Derek Alan Siddoway's Blog, page 3

Vikings Season 4 Episode 11 (The Outsiders) recap

Vikings Season 4 Episode 11: The Outsiders

Watch here

Official synopsis: Ragnar has returned to Kattegat where he devises a plan to return to Wessex to right past wrongs.

Recap

We’re right back with the second half of season four and it couldn’t have come fast enough! When we last left Ragnar, he was preparing to square off with his sons upon his return to Kattegat. And who wanted to be king? It looked like Ubbe, for a moment, but in the end he embraces his long-lost father. There’s clearly some conflicting emotions between Ragnar and his sons. On one hand, they’re begrudgingly glad he’s back, but on the other, they know he’s going to turn their world upside down. “Calamaties too many to number,” as the Seer says.

I’m really enjoying the interactions between Ragnar’s sons and am looking forward to seeing how these relationships are tested throughout the season. Ivar is such a dick — but you get the feeling he’s the one who inherited the most of Ragnar’s moxy, maybe even more so than Bjorn.

At first, Ivar is painted as a complete tool, but there’s an interesting flip as we see him crawling around in the following scenes, catching his brothers with the slave girl he clearly has his eye on. It’s a humbling experience, no doubt, and in the following scene when the sons go training, we see more of Ivar’s strained relationship with his brothers. He’s missing out on being a young Vikings hooligan — chasing girls and fishing.

Just when you think they’re having a go at him though, they set up this romantic getaway for him and the girl. What ensues is an excellent portrait of Ivar’s character at the moment: he’s hard yes, but brittle. He’s still coming to terms with his setbacks and yet to reach his full potential. Margrethe’s pep hits home, even though it’s the same thing his brothers have been trying to tell him. Here’s hoping she’s got an ongoing role in future episodes, I enjoyed her spirit.

Meanwhile, Ragnar is up to his old tricks, stirring the shit with everyone. He seems to have accepted he’s not the big cheese he used to be, and it doesn’t seem to be an act. Even if he’s got things back together after his wandering, he’s lost some of his bravado and recognizes the irony in the world passing him by. Ragnar knows he’s no longer invincible and he’s come to appreciate the bonds of family and friendship. At the same time, these bonds are all but played out. As Bjorn points out, it’s always been about him…or was. He’ll have to come to terms with his shortcomings and mistakes, the ghosts of his past coming back to haunt him. His final scene with Floki really hit home — all the boat-builder every really wanted.

“No regrets. And yet, every regret.”

As much as Floki and Ragnar’s exchange tugged at the heartstrings Ragnar and Lagethera’s was equally heartbreaking. Here, Ragnar is completely vulnerable and bares his emotions. “I wish I had never left our farm,” he says. The pair agree that there should be no regrets, but Lagertha says it best: “And yet, every regret.” The pair of them wouldn’t really have been content living out their lives as farmers but at the same time, fame and power cost them their relationship. The pain comes from thinking of the middle ground that could have been.

You get the feeling that Ivar and Ragnar are in similar places mentally, but headed in opposite directions — kindred spirits at crossroads in their lives. They are the outsiders. There’s some awesome symbology at the end of the episode as Ragnar returns to the tree where it all began to end his life. Just when he’s about to check out, Odin’s raven cuts him down. As Ragnar lies on the ground, defeated, Ivar climbs into the throne. The best shot of the episode features the pair staring at one another, man to man. It’s not over yet.

The post Vikings Season 4 Episode 11 (The Outsiders) recap appeared first on Author Derek Alan Siddoway.

Magnificent 7: The classic western returns

As many of you know (read: anyone I’ve talked to anywhere in the last six months), I’ve been anticipating Magnificent 7 since I first heard about the remake. As the release date grew closer, it looked better and better with every promo clip and interview I devoured.

Good news: Magnificent 7 lives up to the hype. It’s just the right mix of beloved tropes and fresh characters. This cast knocked it out of the park.

Without spoiling anything, the premise is as follows: there’s this town (Rose Creek) that’s been taken over by bad guy Bartholomew Bogue. The peaceful settlement is held under the sway of his cronies as he poisons the water, steals their land and starts a mining operation — pretty much everything a bad guy in western is supposed to do.

The opening scene lays out the tension the honest townfolk feel under Bogue’s cruel hand. You’re on edge. You don’t know what he’s going to do or who his next victim will be. You hate the guy.

Next comes our fearless heroine, Emma Cullen (played by Haley Bennett). As the trailer shows, she goes out and recruits law man Sam Chisolm (Denzel Washington himself) to come save her town. It’s not clear exactly why he takes the job at first — is it money, is it his sense of justice or is there something deeper at play? There’s this great exchange between Emma and Chisolm that goes something like this:

“This is everything, all we have,” Emma says, handing him the bag of their savings.

“I’ve never been offered everything for a job before,” he replies.

In the following scenes, we’re introduced to the rest of the crew. Magnificent 7 is an incredibly fast-paced film, but even so, we get just enough back story on (most of) the seven. It’s the old adage about essay-writing: long enough to cover the subject (in most cases) and short enough to keep things interesting (and moving). Batman vs. Superman and Suicide Squad could’ve taken some serious notes here.

