229 réponses à ce sujet

[Steelcan]

I'm still shocked they killed him

[slimgrin]

What in the bloody hell was Hirst thinking?? Athelstan was the link between viewers and the Vikings. And then he goes and has Ragnar kill one of his own in cold blood. Everytime Ragnar does something that extreme it's harder to empathize with him. It makes no sense either since they'll all find out about the settlement anyway, and then his people will wonder why he lied.

 

edit - Judith's ear cutting scene was horrific, I can't believe they let that on TV.

[Beerfish]

What in the bloody hell was Hirst thinking?? Athelstan was the link between viewers and the Vikings. And then he goes and has Ragnar kill one of his own in cold blood. Everytime Ragnar does something that extreme it's harder to empathize with him. It makes no sense either since they'll all find out about the settlement anyway, and then his people will wonder why he lied.

I think that is the point, they don't want you to totally empathize with him.  They want to keep you guessing.  They will find out about the settlement but not right away,  He has bigger plans.  Perhaps he wants to do Paris before going off and getting revenge.  I agree about the Athelstan link, either hirst is going a bit too much game of thrones mode, i have to kill off characters or it could be as simple as the actor leaving the show for reasons of his own.

[Steelcan]

I think that is the point, they don't want you to totally empathize with him.  They want to keep you guessing.  They will find out about the settlement but not right away,  He has bigger plans.  Perhaps he wants to do Paris before going off and getting revenge.  I agree about the Athelstan link, either hirst is going a bit too much game of thrones mode, i have to kill off characters or it could be as simple as the actor leaving the show for reasons of his own.

I heard a rumor last season he was looking for an out

[Dobby]

I just saw the new episode a few hours ago.

 

 

Why??????? Athelstan!! Why!?!               

 

It won't be the same without him. 

[Addai]

What in the bloody hell was Hirst thinking?? Athelstan was the link between viewers and the Vikings. And then he goes and has Ragnar kill one of his own in cold blood. Everytime Ragnar does something that extreme it's harder to empathize with him. It makes no sense either since they'll all find out about the settlement anyway, and then his people will wonder why he lied.

 

edit - Judith's ear cutting scene was horrific, I can't believe they let that on TV.

I'll miss Athelstan, but that was coming for a long time, especially this season. It sets him up for martyrdom status with Ecbert. Athelstan turning out to be babydaddy for Alfred the Great was a cool twist. At this point, if viewers don't directly identify with the Vikings, then they won't ever.

 

The manpain in that burial scene with Ragnar. "We had so much more to talk about."

 

Did anyone else think Athelstan was angling for martyrdom? The whole bit about throwing away his arm ring.

 

As always, it's the visuals that get me in this series- Floki in the forest with those statues, and the people chanting as Floki is slipping through Kattegat.

[slimgrin]

I'll miss Athelstan, but that was coming for a long time, especially this season. It sets him up for martyrdom status with Ecbert. Athelstan turning out to be babydaddy for Alfred the Great was a cool twist. At this point, if viewers don't directly identify with the Vikings, then they won't ever.

 

The manpain in that burial scene with Ragnar. "We had so much more to talk about."

 

Did anyone else think Athelstan was angling for martyrdom? The whole bit about throwing away his arm ring.

 

As always, it's the visuals that get me in this series- Floki in the forest with those statues, and the people chanting as Floki is slipping through Kattegat.

 

 

His abrupt commitment to Christianity again was weird, as was Floki's vision. I think the show is at its weakest when it deals with mysticism. How the hell did Floki find that arm ring in the bottom of the Fjord anyway? It all works because the acting and visuals, but this was not a strong episode from a writing standpoint. Also, are we to think Ragnar has converted to Christianity as well? The end scene implicates that. 

