Vikings
Season 3 Episode 7: “Paris”
Directed by Kelly Makin
Written and Created by Michael Hirst
Starring Travis Fimmel, Clive Standen, Katheryn Winnick, Alexander Ludwig, Alyssa Sutherland, Maude Hirst, Linus Roache, and Gustaf Skarsgard
The History Channel
Air Date: Thursday, April 2nd, 2015, 10:00pm

There are serious spoilers if you are not caught up, so I suggest you go catch up. Hurry!

I think by now everybody knows the most shocking death on Vikings to date – our beloved Athelstan (George Blagden), was murdered by Floki (Gustaf Skarsgard), in Vikings 3.6 “Born Again”, just as he found peace and unity with his Christian God. When he dared to suggest he leave Kattegat, Ragnar could not bear the thought of him leaving. He was super supportive of him finding his faith and told him he loved him, but could not leave him. Floki, ever the fundamentalist, also could not stand their closeness, especially as they huddled together planning the Paris raid. So he struck Athelstan down, who accepted the death with arms open wide.

“There is nothing that can console me now,” says Ragnar Lothbrok (Travis Fimmel). Us too, Ragnar. Us, too. He wears the cross of the only person he trusted in the world.

Judith (Jennie Jacques) was tortured, an ear removed, until she screamed the name of her unborn’s child’s father – Athelstan. King Ecbert (Linus Roache) declared the birth holy, his own love for Athelstan shining through. Bjorn (Alexander Ludwig) and Porunn’s (Gaia Weiss) daughter was also born. They named her Siggy.

Vikings 3.7 “Paris” review: Ragnar had scary eyes before. Now they are like ice, as he stares down Floki, pulling away only when Paris is in sight. He praises Floki, and puts him in command. Floki’s high-pitched giggle is all over this episode. He is riding high and proud. This doesn’t look good for him. But for now, he builds magnificent elaborate vessels for the attack.

The King of France is urged to leave and he almost does, but his brave daughter tells him to stay with their people. She’s going to be a player in this game, she is.

By the way – Shield walls are a very effective defense strategy.

Back in Wessex (who seem to be trying to win the crazy contest against Mercia), the family dynamic of self-flaggelating Aethulwulf (Moe Dunford) , whore-y Judith, looney tunes King Ecbert, and baby Aethelstan, I mean Alfred, are not having loving family dinners. Aethulwulf has to go see Queen Kwenthrith (Amy Bailey) because she slaughtered all the Wessex lords. Karma is a bitch, ain’t it Ecbert? She has a big reveal this episode.

An excellent episode, even without my priest.

After “Paris” there are three episodes left to the season. It has wrung out my emotions more so than any other season. I don’t know and am afraid of what they will do to me in the last few.

One last thing – Thank you Rollo for remaining shirtless for almost all of your screen time.

Vikings airs Thursday nights at 10pm on The History Channel.

Vikings: Season 3, Episode 7 – Preview

Don’t miss a brand new episode of Vikings on Thursday, April 2nd at 10/9c on HISTORY.