'The Lord's Prayer' -- Vikings 2x10

Warning: Spoiler Alert

Oh, "Vikings." It's kind of amazing just how much better the season finale for season two was than season one (where everyone just sat around thinking about what they were doing, and what it was that they might be doing in the future). It was so very nice to actually have a finale where Things happened.

I am so very glad to find out that Floki wasn't actually betraying Ragnar, and that everything he had been doing that made it look like he was on Horik's side was actually planned out between him and Ragnar (I very much did not like the idea that the two of them weren't homies anymore). And even though I didn't like the idea that he knew that Floki hadn't invited him to the wedding cuz the two of them were fighting (which made me super sad about the idea that Ragnar thought that Floki was angry with him and didn't want him to be a part of the day), and now I'm kind of sad by the idea that he may have actually missed it cuz the two of them were working on a plan to get rid of Horik (and they needed Horik and everyone else (with the exception of the five or so people who were actually in on the plan) to think that the two of them weren't getting along). It does make me extremely happy, however, to know that he never thought of hurting Bjorn (and that was all for show for Horik) ... that he was actually watching over the stupid boy (probably as much out of the fact that he really was still loyal to Ragnar as he loved the kid like a nephew).

I am also glad that Siggy decided that she would end up helping Ragnar with his plan against Horik. I do wonder just how far back she was a part of the plan ... if she was a part of the gang from the beginning, or if she came along later (when she started to not like the way that Horik was treating her). I don't think that she helped Ragnar out of sense of loyalty to him, cuz I think that if it came down to Ragnar or herself, she would certainly pick herself (and stab Ragnar in the back); it seemed more like she helped them cuz she thought that it was the best way to help herself get back to her old position (and she knew that with Horik, she would never be able to have that ... so, maybe she didn't throw her chips in with the gang until Horik made his proposition to her in this episode, and she took it as an insult).

I wish that there could have been a bit more of a conclusion to what the writers had been doing with Athelstan this season, cuz there seemed to be all sorts of build up with him that didn't really go anywhere in the end. But maybe we'll get something more out of that next season.

I'm really glad that we saw Floki and Helga's daughter, since it was really bothering me that we hadn't seen her, and it hadn't been addressed that Helga wasn't pregnant anymore (I really wanted to know one way or the other what had happened ... even if it wasn't necessarily that important to the overall story. It was just a loose end that was bothering me). And even if Floki is super crazy (and will probably make all kinds of mistakes), I have the feeling that he will probably end up being a good father once he puts his mind to it (cuz I have the feeling that what he will end up doing will come out of love for his daughter).

So, Ragnar is the king now, and everyone has moved off somewhere else. Now I'm wondering even more what the battle was all about in the pilot (since it still seems like there was something important about it), and I want to know what led up to it ... but I have a feeling that it's going to be one of those things that we don't actually find out about until the very end of the show (if we haven't found out already by now).

'The Choice' -- Vikings 2x09

Warning: Spoiler Alert

I am so glad that we know for certain that there is some bad blood between Ragnar and Floki (and that Ragnar knows that Floki's loyalties have been compromised by Horik. I don't like that there is bad blood between them, or that Horik has been whispering into Floki's ear, but I'm glad that Ragnar knows about what's been going on ... and that Floki knows that he hasn't been fooling anyone). Perhaps this is why we didn't see Floki in the battle that was at the beginning of the pilot ... Floki's loyalties had been so compromised by that point that he had been off fighting with Horik instead (and maybe he wasn't actually dead, like it may have seemed before ... but then, if Horik has his way, they may all be dead before anything that any of them want is actually accomplished).

I really don't like that Horik put the idea of killing Bjorn into Floki's head ... and I like it even less that Floki actually seemed to consider doing it (even if he only considered it for a moment). Floki has known Bjorn since Bjorn was a child, and he has always seemed to like the kid (even when he may have started to have issues with Ragnar). Sure, killing Bjorn would hurt Ragnar immensely, but the fact that Floki has always seemed like care for the kid (and the kid has always seemed to care for him) makes it feel like Floki should scoff at the idea ... at least when it is first presented to him.

Because of all of the backstabbing that Horik has been doing this season, I am having trouble not wanting something horrible to happen to him. Not the Blood Eagle (like what was done with Borg), but at least getting killed in battle ... and maybe being left there for a little while before he died ... from a knife to the stomach. But if the writers can continue to think of ways to have him put a wrench into all of Ragnar's plans (whether that be of getting land to farm or having peace with the neighbors), I don't see them killing him off any time soon (they'll probably find having him put a wrench into the plans a little too delicious for all of that).

