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Vikings - Season 4, Part 2 - Wednesdays on History

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Salarians

Member
Maybe it's because I watched these last six episodes back to back, but I've found this half of the season to be much better than the first.

Still, without Ragnar, I don't know if I'll stick with this show after this season. He (Travis' performance, specifically) was the main reason I liked this show so much. A great end for the character though.
 
I hope they won't fuck up Floki's character too much. Other than that it was a good episode and it had a cool ending.

I don't know, I think Floki is just very curious now about other religions. He's had a number of people in his life stray from the traditional ways of their people. I don't think he's so much looking for a new belief system as he's fascinated by what people see in these other faiths.
 
Ivar isn't dying anytime soon now, come on.
Someone doesn't know their history...
Or you both could look up a post and see what I was replying to. OBVIFUCKINGOUSLY Ivar isn't going to die but Ivar isn't going to be the one who kills Lagertha for that reason unless this has all just been about setting up conflict between Bjorn and the others, that's the point. If any of Ragnar's sons are going to do it, it's going to turn out to be Bjorn himself when he eventually returns because they've gone out of their way to telegraph Ivar or really any of Ragnar's sons through Aslung.

Or to go way out there, they end up having Lagertha return to England and be unceremoniously off'd by Magnus who even if not actually Ragnar's son was still known as such.
 

RatskyWatsky

Hunky Nostradamus
That was a pretty good episode, despite some extremely clunky characterization for both Floki and Helga. Like, Helga announces that she wants another baby and finds an orphan girl to steal/adopt 5 minutes later; Floki states that he doesn't know who he is anymore and 5 minutes later he finds a new religion/culture which will presumably give his life new meaning. Add in all the Lagertha stuff, and there's been quite a bit of slapdash characterization this half season. Would it kill Hirst to actually plant (and then water) the seeds of these storylines earlier in the season/series?

Also, people have always liked to speculate whether the the gods really exist in this universe - and the show has always had a touch of the supernatural - but the scenes with Odin were the most overt confirmations yet.

I really hope they dont to a Bjorn cheating on Torvi for the women he made eye contact with plot.

It's echoing Ragnar with Aslaug circa season one, a bit.
 

Fjordson

Member
So I've become obsessed with this show over the past 6 weeks or so. I had never even heard of it but it was on the front page of Amazon Prime so I thought I'd try it. Proceeded to blast through the first three seasons in short order and I just love it. Some of the performances are really fantastic, especially Travis Fimmel as Ragnar and Linus Roache as Ecbert.

But I just finished episode 15 of this season...man I'm really torn. Ragnar was still the best part of the show for me, but it's an interesting direction to take and I think they have enough interesting characters to fill the void. Though if Ecbert is also gone soon....

Also, I'm a bit lost on what they're doing with Lagertha this season. The way she ended it with Aslaug and took over Kattegat was pretty lame imo.
 

Dysun

Member
The scene with Helga was definitely clunky, but Floki having a love/hate thing with other religions is nothing new.

The ending scene with Odin was very well done
 

Woo-Fu

Banned
Not really anybody left in the show I like, except Ecbert and he looks like he is on death's door. Wish Bjorn would head back to the mountains and fight bears for fun or something. Glad Ragnar is happy finally, though.
 

Chumley

Banned
That ending was legit, whoever that one eyed god was supposed to be looked badass.

Episode itself had problems though and signaled huge red flags for the Ragnar-less future. No anchor whatsoever and awful characterization for Floki. Ivar is still totally one note and there's no one here even halfway capable of replacing Fimmel's importance to the show. They should honestly just do a full reboot next season 10 years later or so and recast everyone except Rollo, Floki, and Lagertha. Ivar and Bjorn are clearly being setup as the main characters going forward and their actors right now are not up to the task.
 

Chumley

Banned
The Ivar Lagertha exchange was a bit disappointing for me. A few nice things, but following last episode was going to be hard.

The sudden change in Floki, man, I don't know what to think.

Favorite part?
Odin
.

I thought Harbard was Odin.
 

Fjordson

Member
That ending was legit, whoever that one eyed god was supposed to be looked badass.

Episode itself had problems though and signaled huge red flags for the Ragnar-less future. No anchor whatsoever and awful characterization for Floki. Ivar is still totally one note and there's no one here even halfway capable of replacing Fimmel's importance to the show. They should honestly just do a full reboot next season 10 years later or so and recast everyone except Rollo, Floki, and Lagertha. Ivar and Bjorn are clearly being setup as the main characters going forward and their actors right now are not up to the task.
Yeah, I like Ivar's actor and he's pretty magnetic in the right scene, but one-note is a pretty fair description of him so far.
 
. Ivar is still totally one note and there's no one here even halfway capable of replacing Fimmel's importance to the show. They should honestly just do a full reboot next season 10 years later or so and recast everyone except Rollo, Floki, and Lagertha. Ivar and Bjorn are clearly being setup as the main characters going forward and their actors right now are not up to the task.

