There’s blood in the water on Vikings when Ragnar finally squares off with Rollo. The battle to end all battles ensues; who will end the conqueror?
We’ve been slowly building up to this moment on Vikings. The face off between two brothers. Ragnar (Travis Fimmel) and Rollo (Clive Standen) have always fought amongst each other as far as fame is concerned, more of the fighting falling on Rollo’s side with his harbored envy of his better known brother. It’s no surprise that he comes out fighting and urging on his new Parisian allies into a battle that could end badly for either side. Ragnar certainly has many souls behind him, supporting his cause: Floki (Gustaf Skarsgard), his son Bjorn (Alexander Ludwig), and even his ex-wife Lagertha (Katheryn Winnick), along with those that might even betray him in the future for control of his lands and power; King Finehair (Peter Franzen) and his brother Halfdan (Jasper Paakonen). Despite this, the battle ends bloody and maybe not so resolved for either side. Meanwhile in Paris, the people wait to hear their fate and maybe take cover in case their new protector proves false. It’s an action packed episode, one that presents plenty of emotion but also a few surprises. Let’s delve into it together and discuss what was so great about “The Last Ship.”
A Rollo by any other name would still be a traitor.
The event we were all waiting for has finally come to pass. Ragnar has maneuvered his boats over the mountains and is on his way to Paris to teach his brother a lesson. However, he’s met ahead of his goal upon the river by Rollo himself with a legion of his new allies. The scene is set and boat goes against boat along with a flurry of arrows and some choice angry words. No one who is on Ragnar’s side wants to see Rollo succeed. What he has done to establish his place along with the Frankians is despicable and unforgivable. There really is no question as to what end Ragnar has in mind for the blackguard. The battle goes on for some times and at one point it looks as if the vikings will have the victory for the day. If there’s anything at all that Rollo is good at is is inspiring man to war and this case he does so successfully and urges his men on to fight back against the odds.
“Come my way and let my ax slake it’s thirst on your blood! Come to Floki. Come to Floki, you bastard, I am waiting.” - Floki
Ragnar and Rollo have their one on one but is interrupted and not allowed to go to the death for either of them. Ragnar’s men pull him back just as he had urged his men to retreat and take Lagertha with them when he had witnessed her being struck down. Halfdan is carried from battle in this way as well. Due to these losses and the overzealous need to protect their king, the northmen fall back and give the win of the day to Rollo. Neither men, Rollo nor Ragnar look the better for it. Rollo is dragged back to Paris where he is met with cheers and a celebration, his hero parade that he has been coveting for his entire life. It seems as though he has found his home and his place in the world that he has so wanted for so very long. But is it really worth it? I suppose we shall see in the following years, if he has managed to keep up the expectations of his worth and success for the sake of Paris.
Who watches over us?
The constant prophecies are one thing that are always in question with this show. The Seer (John Kavanagh) is shown briefly, still living and in obvious agony. Is this because of what he has foretold and is being allowed to witness the outcome from afar? Or is this due to what will come and what he is now seeing for their futures. Ragnar was told by the man that he would die the day a blind man saw him. For a moment, it looked as if this prophecy was going to come to pass when he was in the thick of battling his brother Rollo in revenge for all the evil he had done towards him and his people. As this was not the case and he was forced to retreat, the Seer may still have some prophecies to hand out for the surviving players of the battle. It is worth noting that even the strongest and most faithful of the viking group has cause to worry and wonder if the gods were really on their side, or if they were going into a fray that was unorthodox and pointless in order to settle a domestic matter between two brothers, rather than achieve any gain for their group or their hoped for journey into Paris.
“Do the gods favor us?” - Lagertha
Emperor Charles (Lothaire Bluteau) is full of surprises this episode. Just last week he had asked Roland (Huw Parmenter) for his permission to bed his sister, Therese (Karen Hassan) only to seemingly bed the man himself. Roland served a great purpose to the Emperor by giving him intel regarding Count Odo’s (Owen Roe) betrayal and nefarious plans as well be rid of the man. It’s no wonder that the Emperor pulls out the rug from beneath both of them by ordering their execution while they dined together no less. Shocking as it was, this move shows that those that secretly plot and plan can never be trusted, even when you’re sleeping with them. After all, that’s how Count Odo met his end and it was a smart yet ruthless move of the Emperor to be rid of the problem before it progressed. His daughter, on the other hand, Princess Gisla (Morgane Polanski) is busy with more profound things. She prays to the Virgin Mother to spare her husband and grant him victory. She is blessed with the tears rolling down the cheeks of the statue as she offers her husband’s bracelet as a token for his safe return. An offering that was taken happily as her wish was granted. Will the victory of Rollo cement Gisla’s faith in the church after witnessing the small miracle? Or will she let his greatness overpower her to the point of hero worship? Hopefully, she will remain vigilant to the going ons of the Parisian court and be wary in her father’s audience despite Rollo’s success now and in the future.
