Sandi Layne's Blog - Posts Tagged "interpretation"

Welcome back to our little kaffe-klatsch! Lissa Bryan , author of The End of All Things , and I are once again sharing our exclamations and concerns about the terrific mini-series VIKINGS on The History Channel.

We live-tweeted during the original airing of this show from 10 - 11 Eastern on Sunday night.  It was a lot of fun, even if I was struggling to tweet from my new-ish iPhone.


Episode IV: Trial
Lissa: The good people at the History Channel must have paid attention to my complaints last week. We got to see Lagertha in battle not just once, but twice. I thought we might see it a third time when Haraldson was mocking her claim to have killed big, strong Knut (I always want to spell that "Canut" and then picture him ordering the tides to retreat.) Haraldson must not know much about shield maidens.

Sandi:  Haraldson is not a wise man at all, at all. I keep saying that, I know, but maybe he'll hear me one of these days and retire with a pension. ;-)

Lissa: Somehow, I don't think a happy retirement with grandchildren playing at his knee is in the cards for old Jarl Haraldson.

Sandi: No, REALLY?

Lissa: As shocking a plot twist as that may seem. :D

Sandi: Lagertha's slaying of Knut was necessary, but I was worried about it from the moment it happened, since it had to be the one man that the earl had sent with them to play watchdog. Naturally.

Lissa: The scene struck me a little odd because... well ... rape is part of the package of attacking and pillaging a village. Surely, she's encountered this situation before. Her own brother-in-law is known to toss a girl over a table when the mood takes him. I doubt highly that Ragnar's band has a standing no-raping-the-villagers policy to appease Lagertha's oddly modern sensibilities.

Sandi: I concur. I am wondering if she's been on a raid before. Because who, then, would safeguard the kids? Perhaps it was her first big raiding party?

And, Ragnar had advised her not to go off without "the others" yet she did - she went off alone, essentially. That was foolish of her. Still, she got to show her chops and she did a very final job of making sure Knut never assaulted another woman! Lagertha doesn't shy from bloodshed.

Lissa: No, she certainly doesn't. As soon as he called her a "bitch," I declared, "Dead man walking!"

Sandi: Oh yeah. That was a bad, bad move. On top of everything else.

Lissa: Ragnar made me laugh out loud a couple of times. He has this delicious, wicked glee in his eyes when he's gone a-raiding. "Don't resist and we'll not hurt you. God bless!" Almost like Floki with the communion wine... he likes messing with people's heads just a wee bit.

Sandi: Floki...okay, he annoys me. But I feel that he's truly not quite right and I'm wondering how "wrong" he'll show himself to be before this is over.

Lissa: In those days, wasn't madness seen as divinely inspired? Floki is what my grandmother would have called "tetched in the head" but he's a brilliant shipbuilder. Not much of a warrior... He was relegated to the back ranks of the fight, like Lagertha (which only makes sense in her case because upper-body strength is necessary to make an impenetrable wall.)

TL did raise an eyebrow at the beach battle... "They're not protecting their flanks, and the English aren't attacking that weak spot."

Sandi: Yes. And I was surprised that Lagertha called for the shield wall. Her voice doesn't have the strength in it that Ragnar's did, and I think the wall was less formidable than it could have been. Okay, I might be projecting...

Lissa: I must note, I heard the Willhelm Scream as the Saxon soldiers retreated. It have me a giggle.

(My elder son noted that, too, when he popped in.)

Sandi: And Ragnar messed with everyone. Waiting for Sunday - he has insider info and he didn't tell anyone. Waiting for the church bells, knowing what it meant. He had been grilling Athelstan a fair amount, it was clear. The "God bless" and the smile - yes, I laughed. Because it was an obvious show of his upper hand in the situation.

Lissa: He seems to have learned his English lessons well.

And his mischievousness seems to be a trait inherited by Bjørn  If I was Athelstan  I'd sleep with one eye open, lest the little monster make good on his declaration about sacrificing him to Thor!

Sandi: That was funny. Bjørn looked so serious, but he was just being mouthy. And I loved that he gave his sister some ale. I am thinking most kids drank ale at that time and Athelstan was being persnickety, but I could be wrong. lol

Lissa: Yes, kids drank ale. Small beer was one of the favored drinks for children and servants, but ale was an acceptable beverage. It would have been more accurate if Athelstan had said something like, "No, don't drink the ale, it's too expensive. Save that for your parents and drink the small beer." It could have been a chance to show off differences in status again, that Athelstan was relegated to drinking the "children's beer" because he's a slave.