Perhaps Magnificent 7’s strongest point is the fact that the group of so-called saviors are far from spotless. Even Emma admits that she’ll “settle for revenge” after realizing righteousness is off the table. I was glad to see Bennett’s character hold her own and not get lost in the limelight of all guys.

Sam Chisolm is a stone-cold killer who just happens to have the law on his side. Josh Faraday (Chris Pratt) is sarcastic gambler who can’t help but pick a fight wherever he goes (he’s borderline psychotic at times). Vasquex (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo) is an outlaw who just genuinely enjoys shooting people. Goodnight Robicheaux (played to perfection by Ethan Hawke) is a confederate sharpshooter with some serious PTSD, living by and with the ghosts of his bloody past. He and his knife-throwing sidekick Billy Rocks (Byung-hun Lee) makes for an interesting duo. Throughout the movie, Billy proves to be Goodnight’s — albeit somewhat crooked — crutch and their relationship shines as much as all of Lee’s fancy knife work and stunts.

This leaves Jack Horne (Vicent D’Onofrio), a crazy mountain man who’s found God, and Red Harvest (Martin Sensmeier), a “lone wolf” Comanche warrior.

In my opinion, Jack and especially Red Harvest got the short end of the stick when it came to character depth. You get a little taste of how tragic Jack’s past is when he’s first introduced but he loses a bit of this depth throughout the course of the film. It’s still a spectacular performance by D’Onfrio, though.

Red Harvest really gets shafted. The extent of his background amounts to “hey, I’m called Red Harvest. My people say I’m meant to walk a different path. Let’s eat raw meat together.” The end.

Sigh.

He gets a fairer shake than Adam Beach did as Slipknot in Suicide Squad, but that’s not saying much. An entire line of origin stories for the Seven would be fantastic and Red Harvest deserves first dibs.

Once they’re together, the chemistry of the cast really shines. There’s just the right amount of one-liners to lighten the mood. At the same time, you’re still not sure these guys won’t shoot each other to pieces given half a chance.

My only complaint came from some of the characters’ motivations. In varying degrees, it seems they’re all after: redemption, money or “a worthy death.” While this works for some of the Seven, it comes off a little thin with others.

All in all, Magnificent 7 is well worth a trip to the theater. The action is epic (and believable), the cast is stellar across the board and the time-honored story is far from tired. It’s everything you want in a western: gunfights, impossible odds, and larger-than-life heroes.

The post Magnificent 7: The classic western returns appeared first on Author Derek Alan Siddoway.

Hell on Wheels series finale: Durant’s final speech

Just finished the last episode of Hell on Wheels. Rather than go on and on, I’ll leave things to the writers of the show, who penned an amazing closing speech that Colm Meaney delivered on point. Enjoy.

I am not interested in the record of history. I am interested in reality. Not the one I saw bandied in the halls of Congress but the one I witnessed out west.

Five years ago, the American people, torn apart by war, cried out into the darkness, and turned a hopeful ear to the void for an answer. Americans needed a dream, and I gave them one: a Transcontinental Railroad that would unite this nation. Dreams don’t come pretty. They don’t come clean and they sure as hell don’t come simple. They come true.

Truth delivered by lies is no less true and dreams made reality by falsehood are no less real. Seventeen hundred and seventy-six miles of iron track — that is what I delivered. Track up on which thousands of wheels will now revolve, carrying on their axles the wealth of half the world, drawn by the iron horse, darkening the landscape with its smoky breath, announcing to the world with its piercing scream that we are a great people who can accomplish great things.

Yet the American people, driven by their cowardly representatives in Washington are in need of a villain so here I sit, elected by you to play my part — the part of the scapegoat. The patsy sent into the wilderness so that men sitting in this room can lay their sins upon my back and claim they themselves are clean men, enjoying immunity while enriching themselves on the backs of those who sacrificed everything to make manifest America’s destiny.

Blood as been spilled, lives have been lost, men have been ruined. I saw it and I survived. I will not return from the wild having made America’s dream reality only to have six bureaucrats in starched collars judge the manner in which I realized that dream. Put me on trial. Lock me in prison. Erase me from the record. For history is written in pencil and the truth is carved in steel across this nation. And one truth above all others is this: Without me and men like me your glorious railroad could never have been built.

— Thomas Durant, Hell on Wheels series finale

 

The post Hell on Wheels series finale: Durant’s final speech appeared first on Author Derek Alan Siddoway.

Warcraft movie review: Action and CGI carry a sub-par storyline

I realize I’m a little late to the game (or movie?) with this, but wanted to throw my two cents in anyway. Warcraft was one of my first introductions to fantasy as a whole. When my cousins moved next door, I’d go over and watched them play a game on their fancy Windows 98 computer. That game was Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness.

Aww yiss. This is the good stuff.

The little I was allowed to play (after all, I was like 8 and Warcraft was — gasp — rated T for Teen) completely changed my imaginative playtime. Warcraft II’s influence was one of the first steps I can recall taking away from western themes. I couldn’t get enough: I was a gryphon rider for the Alliance, boldly leading my armies to victory on screen or in the front yard. I ran around hacking orcs (trees) with my mighty blade (wooden stake with a hilt nailed on).

