Deadliest Catch: The Viking Returns - What We Know So Far

Commercial fishing and crabbing is a lucrative enterprise for those skilled enough to brave unforgiving waters. It's also proven to be not only a huge point of interest among viewers with a hankering for danger and drama, but also a source of content for a network that likes to provide documentary-style reality shows chronicling the exploits of the previously mentioned anglers and boat captains. "Deadliest Catch," for instance, follows several fishing vessels as they traverse the dangerous arctic waters off the coast of Alaska in order to harvest the bounties of the sea. This mission predictably leads to plenty of moments of danger, frustration, triumph, and interpersonal conflict throughout the show.

"Deadliest Catch" has, consequently, proven to be so popular that it has spawned an entire franchise's worth of specials and spin-offs. The series' specials have included round-table discussions, a "Mythbusters" focused iteration, and supplementary episodes created out of unused footage. The show's spin-offs, meanwhile, typically focus on different regions, with "Deadliest Catch: Bloodlines" traveling to the coastal waters of Hawaii and "Deadliest Catch: Dungeon Cove" braving the sea around the state of Oregon. 

Another spin-off, titled "Deadliest Catch: The Viking Returns," recently premiered on September 13, so here's what fans of the TV franchise should know about the new series.

The cast of "Deadliest Catch: The Viking Returns" consists of one of the most popular stars of the original show as well as several members of their family. 

The new "Deadliest Catch" spin-off turns its focus on Sig Hansen and Mandy Pederson, who captain the Fishing Vessel Northwestern. As Discovery notes, Hansen comes from a long line of anglers and he has continued his family's tradition with his very own daughter. Pederson, for her part, has even taken over for her father during the moments when he's had to step away and, considering her lineage, it shouldn't come as much of a surprise to learn that she understands the profession better than most. Jake Anderson, meanwhile, also appears in "Deadliest Catch: The Viking Returns." 

Of course, the fact that Hansen now has his very own TV show may come as a surprise to long-time "Deadliest Catch" fans. EW did, after all, report in 2019 that Hansen had suffered a heart attack in October 2018 and that he was contemplating retiring. We know now that he never followed through on that impulse, and it's not hard to see why. Indeed, when he was asked by EW about the possibility of leaving his lifelong career behind, Hansen said, "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."

Hansen added, "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."

As was mentioned earlier, Discovery's "Deadliest Catch" spin-offs usually take place far away from the arctic waters of the original show, and "Deadliest Catch: The Viking Returns" is no different. The series is about Sig Hansen and Mandy Pederson returning to fish the waters surrounding their ancestral homeland of Norway (via Outsider). Taking that latter detail into account, Hansen noted in a previous "Viking Returns" trailer that "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." In the same trailer, Hansen added, "This isn't about money. This is about family."

Now, Hansen and his family members aim to recapture their glory days by forging a new fishing empire that surpasses both their and their ancestors' previous attempts. That's an undeniably big goal, but it's one that Hansen and Pederson may very well accomplish in the end.

Indeed, while it remains unclear whether or not the seas around Norway are as inhospitable as the Bering Sea, the central figures in "Deadliest Catch: The Viking Returns" are all seasoned sailors and fishers. How the Hansen family reacts and adapts to their new environment should, therefore, continue to be a great source of drama and tension in the "Deadliest Catch" spin-off.

The trailer for "Deadliest Catch: The Viking Returns" can, as of this writing, only be found on Facebook. The 90-second teaser nonetheless kicks off with a cinematic shot of Sig Hansen as he gets in his car and drives toward a cemetery. A voice-over narration explaining that what Hansen is doing in "Deadliest Catch: The Viking Returns" is for his family then plays as he is shown unfolding an old picture of his father. In the same trailer, Hansen mentions that he hopes his father is proud of him just before an orchestral version of Coolio's "Gangsta's Paradise" begins to play.

Majestic Norwegian landscapes and snowy fields are subsequently shown along with many shots of Hansen, Mandy Pederson, and Jake Anderson. The trailer's heavy focus on Hansen's family does not, however, mean that "Deadliest Catch: The Viking Returns" is simply an interpersonal drama. As a matter of fact, the show's trailer does also highlight the high-stakes, dangerous nature of Hansen's profession, which has been made popular by "Deadliest Catch."

In other words, "Deadliest Catch: The Viking Returns" is a special and distinct new addition to the "Deadliest Catch" franchise, one that viewers don't currently need to worry about falling behind on so long as they make the decision to tune in soon.