[Addai]

His abrupt commitment to Christianity again was weird, as was Floki's vision. I think the show is at its weakest when it deals with mysticism. How the hell did Floki find that arm ring in the bottom of the Fjord anyway? It all works because the acting and visuals, but this was not a strong episode from a writing standpoint. Also, are we to think Ragnar has converted to Christianity as well? The end scene implicates that. 

The "born again" thing was a bit abrupt, yes. I think it would've been better if someone in Kattegat had converted to Christianity and that set Floki off.

 

Who's the wanderer? I'd been thinking it would turn out to be the same guy that was boning Aslaug.

[Steelcan]

His abrupt commitment to Christianity again was weird, as was Floki's vision. I think the show is at its weakest when it deals with mysticism. How the hell did Floki find that arm ring in the bottom of the Fjord anyway? It all works because the acting and visuals, but this was not a strong episode from a writing standpoint. Also, are we to think Ragnar has converted to Christianity as well? The end scene implicates that. 

Floki saw him in the fjord so he saw where it landed

[Steelcan]

I hope we see more of Season 1 and 2 Floki back, I haven't been a fan of his brooding and angriness, I'd like to see the eccentric ship builder back, not the holy warrior.

 

That said, his scene slipping through Kattegat with the music and 'transformations' was pretty stellar

[Han Shot First]

His abrupt commitment to Christianity again was weird, as was Floki's vision. I think the show is at its weakest when it deals with mysticism. How the hell did Floki find that arm ring in the bottom of the Fjord anyway? It all works because the acting and visuals, but this was not a strong episode from a writing standpoint. Also, are we to think Ragnar has converted to Christianity as well? The end scene implicates that. 

 

I don't know if putting on the crucifix counts as a conversion, but I think that's where the writers are taking him even if he isn't quite there yet. I think part of his eulogy for Althestan hints at it as well, with Ragnar lamenting that he'll never get to see Althestan again because they worship different gods.

[Gorthaur the Cruel]

Athelstan was my favorite character, it's sad to see him go. Ragnar taking him up and burying him was a touching scene. I bet he was killed off because of a schedule conflict with his new show, Versailles.

 

I really dislike how Hirst is screwing around with history. It's been gradual but seems to get worse every season. The Norsemen knowing nothing about England prior to Ragnar, Horik dying early, Athelstan's crucifixion, and now Alfred the Great is an illegitimate bastard? Come on, and that's not even to mention the magical dreams and Odin stopping by Kattegat. This show just get's more ridiculous by the season.

 

edit - Judith's ear cutting scene was horrific, I can't believe they let that on TV.

I honestly couldn't even watch that scene. I'm glad they stopped at the ear and didn't take off the nose.

[Steelcan]

I don't think Ragnar is heading towards conversion, the bit with the necklace said more 'honoring a friend' rather than 'embracing Christ', he may be insatiably curious about religion, but I don't think he'll actually renounce the Æsir.

Rollo on the other hand....

[Das Tentakel]

Athelstan was my favorite character, it's sad to see him go. Ragnar taking him up and burying him was a touching scene. I bet he was killed off because of a schedule conflict with his new show, Versailles.

 

I really dislike how Hirst is screwing around with history. It's been gradual but seems to get worse every season. The Norsemen knowing nothing about England prior to Ragnar, Horik dying early, Athelstan's crucifixion, and now Alfred the Great is an illegitimate bastard? Come on, and that's not even to mention the magical dreams and Odin stopping by Kattegat. This show just get's more ridiculous by the season.

 

I honestly couldn't even watch that scene. I'm glad they stopped at the ear and didn't take off the nose.

 

That was pretty much to be expected though. That's what he does, he's in the entertainment business and his series are to be seen more as serialised Hollywoodesque histo-porn than anything else. Not bad TV at all (I kinda liked his Tudors, bad history that it was), but not history.

 

I did talk a bit about this series with some historical reenactor friends of mine, but it basically came down to taking a look at it, chuckling and then shrugging our shoulders.