Those were the days. Before I had any idea what a Hobbit was, I could tell you all about orcs.

As time passed, I drifted off to other games, however and didn’t pick up Warcraft III until seven to eight years after it released. My cousin (the same who introduced me to Warcraft II) became an absolute World of Warcraft addict and I played a little, but never had enough time (or money for game cards) to get into the game enough for it to be fun. My experience started and ending at the Burning Crusade.

(As a side note, I find I’m too casual of a gamer to really enjoy MMORPGs — all I really care about is getting to the next storyline cut scenes as fast as possilbe).

Long story short: Warcraft was my dark portal into the realm of fantasy, but I soon moved on to different pastures within the genre. I knew I’d probably see Warcraft, but it wasn’t very high on my priority list. Here’s what I thought:

SPOILER ALERT BEYOND THIS POINT! GAAAHHH LOOK OUT!

Storyline

When Warcraft: Orcs and Humans first came out in 94, I doubt Blizzard ever dreamed Warcraft would become what it has. I’m pretty sure they weren’t planning on an epic franchise, which makes the early game lore a little jumbled (they makes stories to fit games, not games to fit stories, after all). We won’t even get into the whole Warlords of Draenor time loop. That being said I think the director and writers did the best with what they had to work with. The storyline stays semi-close to the original game. Coming from someone who had to look up numerous Wikis to bring myself up to speed on the lore after I saw the movie, the plot was still a little predictable, even if you knew nothing about the world.

Even so, I still found the Warcraft movie entertaining. Durotan’s character arc was the best of the bunch by far. The biggest flaws were with the subplots, especially the forced and completely unbelievable romance between Lothar and Garona. Way too cheesy, contrived and just…weird the way it was set up. Who stars necking someone after their son just died? Is that supposed to help?

Speaking of which, Lothar’s son was another weak subplot that didn’t really need to be there in the first place. I was perplexed that Lothar would nearly burn his arm off trying to rescue his kid only to stand there emotionless when he’s killed. He. Just. Stands. There. No in shock or anything. Doesn’t scream, doesn’t pound on the lightning wall. Just chills like he’s watching it on the big screen with the rest of us. His line at the end after killing Blackhand was also awful. For one, they didn’t even make that a fight and 2. We all know it’s “for his son.” You don’t need to tell us.

Otherwise, my only other real beef was when Garona killed Llane. Really, that’s the best we get? I can tell you exactly what happened because I’ve been there as a writer. Everything was fine and dandy and then all of a sudden someone said (near the end of drafting the script) WAIT! WE FORGOT GARONA HAS TO KILL THE KING! Rather than doing more substantial rewriting, we get the weird, slow-mo conversation between the two and then Garona stabs Llane with her letter opener. Meh. I get where you’re going but still.

CGI and Special Effects

The Warcraft movie was beautiful for the most part. The blend between human and orc worked better than I’d expected and there were only a couple of shots where things looked kinda weird. (A couple moves during fights and the one where Lothar confronts the wolf in the forest stands out — should’ve taken a design page out of the Chronicles of Narnia movies there.)

I heard a few people complaining about how Garona was a stereotypical female fantasy creature: The male is huge and ripped and badass and the female is just a slender, scantily dressed human woman with green skin and barely noticeable fangs. That’s often the case but not in this film. Garona looks like that because she IS half human, as we learn. Did the people complaining not see the other female orcs? Draka, Durotan’s wife, looked exactly as a female orc should. C’mon, pull this card somewhere else.

The dwarves weren’t quite as flawless as the orcs and glowing eyes on the elves and the mages looked like a Snapchat filter, but that’s just me being nit-picky.

Acting

For the most part, it was just a couple steps above Dungeon Siege: In the Name of the King (sorry, Jason Statham). Luckily the awesome Warcraft action was enough to get over this. I’m a huge Travis Fimmel fan from History’s Vikings (half the reason I went to Warcraft was to see my boy) but think he’s better in that show than he was here. Most of that I attribute to the writing.He did the best with what he had to work with and I hope Warcraft doesn’t doom his movie career.

Props to the orcs actors (especially Toby Kebbell, who played Durotan). I really enjoyed his character I’m sure it’s not as easy as we all think to act on a green screen with little plastic balls stuck to everything you’re wearing or holding.

IN SUMMARY

The good: true to Warcraft roots, solid CGI, great magic and killer action scenes. Without being overly bloody and a gore-fest, you get to see orcs smash heads, throw horses and generally take names in every way possible which is awesome. The final battle featuring Lothar’s gryphon taking names was fantasy name-taking at its finest.

The bad: Sub plots in general sucked. Romance plot was bleh and Lothar and his son was cheesy and cliche. There was some pretty rough dialog, too.

I went more in depth with my problems with the film, but overall it wasn’t bad. It just wasn’t great. Maybe a little overly ambitious in scope? The Warcraft movie is far from the best fantasy film you’ll ever see but it’s far from the worst, too.

Although the effects would have suffered a bit, this is a movie that probably would’ve done better ion the US had it been released 5-8 years ago, at the height of WOW mania. The Warcraft movie was good enough that I’ll give the next one a shot (if it gets a US release, that is) and if I know Blizzard, they’ll up their game (no pun intended) for the next one. A solid film for when you want to kick back and enjoy some good old fashioned fantasy action.

