History Channel's 'Vikings'

[Drz]

Ivar the Boneless was an interesting addition, because some people said he was a Berserker and the nickname Boneless came from him being limb, not to mention he hasa brother with the name "Snake-In-The-Eye" so it fits with the snake theme.

Another theory was, what the show did: Ivar is incapable of walking, so he as a grown man might had been a archer, because a leader had to be a capable military commander too.

 

[chamber-music]

On a side note, is this show following a particular historical event or is it just stories told about Vikings and British set in an alternate world?

It is based a little bit on history and a little on the Norse saga.

Ragnar's sons are reported to have lead the great Viking army that invaded Anglo-Saxon kingdoms that constituted England in 865 AD.

 

[S. Grundy]

It takes its liberties, like Ragnar's sons. Bjorn was actually one Ragnar's and Aslaug's sons and Ivar was actually the eldest. Fridleif was the son Ragnar had with Lagertha.

Also, Aslaug was his third, the show just completely skipped over his second wife.

 

[Siby]

Ah cool, thank you all for the background information. I'll look into Ragnar and see what stories there are out there of this figure.

 

[Marvolo]

God Floki is getting on every last one of my nerves!

This show has some great battle scenes!

 

[squeekness]

I don't understand Floki's disloyalty. I mean is he so religious that Ragnar's fascination with Athlestan is some kind of threat? Why would he even care? I don't get it.....

 

[James]

Yeah, Floki's taken a really unusual turn. He was so likable too.

This show has some great battle scenes!

It does! This was one thing early on that I was kind of disappointed with, the battles weren't terribly exciting. That didn't last long though, and now not only do they seem to battle frequently, they do it really well.

I wonder how much time it takes for them to sail between home and England? When they first begun doing it the journey seemed to take a fair amount of time, now that they're heading back and forth with some frequency they seem to be zooming.

 

[Siby]

Another great episode. I'm so happy to see Athelstan back and call the Vikings his family. I would love it if Athelstan killed King Horrik and Bjorn killed Horrik's son.

I felt bad for Rollo but that's war for you.

Like all of you I just don't understand Floki anymore. In this episode they eluded to the reason why he has turned against Ragnar. It's the old gods versus new God. Old ideas versus new ideas. Ragnar is a progressive thinker and this is a direct challenge to Floki's core system of reality. Floki is also being manipulated by King Horrik and using religion to turn people against Ragnar and serve his needs.

Regardless of the reason, I don't like the change in Floki. I loved the character now I find him annoying and a weasel.

The Princess is a crazy horny woman. lol

The setup for the finale is great. I wonder if they will cut down on Ragnar's brood. Can't wait.

 

[Marvolo]

Floki saying that Athel prays to a false God doesn't really seem accurate of pagans. People back then didn't really have a problem with"false gods". Everyone worshiped their own gods in their own lands. Sure if you conquered a land you might bring your religion and gods with you, but you didn't really get up in the air about other gods. It wasn't until Judaism and to a greater extent Christianity and Islam that the idea of false gods being bad took hold and people started losing their **** over the matter. I just can't see a Viking giving two ****s who a priest in England prays to. I can understand why Floki might not trust a person who prays to a different god, but only if he didn't know the person. But he knows Athel very very well and knows the gods he worships doesn't make him disloyal. Idk it's just a mess, and the only real problem I have with the show. It seems the writers are creating drama from what should be a non-issue for the sake of drama.

 

[Siby]

I have to agree with you. Especially since it has been established in the show (like the baptism of Rollo) that the Vikings aren't able to comprehend a single deity. They often mock the concept and consider it foolish when it's so obvious that Odin and Thor exist.

I wonder if Floki is just jealous of Athelstan. Before Athelstan Floki was an important person in Ragnar's life. They were working on something together and it was good. Once Athelstan shows up Ragnar is all buddy buddy with Athelstan and Floki takes a backseat.

 

[Marvolo]

I have to agree with you. Especially since it has been established in the show (like the baptism of Rollo) that the Vikings aren't able to comprehend a single deity. They often mock the concept and consider it foolish when it's so obvious that Odin and Thor exist.

I wonder if Floki is just jealous of Athelstan. Before Athelstan Floki was an important person in Ragnar's life. They were working on something together and it was good. Once Athelstan shows up Ragnar is all buddy buddy with Athelstan and Floki takes a backseat.

Plus I guess we have to remember that this sudden change in Floki isn't actually sudden. Years have passed this season so his grievances have been building for a long time. I think you're right tho. It's jealousy more than a deity issue.

 

[squeekness]

I wonder how much time it takes for them to sail between home and England? When they first begun doing it the journey seemed to take a fair amount of time, now that they're heading back and forth with some frequency they seem to be zooming.

I know, right? Like why was Rollo still so injured when he got home? If it took them even just a week (when it was probably more) to get back home, they would have had to rebreak the leg before setting it right.

 

[Marvolo]

I know, right? Like why was Rollo still so injured when he got home? If it took them even just a week (when it was probably more) to get back home, they would have had to rebreak the leg before setting it right.

Depends on the break whether it is a clean break or not. If it's a clean break which it seemed to be and if the two pieces weren't touching then it wouldn't begin fusing. However, given the amount of time it would have taken to get back to their homeland they would have needed to set it in England. By the time he got back home he would have likely had an infection or other complications from not setting the bone. In short Rollo should be dead.

 

[Siby]

Yeah, I really had to suspend belief for Rollo to survive getting trampled by multiple horses. Given the type and location of injuries, he would have had so many fatal injuries the broken leg would be the least of his problems. But oh well, I like the character so I'm glad he will be around.