I'm really glad that Athelstan decided that he was going to go back with Ragnar and become a Shield Maiden again (instead of staying in England). He probably felt a little too much of a prisoner in England (what with Ecbert having him on a leash the way that he did, and the prince giving him the side eye for not taking communion). I'm kind of surprised that Ecbert decided that he was going to let Athelstan go ... provided that Athelstan let him know what was going on (which I don't see why he wouldn't have). Even if Ecbert has seemed like he is the jealous boyfriend to the viewer, that doesn't mean that Athelstan would necessarily realize just how much danger he would have been in by even bringing up the subject of wanting to leave. But then, Ecbert threatening to kill him that time may have made him realize just how sensitive the ground was under his feet ... and may have made him more desperate to get away.

Things are probably not going to be all that good between him and Floki (or him and Horik), and I can't imagine that Horik wouldn't try to get Floki (or someone) to try and kill Athelstan to try and hurt Ragnar. Hell, the fact that Rollo wanted to kill him, even after he saved the big idiot, would probably be an indication that Horik wouldn't have to look very far to find someone who would be willing to do the deed for him ... which makes me kind of want it even more to be Athelstan to be the one who kills Horik.

'Boneless' -- Vikings 2x08

Warning: Spoiler Alert

It felt like nothing much really happened in this episode; it felt much more like what happened in this episode was set up for things that are going to be happening later on in the season ... well, since it's so late in their season, things that are going to be happening in the two final episodes. I am really hoping that what happens in the finale for this season isn't the same sort of thing that happened in the finale of last season (where exactly dick happened, even though everything should have been happening so that people would want to come back for the following season to find out what was going to happen next).

I'll admit that when we finally found out what was wrong with the new baby, my first thought was of 300, and that scene at the beginning where it showed the bones of all the Spartan babies that had been killed cuz they weren't good enough. This wouldn't have been as crazy as that (since the baby will certainly have a tone of problems ... much more than he might have now ... and way more than if he knew Hermione Granger).

But then, I thought of how many months must have passed within the last two or three episodes. She just had the other baby (the Snake in the Eye one), and now she's already had Boneless ... and still nothing has really been happening with them and the war on England. It seems like it would make a bit more sense to try to get back to England a little faster than what they've done, so that they could catch everyone off-guard if there was a fight (and so Ecbert wouldn't be able to do exactly what he's been doing and getting himself allies to lay the beat down on the Vikings when they come back, cuz I get the impression that he's not stupid enough to believe that Ragnar and his gang would just never come back).

Sure, Ragnar needed to make sure that he still had people to help him out, and there have been some fast and sweet words that he's had to say to make sure that he's still got people to help him out (especially since Horik seems determined to make sure that everyone is against Ragnar as soon as this whole thing with Ecbert is over). But even if he's still got to make sure that he has friends to help him with what he wants to do, it still seemed like he waited a whole hell of a lot longer than may have been necessary.

Speaking of Horik, I really don't like the fact that he's been whispering into people's ears, and it seems like they have been listening somewhat. Even if Floki and Lagertha don't ditch Ragnar for Horik, the things that he's been whispering to them will probably poison whatever relationship that the two of them still have with Ragnar (to the point where there would be such doubts in their minds that they wouldn't want to have much of anything more to do with him). It especially makes me sad that Floki seems to be moving away from Ragnar and going over to Horik's camp, since Ragnar and Floki are supposed to be BFFs. But I get the feeling that things might be mended somewhat if Ragnar would be a little more open and honest with Floki (instead of keeping him in the dark about pretty much everything, and making Floki feel like he's being used).

Also, I really want to know what happened with Floki and Helga's baby. Cuz one second, she was pregnant, and the next second she wasn't. Did she abort it? If she did, it would make sense via what the writers had been doing with the show and the characters, but they haven't mentioned the fact that she doesn't seem to be pregnant anymore and there is no baby. I know that this bugging me is coming down to my INTJ brain needing some things spelled out so that I don't have to wonder about them anymore (kind of like how on "Grimm," I'm still convinced that Eric is still alive (even though everyone keeps saying that he's dead), since we've never seen a body, or even the aftermath of the place where he was supposed to have really died ... and I don't mean the plane crash, cuz we all know by now that he survived the crash). If they would do this so that I don't have to assume, it would make my brain so much happier.