The post Warcraft movie review: Action and CGI carry a sub-par storyline appeared first on Author Derek Alan Siddoway.

Vikings Season 4 Episode 10 (The Last Ship) Recap

Vikings Season 4 Episode 10: The Last Ship

Watch here

Official Synopsis: A ferocious battle between the Vikings and the French eventually comes down to Ragnar against Rollo and the outcome seals the fates of the two brothers.

Recap

YOWSER!

This week had it all and my mind is still spinning. Things kicked off with a good old fashioned Vikings whooping on the Franks with Ragnar tottering around like death warmed over. If it had been anyone else leading the Franks, they would have turned tail and ran. Instead, Rollo put some good old fashion Vikings iron in their hearts and they charged forth again, ready to make in an actual fight for the second round.

Although it was a short break, the scene of the Emperor’s Red Dinner (as I’ve decided to call it) was fantastic character development. I, for one, definitely underestimated Charles but it appears Rollo’s put some Norse ferocity in him as well. He’s definitely not the same guy who cowered when the Vikings sacked his city the first time. There’s plenty of bark and bit to go around, as Roland and Therese found out. Damn. I love how this show turns on a dime who no warning.

Meanwhile, the matchup we’ve all been waiting for comes to head as Ragnar and Rollo meat in the deathmatch of the ages. There’s so much epicness going on, the Seer can’t do anything but roar — probably in agony because he can’t witness it firsthand.

As Ragnar and Rollo make the reads like Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazer, we see our beloved Vikings bleed…a lot. Floki escapes death, Halfdan gets shot in the heart and Lagertha’s Valkyrish battle-luck finally runs out. Her fate after the battle is uncertain, but I’m pretty sure I caught a glimpse of her in the teaser for the second half of the season.

I know I’ve talked about it all season, but once again, I love the clashing religious themes of the weeping Virgin Mary statue and the Vikings arm ring coming together. It’s a credit to the writers that they can present both religions and their followers in a way that doesn’t hit you over the head but thematically holds up the backbone of the series.

Rollo and Ragnar pummel each other to pieces (I’m going to call it a draw), but the Vikings retreat and take their king with him, broken in face and in spirit. Rollo, seemingly still harboring a small sliver of love for his roots, let’s them go. He looks like he’s fought enough for one day, anyway. I think that same small part that showed the Vikings mercy also wished Rollo could go with him.

That’s soon, erased, however, when what’t left of Rollo returns to Paris for the hero’s welcome of the century. The cost of has taken it’s toll on his body as he stumbles to the finish line, but never before have we seen Rollo’s spirit soar to these heights. Against all odds, he’s won the hearts of the Gisla, Paris, and the Emperor himself — love and loyalty he’s been looking for his entire life. No matter how much we all hate him for betraying the Vikings, you can’t help but root for Rollo, too in that moment. He’s found his destiny.

Back on the longboats, things aren’t so cheery. Everything his hacked to pieces and the remnants of the Vikings seem shattered to the core. But wait…there’s still half an episode left!

I wasn’t expecting a ten-year leap forward but it was handled perfectly. We open up with Bjorn doing a little fishing, sporting an uber long hair braid. Next thing we know, the beans are spilled. Bjorn and Aslaug learn all about Ragnar’s dirty little secrets and shenanigans in England.

Bjorn appears shaken but Aslaug seems pretty smug about everything. I couldn’t help but notice she’s sitting in a fancy new hall. Times must be good. I’m interested to know how her and Aslaug have apparently thrived and shared the power in Ragnar’s absence.

Next, we meet Ivar and the rest of Ragnar’s brood, half-grown and as vicious a group of young Vikings as you’ll ever find. I love the conversations between them and found it surprising Ivar stood up for Ragnar’s actions the most. Bjorn seems to content to play the role of observer as the others sort out their father’s legacy and their conflicted emotions about him.

Amongst the new faces, an old favorite returns. Floki’s still building boats for the Lothbrok’s, now bigger and better ones Bjorn intends to sail to the mysterious Mediterranean in. He’s showing his age, but is still up for adventure into the unknown. After everything that’s happened between Floki and Ragnar’s family, it warms the heart to see them bosom pals again. Of course Floki is going with him.

There’s a lot of exposition going on in the second half, but it hits you so fast that you don’t even realize it. Just when something seems to be answered, we’re presented with a hundred different question. But then:

RAGNAR RETURNS

Of course he does. When our old friend steps into the outskirts of town, we see for the first time just how massive Kattegat has become and how much the Vikings are thriving. The streets are packed with wealthy townsfolks and dozens of foreign merchants hawk their wares. The Vikings have certainly reaped the rewards of Ragnar’s deeds, even if they’ve become disenchanted about their former king while he was on sabbatical.

The showdown between the king and his sons (Bjorn and Aslaug notably absent) was classic Ragnar. I’ll note again that Ragnar and Ivar’s relationship seems to be the strongest — not what I would have expected but hey. The message is clear: Ragnar doesn’t car how tough his sons think they are or how long he’s been gone. He’s going to call the shots for as long as he wants.

