Back to Show
Monstrum
Trolls: Scandinavia’s Malevolent, Magical Outcasts
Season 3
Episode 13
While modern imagination might have you picturing trolls as ugly, their ancient folkloric counterparts were wealthy creatures. Defined by their status as outsiders as well and the threat of violence they represent, this episode takes you through the Nordic sagas, Medieval laws, and literary influences that contributed to the endurance of these malevolent and magical Scandinavian monsters.
Sign up now for inspiring and thought-provoking media delivered straight to your inbox.
Support Provided By

13:22
What inspired Pokémon’s Monster Mythology?

13:49
Horses have inspired countless equine folklore, but none are quite like the centaur.

11:02
Advances in technology are always met with some degree of technophobia—and villainization.

12:53
A majestic, all-white horse with a spiraled horn is just one depiction of many.

9:35
Bloody Mary is less important than the ritual that summons her.

9:32
Yuki-Onna, the icy snow maiden of Japanese lore, might steal your heart or your life.

10:41
This episode looks at how social media contributes to horror in the 21st century.

10:06
We explore Tiamat the “mother of monsters” in Mesopotamian mythology.

14:35
We find out when and why did the Mummy become the popular movie monster.

14:05
These monster faces make up a distinctive brand of horror in Hollywood.

9:43
This massive half-human, half-horse hybrid, the Filipino Tikbálang thrives on chaos.

12:33
What happens when plants themselves become conscious, and turn killers? We find out!