Norse Mythology

Odin's son, Balder, was a god so beloved (in fact, his Old Norse name is likely related to ancient words for brightness and light) that his shocking death is one of the principal stories of the "Eddas." Consider two different angles on this story-one of which offers more logical coherence by omitting the presence of the trickster Loki.

All Episodes - Season 1

Episode 1

Meeting the Norse Gods of the Viking Age

Episode 2

Fate and the Norse Worldview

Episode 3

The Norse Art of Mythic Storytelling

Episode 4

The Norse Gods Are Characters with Flaws

Episode 5

The Norse Creation: Dawn of Strife

Episode 6

First Humans, the Nine Realms, and Yggdrasil

Episode 7

Loki and His Children

Episode 8

Balder's Death: Tragic Murder of a God

Episode 9

Ragnarok: The Final Battle and Fall

Episode 10

Thor among the Gods' Enemies

Episode 11

Thor among the Gods

Episode 12

Odin, Lord of War and the Dead

Episode 13

Odin and Wisdom

Episode 14

A Second Family of Gods? The Vanir

Episode 15

Valkyries and the Goddess Freyja

Episode 16

Dwarves, Elves, Trolls, and Zombies

Episode 17

Odin and the Rise of the Volsungs

Episode 18

The Fall of the Greatest Volsung Hero

Episode 19

Viking History Becomes Volsung Myth

Episode 20

Shieldmaidens, Berserkers, and Bear Men

Episode 21

Norse Religion, Sacrifice, and Festivals

Episode 22

Norse Magic: Spells, Curses, and Runes

Episode 23

After Life: Hel and Valhalla

Episode 24

The Enduring Appeal of Norse Mythology