'Blood Eagle' -- Vikings 2x07

Warning: Spoiler Alert

I had started to think that maybe Jarl Borg might have gotten himself an ally with King Horik, and he might have gotten away. He wouldn't have succeeded in killing Ragnar, since the writers aren't about to do that (and not just cuz it would write them right out of a show, but also cuz it would take away all of this delicious backstabbing and suspense that they've been building up lately). But even if they didn't let Borg kill Ragnar, I still half expected that Horik would at least try to help him break out; and it makes me wonder what may have happened that would have made it so that he thought that was a bad idea. It could have been that since Rollo found out about Siggy and Horik, Horik may have thought that he would have been pushing his luck by trying to help Bork break out and assassinate Ragnar.

Speaking of Rollo finding out about what's been going on with Siggy and Horik, I wonder if this was the first inkling that he had that there was something going on between the two of them (or if he maybe might have suspected that there was something more going on). It's quite possible that he didn't know anything about it, since he's more the muscle, and less the guy who has to think around corners. And Siggy can say all she wants to him about how she did everything for him, but we know that's not true (especially after she went to the seer and admitted that she wanted to have her old position back).

Speaking of her old position ... it makes me all kinds of suspicious that Aslaug said that she was kind of envious of Lagertha and wished that she could be the shieldmaiden that Lagertha was (well, it's not exactly what she said, but that was kind of the gist of it). It almost makes me think that Aslaug is going to try to get all sneaky and try to knife Lagertha while she's sleeping, or something. I don't get the impression that Lagertha sees Aslaug as a threat (at least not physically), but I don't think that I would keep both eyes closed for any amount of time if I were Lagertha and Aslaug was around.

It's kind of awesome that Lagertha has now become an Earl, but I really would have liked to have seen the scenes that occurred right after she knifed her husband in the eye. Sure, it would have taken away the surprise that the writers were probably going for with having her ride out from behind that tree, but it still would have been cool to be able to see all the dudes that had previously sworn themselves to her husband rally around her and decide that they would follow her now.

Floki is married now!! Awwwes. The wedding was completely sweet, cuz you could tell that they loved each other (and I really dug the way they juxtapositioned the two weddings, showing the one that was done for love, and the one that was done for political alliance ... while also kind of making a statement about how the Viking one was better, cuz it was done out of love). But the way that the scenes were cut, it makes me wonder when the wedding actually happened, cuz homegirl didn't look at all preggers when they were getting married (and she was preggers in the scene before that, when she was saying that they were going to get married, and in the next scene that Aslaug was in, she was still preggers, and they made a point of showing that the two of them were pregnant at the same time).

I kind of needed to hug Floki and tell him that everything was going to be alright after he got sad (and almost kind of panicked by the idea of becoming a father). He's going to be a right crazy dad, but I don't doubt that he's going to love their baby as much as he is able, and he's going to try as hard as he can to do well (he may fuck it up, since he's kind of crazy, but I don't doubt that he's going to try and make things right for the baby and his baby momma).

The whole thing with Floki no longer trusting Ragnar (and being kind of pissed at him) ... this makes me all kinds of sad on the inside, cuz their relationship seemed like it was so solid before. I would love it if the two of them became homies again, but I have the feeling that Ragnar is going to have to do a whole hell of a lot to prove himself to Floki before he is trusted again.

I wonder if someone told him that Floki was getting married and that he wasn't invited. He had to've known where everyone was going when they all started to leave. Maybe that was why he got drunk and was doing stupid things when Lagertha's dude first came to him to say that she wanted an alliance with him. Maybe?

'Unforgiven' -- Vikings 2x06

Warning: Spoiler Alert

How can I not love Floki? I mean, really. His reaction to Siggy asking him if he could keep a secret ... perfection. I must give a most enthusiastic golf clap for his no, and mostly cuz of the way that it made me giggle like a mad thing once it was said.

Look at our little Bjorn, all grown up and mackin' on girls. I get the feeling that the chick that he's mackin' on has the makings to be a most triumphant shield maiden ... once she had the proper training for such a thing. But then, I'm not really surprised that he would be attracted to someone who had the capability of kicking so much ass; after all, his mother kicks all manner of ass (and looks completely fierce while doing it).