Sandi: Yes. This. Exactly.

Lissa: The trip to Kattegat turned out to be all right... I worried about that, that something would happen to them along the way, or they'd be put in danger once they arrived by Haraldson. Poor Athelstan  Bjørn threatening to sacrifice him and Ragertha threatening to pull out his lungs... The guy just can't win!

Sandi: I worried, too, that something would happen - but to the farm! But no, all was well on the homestead. Just not with the people. But Athelstan chose well and kept the manling of the house happy and nothing bad happened to the kids under his watch. Whew.

Lissa: This episode had some sobering moments of grief, as well. When they buried their fallen warriors, and then, later, when Erik was slain. I'd like to see them do a funeral service for him in the next episode.

Sandi: Oh! My jaw dropped when Erik was killed. I was SO saddened. I know it's because I fangirled over him initially, but also, he was a sturdy character considering the dearth of lines he was allotted, here. He was a catalyst and adviser. Which was why he was murdered, of course.

Lissa: I was pleased to see the failure of Haraldson's clumsy gambit to exploit any jealous feelings Rollo might have toward his brother. A friend on Facebook mentioned Siggy's weird behavior. Her "Sexy Lady" demeanor seems now to be her way of trying to support her husband's regime. They trotted their daughter out and when Rollo didn't jump at the bait, she hurried over and gave him the eyes. It has to be with Haraldson's approval; as paranoid as he is, she wouldn't dare look up from the floor if he wasn't in on the plan, which makes the whole scene in the early episodes with his men more understandable. She's using the only tool she has at her disposal to try to support him.

Sandi: Thing is - we saw what happened last time Haraldson "offered" his wife up to one of his retainers. Dead Northman, you know? So, this rather worried me regarding Rollo. And he didn't immediately jump up and drool over the daughter, either. He's playing his cards close to his hauberk.

Lissa: I'm surprised you didn't hear me scream when Ragnar arrested. Heraldson threw down all of his cards and lost, badly, in front of everyone at the Thing. And Ragnar's twinkling eyes, "Who has the key?" surely didn't help matters. Now, it's open war between the two of them.

Sandi: I have to give props to Rollo, here. I was gratified and a little saddened, too, by his willingness to vouch for his brother despite the enticements suggested by the earl. He did it for Lagertha, he said, and I believe him. Which makes me think (and her, too, I'm guessing) that he cares for her more than he cares for his treasure chest. Unrequited feelings always make me a little sad. Even if he's a guy who'll consider betraying his brother. And he might have, too, if Lagertha hadn't put herself in the middle that way.

Lissa: He did the right thing, even if he did it for the wrong reasons. I worried for a moment that his feelings for Lagertha would lead him to think this was a convenient way to get his brother out of the way. "Say, Jarl, thanks for offering your daughter, but I'd really rather have my brother's widow...."

Sandi: I wonder what possessed Ragnar to try to claim Knut's kill for himself. What was he thinking?

Lissa: Love, I think. He'd probably say it was for a practical reason, such as claiming she would be better at taking care of the children if he was convicted, but I think his motive was protecting the woman he loves, plain and simple.

Sandi: It was clearly a lie and I would imagine that most of the men with him knew it, too.

Lissa: And yet, they let him do it... They must have felt his desire to protect his wife was honorable, honorable to make up for lying in the sight of the gods at the trial.

Sandi: One can only imagine that this was considered worthy of the gods' notice, ja?

Lagertha was basically okay with this arrangement to begin with, as well, which also startled me. I wonder if she would have ripped Ragnar a new one in private if she had had the opportunity?

Lissa: I'm sure she would have. She likely didn't want to call her husband a liar in front of the whole Thing, though she lost her ability to remain silent when it started looking bad for Ragnar.

The previews scared me! I found myself chanting, "They have to follow the saga ... they have to follow the saga!"

Sandi: Oh, the previews worry me, too! I'll be on edge until I see the next episode!

= = =

Thank you for reading! Hope you're enjoying hearing our thoughts even a fraction as much as we're enjoying watching the show! 

Yes! I'm back with Lissa Bryan after watching the latest harrowing episode of VIKINGS on The History Channel last night.

We are still very enthusiastic fans!


Episode V: Raid
Sandi: Last night's episode made me nervous.

Lissa: Me, too! Every episode of this show has kept me on the edge of my seat.

Speaking of nerves, Lagertha was as cool as a cucumber during the attack. I probably would have been worse than the kids, whimpering and clinging to her skirt as she raised that shield and said, "Stay behind me." She didn't know what was out there, having only heard screams and caught glimpses of the fighting, but she was as brave as a lioness, ready to defend her cubs. 

