The moment has finally arrived for the season 3 finale of VIKINGS and it will certainly leave you frustrated and full of suspense – we need season 4 now, there’s much to be resolved! (Warning! This review contains episode spoilers.)
The last few episodes have led brilliantly to the build up of the invasion of Paris and the episodes did not disappoint. (You can read our review of them here.) They provided a gripping multi-episode kick to the third season of VIKINGS, a TV series that has been brought to the small screen via The History Channel and is available to watch on Amazon Prime.
Over the majority of the three seasons, we have been taken on a journey by Ragnar Lothbrook (Travis Fimmel) and his fellow Norseman. The period drama has been brilliantly scripted by creator Michael Hirst who has entertained audiences with a fascinating look at clashing cultures: the Christian Europeans versus the polytheistic pagans and alongside the gripping character story lines and excellent production, it also provides an in-built history lesson portraying the lives and history of Vikings.
The two episodes preceding the finale offered great fight sequences and superb scripting as we saw Viking leader, Ragnar, mounting a furious assault on the city, only to have their forces repelled in a protracted and gruesome battle, which left many of them dead and injured – including King Ragnar himself. Despite the injuries obtained to their farmer-come-Earl-turned-king, they remained bloodied but undaunted and the invaders are still desperate to get in after weakening the French forces. However, their leader had formed a truce which saw their pagan warrior become baptised in the river and turn Christian, much to the horror of his kin and followers. This was agreed by the spineless Emperor Charles of West Francia (Lothaire Bluteau) and his pagan-hating and strong-minded daughter, Princess Gisla (Morgane Polanski).
The season finale opens up with Ragnar still suffering greatly from his injuries; sweating, coughing up blood, convulsing and looks like he is about to die any day now. Knowing that his injuries are severe and that he might not live to fight another day, he speaks to his son Bjorn (Alexander Ludwig) on his deathbed and offers his him one last piece of guidance, as he will be responsible for their people upon his death – “Lead with your head, not your heart.“
Knowing that his son will be king one day and being one of the only people left that he trusts who has never betrayed him, he tells his son he has one last thing he must do…
Meanwhile, Ragnar’s friend and great betrayer Floki (Gustaf Skarsgard), who killed Ragnar’s confidante, the captured monk Athelstan (George Blagden) is building his leader one last boat – not for them to set sail home in, but to bury Ragnar in when he dies.
[KGVID poster=”https://www.filmandtvnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/CDYCuvEXIAE2uV1_thumb0.jpg” width=”700″ height=”393″]https://www.filmandtvnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/CDYCuvEXIAE2uV1.mp4[/KGVID]
As expected, it becomes a solemn affair as the audience see Bjorn close the lid upon the boat coffin of his father, who will be receiving a Christian mass inside the walls of Paris as part of their conditions for them leaving the city. As he lays in his coffin, Ragnar’s ex-wife Lagertha (Katheryn Winnick) comes to pay her final respects to the man she has loved all of her life and is devastated by the loss.
Such feelings of sadness are not so reciprocated by Ragnar’s jealous brother Rollo (Clive Standen) who has already betrayed him at the start of season 2, after refusing to live in his shadow anymore. It seems that after spending so long trying to recompense for his previous malice, Rollo is not too displeased to see his brother dead. Whilst next to the coffin, he simply states “death happens to us all sooner or later.” Not exactly the image or words of a grieving brother.
[KGVID poster=”https://www.filmandtvnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/CDVXEgQUUAA9lOB_thumb0.jpg” width=”700″ height=”380″]https://www.filmandtvnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/CDVXEgQUUAA9lOB.mp4[/KGVID]
We also get to see Floki’s final words, who does not quite confess that he has killed Athelstan, but he certainly is a man who is still bitter about him: “Give my regards to Athelstan. You betrayed us, our heritage, our future. I hate you and I love you with all of my heart.”
Not exactly sad final words from all of his friends and family then.
As the audience is prepared to say goodbye to the hero of the last three seasons, no doubt with a feeling of sadness and ‘there is no Vikings TV series without Ragnar’, we see an elaborate funeral procession for the warrior play out on the screen that led the Norsemen through the Paris gates, down the street, and into the cathedral. It is a melancholy moment – until the unbeatable warrior jumps out of a casket with his knife and other weapons inside! Yes, the audience were tricked and the king is very much not dead. Instead, his secret plot with Bjorn is pulled off as he takes Princess Gisla hostage and opens up the gates for his Vikings to flood into the city.
[KGVID poster=”https://www.filmandtvnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/CDZvN8ZWIAAh-f_thumb0.jpg” width=”700″ height=”380″]https://www.filmandtvnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/CDZvN8ZWIAAh-f-.mp4[/KGVID]
Up until this point, none of the others had been able to mount a successful attack on the city and how typical that even on his deathbed, it’s Ragnar’s plot that is once more triumphant. After being let down by so many of his family and friends, who betrayed him with such treachery, it’s no wonder that no other individual was aware of this secret plot other than his son, Bjorn. A successful plot which is very reminiscent of the Trojan Horse which entered Troy.
However, Princess Gisla wasn’t the prize. She never was. Ragnar, as we all well know, doesn’t need to kill anyone. He’s perfectly content when villages and towns just surrender up all their worth and then he is happy to leave, so he let her go while his army flooded the city. All of this after King Charles had given the Norsemen a huge wagon full of gold. Very cleverly done, Ragnar!
Having his trunks of gold and with the threatening promise of returning in the spring, they all embark back on their boats to head home, leaving Rollo behind to ensure they’re able once more to return. An offer which Rollo quickly jumps to knowing that Ragnar heard his harsh words whilst he was ‘dead’ in the casket.
Hiding in Paris away from Ragnar is not all that is in store for Rollo, who has accepted an offer to marry Princess Gisla, who has been offered as a bargaining tool for him ‘for the sake of Paris.’ Of course with the promise of becoming a Duke, receiving land in north France and becoming very rich, it is no surprise to see the ambitious Rollo accept the offer.
So, all of this is a great set up for season four and Ragnar has so much unfinished business. Despite looking grisly and sick on the boat ride home, he has so much still to resolve: his lands in England were ruthlessly taken off him by King Ecbert (Linus Roache), Queen Judith of Mercia (Sarah Greene) has bore him a child unbeknown to Ragnar himself, his brother will end up protecting Paris and no doubt preventing their next raid and then of course there is the small matter of Floki having killed his friend. “You killed Athelstan,” were the last, chilling words to Floki that we saw in the finale. What a way to end!
With such dealings of revenge and treachery, season four will no doubt be a corker of a season and upon Ragnar’s recovery (we can’t imagine him being killed off now), there are so many interesting plots for creator Michael Hirst to play with – and we can’t wait already. Roll on 2016!
Missed any of the episodes or not yet watched any of the fantastic TV series VIKINGS? Well you can happily binge-watch all of the seasons on Amazon Prime now and also watch the show on History.