Speaking of Lagertha kicking ass ... oh, how I loved the fact that she stabbed her husband in the eye, and then, pretty much dared anyone else to try something with her. She has had pretty much exactly enough of every bit of their crap, and that is no lie. I was kind of surprised that she got some help from random guy, especially after what happened to her the night before. Either that guy hadn't been a part of the raiding party that sacked her badassery, or he decided that he was going to back a different horse (cuz the winds of change were gusting like a mofo). I almost have the feeling that now that her douche of a husband is dead, she is going to be the one who is left in charge of the place. This may not be the way that things are normally done, but I get the feeling that she may have more support in that place than we have been previously been led to realize, and the fact that she took at least one, small step to stop the abuse that he was heaping upon her, she may gain some more (respect and) support from the others. Then, if she is put in charge (as the new Jarl ... or whatever title that she gets), she will be brining a portion of the fighting men back to Ragnar to help him with the tiff that he's been having with Ecbert.

And now, speaking of Ecbert ... I really, sincerely don't trust him. I think that he's understood just how to maximize the manipulation of Athelstan, and our boy Athelstan doesn't see what is happening right in front of his face. But then, why would he? Homeboy is still a bit of an innocent (despite all that he has seen). Ecbert is certainly up with something with him, and I think it's more than just having someone around who will make all sorts of extra copies of the old Roman texts, and who will become his super secret knower of secret Roman Pagan things ... I'm just not sure exactly what it is just yet ... except that maybe Ecbert is wanting to get more information about how to defeat Ragnar, and thinks that Athelstan may be the best way to do that ... even if that seems like far too easy of a reason for him to be doing the things that he's doing.

And I don't like the way that Floki was talking smack about Athelstan. I know that he never really trusted him, but still ... I like them both, and I want them to at least be non-douchie to each other, even if they can't be friends. But when Horik started saying how Athelstan was a worthless person, I wanted Ragnar to reach across the table and smack him across the face like Ragnar was Tyrion Lannister and Horik was Joffrey. But I suppose that for now, I can accept Ragnar using Rollo to do a double-cross, making Horik think that he was completely on board with Horik's idea, killing all of Borg's men, and then, having his dudes beat the hell out of Borg (before telling Borg that he was going to perform the blood eagle on him). And really, I can't understand by Jarl Borg didn't get the least bit suspicious when Raganar offered dude's barn for his guys to sleep in ... there were all kinds of winks and nudges between Ragnar and his dude about "letting them sleep" inside the barn. And really, I can't say that I will be sad to see Jarl Borg go. ::waves bye to Borg::

'Answers in Blood' -- Vikings 2x05

Warning: Spoiler Alert

I find it rather interesting that no matter what Athelstan does, he just can't win. After being captured by the Vikings, being forced to live amongst them, and then, assimilating with them, he can never stop being known as "Priest." Then, while helping them, he is captured by King Ecbert's people and brought back home (or near to where he had lived before the Vikings had captured him in the first place), and he is known to them as "the Pagan." It doesn't seem to matter where he is since he was first captured at the beginning of season one; wherever he is, he is an outsider and everyone who he is around, he is pushed into the outskirts of society.

But I wonder if the constant making of an outsider of him, combined with causing him to have religious fueled visions is leading up to something; I would really love it if it was leading to something. I would love more than anything if he turned out to be some kind of prophet or seer who was able to help Ragnar kick some serious ass (and that his prophecy seeing ass kicking locks would lead to Ragnar becoming the King of all the North ... and eventually the world). Probably not what the writers are leading us toward (his seeing of things that aren't really there are probably nothing more than an extension of his own inner turmoil over his religious conflict).

Of course, Lagertha couldn't stay without there being all sorts of tension between her, Ragnar, and Aslaug ... the same tension that she was trying to get away from when she left in the first place. But understanding the reason for why she left in the first place, why she came back when she heard that Ragnar was in need of help, and why she left again once Ragnar was able to get his position back ... that doesn't mean that I wanted her to go back to that douche that she's married to now. I want her to continue to be the righteous shield maiden that she has been, and lay the smack down on all sorts of idiots.

