]

@@edwardking9359 it's all real history.. but not as we know it.

[@simpae2731]

Why he sound like Hemsworth

[@Kratos45]

💪

[@DarkPredator_67_92]

As someone who’s of Viking descent I can agree with these guys 100% ❤❤❤

[@HushtheMag]

You're a poet and don't know it.

[@t-mac1236]

I love men. I love hanging out with dudes and just being bros.

[@mrdrebin123]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="1090">18:10</a> i do not get this point...Kratos is superhumanly fast, and you're able to drive with more of your body two handed.. The body is also in better sync to tense up muscles and to then lead swings or stabs...

[@LeFaisDoDo]

That’s not how defibrillators work lol you can’t shock a heart that has no pulse

[@Ribblelum]

"Tough" Vikings when they see their culture being stolen:

[@user-lj9zq4dr5t]

what

[@user-lj9zq4dr5t]

where was it stolen?

[@shadowstunter3687]

The right one is a nerd

[@scotsava]

Get these men PS5's!

[@JackFrost008]

One problem I have with the game is the black washing of the characters. It is just getting ridiculous.

[@troy4108]

The spear comment or complaint literally don’t make sense how are you going to use one hand doing those combos?😂 it’s a spear it dosent even look right trying to imagine him wielding it with one hand and when he throws it he uses one hand so tbh that complaint really didn’t have to be there it made no sense to complain bout that honestly

[@dedsecmania4458]

They didnt notice that the spear was modeled after a spartan spear because the drapunir spear was made with kratos blood in the mix thus was modeled from his spartan roots

[@troy4108]

@@dedsecmania4458 it just kinda irritated me hearing that complaint because we really didn’t need it in all Honesty 😂😂

[@Nachi_de_Lobo]

Spartan spear were used alongside shields on the offhand. One hand is literally the default way to use spears in the western world

[@joeybrez1]

I dont mean to be mean but Vikings dont exist anymore :/

[@shuckLedurkins]

Ah yes, because they don’t exist that means their practices are gone

[@ImotekhtheStormlord-tx2it]

AC Valhalla is more "grounded" and ties Norse Mythology better than GOWR

[@OliverTheBard]

Still prefer Ragnarok's interpretation.

[@Hanzo615]

LOL, no.

[@kwedl]

That's the whole point of GoW. Taking mythology and a lot of it's details, but changing things up due to Kratos being there.

[@HishamA.N_Comicbroe]

AC is trying to make those gods "realistic", GOW is openly embracing the fact that gods exist.

[@stumarine22]

Sweet vid!! The long hair and how it obstructs vision if not tied back and how detrimental it’d be in combat realization lol ego vs efficiency

[@RPINCo]

Fake.

[@biology9810]

Wydm fake?

[@rcortez5979]

​@@biology9810he got fake braincells

[@bn-tc2tk]

Man, that’s dudes voice is crazy deep