Sunday 21 February 2016

Vikings S04E01 "A Good Treason"

Synopsis

"Entry to Valhalla eludes Ragnar but as he lies in his sick bed in Kattegat events unfold beyond his control."

What I thought?
Bloody hell. This episode is a good advertisement for French weapon manufacturing as we get to see two bloodbaths by way of the French crossbow. After a rather awkward tempestuous marriage between the French princess and Rollo, which had it's amusing moments, Rollo deals with any hint of treachery in the French Viking camp by ambushing them all to obliteration; There's a man who loves power, eh? Similarly earlier in the episode, we saw Earl Kalf and Lagertha return to their homestead and deal with unrest by having the troubled party reveal their displeasure, before also gunning them down in a melee of arrows by way of the same French weapon of destruction. These two brutal scenes are graphically and beautifully filmed visually. Powerful displays of force.

Meanwhile, as Ragnor continues to recover, Bjorn arrests Floki for Athelstan's murder and has him chained and shamed in the middle of the town. Ragnor eventually wakes up from his slumber, much to very little excitement it seems from anyone. They all love to hate to love him, it seems. Very odd. Anyhow, Ragnor doesn't really decide what to do with Floki, but Bjorn has decided that after several very direct comments from his dad that he makes stupid decisions, to leave and see if he can fend for himself in the wilderness.

It's a beautifully visual display in the opening episode, with treachery not being given any time to fester this season, except for Ragnor's wife perhaps? This episode lays out a fresh story to develop, one that undoubtedly will take us back to France at some point.

Rating 7/10 (GOOD STUFF)

Two counts of treachery are dealt with in this episode but this one is a potential one to come later in the season.

What a way to go. Poor chap. Ambushed by arrows, stuck to a post by an arrow to the neck, and then you have your manhood removed by a lady.
What Ragnor will do with Floki is anyone's guess as he keeps his cards close to his rather sore chest.
A rather awkward wedding for Rollo ...
... is followed by an amusing goodnight segment.

Rollo ruthlessly deals with any treachery in the French Viking Camp by slaughtering them all!


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