Vikings: The Usurper

March 30, 2015 7:01 AM - Season 3, Episode 5

The Vikings return from England to discover a surprising death and news of the visit by the Wanderer. Lagertha learns of her usurpation by Kalf and demands Ragnar take action to remove the traitor from her place of power. Back in Wessex, Aethelwulf discovers his wife has been unfaithful, while King Ecbert puts yet another plan into motion concerning the Viking settlement.
posted by Atreides (5 comments total)

I thought this episode was a little rushed. They had to cover a lot of ground, and the tone shifts from scene to scene. But at the same time, I'm glad they covered a lot of ground and moved the plot along. There just isn't the room for character development that there was in the earlier seasons.
posted by Catblack at 9:21 AM on March 30, 2015 [1 favorite]

It definitely was a weaker episode, one of those pivot moments where we move from one focus of the season to the next. I was surprised, but not, when Ragnar made the decision not to put Lagertha back in power but decided to let Kalf remain where he was. I will admit, I had an odd pause where I thought it would be revealed that Kalf had staged the coup only to reveal her enemies, so they could be dealt with. ... Doh.
posted by Atreides at 11:39 AM on March 30, 2015 [1 favorite]

I hope she marries kalf and murders him on their wedding night.
posted by poffin boffin at 1:24 PM on March 30, 2015 [8 favorites]

I was disappointed in this episode. I really liked when Ragnar and Ecbert snuggled up to each other in the last episode, and I was enjoying the possibility that they might unite in some way against some new, yet-to-be-named adversaries. Then when Ecbert's son went to see what was going on with the viking settlers, I figured something bad was going to happen, and I was thinking that maybe there would be civil war between father and son. But no, Ecbert was revealed to be the evil schemer. Boring.

Also, what good is it going to do Ecbert to piss off the Vikings? Sure he consolidated his power locally, but having a horde of vikings out for revenge can't be good.

I guess it makes sense now why Ecbert seemed to be almost encouraging a dalliance with Athelstan though.

And yeah, the Lagertha/Kalf/Ragnar thing, wtf and yuck Ragnar. I hope Lagertha sticks Kalf in the eye.
posted by natteringnabob at 1:34 PM on March 30, 2015 [2 favorites]

Ecbert's daughter in law Judith is the daughter of Aelle, the large and greasy antagonist of last season (and a very historically significant person), so I imagine that will end up having played a part in Ecbert's betrayal.
posted by poffin boffin at 1:54 PM on March 30, 2015 [3 favorites]