I think a time jump is exactly what the show is heading towards, with the jonathan rhys meyers mystery role ending up being adult Ivar, would certainly bring a bigger presence in the show that might be better able to fill Ragnars void
 

Chumley

Banned
I think a time jump is exactly what the show is heading towards, with the jonathan rhys meyers mystery role ending up being adult Ivar, would certainly bring a bigger presence in the show that might be better able to fill Ragnars void

I'm totally down for this. JRM is not my favorite actor in the world but he's able to carry shows.
 
C

Contica

Unconfirmed Member
I'm totally down for this. JRM is not my favorite actor in the world but he's able to carry shows.

Pretty sure he's playing adult Arthur. Can't remember where I read it though.
 
I doubt JRM is taking on the Ivar role, that'd be a jarring recast of a character and actor who is already an adult, as someone else said I think a grown up Alfred would be more likely, assuming he's going to play anyone already established.


EDIT: I got distracted, should've posted faster.
 
That ending was legit, whoever that one eyed god was supposed to be looked badass.

Odin? He was in the show before.

Ive got to say Ragnars
reluctance to scream reminded me of the blood eagle episode.. didn't Ragnar once say that Odin would take someone to Valhalla if they were able to withstand the pain?
 

Morrigan Stark

Arrogant Smirk
What other religions besides Norse paganism does he love?

Seriously. Floki hates Christians but now suddenly thinks Islam is cool after hearing some chanting? Bitch please. They've fucked up Lagertha's character and now Floki too? And that part with Helga kidnapping/adopting that girl was really awful.

And no one in the mosque even batted an eyelid at not only Floki intruding on their prayers, but at that dude getting beheaded?? WTF?

I did not care for this episode and I don't think I like where the show is going. At least we got sexy viking Rollo back but he hardly did anything. :(
 
Yeah I didn't like the latest episode either ,except for the grimreaper/messenger scenes passing the word of their father's death. With Ragnar gone if the show doesn't capture back my interest before the season ends, I might just drop the show entirelly since I think it would be a good enough ending point.
 
I laughed out loud with the Floki thing. I mean, fucking really? Of course Helga wants a kid and then conveniently that girl comes along.

This really has been bad in forcing characters into things with no real build.
 
So Odin basically confirms the Norse religion to be the true religion on Earth? Correct me if I'm wrong but they've also been ambiguous with the supernatural.
 

Dysun

Member
They also implied that Christianity was real with some of the Athlestan scenes if I recall right.
Seems like Hirst is taking an approach where they are all real and veiled in some kind of mysticism
 

RiZ III

Member
I can already see where the show is headed. It's funny because The Last Kingdom is basically a direct sequel to this season. They starting to focus on
Alfred. Though him being the child of Athelstan is a bit laughable.

Also, as a Muslim, I'll say that this was the first time I've ever seen the Muslim prayer being shown accurately on a tv show or movie. The call to prayer was done very well too. I've never heard it recited so well on an American tv show or movie. Seems like they consulted a Muslim group for this episode. It was done very well.

Floki's hesitation to kill the worshippers was a bit conflicted with his character, but it looks like they're trying to show growth in characters these past few episodes. Floki isn't as much of a fundamentalist pagan anymore and is able to find spirituality in other religions as well. Egbert has become more reflective of his life and is more of a philosopher king now if not a bit senile. Ragnar's sons are all grown up. Helga realizes that her life is meaningless without a child. Lagertha finally decides to take back her town and her husband (oops). So on.
 
Huh. So what are the odds that
Bjorn is going to end up killing Lagertha? The Seer said one of Ragnar's sons will kill her, and Bjorn and Astrid now have a thing going....I can't help but think they're setting up a swerve.
 

Pkaz01

Member
I didn't really like this episode much.. Getting tired of the we have to kill Lagertha plot. On top of that I can't like Ivar no matter how much the show shoves him down our throats. Not even going to get started on the soap opera bullshit thats going on with Ubbe and the former slave girl and whatever that last scene was supposed to be.

I did like the scene with Ecbert and Rollo going home.
 
Okay so let me get this straight:

Bjorn is now fucking Astrid, who is in a relationship with his mom. So basically Bjorn is fucking what is for all intents and purposes is his Mother-in-Law?

What
The
Fuck
 

RatskyWatsky

Hunky Nostradamus
I thought that was a good episode, although I am a bit disappointed that Bjorn's adventures in the Mediterranean didn't last a bit longer. I would have liked at least one more episode of him and Rollo raiding together before things returned to normal.

Also, I thought it was strange that we didn't get a reaction out of Rollo in regards to learning about Ragnar's death. Given everything they've been through, it would have been nice to have one final bit of closure to their relationship.

