Vikings
Season 4 Episode 2: “Kill The Queen”
Created by Michael Hirst
Starring Travis Fimmel, Clive Standen, Katheryn Winnick, Alexander Ludwig, Gustaf Skarsgard, Ben Robson, Maude Hirst, Morgane Polanski, Lothaire Bluteau
The History Channel
Air Date: Thursday, February 25th, 2015, 10:00pm

Last week on Vikings, Ragnar (Travis Fimmel) finally awoke to a Kattegat full of Parisian riches, and Floki (Gustaf Skarsgard) tied to a stump in the cold for the murder of Athelstan. Kalf (Ben Robson) named he and Lagertha (Katheryn Winnick) co-rulers, but Einar (and some others) are pissed. Kalf makes an example of him, and Lagertha castrates him. Rollo and Princess Gisla (Clive Standen and Morgane Polanski) marry, and he is a gentleman on the wedding night. He is less than a gentleman when he brings an army to slaughter all the vikings camped outside of Paris. Bjorn (Alexander Ludwig) leaves for the wilderness to prove to his father that he can survive. The Seer (John Kavanagh) tells Aslaug (Alyssa Sutherland) that a woman will one day rule Kattegat.

Spoilers below.

Vikings 4.2 “Kill The Queen” review: Bjorn is struggling through the snow in a massive blizzard. Okay, manhood proved. He spies a cabin, and there are scenes throughout the episode of ice fishing and shivering.

Floki has escaped as expected by Ragnar and us. So he is running across field, rocks, and streams for most of the episode. The landscape shots are really beautiful during Floki’s run and Bjorn’s blizzard.

King Ecbert (Linus Roache) and Aethelwulf (Moe Dunford) announce that Queen Kwenthrith (Amy Bailey) and her son Magnus (Lothbrok?) have been overthrown and imprisoned in Mercia, and that they have every intention of stamping out the noble rebellion first and saving the queen maybe.

Rgnar visists Helga (Maude Hirst), insisting that he does not blame her, and gives her food.

The scouts to Mercia were returned in pieces, all except one who claims to have found an ally. Aethelwulf rides off to face the danger, while Judith (Jennie Jacques) and Ecbert have a veiled conversation about her freedom. I do love this wicked family. He asks her, “What would give you the most pleasure or satisfaction?” Judith wants to be a painter, “like Aethelstan.” He says he will find her a teacher. She doesn’t believe him. He comes through with a new monk to teach her, despite all the gender bias. Ecbert seems to genuinely like women sometimes.

Rollo mimes a plan to protect Paris to Count Odo. It’s a good plan. The Count is happy that Princess Gisla is miserable with Rollo.

Then there’s the scene where Rollo cuts his hair, dresses fancy, and bows, and Gisla laughs in his face. I almost feel bad for him, except I’m still mad at him for the betrayal of his people.

The little kids find Floki as expected by Ragnar and us. You can tell that Helga’s feelings are tearing Ragnar up. He shakes it off, and promises torture. Aslaug thinks Floki was right. Ragnar is not happy.”This is not about Christians or faith, it’s about loyalty and trust.” Smack! Smack! “Something you cannot understand.” It’s about time someone smacked Aslaug.

The Counts injures his mistress for sport, but she tolerates it so she can report back to someone who wants Count Odo to fall, and cause strife in the kingdom.

Aethelwulf and crew arrive at Mercia, and shouts of “Kill The Queen” are rampant. Then proceeds a true Vikings battle scene without any Vikings. Lots of blood and death, and different battle fronts – the best being Kwenthrith fighting her captors. She is a glory when she is being vicious.

Ragnar comes upon Helga digging. Her daughter is dead. He takes over and she takes his arm for comfort at the burial. I am enjoying this fledgling relationship.

This episode was great. Vikings usually takes its time with the subtle relationships and slow build, and you can feel it even more so with the extended season. It’s not slowing down any enjoyment though, just giving us more time to savor it.

Anybody else digging the new fiery, almost Walking-dead-esque intro?

Vikings airs Thursdqy nights at 10pm ET on The History Channel.

Image Gallery

Videos

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