Necrotongue

Yeah, I'm just not enjoying Vikings as much as I used to. The fight for York started off strong, and the traps were a nice touch, but then came Ivar's solo, the overly dramatic scenes with Alfred in "mortal danger," the annoying Bishop Heahmund, and Floki's festering journey. So, there’s that.

The creators really threw me for a loop with this one... I was completely baffled. The only part that made any sense was Floki’s voyage to nowhere, but even that was annoying. I couldn’t quite grasp what was happening in Kattegat. If Lagertha slept with Harald just for fun, fine, but if there was supposed to be a deeper meaning, it went over my head. Harald's escape from Kattegat was surely dramatic, but since those scenes might have been too nerve-wracking, the creators spared me from seeing them. And they deserve two stars for that.

The episode was packed with funerals (two) and farewells (four). But the real highlight was the demonic and cunning Ivar, who I find relatable because I could match his speed. Harald’s involvement hints at Lagertha getting back into the action. I was satisfied with the action scenes, especially in York, but I really can't warm up to Bishop Heahmund. I don't think I'll ever get used to his character.

As a long-time fan of the island monarchy, I didn't expect anything good from this event, because the traditions got a heavy blow with the arrival of the new Duchess of Sussex. Unfortunately, I had no idea what a disaster it would be for me. Europe already reminds me of a Moroccan market, but a royal wedding where a typical American reverend goes into ecstasy and a gospel choir sings, that was something else. The footage I watched was incredibly confusing, the backdrop reminded me of England, and the cast evoked a wedding ceremony in Nigeria. Yes, it is disrespectful and not sunny of me, but I don't like today's Europe anymore, and I am at least glad that I agree with John Cleese, who said that he no longer feels like he's in England in the center of London. But back to the broadcast, the British production worked, but some Czech comments really got to me: "Most of the invited guests are wearing beautiful robes." What was that? If I were blind, I could think that the rest arrived in overalls :-) In conclusion, I fully agree with Big Bear's comment, he spoke from the heart.

The Dark Secret really goes to show that less is more. The creators have obviously fired their best ammunition in the two previous seasons. There were only two episodes that I found worthwhile. I was sick and tired of the rest.

I consider Season 4 the weakest one so far. I was quite glad when Ragnar finally said goodbye. It was excruciating to watch his character disintegrate. Plus, it awfully slowed down the pace of the story. After the writer got out of this major crisis, the story started working again, only to bring more disappointment in the final episode. Twice the number of episodes apparently wasn’t a good move.

What a letdown. I was so looking forward to the battle... The battle, which everything had been leading up to, ended up being surprisingly dull. The only noteworthy aspect was the Vikings' speed and endurance. I have no idea why Bjorn fought a bear in the third episode when he could have just outrun it. Ivar definitely had the strongest moment, but Egbert’s end was disappointing, and I didn’t quite get Heahmund.

It was great to see Lagertha get more screen time again, as I'm a huge fan of hers. The scene with Egil’s interrogation could even serve as inspiration for a summer BBQ. The hide-and-seek game at the end was entertaining, and it's clear what's in store for the final episode. Can't wait!

The plot was intriguing enough for me to consider giving it five stars. But then the creators delivered a sneaky blow — I, like many others, felt cheated out of a battle. The execution of the king did lift my spirits a bit, but still...

With each episode, I'm more surprised. The events in Kattegat were mostly dull in the fourth season, but now it's the center of the most interesting developments. Ivar is gradually becoming an extremely fascinating character, and I expect the upcoming episodes will revolve around him.