Giving her blessing to Bjorn to stay with Ragnar ... I wonder how that's going to change things. Sure, she's giving him what he wants by letting him get away from the douche that is his step-father, letting him be with his own father (who he loves), and letting him become the warrior that he seems to want to be, but that doesn't mean that everything is going to be amazing by letting him stay. I have a feeling that her husband is going to have eight kinds of cows when she returns (since I'm sure that she left without letting him know what she was doing, and without asking his permission, which he probably would have required to give her before she was allowed to leave, cuz he's just that kind of guy), and he'll probably have thirteen more kinds when he finds out that she allowed Bjorn to stay with Ragnar. He struck me as being the type of guy who needs to be in control of everyone who is around him, and he cannot handle it when something happens that he hasn't signed off on in triplicate.

I wanted Ragnar to be able to kill Jarl Borg when they fought, but I don't suppose that that would have happened. Sure, they still have Ecbert to deal with (in addition to Borg), but I don't think that the fight with Ecbert is going to happen this season, so they probably still need someone for Ragnar and the gang to deal with until the end of this season.

'Eye for an Eye' -- Vikings 2x04

Warning: Spoiler Alert

I'll admit to being distracted every time that Jarl Borg comes on screen (and not because his name is "Borg," and if I had been a Trekker or Trekkie, I might have been tempted to make some sort of lame joke about being assimilated), because he reminds me of someone, but I haven't been able to put my finger on who it is exactly. I think that he might remind me of Kevin McKidd (who I kind of adore, and who I completely loved on "Journeyman" ... a show which I wish had lasted longer than half a season, since it was amazing and could have turned into something much more interesting) ... at least a little bit in his coloring and the shape of his face, but there might be someone else who he reminds me of. I just wish that I could think of who else it could be, because it's driving me a bit batty. But I will admit that I get a bit of glee out of the fact that the actor who plays him is named "Thorbjørn," which (if I am remembering correctly) should mean "Thor" and "bear". It probably shouldn't give me as much glee as it does, but in a dorky sort of way, it completely does.

Athelstan!!!!!!!!!!! OMG!! Why must they do awful things to our favorite conflicted former-sometimes priest? Isn't enough that he's completely conflicted about his faith? Do they really need to turn him into some sort of sometimes Pagan Jesus (just because dude kind of looks like what we have to think of what Jesus is supposed to look like ... even though there's really no way that we could know for certain)? And while we're at it ... was it really necessary for him to stop running and hide in that little knob, and then, fall asleep? Stupid. He may have needed to rest for a second, but he should have kept going after he was able to catch his breath. He should have known that it wasn't going to be that easy once they had been attached, and it appeared that they were being attacked from all sides (and that the ninja Saxon warriors weren't going to stop until they had gotten everyone that they thought was a Viking, since the arrows just kept coming and coming and coming). I suppose that it was something that has kind of been built up to that he needs to confront his old faith, so that he can possibly move on to a new one, or can give up on faith all together ... I find it a bit more likely that he find some sort of fusion between Christianity and Heathenism.

And what makes what happened to him a little bit worse is the fact that he thought that he was doing the right thing by staying to help with the negotiations, instead of going back with Ragnar to help get back is lands from Jarl Borg and to save Ragnar's family. The guy just cannot win (and is the show's prettiest damsel in distress). I only hope that once Ragnar is able to lay the beat down on Borg, he's able to go back, and he'll be able to find out what happened to Athelstan (and, perhaps, help him out if he still needs it).

I also want to know what happened to King Horik and the dudes that weren't out with the hunting party. Were they also attacked? Or was only the hunting party attacked, because the Ecbert's men thought that they would be easy pickings? WHERE ARE THE REST OF THE DUDES THAT STAYED IN ENGLAND? YARG!!

I am so very glad that Lagertha and Bjorn have come to help Ragnar (despite what her douche husband thinks). I suspected that the two of them would come to the rescue once they heard what was going on with him, despite how things ended when they last saw each other. I get the feeling that even though Lagertha left for her own self-respect (despite having failed it with the new guy ... a dude that I want to beat to death with a rake), she still has feelings for him. I wish that the two of them could have stayed together, but I suppose that they were needing something to get between them because drama! (and that the real people that the characters are loosely based on really did get divorced, so ... yeah).

I still want to shake the fuck out of Aslaug. In fact, I want to shake her even more than I wanted to shake her when she first showed up all preggers with the first of her kids with Ragnar. I still feel like she's up to something, but I wonder now if part of that feeling comes from the fact that she's a spoiled little rich girl. Perhaps a little.

'Treachery' -- Vikings 2x03

Warning: Spoiler Alert

Oh, Siggy. Trying to be the Shield Maiden that you have obviously never been. You just won a few points with me for that ... even if I still don't completely trust that you aren't up to something.

