Floki (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
gods_that_haunt_me) wrote2015-04-09 11:16 pm
gods_that_haunt_me) wrote2015-04-09 11:16 pm
Entry tags:
episode discussion - S3E8: To the Gates!
I had meant to do this for last week's episode because I had SO MANY THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS about that one, but now I think we can take a better look at the events of last week's and tie them into the results of this week's. That being said, I need so much emotional support you guys, omfg.
So basically I'm going to ramble on about Floki since he's officially my pup (I'm like :D and then I'm like DDDDD:), but everyone feel free to share your thoughts about your own or any other characters or whatever!
Okay. Let me first say something about Ragnar's face in these opening scenes. His face is the realest face, I love it so much. He hides just as much as he reveals. That lip-nibble -- uncertainty? a feeling of dread? He turns his head and then his eyes are like ice. Cold and determined. Travis Fimmel, you have the best face, no lie.
In last week's episode, he set Floki up to fail. Or to die. Whichever came first. I was sure Floki was going to die tonight, but no, he needs to suffer first -- and thus he did, physically and mentally. He showed his cowardice by hiding in the tower, and Ragnar saw that. So if the fire wasn't going to get him, Ragnar eventually will. (And here I allude to the end scene, where Ragnar describes himself as a patient man.)
As for the siege, those floating towers seemed like a great idea at the time! They could have done with more cover, like the vikings should've climbed through them instead of over them so at least they wouldn't get picked off so easily. But the boiling oil, man. Holy shit.
What was with Rollo and the French princess? Also, go you, French princess, with your shouty rallying speech.
Now, FLOKI. Goddamn. Okay, so when he's in the burning tower, he calls on Athelstan and blames him for this epic fail. He says it's his curse. That Ragnar trusted him too much, and now look what it's cost them. Floki nearly slits his own throat, but something, some other voice tells him not to. And then he says he'll die by fire. But he doesn't.
And the next thing we see he's up to his chin in still water. Is he going to drown himself? Helga comes over and basically she's had enough of him. She tells him not everything is about him, but he insists that everyone else is who he's always been thinking of. That everything he does (for the gods) is for the benefit of other people.
AND THEN HE CRIES WHEN SHE LEAVES HIM.
Where are your gods now, Floki?
Ragnar and his 'conversation' with Athelstan. I admit, I made some ugly noises throughout the episode (half-wailing, half-screeching, half-Lucille Ball-esque bawling), but then Ragnar goes to talk to Athelstan and I'm back to weeping. At least until he talks about Floki's fate. And I am actually very much looking forward to this.
Oh! Before I forget, did anyone else think that the siege felt a lot like the Battle of Helm's Deep in The Two Towers? Right down to the viking/orc who had to run the rope out to the horses/get the explosives to the drain? So many parallels! Even the floating towers and ladders! I was waiting for Gandalf to show up.
ANYWAY.
YOUR THOUGHTS, THROW THEM AT ME.
eta: Rewatching the episode right now. I'm reminded that when Lagertha's group breaks through the gates and there's nobody there, I totally yelled out, "It's a trap!"
So basically I'm going to ramble on about Floki since he's officially my pup (I'm like :D and then I'm like DDDDD:), but everyone feel free to share your thoughts about your own or any other characters or whatever!
Okay. Let me first say something about Ragnar's face in these opening scenes. His face is the realest face, I love it so much. He hides just as much as he reveals. That lip-nibble -- uncertainty? a feeling of dread? He turns his head and then his eyes are like ice. Cold and determined. Travis Fimmel, you have the best face, no lie.
In last week's episode, he set Floki up to fail. Or to die. Whichever came first. I was sure Floki was going to die tonight, but no, he needs to suffer first -- and thus he did, physically and mentally. He showed his cowardice by hiding in the tower, and Ragnar saw that. So if the fire wasn't going to get him, Ragnar eventually will. (And here I allude to the end scene, where Ragnar describes himself as a patient man.)
