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Vikings - Series 02 Episode 10 - “The Lord’s Prayer” - Review

May 5, 2014

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Vikings - Series 02 Episode 10 - “The Lord’s Prayer” - Review

I delayed in writing this review for two reasons. The first is because I was hoping to make a little announcement to accompany it, which you will find at the end. The second is that I really wanted time to process the episode.

In all honesty, after first watching the episode, I wasn’t sure how I felt about it. A fellow reviewer tweeted me that night to ask me if I had loved it, and I waited almost a full day before I could get back to her. Where did my hesitation come from? In thinking about it, I realized that I did really love the episode, for a lot of reasons which I’ll discuss a bit later, but my hesitation came from feeling that it was just so short.

Of course no shorter than any other episode of Vikings, but the only reason I was having mixed feelings about the whole thing was really that it was such a strong, intense episode that when it ended I wanted more.

The standout of this episode had to be Floki. As someone rightly pointed out in the comments last week, Floki never really betrayed Ragnar but was actually playing King Horik the whole time. It seems obvious now looking back on it, but the thought hadn’t occurred to me till it was suggested last week by the commenter. One of the reasons the betrayal worked, in a sense, is that it seemingly came out of nowhere. The thought that Floki could betray Ragnar was so jarring and upsetting, that I didn’t stop to think it was all a rouse. Now of course there are probably many others who disagree and saw the deception from the beginning, but it did not cross my mind at first.

The show certainly went a long way to prove this week that Floki was indeed betraying Ragnar. His reaction to seeing his daughter for the first time was unsettling, and of course his murder of Thorstein was another heart breaking moment. Even though it was revealed that all his actions were actually helping Ragnar, even if it had gone the other way, it would have made sense. Floki had reason to send Helga and his daughter away. He had reason to hate Rollo and attempt to get rid of him. And he’s show on more than one occasion how he feels about Athelstan. The storyline worked because either way it could have gone, for King Horik or for Ragnar, could have been justified on some level.

Of course, I am happy that Floki sided with Ragnar in the end, and we finally saw the end of King Horik. His death was one of the ones this season that impacted me the most, both emotionally and visually. It was a culminating moment, and extremely satisfying, knowing how he was planning on slaughtering everyone in Kattegat.

Travis Fimmel deserves some serious praise for his work this season. Ragnar spoke only in one scene this episode, reciting the Lord’s Prayer with Athelstan, but his presence permeated the entire episode. All season long, Fimmel has told such a story with just his eyes and facial expressions alone. Each inflection of the voice, each awkward smile, and every carefully chose phrase have helped to move this season and this character along, in the most subtle of ways. It’s been fantastically done, and I’m incredibly eager to see if Ragnar will continue to rise in Season 3, or if that will be the season that sees him start to stumble. He is a King now, which will bring new complications.

I also very much enjoyed Alexander Ludwig’s performance this season as Bjorn. The time jump at the beginning of the season was a good thing, and Bjorn grew into a character that was not only likeable but incredibly interesting. His relationship with Porunn went to the next level this episode, although I’m wondering if those two will make it, since Bjorn is supposed to marry the daughter of a King according to the Seer. Maybe one of King Horik’s daughters?

Porunn would be a far more interesting choice, partly because she, like Lagertha, is a fierce and independent woman on the show. The show in general is to be commended for the inclusion of female characters that are multi faceted and engaging, and can also kick some serious butt. All of the woman on the show this season have done an incredible job. Lagertha, Aslaug, Siggy, Helga, and Porunn all got considerable storylines, and all showed that Viking women were not to be messed with. I hope this is a trend the show continues with next season.

We didn’t see King Ecbert in the finale, but I don’t think his story is over. He was a strong addition to the story, so I hope to see more of him next season. I would love to see him interact with Athelstan again, since their relationship was incredibly fascinating.

As for Athelstan, we didn’t see him too much this episode, and I hope we see another arc for him next season that was as compelling as this season's arc. We did see that although he’s back with the Vikings, he still hasn’t forgotten his Christian faith. Perhaps he will finally find a balance between the two. And maybe Ragnar will continue to integrate the teaching of ALL the Gods into his own beliefs.

