Tag Archives: Vikings
From my blog...
The Last Kingdom 4, Episode 10
The final episode of this season’s The Last Kingdom is set in Winchester where events cascade breathlessly one after another. Winchester has been under siege for 30 days, and the no man’s land between the Saxon camp and the city … Read More
The Last Kingdom 4, Episode 9
Episode 9 opens in Aylesbury where Edward is lingering (too long) to witness Aethelflaed become Lady of Mercia in what looks like a wedding ceremony. Eventually we learn that the king is going to return to Wessex (finally) and Aethelflaed … Read More
Swords, Wyrms & Vikings
One of the treasures on display at Durham Cathedral’s Open Treasure Exhibit is an impressive 13th century sword, the Conyers Falchion. According to a legend, this falchion was used by Sir John Conyers to slay the Sockburn Wyrm. The … Read More
Reflections on the Dark
I had a dream, which was not all a dream. The bright sun was extinguish’d, and the stars Did wander darkling in the eternal space… ………from DARKNESS, by Lord Byron I live in California where massive fires fanned by high … Read More
Emma of Normandy & Bayeux
The charming town of Bayeux near the coast of Normandy is perhaps best known for its remarkable Tapestry, a very long length of embroidered linen that portrays events surrounding the Battle of Hastings in 1066. A few years ago I … Read More
Vikings 5 Recap, Episode 9: A SIMPLE STORY
The first half of this episode rockets around from Lagertha’s camp to Vestfold to Floki’s Iceland settlement and back around again. We’re all used to this by now, right? The episode begins with the aftermath of last week’s battle, … Read More
Vikings 5 Recap, Episode 8: THE JOKE
Most of this episode takes place in Norway. The few scenes set in Wessex and Iceland are essentially place holders, to remind us that, yes, we have characters of interest there. In Wessex King Æthelwulf is still training his eldest … Read More
Vikings 5 Recap, episode 7: FULL MOON
This episode is an increasingly dark, doom-laden build-up toward the battle that is looming between, essentially, the sons of Ragnar. But I want to talk about that later. First, let’s look at the other three elements in this episode (it … Read More
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 5 Recap, Episode 4: THE PLAN
I have to confess that I was just a wee bit distracted this week by Bjorn’s long, blond plait and Lagertha’s intricately braided and metal-studded coiffure. Whoever is doing the make-up and hair styling on this series is having a … Read More