The way that Floki was side eyeing Athelstan in this episode. No wonder he keeps calling Athelstan "Priest," instead of just letting that go (and accepting that he may no longer believe in the Christian God ... or think that it doesn't really matter whether he does believe or not); he doesn't trust Athelstan's motivations, or what he's up to. It almost seems as though he's so loyal to Ragnar that he is constantly looking for betrayers where there might not be any. Even if Athelstan really hasn't converted to paganism, I don't see how that should really matter (but it might to Floki, or some of the others). Floki might see his not actually converting as one more reason to not trust what he says, and one more reason to think that he might end up betraying them in the end (cuz they don't have the same world view in a religious frame of mind). And I don't know that his compassion for the priests is going to do Athelstan any good, at least in Floki's eyes.

But speaking of compassion, I'm not sure that Floki really knows Ragnar as well as he thinks he does ... no matter how loyal Floki might be to him. I think that he really would have been surprised to find out that Ragnar had made sure that the little ginger went unseen by the others. And he may have questioned Ragnar's sanity at finding something like that out. And knowing that Ragnar is perhaps a bit more compassionate than the others ... I wonder how that's going to play out later on. I have a feeling that something is going to come of him hiding that little ginger, and him taking in the fact that Athelstan ended the priest's suffering. It may not turn out to be anything at all, but I have a feeling like we're being led toward something where that is concerned.

I am already hating Lagertha's new husband, and I can't wait for her knife him while Bjorn watches (oh, the mother/son bonding that would go on with the killing of such a giant douche). And I'm sure that he would think that he's being super awesome and generous in all of his douchery, but he can suck it. And I have no doubt that she's going to end up leaving him to go back and help Ragnar out ... I just hope that she really does knife the bitch before she leaves.

'Invasion' -- Vikings 2x02

Warning: Spoiler Alert

Does it make me a bad person that I wanted to laugh when Ragnar was mackin' on that serving girl right in front of the new and less cool wife? You know ... the one that thought that she would be able to waltz in all preggers and take over (even though he was already married and had a kid)? All I kept thinking was that she got exactly what she deserved for how she played things with Lagertha. Karma's a bitch, isn't she? Yep, and that's why I don't like to get in her way.

It was good to see a bit of Athelstan after not getting any of him during the season premier, but I have to wonder just how long they are going to keep calling him "Priest". He's been with them for four years now, and he's assimilated into their culture; and I don't get the impression that he's doing anything that would get him labeled as a priest by anyone of that faith. It seems likely that he may still have a good deal of Christian guilt (since that shit doesn't leave you very easily, especially if you've been in the faith for a good amount of time), but I get the impression from him that he's moving his way toward being a Heathen (and I use this term both as the way the Christians would have used it at the time, and the way that the Germanic Neo-paganists use it now ... meaning that they follow the Northern tradition).

And as much as I stand by my previous statements about Rollo being a giant cock who needs to be body slammed into some rocks, I think that if karma keeps pwning him directly in his stupid face, he might turn into something other than the waste of space that he has been. He seems to be learning that he can't be a giant doorknob and expect to have everything go his way all of the time. Maybe he'll be willing to earn the things that he wants now (and treat people the way that he should have been treating them the entire time).

And speaking of Rollo ... what the hell was going on with Aslaug calling Siggy into her bedroom and wanting to be friends now? Sure, Siggy is with Rollo, and Rollo has only just been forgiven by Ragnar, but shouldn't Aslaug have been doing something about Siggy before now if she wanted to be able to head things off at the pass? If she was really worried about how Siggy might want to have her old position back, why wait until four years down the line to address the issue and try to make sure that everything's cool? Again I was struck by the feeling that Aslaug is up to something, but I just can't figure out yet what it might be. It may be nothing more than her thinking that since she's a princess, and her parents are famous, she should be able to manipulate people and get whatever she wants ... but I think that there's something more going on with her.

Again, Floki made me all kinds of happy ... especially when they were in the longboats, and GSkrs had that great expression (while he was probably staring at a giant green screen) of ZOMG!Wave!!!!!!! Oh, Floki. Also, his reaction to other people's boats ... ha!! Of course he's going to think that boats made by anyone other than himself are going to be complete crap (cuz they are. No one makes longboats as well as Floki does, and that's a fact).