Man, that was a hell of a return speech. You can’t help but love the raw emotion that Vikings evokes in you when you watch it. My blood was boiling. THAT is awesome TV, people.

WHO WANTS TO BE KING? Nobody, while Ragnar still draws breath.

Alright, everyone, I want to hear your predictions for the second half of this season! Post them in the comments and we’ll discuss.

The post Vikings Season 4 Episode 10 (The Last Ship) Recap appeared first on Author Derek Alan Siddoway.

Vikings Season 4 Episode 9 (Death all ’round) recap

Vikings Season 4 Episode 9: Death All ‘Round

Watch here

Official Synopsis: The labors of the Vikings eventually bear fruit as, within sight of Paris, they re-launch their boats but this time along with some interesting structures that Floki has made. Aethelwulf and Alfred eventually arrive in Rome and honors are conferred by Pope Leo but relations are not so cordial in Wessex between King Ecbert and the disgruntled King Aelle.

Recap

Just when we start covering the violent world we’re watching, the Harald and Halfdan open things up with one of the most brutals raids to date. The trek through the forest is providing to be a daunting one, especially on one of our favorite Vikings.

In one of the most heartbreaking scenes of the Vikings series, Lagertha miscarries her child and Ragnar and Bjorn rush to comfort her. There’s a brief moment when you see Lagertha and Ragnar connect again, but reality sinks in and she tells him to leave. Nevertheless, they stay by her side as she stares off into the distance, seemingly coming to a bitter realization.

Floki experiences another vision of Aslaug, making me think he’s connect to her, not Harbard as I first thought. I’m interested to see how this connection unfolds and how the queen will be affected by her fallout with the promiscuous bard.

Alfred reaches Rome and Ecbert is anointed king of both Wessex and Mercia in another parralel sequence of scenes. As his grandfather is crowned, Alfred becomes a consul of Rome. Back in England, King Aelle seems less than thrilled about the proceedings and his short end of the stick. Ecbert wastes no time throwing around his newfound power and putting his former ally in place squarely beneath him. It’s bitter pill Aelle won’t swallow without a war, I don’t think.

Back at the Frankish court, the Emperor formally announces Gisla’s pregnancy and promotes Roland to count. Playing right into Roland and Therese’s hand, he requests the brother for the sister to be the Emperor’s mistress. Gisla knows what’s up though and voices her concerns to Rollo. The Duke has his own worries though, when the princess cuts him off in the bed, leaving him wistfully wishing for at least some part of northern culture. But it turns out the Emperor is batting for the other team and Roland is the true object of his desire. Little does he know what’s waiting just around the river bend.

After weeks of toil, the Vikings finally reach the Seine, on the right side of Rollo’s towers. With the battle so close at hand, Erlendur is desperate for his revenge, but Torvid does her best to (literally) shield Bjorn from her former husband. He finally cracks and, in a rotten twist, orders her to kill Bjorn. That’s the last mistake he’ll ever make. After a brief dramatic moment, she turns around and drops him with a bolt to the heart. There’s a sense of closure as Bjorn places Horik’s ring on the end of the shaft and nods up at his father, who looks on death’s door. In an awesome twist of fate, Torvid is shown carrying the crossbow into battle as the Vikings prepare to attack the city.

Speaking of heart-wrenching scenes, Kattegat is sure turning into a hell hole, isn’t it? Sigurd finds Siggi’s body in the creek but when he goes to tell his mother, she’s so busy arguing with Ivar and moping that it barely registers. Those two are quite the pair — the seeds of Aslaug’s coddling have sprouted into a rotten little monster. Sigurd (and myself for that matter) has had more than he can fill of their crap.

Ragnar has reached the last of his drug and is miserable trying to kick it, reserving all his strength for the titanic clash with Rollo. Bjorn does his best to help him out and voices a need for his father’s guile to attack Paris. Ragnar, however, has just one goal in mind: to finish off Rollo once and for all. “I have to kill you. I must kill you,” he repeats as they sail toward Paris. Things are about to get real messy.

The post Vikings Season 4 Episode 9 (Death all ’round) recap appeared first on Author Derek Alan Siddoway.

Vikings Season 3 Episode 9 (Death all ’round) recap

Vikings Season 4 Episode 9: Death All ‘Round

Watch here

Official Synopsis: The labors of the Vikings eventually bear fruit as, within sight of Paris, they re-launch their boats but this time along with some interesting structures that Floki has made. Aethelwulf and Alfred eventually arrive in Rome and honors are conferred by Pope Leo but relations are not so cordial in Wessex between King Ecbert and the disgruntled King Aelle.

Recap

Just when we start covering the violent world we’re watching, the Harald and Halfdan open things up with one of the most brutals raids to date. The trek through the forest is providing to be a daunting one, especially on one of our favorite Vikings.

In one of the most heartbreaking scenes of the Vikings series, Lagertha miscarries her child and Ragnar and Bjorn rush to comfort her. There’s a brief moment when you see Lagertha and Ragnar connect again, but reality sinks in and she tells him to leave. Nevertheless, they stay by her side as she stares off into the distance, seemingly coming to a bitter realization.

