[QuickTidal]

A solid opener overall. A few slower spots, but setting up the new season plots takes that time, so I get it.

Spoiler

Loved the scene with Laegertha and Kalf basically rooting out the sedition amongst their people and then slaughtering them. Laegertha slicing off the ringleaders junk was excessive though. LOL. I also liked that Rollo has basically been given waht he's ALWAYS always wanted. Power, and leadership. It just so happens he has to betray his family and people for that power. He seems okay with that.

And spoiler for actual historical events. If you don't want to know what MIGHT happen to a character, don't read.

Spoiler

See, I knew that Floki wasn't going to be killed, and now I'm convinced that Ragnar's punishment of him will not be death...it will be exile. Which will shift into motion what the historical Floki did...sailed with his daughter (who died on the way) to the land that is now Iceland, and founds it.

[Abyss]

The opener was fine... standard ep with particularly vicious moments for Rollo and Lagatha.
But ep 2... Holy fuck, that was a great great episode from start to bloody ugly ugly fight. The Princess... Holy fuck.
This show just keeps surprising me in ways little on tv manages to.

[Bulwyf]

Just caught up with the first 2 episodes. Love this show! So good!!

[acesn8s]

Something is afoot in the villege of Kattegat...

Man, they do a great job showing how huge Bjorn (Alexander Ludwig) is. . .

[QuickTidal]

acesn8s, on 14 March 2016 - 03:37 PM, said:

Something is afoot in the villege of Kattegat...

Man, they do a great job showing how huge Bjorn (Alexander Ludwig) is. . .

At this point I'm pretty sure we are headed towards two major Real Life events (as far as the Nordic mythology of these named people speaks).

Spoiler

King Aella has been reintroduced (after being absent since S1) with Ragnar endgame in mind, and this is exacerbated with forshadowing with all the snakes in his sanctuary cabin. And Bjorn is being set up for his eventual rule as King...and it SEEMS as if they might be setting up this King Harald claiming to want the kingship as Bjorn's trial by fire to get there. I fully think that Ragnar will go back to England with lesser jarls and Aella will get him...and that Bjorn will then be the one to go up against Rollo and the Parisians in his father's place.

But yeah, Bjorn's storyline this season has been all about him becoming the man he needs to be to rule in his father place when the time comes.


I also think they will fit Laegertha into the battle role that Aslaug traditionally played with the kingship struggle (Laegertha doesn't exist in the stories, only Aslaug ever existed) that follows.

I'm also hoping that Aella meets the fate he did in the stories at the hands of Bjorn.

I'm also curious what purpose is served by Aslaug wanting Floki to train Ivar in the Norse god ways. Is Kattegat somehow too Christian for her? I mean only Ragnar really subscribes to what Athelstan said, everyone else is still pretty viking...is she really worried that her son won't be a Viking in the traditional sense? Or is it more that Ivar is sickly, and as a result should follow Floki because he's not a warrior in the same caliber as Ragnar?

Also, what's up with the Chinese French servant Yidu? From her words when he asked if those that captured her could have forced themselves upon her she said "They would not have dared"...which leads me to wonder if she's possibly nobility?

Re: King Harald...yeah, I think the choice of how he looks (Very much like Season 1 Ragnar in hairstyle and tattoos) is VERY deliberate.

[paran falcon]

Is it just me or was anyone else puzzled by

Spoiler

why the hell Bjorn didn't dismantle that little rat bastard son of Horrig's? Yes, he basically took his wife, but I'm not sure I get leaving a man who clearly tried to have you killed, alive to plot again. Unless Bjorn is sharp enough to realize Caulf (?) had to be aware of if not sanctioning the plot? And he doesn't want to threaten Laegertha's position?

[QuickTidal]

paran falcon, on 14 March 2016 - 05:12 PM, said:

Is it just me or was anyone else puzzled by

Spoiler

why the hell Bjorn didn't dismantle that little rat bastard son of Horrig's? Yes, he basically took his wife, but I'm not sure I get leaving a man who clearly tried to have you killed, alive to plot again. Unless Bjorn is sharp enough to realize Caulf (?) had to be aware of if not sanctioning the plot? And he doesn't want to threaten Laegertha's position?

If I had to guess?

Spoiler

Bjorn is playing the long game. He doesn't want to let on that he knows they are connected. And I think a PART of that is Laegertha's position. She's basically been able to hold onto the leadership now through some tough uprisings, and Bjorn would have to be aware of that. And he trusts his mother to be the badass she is. So he probably feels safe leaving it open ended while his mother continues to consolidate power. She will find out eventually and Calf will die for sure (Bjorn is her one true-born son, and for her lover to attempt to kill him...oh man, she is going to FREAK out), and Horrick's son is a weakling pussy who Bjorn needn't fear.

