Tag Archives: Athelstan
From my blog...
Vikings 5 Recap, Episode 6: THE MESSAGE
The opening scene of this episode made me think of novelist Dorothy Dunnett’s description of the African desert: There are few water holes, and the way hidden by sandstorms. One mistake in the desert and whole caravans can perish. The … Read More
VIKINGS 4 Recap, Episode 15: ALL HIS ANGELS
Spoiler Alert! Reader Beware. As the episode opens, King Ecbert (Linus Roache) has decided to deliver his ‘frenemy’ Ragnar (Travis Fimmel) into the hands of King Aella, who will very happily kill the viking leader. Tormented by guilt at this decision, Ecbert … Read More
VIKINGS 4 Recap, Episode 14: THE UNCERTAIN HOUR BEFORE THE MORNING
The action this week swings between Kattegat and Wessex, and the face-offs between Lagertha/Aslaug and Ragnar/Ecbert that we have all been eagerly anticipating. Kudos to the actors, whose expressions convey a wide range of emotions – doubt, fear, anxiety, understanding, … Read More
Vikings 4, Episode 3: MERCY
There was a lot of howling in this episode. Did you notice? Floki howls in pain, despair and grief. Lagertha howls in ecstasy. Bjorn gets howling drunk, but he also howls with triumph, with pain, and with cold. Rollo howls … Read More
The Riddle of the Stones
They had arrived at last at a long, low ridge where the standing stone, its edges scored in primitive runes, pointed skyward. Athelstan checked his horse beside the ancient, lichen-covered stone. Gazing into the shallow vale beyond, he caught his … Read More
Vikings 3, Episode V: THE USURPER
Oh, Sweet Heaven, I don’t know where to begin with this week’s episode. I have so many thoughts in my head, so much speculation, and even a discovery of sorts. Perhaps I should start with the title. The Usurper. By … Read More
VIKINGS Episode 10: The Lord’s Prayer (or My Lips Are Sealed)
I watched the finale of VIKINGS Season 2 the other night, and this post about it will be very short. If you saw it, you don’t need a recap. If you haven’t seen it yet, well, you won’t find any … Read More
VIKINGS: Episode 8: Boneless (or The Son, the Saint & the Slut)
My own subtitle for this episode is The Son, The Saint & the Slut. First, the Son. Ragnar’s new son is born with a deformed leg. His mum, Aslaug, had predicted that she would give birth to a monster, so … Read More
VIKINGS Episode 6: Unforgiven
Series writer Michael Hirst reminds us in one of his all-too-brief background videos on the VIKINGS web page that vengeance was the primary motivation of Viking society. This was true of Anglo-Saxon society as well. Hostility that had been sparked … Read More