Floki experiences another vision of Aslaug, making me think he’s connect to her, not Harbard as I first thought. I’m interested to see how this connection unfolds and how the queen will be affected by her fallout with the promiscuous bard.

Alfred reaches Rome and Ecbert is anointed king of both Wessex and Mercia in another parralel sequence of scenes. As his grandfather is crowned, Alfred becomes a consul of Rome. Back in England, King Aelle seems less than thrilled about the proceedings and his short end of the stick. Ecbert wastes no time throwing around his newfound power and putting his former ally in place squarely beneath him. It’s bitter pill Aelle won’t swallow without a war, I don’t think.

Back at the Frankish court, the Emperor formally announces Gisla’s pregnancy and promotes Roland to count. Playing right into Roland and Therese’s hand, he requests the brother for the sister to be the Emperor’s mistress. Gisla knows what’s up though and voices her concerns to Rollo. The Duke has his own worries though, when the princess cuts him off in the bed, leaving him wistfully wishing for at least some part of northern culture. But it turns out the Emperor is batting for the other team and Roland is the true object of his desire. Little does he know what’s waiting just around the river bend.

After weeks of toil, the Vikings finally reach the Seine, on the right side of Rollo’s towers. With the battle so close at hand, Erlendur is desperate for his revenge, but Torvid does her best to (literally) shield Bjorn from her former husband. He finally cracks and, in a rotten twist, orders her to kill Bjorn. That’s the last mistake he’ll ever make. After a brief dramatic moment, she turns around and drops him with a bolt to the heart. There’s a sense of closure as Bjorn places Horik’s ring on the end of the shaft and nods up at his father, who looks on death’s door. In an awesome twist of fate, Torvid is shown carrying the crossbow into battle as the Vikings prepare to attack the city.

Speaking of heart-wrenching scenes, Kattegat is sure turning into a hell hole, isn’t it? Sigurd finds Siggi’s body in the creek but when he goes to tell his mother, she’s so busy arguing with Ivar and moping that it barely registers. Those two are quite the pair — the seeds of Aslaug’s coddling have sprouted into a rotten little monster. Sigurd (and myself for that matter) has had more than he can fill of their crap.

Ragnar has reached the last of his drug and is miserable trying to kick it, reserving all his strength for the titanic clash with Rollo. Bjorn does his best to help him out and voices a need for his father’s guile to attack Paris. Ragnar, however, has just one goal in mind: to finish off Rollo once and for all. “I have to kill you. I must kill you,” he repeats as they sail toward Paris. Things are about to get real messy.

The post Vikings Season 3 Episode 9 (Death all ’round) recap appeared first on Author Derek Alan Siddoway.

Vikings Season 4 Episode 8 (Portage) recap

Vikings Season 4 Episode 8: Portage

Watch here

Official Synopsis: Defeat for the Vikings calls Ragnar’s leadership into question as they evacuate their camp and move back down-river. Ragnar himself remains inscrutable until he orders the fleet to beach at a cliff face and unveils an ingenious plan. Rollo and Gisla have news that strengthens Rollo’s position at the French Court whilst Count Odo fails to identify his true enemies, with fatal consequences.

Recap

This episode was all about the fury of the women right from the get-go. You better watch yoself around Lagertha, Mr. Finehair. She might be Ragnar’s ex, but she’s got his back no matter what, even when he’s a crackhead. (A crackhead who’s really pissing me and Bjorn off.) If he continues this downward spiral, I might actually be happy to see him sent to his grave. He’s really starting to crack from everything and I don’t think anybody is gonna be able to put Humpty Dumpty Viking back together again.

“Let there be portage!”

Everyone’s super pissed about the horrendous defeat at Rollo’s towers and when Ragnar suggests they make camp on some cliffs, both his sanity and leadership come into question. But even hopped up on Chinese mushroom-leaf, Ragnar is still brilliant. His master plan is to haul the boats up the cliff and then portage (fancy word that’s the name of this episode and means to carry a boat overland to put it back in the water) them to the other side of the towers.

There’s a tense moments between Ragnar and Floki when the king asks his boat builder to make it happen. Floki is pretty sarcastic in his answer, so I’m not sure how grateful he is for Ragnar saving his life. He seems to have something up his sleeve, but who can say what?

As the master plan unfold and the rest of the Vikings begin to catch the vision, Harold and Halfdan REALLY catch the vision. They turn into uber-ass-kissers and Ragnar takes it all in like “yeah, you should feel stupid.” I’ve said it before and I’ll say it verbatim again: even hopped up on Chinese mushroom-leaf, Ragnar is still brilliant.

Roland and Odo, those backstabbing dirtbags throw Rollo under the bus hardcore now that (at least as far as they know) the threat of Vikings invasion is over. Turns out that it’s just a ploy to get Odo ousted, though. Like the sly double-crossing mistress she is Therese tricks Odo into his own chains and Roland proceeds to give him the whooping of his life. So long, Odo.

Something tells me that Odo was far less dangerous than the dynamic incestuous duo of Roland and Therese. I don’t think Emperor Charles has any idea the mess he’s in. You read it here first: I’m predicting Roland and Therese overthrow the Emperor and Rollo and Gisla move north where they found the kingdom of Normandy.