Sandi: She rocked. Absolutely

Lissa: I loved when she handed Althestan the axe and he sort of just paused, like, "What the heck am I supposed to do with this?"

Sandi: I know, right?  I'm sure he's split wood with one, but yeah. He looked out of his league. Still, he did well helping Lagertha get the kids away.

Lissa: So, the gauntlet has been thrown down! Ragnar and Haraldson will meet on the field of mortal combat. It's a pretty safe bet it's Ragnar who wins that particular fight.

Sandi: He might indeed, but at what cost?  What will the fallout be?  Will there be retribution or celebration? (And what, oh WHAT, will happen to the earl's right-hand-thug?)

Lissa: I hope that they'd respect he won fair-and-square. Surely, there is some honor left in them... Well, maybe not in his goon, but in the others?

Floki showed his true colors and now it's clear why Ragnar cherished him as a friend. I actually got a little choked up when Lagertha said they were eating up Floki's winter supplies and he simply smiled and said the gods would provide. Crazy he may be, but he's a loyal friend.

Sandi:  I concur. I was all mushy about that. He's "tetched"  perhaps, as you said before, but he seems like a good guy. And I wonder if he'll build a new boat...or if he'll even have to?

Lissa: As her dowry, doesn't the boat technically belong to Thyri now?

Sandi: Ah! Well, her or her hubs, depending on the agreement, I'm guessing.

Lissa: I pictured your herbalist self nodding as they were collecting garlic and sage to treat Ragnar's wounds.

Sandi: LOL I was adding chickweed and cabbage leaves and making a poultice with thyme.  Yeah... Charis would have also stitched up that leg wound.

Lissa:  Cauterizing the wound wasn't the best thing to do, was it? It's useful to stop someone from bleeding out, but as a disinfectant procedure, I thought it was lacking... And it makes the wound worse than it was!

Sandi: Yeah... That was a blinking deep wound.

Lissa: What surprised me the most was how deeply attached Athelstan has gotten to Ragnar. He dove right in, without question, when Ragnar didn't surface. (Where'd he learn to swim? Unanswered question lingering in my mind....) 

Sandi: Athelstan may have learned to swim at the monastery, since they were near the sea. It's possible. He was brought there as a lad - maybe one of the  monks thought it would be best for him not to die if he wandered off.

Lissa: I'm skeptical. Swimming wasn't a skill most people had. Even sailors didn't usually know how to swim. It may just be an oversight on the producer's part, but to me, it hints our priest may have a more interesting background than he's so far admitted to.

Sandi: The question about whether or not he was a slave seemed very bold to me. Came way out of the clear sky.  He must have felt very strong in his position as more-than to have broached that when Ragnar has been unsettled.

Lissa: Technically a slave he may be, but I think he was saying he would prefer to be Ragnar's friend. It was, to me, like an unspoken, "If I'm free now, I'm still staying right where I am." He seems to feel like he's one of the family now.

Sandi: That could be interesting. And if Athelstan is freed, technically, he'll have other duties... Like will he have to swear allegiance to the local lord?  What about taxes?

Lissa: I was also amused when they were exchanging tales of how the world was created. These fantastic, violence and gore-laden tales from the Vikings, and then they turn to ask Athelstan how the Christians say the world was created and he just sort of sighed... I guess the story in Genesis really can't top the entertainment value of the world being crafted from bones.

Sandi: It isn't quite the same and certainly wouldn't have had the kids all wide-eyed, yeah.  I think the little introductions of the Viking beliefs that the writers have included in this story have been nicely handled. Nothing overdone, but incorporated as a natural part of the life, there.

Lissa: What did you think of the wedding? I wish they had shown the exchange of swords/rings There was no bedding ceremony, which I thought was a loss. The bride wore the married woman's veil, which she shouldn't have technically donned until the next day, but I decided to give that one a pass.

Sandi: Oh. Ick. The Wedding.  Cannot say that I was impressed with the groom. At. All. Musta been a rich old guy (did you see his teeth? ICK.).  Thyri handled the situation with all the aplomb I could have expected, poor lass.

Lissa: She certainly did. She behaved like a well-mannered maiden of the day, a striking contrast between her mother's outburst and the daughter's composure.

Sandi: The wedding itself seemed really well decorated for a snowy winter day.

Lissa: I noticed that. "Been saving those flowers, have you?" It was rather late in the year to be staging a wedding. You didn't want to have one in the winter for fear your guests could be caught in storms traveling to it.