This post has been edited by QuickTidal: 14 March 2016 - 05:23 PM

[Abyss]

GENERAL NOTE TO ALL: this is a spoilers-ridden discussion thread covering the series up to the latest ep to air. You DO NOT need to use spoiler blocks.




Latest was a decent ep, but strangely, I'm starting to enjoy the Wessex and Paris storylines far more than Kattegat.

Rollo is so Da Man. Ok, fine, he wasn't very nice to his Viking friends, but even so...


As a complete aside, George Blagden, the actor who plays/ed Aethelstan is also the lead King Louis the Somethingth in the 2015 series VERSAILLES, which was far better than I was expecting it to beat first glance.

[Abyss]

LATEST EP SPOILERS ARE OK IN THIS DISCUSSION THREAD NO NEED FOR BLOCKS

QuickTidal, on 14 March 2016 - 05:22 PM, said:

paran falcon, on 14 March 2016 - 05:12 PM, said:

Is it just me or was anyone else puzzled by [spoiler] why the hell Bjorn didn't dismantle that little rat bastard son of Horrig's? Yes, he basically took his wife, but I'm not sure I get leaving a man who clearly tried to have you killed, alive to plot again. Unless Bjorn is sharp enough to realize Caulf (?) had to be aware of if not sanctioning the plot? And he doesn't want to threaten Laegertha's position?

If I had to guess?

Bjorn is playing the long game. He doesn't want to let on that he knows they are connected. And I think a PART of that is Laegertha's position. She's basically been able to hold onto the leadership now through some tough uprisings, and Bjorn would have to be aware of that. And he trusts his mother to be the badass she is. So he probably feels safe leaving it open ended while his mother continues to consolidate power. She will find out eventually and Calf will die for sure (Bjorn is her one true-born son, and for her lover to attempt to kill him...oh man, she is going to FREAK out), and Horrick's son is a weakling pussy who Bjorn needn't fear.

Spossible, but Horik's son is dethroned and as far as we've seen powerless. It was sort of odd to see him passing the berserker assassin (whee!) his ring last ep and proudly insisting it would influence people.

Also, I'm just not sure Bjorn is that smart, altho it was suspicious that having foune the ring, he decided to go steak the same guy's wife.


All that said, I totally enjoyed Bjron's back-to-nature sidetrip, even if the poor bear just passing by and wanted a hug.

[QuickTidal]

I'm still throwing up blocks around stuff I know from the actual historical discussion of these people, as it could be future spoilers for certain characters arcs.

Bjorn's wilderness finding himself is easily my fave storyline this season. Loved every moment. Feels VERY Vikings.

Re: VERSAILLES...have not watched yet, but it's on the radar.

[acesn8s]

QuickTidal, on 14 March 2016 - 05:44 PM, said:

I'm still throwing up blocks around stuff I know from the actual historical discussion of these people, as it could be future spoilers for certain characters arcs.

Bjorn's wilderness finding himself is easily my fave storyline this season. Loved every moment. Feels VERY Vikings.

Re: VERSAILLES...have not watched yet, but it's on the radar.

I was expecting Bjorn to the leave the cabin with a new bearskin fur coat/cloak. Yes, yes, I know untreat skins aren't that warm, but it would have looked damn cool.

So what was up with the ninja beserker? I was expecting an straight up, brutal fight. Not, hide and seek, followed up with, "I ambushed you with a bunch of fish hooks."

QT, as soon as I saw Aelle back I thought foreshadowing!

I'm still trying to figure out what they are going to do with Ivar in the long run.

[QuickTidal]

acesn8s, on 14 March 2016 - 06:32 PM, said:

QuickTidal, on 14 March 2016 - 05:44 PM, said:

I'm still throwing up blocks around stuff I know from the actual historical discussion of these people, as it could be future spoilers for certain characters arcs.

Bjorn's wilderness finding himself is easily my fave storyline this season. Loved every moment. Feels VERY Vikings.

Re: VERSAILLES...have not watched yet, but it's on the radar.

I was expecting Bjorn to the leave the cabin with a new bearskin fur coat/cloak. Yes, yes, I know untreat skins aren't that warm, but it would have looked damn cool.

So what was up with the ninja beserker? I was expecting an straight up, brutal fight. Not, hide and seek, followed up with, "I ambushed you with a bunch of fish hooks."

QT, as soon as I saw Aelle back I thought foreshadowing!

I'm still trying to figure out what they are going to do with Ivar in the long run.

Yeah, it was a weird fight. I think they were possibly trying to give the berkserker a "supernatural" vibe...just to show us that Bjorn was having none of it? But I'm unsure.

Considering that Ivar (along with Ubba) will, later in life, lead the largest viking horde to invade England since his father's day, probably just reestablishing him away from his father's more liberal leanings?