 

But hey! They'll start filming Röde Orm next year in Sweden; an earlier Swedish medieval production, Arn Tempelriddaren was pretty good, so I have some hopes for Röde Orm.

 

https://vikingmovies...play-red-snake/

[I SOLD MY SOUL TO BIOWARE]

Awwww wuuuuut.

 

He was one of the best characters in the show, certainly the most well-developed. I'd say only Lagertha could approach him in that. 

[Addai]

I don't think Ragnar is heading towards conversion, the bit with the necklace said more 'honoring a friend' rather than 'embracing Christ', he may be insatiably curious about religion, but I don't think he'll actually renounce the Æsir.

Rollo on the other hand....

Yeah I think Ragnar shaving his head and putting on the cross is him saying "I'm Athelstan now and I will have my revenge." One way or another.

I hope we see more of Season 1 and 2 Floki back, I haven't been a fan of his brooding and angriness, I'd like to see the eccentric ship builder back, not the holy warrior.

That said, his scene slipping through Kattegat with the music and 'transformations' was pretty stellar

Agreed on both counts.

[TheRealJayDee]

Killing off Siggi was a surprising move for me, but I had no problems with it. But Athelstan...?!  He was my favourite character aside from Lagertha (and the old, non-brooding Floki)...  

[Bison]

Killing off Siggi was a surprising move for me, but I had no problems with it. But Athelstan...?!  He was my favourite character aside from Lagertha (and the old, non-brooding Floki)...  

They had to give him some room for another show he's doing the lead for I think. Oh and the writer for the show said that they couldn't really go on with the conflicted between religions thing any longer, so while he originally planned to have it done amidst Paris, he decided to do it in Kattegat to make it a bit more powerful. 

 

Still, I think it was really well done overall. 

 

Do want that crazy, happy Floki back though, maybe now that Athelstan's dead he might cheer up.

[Laamaa]

I don't think they're gonna "cheer him up" again. If only, I think he's goddamn annoying now.

 

As for Athelstan, I think it was pretty well done. I also think it was a good decisiion to kill him off regardless of the actor doing another show or not. I mean, shows like these need deaths every now and then to keep it interesting, also gives opportunity for new characters to rise.

[Bison]

I don't think they're gonna "cheer him up" again. If only, I think he's goddamn annoying now.

 

As for Athelstan, I think it was pretty well done. I also think it was a good decisiion to kill him off regardless of the actor doing another show or not. I mean, shows like these need deaths every now and then to keep it interesting, also gives opportunity for new characters to rise.

It might, it might not, it makes a sort of sense for him to be less cunty now though, the gods are probably quite happy in his mind, and if the series' showed us anything, he's only happy when they are. 

 

Yeah, although it's hard to see how Ragnar will rise any further, but it might be that since his conscience in the form of Athelstan is now dead, he might be a colder and less trusting person. 

[Billy-the-Squid]

I don't like Floki anymore, he sulks a lot and he killed Athelstan. 

 

Although I liked the twist that he's the father of Alfred the Great, dominant ruler of England. Also, that the King of France is effectively powerless given historically he had little authority beyond the Isle du Paris.

[Br3admax]

I didn't know there was historically a king of France during this time period. Also I think it's the Ile de France.

 

Show's taken some liberties, but most of them are ignorable. Alfred the Great suddenly being forgotten to be a bastard after that kind of trial isn't one of them for me.  

[Bison]

I really don't like Ecbert or Athelwulf, for different reasons each, Ecbert is a lying ****, and Athelwulf is an angry **** with daddy issues. 

[Steelcan]

I really don't like Ecbert or Athelwulf, for different reasons each, Ecbert is a lying ****, and Athelwulf is an angry **** with daddy issues. 

Ecbert is clearly the best king on the show

[Br3admax]

And Aethelwulf does what must be done because his father can't. Don't see what's wrong with them, and I'd be angry too if my wife fucked with succession for a ONS with a priest.