I'm looking forward to seeing what is going to happen with King Ecbert, since if he pays out even a little bit of what the writers are building him up as being ... this might turn out to be kind of amazing. I also have a feeling that Bjorn and Lagertha are going to be back in Ragnar's life at some time in the near future, and that they are likely to fight alongside him against King Ecbert; Ragnar will probably convince Lagertha that it would behoove her to fight alongside him against Ecbert (and Bjorn will probably go along with Lagertha out of loyalty to her). I sincerely hope that there is all manner of tension there between them after what happened (since it would be completely delicious), and I am looking forward to seeing Bjorn see Floki again (probably making some sort of comment about how he's not as tall as he used to be). As loyal as Floki will probably always be to Ragnar (despite how much of an idiot he can be), I think that Floki has always been fond of Bjorn (and probably Lagertha as well).

'Brother's War' -- Vikings 2x01

Warning: Spoiler Alert

Am I the only one who really wanted Ragnar to beat the hell out of Rollo? It's not just that he hurt Floki (who I love), it's the fact that I never liked his character to begin with ... and it annoys me even more that he ended up being a complete traitor (which I'm not cool with in the least bit). I'm glad that he didn't end up fighting Ragnar cuz of his brotherly feels, but I still want horrible things to happen to him. And speaking of Rollo getting away with being a traitor, I wonder what's going to happen to the lawgiver once Ragnar realizes that he was bought off. I think that he's going to have to do something about it, since there's no way that they would be able to trust him to hand out judgments after that. And the question becomes who bought him off. I think that it might be too easy of a guess to say that it was Ragnar (or even Bjorn) cuz of the coin that Ragnar was showing Bjorn. I have a feeling that we're being thrown a red herring with that, and it will turn out to be someone else (maybe Siggy? She seems to have started to genuinely care about him).

And what's with the writers turning Floki into Legolas? Seriously, every time that he started to say something about, "We need to watch out for Rollo, cuz he's a giant douche, and he's bound to try something," Ragnar pretty much said "Shut up, Legolas." "No, really, he's going to betray us." "Shut up, Legolas." "A red sun rises. Blood has been shed this night." "Shut up, Legolas. You big drama queen."

I was about to get pissed when I saw Rollo and Floki start to fight each other, cuz we know that they aren't even in the same class when it comes to fighting. Rollo is totes the berserker who will come straight for you and fuck your shit up; Floki is the one who comes at you from behind and cuts your Achilles' tendon (after he's tasted (and spit out) the communion wine). I didn't think that the writers were going to kill off Floki in the first episode of the second season (seeing as he seems exactly the kind to be a fan favorite ... but since I don't venture into fandom, since it's a dark and scary place full of monsters, I'm guessing based on how much I love him), but that didn't mean that I wasn't completely worried about him. I DON'T WANT BAD THINGS HAPPENING TO FLOKI!! HE'S FAR TOO AWESOME!! But when Ragnar got ahold of him, and Rollo turned his attention to Eye Patch, I don't see why someone didn't go, "Oh, hey, look ... the berserker is otherwise occupied. Let's stab him in the kidneys while he isn't looking." Yeah, I know that he's going to survive until at least the big battle that they showed in the pilot, but that doesn't stop me from wanting horrible things to happen to him.

Poor little Bjorn. I felt so bad for him. He felt like he was stuck in the middle of a really crappy situation, and he thought that he was doing the right thing by staying with Ragnar, but I'm really glad that he ended up deciding that he would do what he actually wanted to do (in going with Lagertha). I didn't like that he wasn't going with his mama, especially since that's actually what he wanted to do.

But I don't feel at all bad for Ragnar when Lagertha and Bjorn left him. I kind of wanted Lagertha to put up a little more of a fight when Ragnar decided to ask her if it was cool that they have a plural marriage, even though he should have known that she would not have been at all cool with that. Sure, they invited Athelstan to have happy fun time with them toward the beginning of season one, but inviting someone to have happy fun time with you doesn't equate to wanting a plural marriage. Yes, he wanted to take care of the baby that's about to be born (and he may have had at least somewhat good intentions in that regard), but he already had a family (including a son who he should have still been concerned with trying to help raise).

And I'm going to say right now that I don't like Princess Aslaug, and I think that she's up to something nefarious ... something more than just wanting to have her baby daddy in her child's life. I think that she intentionally tried to get rid of Lagertha, and that doing so is going to lead to something else. I don't know yet what that might be, but it's the vibe that I'm getting from her.