Also x 2, lvar has a chariot! Awesome! :O
 

obin_gam

Member
So Odin basically confirms the Norse religion to be the true religion on Earth? Correct me if I'm wrong but they've also been ambiguous with the supernatural.
They also implied that Christianity was real with some of the Athlestan scenes if I recall right.
Seems like Hirst is taking an approach where they are all real and veiled in some kind of mysticism


A0j5-DWCcAAo1sS.jpg



Okay so let me get this straight:

Bjorn is now fucking Astrid, who is in a relationship with his mom. So basically Bjorn is fucking what is for all intents and purposes is his Mother-in-Law?

What
The
Fuck

Whats wrong with step-mom-porn ?
 

Woo-Fu

Banned
I hope Astrid doesn't end up being the reason Bjorn kills Lagertha. I mean you know it is going to be Bjorn, right? When the seer comes right out and says it'll be a son of Ragnar it won't be one of the obvious ones. That means Bjorn or that little squirt who got kicked out of Ecberton a couple episodes back---if he really is Ragnar's son.
 

ty_hot

Member
Watching the last episode...
I was secretely hoping that Ragnar was alive. I knew it would be a big BS but he is such a great character., hard to see he going.. But IVAR grew so much in the last few episodes that I believe he will be a great main character.


Whats wrong with step-mom-porn ?


ITS ACTUALLY TRENDING!
 
I hope Astrid doesn't end up being the reason Bjorn kills Lagertha. I mean you know it is going to be Bjorn, right? When the seer comes right out and says it'll be a son of Ragnar it won't be one of the obvious ones. That means Bjorn or that little squirt who got kicked out of Ecberton a couple episodes back---if he really is Ragnar's son.

Yes.

Though I was surprised Bjorn got back so quickly, seeing as Lagertha seems to be going to England as well, maybe may saying Magnus would kill her wasn't as far out there as I said it was.
 

Coxy100

Banned
I thought that was a good episode, although I am a bit disappointed that Bjorn's adventures in the Mediterranean didn't last a bit longer. I would have liked at least one more episode of him and Rollo raiding together before things returned to normal.

Also, I thought it was strange that we didn't get a reaction out of Rollo in regards to learning about Ragnar's death. Given everything they've been through, it would have been nice to have one final bit of closure to their relationship.

Also x 2, lvar has a chariot! Awesome! :O
Good point about Rollo - very surprised they didn't show his reaction
 

Nokagi

Unconfirmed Member
Show has been pretty dull since Ragnar died. I mean I still like the characters but they are doing nothing that I find all that interesting. I don't care about Ragnar son's wanting to fuck the same girl. I don't care about Bjorn fucking his mother's girlfriend (lol). And I certainly don't care about those other two viking brothers who are always plotting shit or their damn love interests.

Also fuck that tease of a battle which didn't actually happen.
 

RatskyWatsky

Hunky Nostradamus
The tease was a bit disappointing, but I'm assuming they're saving the big battle scene for when the Vikings come for Ecbert.

Anyway, I thought it was a solid episode overall. King Aella's death was fitting (the return of the Blood Eagle!) and Ivar continues to be awesome.

Only two episodes left!

Tired of these three way love interests.. don't watch this show for this soap opera cheating bullshit

It's been established as far back as season one that (at least some of) the Vikings have no problem with sharing their spouses with others and/or having threesomes. The playful scene between Ubba, Margrethe, and Hvitserk was obviously done to contrast the bitter King Ecbert, Judith, and Aethelwulf dynamic.

If you're talking about the Bjorn/Astrid stuff, then I might get what you're saying, but it hasn't really developed into anything yet. We'll have to see where it goes.
 

aku:jiki

Member
Wait...what? Did Hirst suddenly decide that Kattegat is in Norway now? There's all this talk about visiting danes all of a sudden. This does not make much sense considering the Kattegat sea channel does not connect to Norway and the viking settlement Hedeby (Lagertha's place) was in Denmark. Plus I thought most scholars had Ragnar, if he existed, pegged as a dane.

Am I confused or did Hirst just completely stop giving any sort of a damn about the geography? He's been bad at it before but this is just a confusing mess now.
 

NeoGiff

Member
While it is slightly disappointing that they built up the battle with Aelle and then cut straight to his death, I wouldn't worry too much.

[Next episode preview spoilers]:
I was an extra in the Ragnar's sons vs. Aethelwulf battle in the next episode. It's big, violent, filthy, and took ages to shoot
.
 
In the blood eagle punishment I thought they pulled the lungs out and hung them over the shoulders. In that episode it looked like they stretched his skin out.

Anyway, it looks like they're accelerating events at a quick pace. Alfred should have been roughly 18 by the time the army arrives in England but from the looks of things (lack of any significant time passing) he's either the same age as he was before or only slightly older.
 
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