Sandi: Must have been a very well-insulated hall, since most of the women seemed lightly dressed for the time of year.

Lissa: I gave a pass to that one. All of those dancing bodies in a relatively small space would warm it up  pretty well.

Sandi: I would have liked to have seen the ceremony, too.  It is a significant historical thing and I wonder why it didn't make it to the screen.

For Thyri to be wearing the married-woman head-covering... Yeah. I just felt sorry for her by then. I hoped there'd be a way out of it for her.  However! The image of her in her night dress with her still-be-coated spouse snoring and sprawled on the bed led me to believe that perhaps she got a bit of a reprieve regarding her marital initiations, anyway.

Lissa: Which may have interesting consequences... Her marriage isn't valid since it hasn't been consummated.

Siggy's outrage seemed a little odd in a time of arranged marriages. Of course, the Vikings hoped the couple would be happy in their union, but the groom being young and handsome wasn't a primary consideration. I can understand her being upset she wasn't even consulted until the union was pretty much a fait accompli, but still, it's a pretty good marriage for the jarl's daughter. The story Haraldson told about his son's bodies and the ritual disrespect they were shown explains a lot about his motivations.

Sandi: I thought Siggy's response was uncalled for.  The society in which she lives (and the man to whom she has bound herself) dictate that arranged marriages, even to a man not considered to be comely (she had clearly approved of Rollo, I think) would have been well-regarded if the husband was rich and/or powerful.  It was a good alliance and you'd think Siggy of the Mercenary Heart would have got that. (This might be a characterization flaw on behalf of the writers, however.)

Lissa: Old and unattractive he may be, but he didn't seem like a BAD guy. If it was indicate he was cruel or intended to mistreat Thyri, it would have been more understandable. He seemed sincere when he told Thyri he would be a good husband to her  and despite the lewd joking when they left the wedding, he seemed to treat her with respect.

Sandi: The story of Haraldson's sons was just awful. He's been carrying that with him, letting it fester. I wonder if his rule would have been different in a good way if they had lived? Or at least died in an honorable battle?

Lissa: Yes, I think that was a moment which completely changed him and the fate of his people. As he told Siggy, he just doesn't care about anything, so his rash decisions make more sense now.

What the heck is Rollo up to? Did he really hope to join Haraldson's men? As soon as he kissed Siggy at the secret meeting, I said, "Dead man walking!" Then again, there's a strong possibility she'll be a widow soon.

Sandi: I'm with you! What was THAT all about? Siggy would have liked him to be her son-in-law (and then he kissed her and I thought... NO NO NO. MOM. Call her MOM, lol.) But then...OW. What did Haraldson DO to Rollo? Blood flowed freely. I am thinking he didn't something horrible with his mouth and I'm kind of scared to see what it was.

Lissa: I think when we see Rollo next, he'll be wearing a Joker's smile.

Sandi: Ew. But yeah.

Okay. Question time. Torture as a true Viking practice that was not connected to a criminal penalty.  Now, I know it had a place in some of the indigenous American populations, as a way to prove bravery. But I haven't heard of it being used in Viking societies.  Leaving someone out for exposure, maybe, but not what we saw with Haraldson & Co. Have you come across anything like that?

Lissa: It's in keeping with Haraldson's madness. he doesn't behave according to his society's rules any longer. He has no honor, and he's convinced Rollo knows more than he's saying. A man without honor doesn't see it in others. That's why I'm worried Floki might be taken captive when he goes to deliver the message.

Sandi: Ahhh! I hope not! That would not be fair. BUT it would be in keeping.

So as I wait for next Sunday's episode, I am left pondering about the challenge Ragnar is making. He's doing this before he's physically ready and after the conditioning Athelstan had remarked upon would have left him due to his recuperation time.  Can he defeat Haraldson in a weakened state?  If he does, will one of the thugs try to finish him off? If he doesn't, what will happen to him and his family?

Lissa: I don't think he has any other choice. His small band can't fight Haraldson's forces. The only way he can ensure his family's survival is to beat Haraldson one-on-one. I wouldn't put it past Haraldson to tell his men, "If I fall, shoot him down with arrows," but I'm hoping his men will find some shred of decency left in them. Or Lagertha will be waiting in the wings with an axe.

Sandi: Mwahaha! Athelstan needs to learn to fight with one.

===
End note: I noticed, here, that though this episode is titled RAID, Lissa and I really didn't talk about the raid that began the episode, wounding Ragnar and leaving his family without a home, livestock, or possessions. If you have anything you'd like to add, leave a comment below! Thanks!  See you next week...