TV Review: Vikings 3.3 “Warrior’s Fate”

Vikings
Season 3 Episode 3: “Warrior’s Fate”
Directed by Jeff Woolnough
Written and Created by Michael Hirst
Starring Travis Fimmel, Clive Standen, Katheryn Winnick, Jessalyn Gilsig, George Blagden, and Gustaf Skarsgard
The History Channel
Air Date: Thursday, March 5, 2015, 10:00pm

Here’s what you missed last week on Vikings 3.2 “The Wanderer”: Spoiler alert! Come on! How scary (and handsome) was Ragnar Lothbrok (Travis Fimmel) when his longship parted the fog towards the bank, severed heads dangling, his evil grin shining in amusement? I would have gone running too! He reluctantly fought for the crown of Princess Crazy (Amy Bailey) with Floki (Gustaf Skarsgard) skewering her uncle in the first episode of the season, “Mercenary”. They partied in between with Rollo (Clive Standen) freaking out. Those had to be some potent mushrooms or something. That doesn’t help poor Torstein’s arm though.

A mysterious figure is the man of their dreams — “their” meaning Aslaug, Siggy, and Helga (Alyssa Sutherland, Jessalyn Gilsig, and Maude Hirst). Dreams… as in the same exact dreams. Weird. The dreams are kinda ominous, but the women feel excited about him. Everyone should always get excited about the arrival of Kevin Durand.

There’s some good news and bad news for our favorite shieldmaiden turned Earl, Lagertha (Kathryn Winnick). The good news is she’s helping to farm new lands and King Ecbert (Linus Roache) is totally enamoured with her. The bad news is that her completely adorable right hand at home, Kalf (Ben Robson), stole her spot and she doesn’t know it yet. And someone is crushing on Athelstan (George Blagden). Who can blame her?

Vikings 3.3 “Warrior’s Fate” review: This episode messed with my head. It’s one of those episodes — sexy, bloody, plus a little bit of wtf? thrown in.

Kevin Durand is here and amongst the dreamy women who agree to help him. He is a “wanderer” who tells stories. Siggy is taking eye-rolling to a new art. I love her. But he is quite the enigma — kinda magical. You’ll see.

The leaders are getting questioned…. Ragnar by Floki, and Ecbert from his men, about religion of course. Isn’t it always? Both will not hear of it. Ecbert is too busy with his double meanings with Lagertha. After he gifts her with a plow for the settlers, he says, “Plowing, fertilizing, sowing seed…it is the very basis of life.” Oh, this one has game, all right.

Torstein should be named Torstein the Brave.

There’s death, severe injury, a comical head butt, sex, temptation, sacrifice, kindly uncle advice — this episode has everything and is the best of the three (with the exception of the evil grin-heads dangling scene — see above) episodes so far. Only 7 episodes left! I hate that the seasons of this exceptional show are so short.