[Traveller]

I'd like to know the reasoning they took in choosing the interpretation of Ivars name to a literal level. (There are a number of reasons why he was known as 'boneless' - and being literally lame doesn't seem the most likely to me, as he was also known as a formidable fighter.)

I liked the previous episode better; those scenes with Athelstan were brilliant, I love the impact he's had on everyone.

Also cool just watching Rollo; on his way to becoming a founder of the French/English royalty through the establishment of Normandy.

This post has been edited by Traveller: 14 March 2016 - 07:28 PM

[QuickTidal]

Traveller, on 14 March 2016 - 07:25 PM, said:

I'd like to know the reasoning they took in choosing the interpretation of Ivars name to a literal level. (There are a number of reasons why he was known as 'boneless' - and being literally lame doesn't seem the most likely to me, as he was also known as a formidable fighter.)

Hmmmm, yeah I'd guess that Harbard (Odin) "taking away some of his pain" in Season 3 will play into his growing into a warrior. I've always believed that he was afflicted with something...but what it was and how much seems to be a matter of academic disagreement.

[acesn8s]

QuickTidal, on 14 March 2016 - 07:39 PM, said:

Traveller, on 14 March 2016 - 07:25 PM, said:

I'd like to know the reasoning they took in choosing the interpretation of Ivars name to a literal level. (There are a number of reasons why he was known as 'boneless' - and being literally lame doesn't seem the most likely to me, as he was also known as a formidable fighter.)

Hmmmm, yeah I'd guess that Harbard (Odin) "taking away some of his pain" in Season 3 will play into his growing into a warrior. I've always believed that he was afflicted with something...but what it was and how much seems to be a matter of academic disagreement.

Do you think the introduction of the Chinese slave might play a factor in getting Ivar "healed?" Ancient Chinese medicine, easily replicated with ingredients found in Norway.

She can't be there just to have a sex and drugs montage, especially with no Scandinavian metal playing in the background.

I really wish we'd get more info on Norse religious rites (which is a good reason to have a outsider in Kattegat).

[QuickTidal]

acesn8s, on 15 March 2016 - 12:53 PM, said:

QuickTidal, on 14 March 2016 - 07:39 PM, said:

Traveller, on 14 March 2016 - 07:25 PM, said:

I'd like to know the reasoning they took in choosing the interpretation of Ivars name to a literal level. (There are a number of reasons why he was known as 'boneless' - and being literally lame doesn't seem the most likely to me, as he was also known as a formidable fighter.)

Hmmmm, yeah I'd guess that Harbard (Odin) "taking away some of his pain" in Season 3 will play into his growing into a warrior. I've always believed that he was afflicted with something...but what it was and how much seems to be a matter of academic disagreement.

Do you think the introduction of the Chinese slave might play a factor in getting Ivar "healed?" Ancient Chinese medicine, easily replicated with ingredients found in Norway.

She can't be there just to have a sex and drugs montage, especially with no Scandinavian metal playing in the background.

I really wish we'd get more info on Norse religious rites (which is a good reason to have a outsider in Kattegat).

Well history tells us that

Spoiler

Bjorn eventually rules as king from Upshalla (the religious site from S1) so methinks we will see more Norse religious rites come down the pipe.

[paran falcon]

acesn8s, on 14 March 2016 - 06:32 PM, said:

QuickTidal, on 14 March 2016 - 05:44 PM, said:

I'm still throwing up blocks around stuff I know from the actual historical discussion of these people, as it could be future spoilers for certain characters arcs.

Bjorn's wilderness finding himself is easily my fave storyline this season. Loved every moment. Feels VERY Vikings.

Re: VERSAILLES...have not watched yet, but it's on the radar.

I was expecting Bjorn to the leave the cabin with a new bearskin fur coat/cloak. Yes, yes, I know untreat skins aren't that warm, but it would have looked damn cool.

I actually thought he WAS wearing the bearskin when he left the cabin because I commented to my wife that a decent amount of time would've had to pass to cure it properly for use, especially in those conditions. I could be wrong; I don't remember what he was wearing when he got there earlier. But I think most would've kept and worn a skin like that, considering what it took to get it.

[QuickTidal]

Briar King, on 15 March 2016 - 04:52 PM, said:

Wolf I think. It wasn't brown anyway

Yeah, he wasn't wearing bear skins for sure. Probably wolf.

[Traveller]

When she was all prettied up for her wedding I said, She doesn't look quite right when she's not covered in blood..

[Traveller]

Quite a lot of build up in this one. Looks like if they do actually make it to Paris, both sides are going to be more interested in betraying their own.

I really don't know why they let Horiks son live, it's inevitable he would want revenge at a later date.