And so we end another incredible season of Vikings. It went by too fast, and we’ve a long time to go before season 3 starts up, but I’m sure there will be plenty of discussion and speculation between now and then!

Oh and I promised an announcement didn’t I? I will be chatting with actor George Blagden who plays Athelstan this friday, so if you have any burning questions about the finale or the season in general, please feel free to send them to me at trinarego@spoilertv.com and I will do my best to get them in! Please get your questions in by Thursday! Send those questions!

So for one last time this season, Viking’s Fans, sound off below! What did you think of the finale? What was your favorite storyline from the season? And what do you hope to see next season?

About the Author - Trina
Trina is a contributer for Spoiler TV who reviews Vikings, Game of Thrones, Sherlock and Mad Men. She is a European History major living in the united States. She is an avid TV watcher and keeps up on most shows. When not writing she spends her time reading, working on a thesis, and running.

16 comments:

  1. EuphemiaWonderlandMay 5, 2014 at 3:32 PM

    I think this season finale was one of the best episodes ever and left everyone wanting more. I can't wait to see Ragnar as King.
    During the last scene was on the edge of my seat. I knew Ragnar was going to kill Horik but the way the scene was done was really interesting and I thought it was a good thing that most people didn't even speak.
    The female characters in this show are great. I hated Princess Aslaug when she first appeared but during this season she showed that there was more to her than what meets the eye. All the female characters are three dimensional and very different from each other and I love it.
    It's funny because some really dumb people think this show is "too PC" because of the way female characters are written. With some little research you can find out female Vikings fought alongside men and could get a divorce in some cases. Also some female Vikings were famous for being as violent as the male Vikings. This show is actually pretty accurate about the female Vikings.

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  2. Thanks for the review. I thought it was a great season, and like you mentioned above, Travis Fimmel did a great job all season. His facial expressions is unlike anybody else on tv and I looove his character. I always enjoyed Floke´s character and was glad that he had a bigger storyline this season (though I was a bit worried for a while, if he was gonna be the new villian).
    I hope we see a lot more of King Ecbert next season. He and Ragnar have great chemistry. I´m glad that Athelstan is with the Vikings again though, it is much more fun. Loved how he and ragnar prayed together.

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  3. EuphemiaWonderlandMay 5, 2014 at 5:26 PM

    Exactly. If you haven't watched the episode you won't know that's the King's sword.

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  4. I think that Bjorn might marry a Saxon princess, if not Porunn. Remember he wants to settle on the land in Britain promised by Ecbert. And we know that the Vikings did settle in areas of Britain and intermarry with the Saxons, and even ruled Britain for a time, i.e., Canute.

    I wonder if we will see them raiding the Frankish territories next season. Lagertha wanted to raid and explore new lands, and Ragnar historically did raid numerous areas of France, and I believe, Rollo becomes the ancestor of the Dukes of Normandy (Northmen lands.) So he may get his Earldom there.

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  5. The seer said that ONE of Ragnar's son will marry a princess and ANOTHER ONE will sail around the sea which has no tides - and that Bjorn is either of them. Guess which one? (Hint: There is no reason not to marry Thorunn).
    Also none of Horik's daughters survived...the woman at the end were the servants.
    Could you ask about Athelstan's relationship with Athelwulf? They seemed to have developed some sort of understanding towards the end, but then Athelwulf seemed very ready to get Athelstan killed.
    Also if Athelstan is ruing his decision to come back already. He seemed to be a little bit lost in some scenes.

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  6. Great review Trina! I don't know who you are referring to- but I was one of those who DIDN'T believe for a sec that Floki was truly with King Horik. Just didn't seem right, although I do see the justifications of others. As for his thoughts and treatments of Hilga and that sweet baby girl, it makes sense. He was pushing them away - fearfully, as he KNEW that KHorik was planning & plotting Ragnar's demise. ..... but not just his demise, but ALL his family and those closest to Ragnar. IF it had gone the other way- I would've gone nutty! lol As Floki is one of my fav's- he lends a little levity to such a serious show.