As for the siege, those floating towers seemed like a great idea at the time! They could have done with more cover, like the vikings should've climbed through them instead of over them so at least they wouldn't get picked off so easily. But the boiling oil, man. Holy shit.
What was with Rollo and the French princess? Also, go you, French princess, with your shouty rallying speech.
Now, FLOKI. Goddamn. Okay, so when he's in the burning tower, he calls on Athelstan and blames him for this epic fail. He says it's his curse. That Ragnar trusted him too much, and now look what it's cost them. Floki nearly slits his own throat, but something, some other voice tells him not to. And then he says he'll die by fire. But he doesn't.
And the next thing we see he's up to his chin in still water. Is he going to drown himself? Helga comes over and basically she's had enough of him. She tells him not everything is about him, but he insists that everyone else is who he's always been thinking of. That everything he does (for the gods) is for the benefit of other people.
AND THEN HE CRIES WHEN SHE LEAVES HIM.
Where are your gods now, Floki?
Ragnar and his 'conversation' with Athelstan. I admit, I made some ugly noises throughout the episode (half-wailing, half-screeching, half-Lucille Ball-esque bawling), but then Ragnar goes to talk to Athelstan and I'm back to weeping. At least until he talks about Floki's fate. And I am actually very much looking forward to this.
Oh! Before I forget, did anyone else think that the siege felt a lot like the Battle of Helm's Deep in The Two Towers? Right down to the viking/orc who had to run the rope out to the horses/get the explosives to the drain? So many parallels! Even the floating towers and ladders! I was waiting for Gandalf to show up.
ANYWAY.
YOUR THOUGHTS, THROW THEM AT ME.
eta: Rewatching the episode right now. I'm reminded that when Lagertha's group breaks through the gates and there's nobody there, I totally yelled out, "It's a trap!"
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For a while it looked like the "bear" and the "princess" was Bjorn (which means bear) and Horik's widow (his son is a weaselly twerp, btw). Now it could totally be Rollo and the French princess. Was that a look of horrified admiration she had as she watched him fight? OOH LA LA.
"Do you think I went too far with Floki?" When Ragnar asked that, it was like hearing his darkest, ugliest secret, just to hear him admit that. And the thing is, I don't think Athelstan would have wanted Ragnar to exact revenge on his behalf. He pretty much forgave Floki even as he got the axe.
And yes...the Vikings are not indestructible. It was a massacre. Makes me wonder exactly how many warriors are left over and if they're enough to conquer the city (but this is TV, so of course there'll be).
Lagertha. Lady. What are you dooooing. Okay, so Kalf saved her life in the Corridor of Doom. But he also took her land. I think she may just be playing up to him to get what she wants. Just that I can't stand Kalf, ugh.
And oh yeah! We did have a Lagertha. But I had checked the cast list when it was last functioning, and the name wasn't on there anymore. Huh.
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And yeah, I think she is setting him up. Or at least I hope she is and the writers aren't just making sure sexy times are still part of the show. :\
ETA: Also it looks like I need to look into historical berserkers. I suspected I did with that opening battle in Brothers War but it's a definite now.
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Ohh, I get it now. I always wondered why Rollo and other warriors never wore armor yet nothing ever happened to them. (Well. Except for that one guy next to him wearing the wolf pelt, who got an arrow in the shoulder and laughed, and then got an arrow in the head and then died.)
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Well, scared. He is going to die eventually, but it will have to be in England, as that will be the reason for his sons to bring the Great Heathen Army against Alfred the Great (who in this is Athelstan's son, so all the augh here -- my Little Lady is right in calling this a soap opera).
We will have to do something with Ragnar's monologue / prayer to Athelstan at the end. It absolutely begs for an OOM. Because Kate and I already agreed that Athelstan will not want revenge, and Ragnar will let Floki die honourably if he has to take revenge after all...
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