Vikings: The Message
January 18, 2018 7:47 PM - Season 5, Episode 6 - Subscribe

Lagertha is betrayed, and Bjorn must find a way to support the distraught queen; Floki and his settlers arrive in a new land, but it is far from what they expected.

* Ziyadat's soldiers have Bjorn, Halfdan, and Sindric on their knees ready for execution while a sandstorm is imminently blowing in
* Bjorn's stabs his guard in the groin with the bit of wood he picked up at the well, Sindric bites a guard
* The guards are, like, argh, no! Sand! Run!
* The three vikings manage to escape, outrunning the storm on stolen camels and swathed in heavy desert gear (?!)


* Harald and Astrid have a fun tumble in the woods, interrupted by the blare of distant horns
* Ivar returns with his vikings, Hvitserk, and the captured Heahmund
* Harald and Astrid host Ivar and Hvitserk, negotiates for their support against Kattegat - Ivar has a personal vendetta against Lagertha
* Heahmund is presented as a great warrior, and a potential war dog on pain of crucifixion
* Ivar cuts a hanging shark in half with Heahmund's sword, admires its superior steel with Harald
* Ivar's never gotten over Lagertha slaying Aslaug
* Ivar shares that fact with a chained up Heahmund, tries to recruit the battlepriest "Because I am jealous of you. I would like to be like you. Strong... and whole. A great warrior. That is why I saved you, and that is why I want you to fight along side of me."
* Hvitserk's bummed that Ivar never consulted him, and that he's now in third place to become King of Kattegat, Ivar tells him that it was all just a line of bullshit
* Ivar wants to be the most famous person ever, even greater than Ragnar Lothbrook
* Heamund seeks counsel from prayer
* At feast, Hvitserk gets a little drunk, Ivar and Harald strategize, aim to set off in two months
* Ivar suspects that Astrid's faking it
* Astrid at the docks the next day, chats up Hakon, a whaler, convinces him to make a detour and deliver a message to Kattegat
* Hakon haggles up to the price to include a fuck with the queen, after Astrid accidentally shows her weak position
* Astrid hate-hones a dagger, has a short erotic daydream staring Lagertha
* Astrid arrives at the meet with Hakkon, hands over hard treasure and the message
* Hakon rapes Astrid, Hakkon's kid/younger brother observes, runs off, Astrid refrains from killing Hakon
* As Hakkon finishes, the rest of his crew enter the shack
* Heahmund is dragged out on the street where Ivar's hanging out, surrounded by vikings trying to intimidate him
* Ivar declares that its time for Heahmund to decide to fight for him, or if its time for Ivar to kill him
* Heahmund asks for the dagger that Ivar is threatening him with, Ivar indulges him, Heahmund plays like he'll commit seppuku, but kills some asshole viking instead
* Ivar is pleased
* Heahmund has a bit of a crazed look in his eyes


* Aethelwulf's son advocates hiding in the swamp, Aethelwulf disagrees, as does Alfred
* Alfred seeks counsel from his 'grandfather's' grave plaque in the family chapel, vows to realize Ecbert's dream of becoming king of all England
* Folks take communion in the chapel, Alfred faints on top of Ecbert's plaque
* Alfred looks feverish and comatose, Aethelwulf and Judith have some drama
* Upon awakening, Alfred decides to go on pilgrimage
* Alfred and Judith have a for-real talk; he wants to follow in his real father's - Athelstan's - footsteps, at least for a while
* Aethelred has a training montage that Aethelwulf if demonstrably proud of


* Floki's would-be colonizers are beset by warning arrows; Lagertha, Torvi, Ubbe confronts Floki
* Guthrun steps forward to confess that he was he was the leaker, Torvi is pleased
* Lagertha's pissed, sad about being betrayed yet again, lets the colonists leave
* Apparently Margrethe tagged along too; after Lagertha rides on past, Ubbe gets an shrewish and ambitious earful
* The colonist sight land, are less enthused than Floki; Kettill: "Do not worry, Aud. It cannot be as bad as it looks."
* The colonists grumble on their way to their destination, a few more days further
* Floki gives a "this is gonna suck and you're going to hate my guts, but it'll be worth it" speech


* Lagertha receives Hakon and Astrid's message, Hakon is a douche about "enjoyed serving her"
* Lagertha, Ubbe, Torvi, and Guthrun strategize, leave as they each declare their next action item
* Apparently Margrethe tagged along too; Largertha wants a word, tells her to cut that shit out or she'll cut out her tongue and re-enslavenate her
* Bjorn returns to Kattegat
posted by porpoise (2 comments total)
 
I kind of sort of understand the narrative framework, but Astrid's rape really was in really foul taste.
posted by porpoise at 10:31 AM on January 21, 2018


It was. In general I am trying to give this season the benefit of the doubt, but it has been difficult at times. Astrid's rape was one of the most difficult of them. I haven't stopped watching the show yet, but the concept hasn't been as alien to me as it would have been in the first few seasons.
posted by Golem XIV at 7:59 PM on January 21, 2018


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