"Vikings", the hit series, is back tonight on The History Channel with Episode 8 "Sacrifice".  The mini-series has been the highest rated show on cable since "The Bible" series ended, which was also on The History Channel.  

Episode Synopsis: Vikings (History Channel) Episode 8 "Sacrifice" - The traditional pilgrimage to Uppsalla to thank the gods brings a torrent of emotions for Ragnar, Lagertha, and Athelstan. Ragnar, pulling farther away from his wife goes to make peace with the death of his unborn son. Lagertha, still reeling from her miscarriage, wants to find out from the gods if more sons are in her future. As the Vikings come together to sacrifice and give thanks to their gods, Athelstan discovers just how strong his Christian faith still is.

The 'Vikings' series, created and written by Michael Hirst ("Elizabeth", "The Tudors") is set in 8th Century Scandinavia. The main character is Ragnar, played by Travis Fimmel, who is a warrior and farmer longing to explore and raid the unknown lands of the west. Ragnar enlists the help of his buddy and boat builder Floki (Gustaf Skarsgard) to construct a ship worthy of rivaling the northern seas. 

The leadership of the community has plans to raid east which is already a growing tension in from the first episode. There is heavy interplay between Ragnar's wife, Lagertha (Katheryn Winnick) and son early which shows a more heart felt side to the series and shows the tender side of the rough and rugged warrior. 

The series is inspired by the epic sagas about the raiding, trading, and exploring Norsemen of early medieval Scandinavia. It follows the exploits of the legendary Viking chieftain Ragnar Lodbrok and his crew and family. Norse sagas were partially fictional tales based in Norse oral tradition and written down in the 13th century, about 200 to 400 years after the events they describe. Further inspiration is taken from historical sources of the period, such as the Viking raid on Lindisfarne depicted in the second episode. The series is set at the beginning of the Viking Age, marked by the Lindisfarne raid in 793. Ragnar's death is dated to 840 or 865.