    True, Ragnar was hardly seen or heard from, but then again, he was actually pulling all the strings. Nothing that has happened in the past half of the season was without Ragnar's knowledge and his slick guiding. Now Ragnar is KING !

    *Aslaug is finally coming around! Was getting really tired of the "I am a Princess" thing. Guess some of that high'n'mighty has gotten eaten away.
    *Siggy leaving the axe for Rollo AND giving Ragnar The Dagger in front of KHorik.
    *Lagertha (as always- such a great character) "dispatching" MRS. KHorik!
    *Floki's AND the entire Kattegat village playing their roles .... Flawless


    ? Did Ragnar let KHorick's son actually live?
    ? Did Bjorn let the little princesses live too?


    All in all- I thought it was a great season & a wonderful ender................it just toooo long till we get more!!!


    "..........Now my watch begins"

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  7. When I was watching the episode I kept saying to myself, he's not talking. why isn't he talking? It didn't hit home to me until the very end and the stare down with Horik that Ragnar doesn't need to talk. his presence is enough. I've read on other boards that they thought Ragnar went a little psycho when he was killing Horik. I think Siggy's line "Ragnars weakness is his children" completely justified the way he killed him. Horik was going to kill everyone in Kattegat. Yeah, his death was going to be brutal but the lesson learned here is that you don't mess with Ragnars family.
    I kept going back and forth with where Floki's loyalty lay. It wasn't until the very end when the truth was revealed that I knew. the scene when he sent Helga and the baby away made me think that he was really against Ragnar. nice double double cross writers, you had me until the end!
    This season reaffirms what I have known since episode 3 of season 1 (when I really got hooked) if you're not watching Vikings you need to get your life together. I haven't been this is love with a show and it's characters since season 1 of Spartacus (RIP Andy)
    all other shows need to take note: THAT is how a finale is done. I will be anxiously waiting for season 3, haunting spoilertv for any tidbit they throw my way

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  8. Thank you, was about to post that bit about the prophecy. I can't believe how widespread the notion that Bjorn is prophecised to marry the daughter of a King is. Did the editors cut the part of sailing around the sea with no tides out or something.

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  9. ? Did Ragnar let KHorick's son actually live?

    Yes, and that will bite him in the butt big time next season

    ? Did Bjorn let the little princesses live too?


    No, the women who were alive were servants/slave girls. Horik's daughters were all killed.

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  10. They didn't...some people just don't listen (even though it is mentioned two times in the show that it is an either/or scenario, and if you know history, you know exactly which son will marry which princess) or don't really do their own research. The thing with the princess if for me up there with "in history Horik lived longer than Ragnar" (depends on the source text!!!!!) and "Siggy caused Lagertha's miscarriage" (what? Unless they cut something from season one I don't know about, she didn't).

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  11. I looked at a lot of genealogies and historical accounts and they don't really know for sure who Bjorn married. Thora Haraldsdottir is the only named possibility (and that in only one source), but most have his wife as a question mark. What source are you referencing? It sure doesn't seem to have been Porunn. He does seem to have raided extensively in France and all the way to Spain and Italy.

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  12. Indeed, the historical acounts are pretty vauge about Bjorn Ironside's wife only that he must have had at least one since he had children, so Michael Hirst is pretty free to do what he wants there. There's no obstacle to it being Thorunn. He did as you say raid extensively across the Mediterenean ("the sea that has no tide"). Look to Ragnar's other sons to find out who fullfills the "marry the daughter of a King" part.

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  13. It is documented in historical accounts about the "berserker" Viking warriors' battle rages, so I suspect that Ragnar going "a little psycho" was a demonstration of that "berserker" battle rage they would get into in the heat of a battle sequence.

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  14. this was a clue on jeopardy last night :)

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  15. Well, whatdaya know about that! I always was good at Jeopardy! ;o)

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