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History Channel - Vikings

#721
I thought this was going to be a "setup" show, preparing the audience for next week- wrong.

I won't get into specifics because I know we all watch on our own schedules, but I got something I wanted out of that episode (4.17) that I wanted badly.

I'm a total fanboy. There are so many things about it that are starting to bother me and I'll admit it's not on the same level as earlier seasons, but I still love it.
 
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#724
Dang, what a yawner for the first 45 minutes. We could have done without most of that crap, especially Bjorn barking about how he's in charge, and shown more of the battle with Aelle.
Those heavy guitar riffs, screaming, then Floki screaming got me all jazzed up for a great battle scene.
I was totally thrown off when it switched to seeing Aelle being dragged in the mud. Listening to Aelle trying to buy his freedom and Ivar's response was great. Floki and the comment about the carpenter, that was awesome.
That's what you get Aelle!!! Punk.

I'm nervous for next week. Ecbert and Wessex won't be a pushover.

I still wonder if Floki and Alfred will meet.

-Mike
 
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#725
MJ5150 said:
Dang, what a yawner for the first 45 minutes. We could have done without most of that crap, especially Bjorn barking about how he's in charge, and shown more of the battle with Aelle.
Those heavy guitar riffs, screaming, then Floki screaming got me all jazzed up for a great battle scene.
I was totally thrown off when it switched to seeing Aelle being dragged in the mud. Listening to Aelle trying to buy his freedom and Ivar's response was great. Floki and the comment about the carpenter, that was awesome.
That's what you get Aelle!!! Punk.

I'm nervous for next week. Ecbert and Wessex won't be a pushover.

I still wonder if Floki and Alfred will meet.

-Mike
Click to expand...

I have been wondering about Floki and Alfred. Of course we know Alfred grew up to be a force to respect as well.
 
#726
Also, I think Ecbert is acting like he is to prepare/motivate his son for what's coming. Aethelwulf made the comment how his father has always been the strong and firm one.
Time for Aethelwulf to take that role.

-Mike
 
#727
MJ5150 said:
I watched the last two episodes again.
I can't get into Ivar. He looks too emo or modern to me with that nice hair and pretty boy smile.
Lagertha is still the leading character in the opening credits, but I just can't buy into her as the same dominant leader she's been in the past.
Bjorn maybe, but I really wish Rollo was a bigger character.

What if Magnus really is Ragnar's son, and comes back to be the one who kills Lagertha? Perhaps Ragnar lied about sex with Kwenthrith to keep Magnus alive.
Any chance Floki meets Alfred?
Click to expand...


Agreed Mike, Ivar is a little over the top.
 
#728
MJ5150 said:
Dang, what a yawner for the first 45 minutes. We could have done without most of that crap, especially Bjorn barking about how he's in charge, and shown more of the battle with Aelle.
Those heavy guitar riffs, screaming, then Floki screaming got me all jazzed up for a great battle scene.
I was totally thrown off when it switched to seeing Aelle being dragged in the mud. Listening to Aelle trying to buy his freedom and Ivar's response was great. Floki and the comment about the carpenter, that was awesome.
That's what you get Aelle!!! Punk.

I'm nervous for next week. Ecbert and Wessex won't be a pushover.

I still wonder if Floki and Alfred will meet.

-Mike
Click to expand...

Yes - what were they thinking - didn't Hirst know that Vikings fans want to see Viking battles!? I was all ready for a bloody massacre, and poof - next scene ... lame. I wanted to see Ivar hacking up people from his chariot, and would have liked to have seen Aelle being hacked up from Bjorn's point of view as well.

I like when after Aethelwulf expressed his humiliation to Dad with what he put him through (with regards to Judith and his "bastard son"); told Aethelwulf the only reason he used him so badly was because he trusts him completely thus showing his confidence in him to fight the Great Army.

There better be a battle next week!
 
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#730
Immigrant said:
..... Bjorn's seeming distress while doing it.....
Click to expand...

I picked up on that too. Something is off with Bjorn.

As @TUEP mentioned, we're getting into soap opera territory with these love triangles. We have three now. Enough already.

I'd like to go back to battle scenes and character development.
King Harald, for example. Every scene he's in now, him and his brother are scheming something. Any element of surprise as to what happens next with these two is completely lost for viewers.

I think I'm overly cynical now though since I'm still mad/upset at how they killed Ragnar, and they won't leave it alone.

-Mike
 
#731
Immigrant said:
- that they left the battle scene out because it was an easy battle
- they used camera angles during the Blood Eagle to place more focus on Ivar's fascination, as well as Bjorn's seeming distress while doing it.
Click to expand...

That makes perfect sense, and I'm sure the average viewer probably didn't want to see it from Bjorn's point of view, but as a horror movie buff - I wouldn't have minded a bit.

Personally I think they could have stretched that episode out into two episodes, and included the battle, but you're probably right in that they left it out because it was such a massacre - or possibly budgeting issues. Still - I really wanted to see Ivar in action with his new ride.
 