I just can’t wait to be king.

As predicted, Kwenthrith is furious when King Ecbert reveals his takover of her kingdom. I thought her pregnancy would throw a wrench in Ecbert’s plans to get rid of her, but turns out he’s got Judith around to do his dirty work. The ex-queen fell for the greatest villain foible: too much talkie, not enough stabby. Kwethrith’s dying words were very “et tu, Brute?” and definitely leave Judith shaken. She realizes, as she says, what Ecbert has made her become and she doesn’t like it. I wonder what the fate of poor, young Magnus will be now?

Your cheating heart

Thanks to a vigilant Sigurd, momma Aslaug busted Harbard in the midst of his whoring around. “I don’t sleep with every woman, only those who need me,” is probably the wrong thing to say to a woman who’s destroying her bedroom when you walk in. Hopefully, Aslaug’s rose-colored “Harbard is uber-spiritual” glasses are broken for good. She’d better hope Ragnar doesn’t find out about this, cuz he’s a man on the edge lately.

Bad trip

Speaking of Ragnar being on edge, we just saw, in my opinion, his darkest scene yet. Sure, the Blood Eagle was…bloodier, but it was somewhat justified. Poor, sweet Yidu takes things too far and the blood on Ragnar’s hands over the Wessex settlement continues to stain even darker. The cold-blooded murder was brutal on it’s own, but even more chilling when we turn around and see his sons are witness to his manic homicide. Nobody’s hands are clean anymore

P.S. There’s so many threads going on with so many different characters that we can’t keep track of them all, but I have a feeling things with Bjorn and Erlendur are going to be coming to head soon

The post Vikings Season 4 Episode 8 (Portage) recap appeared first on Author Derek Alan Siddoway.

Vikings Season 4 Episode 7 (The Profit and the Loss) Recap

Vikings Season 4 Episode 7: The Profit and the Loss

Watch here

Official Synopsis: In England, King Ecbert’s ambitions are revealed as he schemes to gain the crown of Mercia while outside Paris, the Vikings attack with considerable force but can they breach Rollo’s defenses? Meanwhile, Harbard, the mysterious wanderer, returns and causes a stir amongst the women of Kattegat.

Recap

This week kicks off with Ragnar skulking around like the stoner he is. With Rollo’s treachery revealed, Ragnar devises a scheme to test his brother’s towers. Before the Vikings leave camp, Ragnar once again lets his emotions for Lagertha show through when he advises her not to fight in order to keep her unborn child safe. Of course, the shieldmaiden is gonna do her own thing, but the ominous seer’s prophecy is probably swaying her decision a little. Lagertha’s rise to power and the cost has been presented in a bit more subtle manner than Ragnar’s, but you get the feeling she’d probably trade it all to live the farmer’s life again too — the thought as crossed her mind at least.

Things came to head in a much more anti-climatic and much less bloody fashion than I predicted when Bjorn confronted Erlendur about his ring. You know Bjorn isn’t going to let him get off that easy, but I wonder what he’s waiting for?

One if by land, two if by sea.

The attack on the towers is doomed from the start. Lagertha and co are supposed to take out the archers in the powers via the land route — therefore clearing the way for the ships — but her warriors get bogged down (heh, see what I did there?) and turned into pincushions by Rollo’s crossbowmen. By the looks of things there’s still an old flame burning between Rollo and his boyhood crush as he calls a ceasfire, allowing Lagertha to gather her shieldwall together just in time to get caught between a rock and a hard place.

Further chaos ensues when Rollos chains rise up at the worst moment possible for the Viking fleet. Unable to backpedal in time, dozens of longboats crash and flip and their passengers get mowed down by the Frankish crossbows. Things heat up (heh, see what I did again?) when the waterlogged Vikings get smashed with pots of oil, followed by flaming arrows that set fire to man, woman and longboat alike.

In another interesting twist, Ragnar saves Floki from a watery grave and pulls his floundering friend to safety at great risk to himself. (Did anyone else hear “You’ve got a friend in me” playing in their heads at that moment?) Floki is really Ragnar’s older, balder son — his decisions make Ragnar disappointed but it’s a love without end, amen. Back in the boat, Ragnar get super-pissed at Rollo. Fool me thrice, shame on you. Heartbroken and defeated the King of the Northmen calls retreat.

Rollo may be unwavering in loyalty to the Franks, but I’m certain his look of anguish and remorse is genuine. As with Ragnar and Lagertha, we see yet another unforgiving cost for power playing out this time with Rollo. He continues to want his cake and eat it too.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch.

Wet, burnt and boatless, the Vikings return to chaos at camp after the Frankish calvary’s raid. In an emotional scene showcasing the terrors of war on the flip side, it’s not just the men, but the woman and the children (bonus points if you know that reference) who suffered from Rollo’s treachery. Before Floki can even thank Ragnar for saving his life, our poor bot-builder finds Helga on death’s door.

Harbard is back in Kattegat and up to no good. Not only does he start macking on the queen, but soon spreads his womanizing ways to all of the ladies in the village. Sigurd seems less than impressed and starts to tail the promiscuous skald as he makes his house calls. Our young defender of womanhood had better watch his back, though, as there’s no Siggi around to save him this time.

