Vikings: Death and the Serpent
January 9, 2020 4:49 AM - Season 6, Episode 6 - Subscribe

"Bjorn is forced to act quickly in the aftermath of the election for the King of all Norway. The bandits attack Lagertha's village again, confident of victory. But when the defense boils down to single combat with Lagertha, victory for the bandits looks less certain. Back in Kattegat, haunted and paranoid, Hvitserk continues to unravel."
posted by homunculus (9 comments total)
 
Damn. Vikings premiered almost 7 years ago, and since the first episode Lagertha has been one of my favorite characters on any show, and definitely my favorite on this one.

Despite the foreshadowing, her death was brutal. But her last words were also perfect for her.
posted by homunculus at 6:26 AM on January 9, 2020 [1 favorite]




Loved the concept of the 'wicker' screens, but stretched credulity some.

Winnick's fight was well choreographied and performed. Gunnhild's speech afterward was pretty awesome.

Lagertha's death scene, yeah.

The only grace was that she was fatally injured already, and she knew it.

Harald is such a shit. I now recall that he killed his brother Halfdan* when he was warring against Bjorn - and that Ubbe couldn't do Hvitserk in, in the same fight and similar situation.

*who was Bjorn's best bud, and they had came back from foreign lands together
posted by porpoise at 5:23 PM on January 9, 2020 [1 favorite]






Speaking of Erik the Red (and his legacy): Over-Hunting Walruses Likely Forced Vikings to Abandon Greenland
posted by homunculus at 1:31 PM on January 10, 2020


Here's some info from the History channel about the song, which apparently is sung in Gaelic:

Music: Maciej Rychły, lyrics: Alicja Bral, translation into Gaelic: Joy Dunlop

Lyrics in English:

I .

Oh !!!

Brave Laghertha, the strongest of spirits

You wield a shield more skilfully than warriors

Muspelheim and Nelfhein have descended into chaos at the news of your death

Oh Laghertha!

Migdard turned into Ginnungagapa in pain after the loss.

Fair Thor, why haven’t you saved us from this tragedy!!!

II.

Huginn and Munnin told cruel Odin about your bravery

He let out Valkyries on winged horses to bring you to Valhall.

III.

O Gods! Take good care of Lagherta!

The great warrioress, queen of the North

Oh Lagherta,

you’ll lead the army of warriors towards a victory during

Ragnarok!


Lyrics in Gaelic:

I.

Oich

Laghertha threun, an spiorad as curanta

Tha thu nas sgileil le claidheamh na laochain

Bha Muspelheim agus Nelfhein ann am bruaillean le naidheachd do bhàis

O Laghertha!

Chaidh Migdard na Ghinnungagapa le èiginn a’ chaill seo.

Thor fhionn carson nach do ghlèidh thu sinn bhon uabhas seo?

II.

Dh’innis Huginn agus Munnin do dh’Oden bhorb mu do ghaisgeachd

Chuir e Valkyries gad ionnsaigh air muin eich sgiathaich airson do thoirt a

Valhalla.

III.

A Rìghrean! Thoir an aire air Lagertha!

Ban-ghaisgeach threun, Ban-Rìgh a Tuath

O Lagherta,

Bidh thu os cionn airm nan gaisgeach a thèid le buaidh ann an Ragarok!
posted by homunculus at 8:52 PM on January 12, 2020 [1 favorite]


One of the best battle scenes the show has had in a while! This show is at its best when it digs into the tactics of the fighting. No other show I've seen has done that like Vikings has, and the fight with the screens was a nice return to form which felt very inspired by the defenses of medieval castles: the planned kill zones, pouring things on the attackers, etc.
posted by vibratory manner of working at 2:04 AM on January 28, 2021


On the other hand, what an absolute waste of the old guy. They really couldn't think of anything more useful for him to do than taunt them a little and die immediately?
posted by vibratory manner of working at 2:05 AM on January 28, 2021


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