Client: Captain Sig Hansen – Talent, Captain Jake Anderson – Talent
Commercial fishing and crabbing is a lucrative enterprise for those skilled enough to brave unforgiving waters, but it's also proved to be a huge success with viewers with a hankering for danger and drama and the network that provides documentary-style reality television shows chronicling the exploits of the previously mentioned anglers and boat captains. "Deadliest Catch" follows several fishing vessels as they traverse the dangerous arctic waters off the coast of Alaska to harvest the bounties of the sea. This leads to plenty of danger, frustration, moments of triumph, and interpersonal conflict.
According to IMDb, "Deadliest Catch" premiered in 2005 and has well over 200 episodes in its retinue. The show has proven to be so popular that it has spawned an entire franchise of specials and spin-off shows. Specials have included round-table discussions, a "Mythbusters" focused iteration, and supplementary episodes created with unused footage. Spin-offs typically follow a change of venue, with "Deadliest Catch: Bloodlines" focusing on the coastal waters of Hawaii while "Deadliest Catch: Dungeon Cove" braves the sea around the state of Oregon. However, it looks like there is yet another spin-off on the way called "Deadliest Catch: The Viking Returns," but what do we know about this upcoming show?
Who is in the cast of Deadliest Catch: The Viking Returns?
It turns out that the cast of "Deadliest Catch: The Viking Returns" will consist of one of the most popular stars of the original show and their burgeoning family. This brand new show will have a laser focus on Sig Hansen and Mandy Pederson, who have been known to captain the Fishing Vessel Northwestern. Discovery notes that Hansen is from a long line of anglers and that he has continued the trend with his very own daughter. Pederson has even taken over for her father during his absence, and considering her lineage, she understands the profession better than most. Jake Anderson will join them, but whether or not other crew members of the Northwestern will tag along on this new show is still unknown.
To hear that Hansen will soon have his very own show may come as a surprise for long-time fans of the show. In 2019, EW reported that Hansen had suffered a heart attack in October 2018 and that he was contemplating quitting, although, at this point, we know that he never followed through. He told the publication, "I can't stop, that's the problem. All of us are egomaniacs. You want to stop, but the ego portion won't let me stop. There's no way in hell. See what I mean? You are torn. You know that song 'Torn Between Two Lovers?' That's kind of what is going on here. Really what we need is a shrink. If we could get a g***amn shrink in Dutch Harbor, we'd be better off."
What is the plot of Deadliest Catch: The Viking Returns?
As mentioned earlier, "Deadliest Catch" spin-off shows usually take place far from the arctic waters of the original show, and it seems like "Deadliest Catch: The Viking Returns" is no different. According to Outsider, "The Viking Returns" is about Sig Hansen and Mandy Pederson returning to fish the waters surrounding Norway, their ancestral homeland. Hansen said, "Being Norwegian, part of our family's legacy is where dad started. This could be a whole new future for my family and the next generation." He continued, "This isn't about money. This is about family."
Considering that the family has a long history of commercial fishing, they aim to recapture the glory days by forging a new fishing empire that dwarfs the family's earlier attempts. A bold goal, and one that Hansen and Pederson will more than likely succeed in, or at least make some great television in the process. Whether or not the seas around Norway can be as inhospitable as the Bering Sea is up for debate, but they are definitely seasoned sailors and fishers that are in generally unfamiliar waters. How the family will react and adapt to this new environment should prove to be a fulcrum of the show, as well as the interactions between father and daughter.
When is the release date for Deadliest Catch: The Viking Returns?
So, when is "Deadliest Catch: The Viking Returns" premiering? According to TV Shows Ace, "The Viking Returns" has an estimated premiere sometime in the fall. Unfortunately, there is no definitive date for the show, but as IMDb notes, a normal season of "Deadliest Catch" typically starts around April and finishes towards the end of September. However, "Deadliest Catch: Bloodline" followed close to this schedule, while IMDb acknowledges that "Deadliest Catch: Dungeon Cove" started in September and ran until October. Chances are, "The Viking Returns" will pick up shortly after the end or towards the end of "Deadliest Catch" in order to catch the proverbial wave.
As to how many episodes will constitute this new spin-off show starring Sig Hansen and his family, that is also somewhat ambiguous, but that makes sense considering that there isn't even an official premiere date. "Dungeon Cove" only ran for one season and consisted of seven episodes, while "Bloodline" currently has three seasons under its belt, with six episodes in the first season, 10 in the second, and 12 in the third. Ultimately, there is some variation in "Deadliest Catch" satellite shows, so it will be interesting to see how many episodes "The Viking Returns" will net.
Is there a trailer for Deadliest Catch: The Viking Returns?
The trailer for "Deadliest Catch: The Viking Returns" can, as of right now, only be found on Facebook. It kicks off with a cinematic-style shot of Sig Hansen as he gets in his car and drives towards a cemetery. A voiceover is heard explaining that what Hansen is doing now is for his family, and he is seen unfolding an old picture of his father. He mentions that he hopes his father is proud of him because Hansen is proud of his father, and then an orchestral version of Coolio's "Gangsta's Paradise" begins to play as the scene shifts to the coast of Norway.
Majestic landscapes and snowy fields are put front and center in this trailer, and it features many different shots of Hansen, Mandy Pederson, and Jake Anderson as they come to terms with this dramatic shift. The primary focus seems to be on family, and there are even moments that show off Pederson's young child named Sailor. However, this isn't to say that "The Viking Returns" will simply be an interpersonal drama, as the trailer highlights the high-stakes and dangerous profession made popular by "Deadliest Catch." Hopefully, things go according to plan for Hansen and his family and friends because "Deadliest Catch: The Viking Returns" looks to be something special and different enough from other shows in the "Deadliest Catch" franchise.