Not really sure what to think of the weird, long-distance, body-sharing threesome scene with Harbard, Floki and Aslaug. I’m more intrigued at why Floki could share Harbard’s body and if he’ll tell Ragnar the queen is sleeping around again.

Double down.

Kwenthrith better watch her back. Not only is Aethelwulf removed from the picture but now we learn that King Ecbert is conspiring with the mysterious Mercian known until know only as W, aka Prince Wigstan. Together, the two plan to turn the tables in Mercia, removing Kwenthrith once and for all and delivering the kingdom to Ecbert on a silver platter. Better be careful, Ecbert. Hell hath no fury like Kwenthrith when she is usurped (just ask her brother and uncle).

The Vikings who fights and runs away…

Ragnar — and all the Vikings for that matter — have had a rough day, but most of them will live to fight again. To make matters worse, it seems his supply of Longbottom Leaf is gone and he’s going wacko without his fix. It makes me wonder if Yidu realizes the monster she’s created — she seems genuinely worried when he confronts her demanding more “medicine”. Bjorn’s had about enough of his dad, too, who ends the episode talking to a severed head.

The post Vikings Season 4 Episode 7 (The Profit and the Loss) Recap appeared first on Author Derek Alan Siddoway.

Vikings Season 4 Episode 6 (What Might Have Been) recap

Vikings Season 4 Episode 6: What Might Have Been

Watch here

Official Synopsis: Ragnar announces another raid on Paris at the Thing in Kattegat and although the fleet is battered by a storm after it sets-out, the greatest challenge for the Vikings lies ahead in Paris, where Rollo awaits. Ecbert also has a journey in mind as he dispatches Aethelwulf and Alfred on a pilgrimage to Rome.

Recap

There were a lot of things going on this week in What Might Have Been. Right away, you get the feeling that Lagertha’s wondering that very question as she consecrates Kalf’s grave. The death of the earl but Erlendur in a sticky situation, but it appears he’d still going to keep plotting his revenge, especially considering the conversation he has with his estranged wife later on. He’d better get a move on, though — I doubt Bjorn is going to sit by knowing it was Erlendur who sent the berserker after him.

Next, we see Ragnar apparently back to true Viking ruler form, holding a big party and presenting his sons with their first arm rings. You really can’t blame him for wanting to keep them close given what happened last time he was gone. I’m not sure if he didn’t want to take Ivar or realized Aslaug would never part with him. Given later on in the episode where she pulls a move from The Grownups — that kid needs weaned — it was probably the latter.

As Ivar watches the ships leave for Paris, you get the feeling he realizes even more that he’s not like the others. Aslaug coddling him as a momma’s boy isn’t going to help. The one we should really feel sorry for is Sigurd — his playmates are gone and his mother his lavishing all her attention on the chosen one.

I’m starting to get the feeling that we’ll see a showdown between Alfred and Ivar in some distant future season — another contrast between Pagan and Christian. Aethelwulf and Kwenthrith sure got thrown a curveball with Ecbert’s announcement to send Alfred and his father on a pilgrimage to Rome. Without a doubt, Ecbert realizes what’s going on between the his son and Kwenthrith, but is he planning on betraying her or saving Aethelwulf from her traps?

More and more it looks like Yidu is manipulating Ragnar with this “medicine” she’s giving him. What her end game is, I’m not sure. She definitely shouldn’t be underestimated, though. It seems an ominous sign that a storm blew in and scattered the Viking longships right after her lullaby.

Whatever kind of dope Ragnar is on isn’t playing well with his regrets from the past. After a terse conversation with Lagertha (she’s definitely still bitter as she should be — also, I didn’t think she was really pregnant whaaa?) that vision he has on the river was sure somber. I don’t doubt that Ragnar would trade everything for a small far, Lagertha and Athelstan back. What might have been indeed. Ragnar seems a little hypocritical for rumination on the past after his parting advice to his sons: “Don’t waste your time looking back. We aren’t going that way.”

Floki has finally fallen in with a group just a bloodthirsty and vicious as he is Harold Finehair, his brother Halfdan and the rest of their cronies are savage, even for Vikings. As they burn the Franks, we get a clear impression the Vikings army is drawn down the middle between Ragnar and Harold’s men. We’ll see how thing go when the two kings start butting heads over how to attack Paris. We’ve seen in the past that Ragnar doesn’t share rulership well.

What a staredown between Rollo and the Vikings! They’re super pissed and I doubt Rollo will get any mercy. I’ll bet the second siege of Paris is a long, bloody stalemate in the end. That being said, Count Odo finally spilled the beans (anyone else think he’s packed on the weight since last year?) which could change things internally for the Franks if they end up fighting themselves. I don’t think he stands much of a chance with what looks like the entire Frankish court against him.

And Harbard is back! Thus far, his character hasn’t been much more than a dirtbag, so I’m hoping his return will actually mean something besides a shoulder to cry on for Aslaug. Specifically I’d like to see him interact with Ivar other than to just tell him what a special boy he is. We shall see!

The post Vikings Season 4 Episode 6 (What Might Have Been) recap appeared first on Author Derek Alan Siddoway.