From what they showed it looks like most of the men aren't the brightest when it comes to medical care. haha That's why they needed the medicine woman back home to fix Rollo. Even after he heals up I can't imagine him going back to raiding. I see him becoming the veteran who teaches the younger generation how to fight. Perhaps Rollo and Ivar the Boneless will become best buds. :P

 

[chamber-music]

Cool to see Bjorn get his Ironside nickname

I wonder how much time it takes for them to sail between home and England? When they first begun doing it the journey seemed to take a fair amount of time, now that they're heading back and forth with some frequency they seem to be zooming.

They know where they are going now and they aren't caught in a storm unlike the previous trips. With good weather the Vikings could sail to the East coast of England in three days.

The show runners probably cut showing the travel as it would be repetitive.

Floki is acting like a jealous little b****.

 

[Golgo-13]

Great ep. My one and only gripe about the show, is that it does make leaps in time rather suddenly and you have to figure out that the scene you are now watching is taking place months after the previous scene.

Other than that, i love the show.

As i had posted before, i am one of the few that never liked the Floki character, and that the actor that plays him over acts. His sudden change in character is just weird, but as others have pointed out, much time has past. It seems that the main reason he now has beef with Ragnar is because of Rollo.

Rollo being captured by the English was resolved way too quickly. It might have been good to see him spend a significant amount of time in the hands of the enemy. Also, i hated that they just knew Rollo was alive after seeing what appeared to be his life less corpse on the battle field. If they figured he was alive why the hell did they flee like he was dead?
It would have made for much better drama, if they assumed he was dead and somehow found out much later- like months- that he wasn't.

 

[Siby]

Good points Golgo-13 about Rollo.

When King Ecbert saved Rollo I thought Rollo's baptism would come into play but alas it did not. I think it would have put Rollo in yet another dichotomous position where his brother, kinsman, and gods left him to die but the English and their one God saved him.

I think it's also funny how Bjorn is all grown up yet all the other characters look roughly the same. haha

 

[charl_huntress]

I haven't had the time to watch the latest episodes, but for anyone interested The History Channel is having a marathon of Viking episodes. They're just finishing season one, so if you want to catch up on season two here's your chance.

 

[squeekness]

I bought the season on DVD. Yummy....

 

[James]

I didn't realize tonight was the season finale. That went by quick!

Damn good end to a great season, they sure did resolve a lot of issues. Really, really happy about [BLACKOUT]Floki[/BLACKOUT]. Looking back it makes so much sense now, playing the long-con like that. It's easy to forget just how clever Ragnar is, but I guess that's his trick. Always quiet and thoughtful, always learning. He saw the writing on the wall a long time ago.

Highlight this episode has to be that one shot of Lagertha marching with the warriors behind her. Everything's gone nuts, and she's just striding through. That is one cool lady.

 

[Marvolo]

Damn, they pulled everything together beautifully. This show continues to impress! Can't wait for 2015!

 

[squeekness]

Yeah, I thought it was a great ending. This show always satisfies.

 

[Siby]

Great finale! I'm glad that my speculations regarding Floki were correct. It would have been way too weird for him to turn on Ragnar. When he hugged Bjorn and later when he replied to King Horrik that he would never betray the gods and Ragnar made me all giddy.

The handling of King Horrik was done beautifully. Everybody basically served Horrik up to Ragnar and then left so he could feast upon him. Moments like this and the Blood Eagle remind me that the calm, grinning guy has this brutality within him.

I thought it was interesting that Ragnar didn't say anything in the show until well past halfway into the episode. His actions spoke for him. I'm still not sure what to make of him wanting to learn a Christian prayer. Is it doubt about the Viking gods or curiosity. I'm glad though that the show made it a point to show Ragnar reluctant to ending the prayer. I also really hope that Ragnar doesn't become Christian because I can't imagine the others following him down that road. No matter how much they love and respect the guy.

The last shot was absolutely stunning. The mountain was breathtaking, the glow of the Kings sword in contrast to the dull surrounding, and Ragnar always smiling sitting proudly presiding high over the land like the King he is.

 

[Connor MacLeod]

Spoiler

I loved watching Ragnar give Horruk the old Bill the Butcher berzerker headbutts!!! Fantastic!!! So what can we take from this season?

Floki was definitely running a long con. The stares between him and Ragner that we mistook as Ragnar seeing through a Floki betrayal were actually silent encouragement for Floki to follow things through. I think Floki does have his beefs.with Ragnar...with Rollo...with Athelstan. But ultimately he knows who is family is. I had suspected also that Ragnar's comments to Rollo when they were setting up in England after he and Horruk bumped heads were intended to show that Ragnar knew Horruk was up to something and that Horruk didn't see the two of them and Lagertha as equal. Ragnar was drawing his intentions out. Ragnar is very clever. And now he is KING!!!

 

[Connor MacLeod]

I'm still not sure what to make of him wanting to learn a Christian prayer. Is it doubt about the Viking gods or curiosity. I'm glad though that the show made it a point to show Ragnar reluctant to ending the prayer. I also really hope that Ragnar doesn't become Christian because I can't imagine the others following him down that road. No matter how much they love and respect the guy.

Someone pointed out that Vikings in reality had no issue with other gods. I believe Ragnar's intent is to absorb more gods into his pantheon, asking for their favor as he raids new lands. Therefore his words to Athelstan: "I hope one day your god and my gods can be friends."