#732
Yeah like what the heck happened to the battle scene?? Maybe they are saving it for Wessex?? That was WEIRD! All of a sudden we see them dragging Aella...eek but, did he ever die a painful and humiliating death. Ragnar is avenged there for sure!
 
#733
MJ5150 said:
I picked up on that too. Something is off with Bjorn.

As @TUEP mentioned, we're getting into soap opera territory with these love triangles. We have three now. Enough already.

I'd like to go back to battle scenes and character development.
King Harald, for example. Every scene he's in now, him and his brother are scheming something. Any element of surprise as to what happens next with these two is completely lost for viewers.

I think I'm overly cynical now though since I'm still mad/upset at how they killed Ragnar, and they won't leave it alone.

-Mike
Click to expand...
With you Mike totally. But did you hear Bjorn say that he knew they were plotting something? At least he is not oblivious to it, and I do hope we see a Ragnar style smack down when they try it. Remember when it would appear as though he didn’t know and then...whammo, he would be prepared out of no where. We wouldn’t know he was hip to the plot, but he would have had a secret plan to beat them at their own game.

Sigh..I miss those days
 
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#734
sagagirl said:
With you Mike totally. But did you hear Bjorn say that he knew they were plotting something? At least he is not oblivious to it, and I do hope we see a Ragnar style smack down when they try it. Remember when it would appear as though he didn’t know and then...whammo, he would be prepared out of no where. We wouldn’t know he was hip to the plot, but he would have had a secret plan to beat them at their own game.

Sigh..I miss those days
Click to expand...

Me too.
Ragnar played Jarl Borg and Horik masterfully. I just watched those old episodes again last week.

I missed that bit about Bjorn. I'll have to go back and watch again.
I wonder why Bjorn was spying on Floki and Ivar when Ivar got his chariot.
At times, I like Bjorn for his quiet and calm way. It reminds me of Ragnar. Then other times, not so much.
When he started yelling about how he'll be in charge, or when he skips the sacrifice to have sex with Astrid.
I found that whole sequence awkward. With Bjorn thrusting into Astrid in tune with Lagertha thrusting the knife info the guy.
The race after the wedding. What was that all about? Who cares?

-Mike
 
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#737
Well then. This is reminding of the old days with Vikings. Good stuff.
Did anyone think for one second that Ellisif wasn't hiding a knife in her clothes? That scene, to me at least, was obvious from the get go. I just wasn't sure how he'd survive. Harald seemed unsure at first too, but thankfully his brother knew better. That was a funny one liner Halfdan dropped as he wiped the blood from his sword and returned it to it's sheath.

Very cool how Bjorn listened to Ivar. I don't remember Ragnar doing that often. One of the times he did, the results were bad.

Lagertha raising her arms from her side in the showdown with Egil....anyone else remember Ragnar doing that? She's a copycat.

I'm starting to come around on Aethelwulf. I never liked him before, but I am beginning to.
Oh dang though when Alfred stood up and said he wanted to fight. I still think something is going to go down between him and Floki.

I really like what is coming of Floki. This crap with Helga and the child they kidnapped is boring me to tears. Let the girl run away.

Is Torvi dead?

I made the huge mistake of watching a 3-4 minute leak of next weeks episode. For anyone else tempted to do so.....DON'T!

-Mike
 
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#738
I am surprised
Torvi was killed, as she's a daughter of the producer, sister of the gal who plays Helga

Maybe the arms raising up like that was a theme among Vikings, LOL!

I also figured Ellisif had a knife, but how it ended still surprised me.

If I were leading that battle, Aethelwulf would have been dead the second he got beyond the shield wall, but then we couldn't continue the drama.
 
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#740
MJ5150 said:
Me too.
Ragnar played Jarl Borg and Horik masterfully. I just watched those old episodes again last week.

I missed that bit about Bjorn. I'll have to go back and watch again.
I wonder why Bjorn was spying on Floki and Ivar when Ivar got his chariot.
At times, I like Bjorn for his quiet and calm way. It reminds me of Ragnar. Then other times, not so much.
When he started yelling about how he'll be in charge, or when he skips the sacrifice to have sex with Astrid.
I found that whole sequence awkward. With Bjorn thrusting into Astrid in tune with Lagertha thrusting the knife info the guy.
The race after the wedding. What was that all about? Who cares?

-Mike
Click to expand...
I think it was during one of his speeches to his brothers, about them needing to stick together, it was around the time when they were heading to the Middle East through France. Well now, Lagertha knows they are plotting to over throw her, so when they get back, something is going to go down. I think she will secretly tell Bjorn, and we will see Harald stopped in his tracks during his next plot to take Kattegat. Although when they get back and find out his pal was cooked alive they may cut and run who knows.

Yeah that was a strange scene with Bjorn and Astrid. What the heck? Hitting on your mom’s girl friend??? And what about Torvi, is she dead??? Her eyes were blinking at that point, but it didn’t appear as though any one found her n time to save her. That sucks, I do love what she has become!
 
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