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Author Archives: Patricia

The Last Kingdom 5.2: Death, Danger and Heartbreak

Posted on March 10, 2022 by Patricia

Every single episode of The Last Kingdom has elements of tenderness, threat, heartbreak, tension and fear. The show pulls us into the lives of its characters and enfolds us in the history into which they’re mired; makes us care about … Read More →

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The Last Kingdom 5.1 Old Friends

Posted on March 9, 2022 by Patricia

This 5th Season of The Last Kingdom, if it follows the pattern we’ve seen in the past, will be based loosely on two of Bernard Cornwell’s novels: Warriors of the Storm and The Flame Bearer. Episode 1 opens with Uhtred … Read More →

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Vikings Valhalla 1.8: Trust No One

Posted on March 4, 2022 by Patricia

The Norway scenes in this episode are mostly invention, based loosely on saga material. For your edification, here is a very simplified account of historical events in Norway from 1000 to 1030 pulled from The Oxford Illustrated History of the … Read More →

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Vikings Valhalla 1.7: And Now–Too Many Kings

Posted on March 3, 2022 by Patricia

Let me begin with the Norway plot and then put it aside while I deal with events in England. Almost everything that happens in Norway is invented. Kattegat itself is invented and I suppose that having this imaginary place as … Read More →

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Vikings Valhalla 1.6: Too Many Queens

Posted on March 1, 2022 by Patricia

The episode begins in Norway as Freydis arrives at the healer’s cabin, alarmed and in search of her friend Yrsa. Unfortunately, she finds her. She also finds the Christian zealot who we learn is named Jarl Kåre. Later we will … Read More →

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Vikings Valhalla 1.5: Just Your Typical Viking Feast

Posted on March 1, 2022 by Patricia

This episode begins with Freydis at the temple in Uppsala, praying before Thor and Odin. This is all part of the Norse gods vs. Christian God theme that runs through the series. And yes, this was a time of change … Read More →

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Vikings Valhalla 1.4 The Battle at London Bridge

Posted on February 28, 2022 by Patricia

Question One: Did Olaf Haraldsson pull down London Bridge? Yes. But he did it in 1014. In that year the armies of  Swein Forkbeard had taken control of England and London. Æthelred, Emma and their sons had fled to Normandy. … Read More →

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Vikings Valhalla 1.3: The Viking War on England Begins

Posted on February 27, 2022 by Patricia

Remember, we’ve telescoped time in this series. Events that happen in the course of a year are actually pulled from an entire decade between 1002 and 1015.  Episode 3 starts with gruesome scenes of battle and plundering in Kent. We … Read More →

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Vikings Valhalla 1.2: Enter the Queen

Posted on February 26, 2022 by Patricia

There is a lot to unpack in this second episode of Vikings Valhalla, most of it having to do with what’s happening in England. The thing is, we know a lot about what was happening in England because we have … Read More →

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Vikings Valhalla 1.1

Posted on February 25, 2022 by Patricia

The first thing that the audience watching VIKINGS VALHALLA needs to do is to throw away the historical timeline because that is what the script writer, Jeb Stuart, has done. Let me give you some examples: The opening scene takes … Read More →

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