A father returns.
The most surprising thing about this entire episode was the giant time skip. Vikings has done this before, but usually only over the span of a year or two or maybe even over a season. After the battle is fought, it seems as if more than a few years have passed and the settlement of Kattegat has expanded and is being ruled over by an extremely drunk and maybe half-crazy Queen Aslaug (Alyssa Sutherland). What’s surprising is that after all the years, Ragnar’s secret is finally being exposed to the rest of the people about the settlement in Wessex and to most, it really is not much of a surprise. Perhaps to Aslaug it was just further proof of what she came to believe of Ragnar being unworthy of her time or affections. Her slack grin and flippant behavior certainly does nothing to show that she cares either way about Ragnar’s whereabouts or even if he will return. Bjorn most likely does most of the ruling and governing in his father’s absence and over his stepmother’s drunken haze. It was surprising in that case that he revealed his plans of sailing elsewhere to a place that is not even proven to exist to anyone and asking Floki and Helga’s (Maude Hirst) assistance in that endeavor.
“Who wants to be king?!” - Ragnar
Despite Bjorn’s plans for the future, it’s good to see that he still keeps up with his brothers, though his brothers all have mixed feelings regarding the state of their father and his well being or probably demise. In their eyes he has abandoned not only his people, but he abandoned them as a father, all over a loss in battle and a blow to his apparent fame. It looks to be a 50/50 split between all of them whether or not he deserves to die or if he was a great man. The one thing they all could agree on being his infamy and fame regarding his mind and his superb battle planning. When Ragnar returns, he is met by this mixed group, their indecision plain as day as well as the disdain amongst his people. In true Ragnar fashion, he talks about his failings, but still makes a bid to take back what he had left behind. There’s no telling what will happen in the future should he remain and stand up to his past secrets now out in the open to everyone.
Conclusion: There is no conclusion.
The plan to get back at Rollo for his traitorous dealings ended in completely failure. The both of them returned home, battered and bruised. One a savior and god in the eyes of his people, the other a defeated man kicked down a notch after one too many successes in the past. Ragnar does not get what he desires this time and ends up disappearing as a cause of it. It really does strike true to his character, being that he used to being revered and loved. He just couldn’t face up to being the failure and looked at as a mere man not only by his people but by his sons. The wound is definitely still a sore one regarding his brother and betrayal, but there is no indication that he still harbors the amount of resentment after being gone for so many years. It will be interesting to see what Ragnar’s next move will be now that he has returned to his people and family and what he will be willing to do smooth matters over regarding the failed settlement in Wessex and his failure to retake Paris as he had previously promised. One thing is for sure, he has healed from whatever had ailed him in the past and is over the drug addiction that he had fallen into while still recovering from his injuries.
I loved this episode for the action it provided and for the push forward into the timeline. The events as they were had come to an end with many subplots being wrapped up other than the showdown of brothers for the fight to Paris. Michael Hirst provided a brilliant move by boosting the story into the future after Ragnar has taken his leave of absence and let things crumble. Now that his sons have grown there are more options and stories to be had regarding his progeny and the future of Kattegat. What remains to be seen is how the rest of the world is faring after his long absence. Is King Ecbert (Linus Roache) conquering more lands and expanding his kingdom? Is Rollo still revered in Paris? Did Lagertha recover from the battle or did she make her journey on to Valhalla. Let’s hope that some or all of these questions are answered in the near future.
Questions, Comments & Concerns
- What lies in the future for Rollo amongst his new people? Will he be able to keep defending Paris not only from his own people but against others?
- Why did Ragnar disappear for so many years? What was he doing?
- Did Lagertha survive this battle? Did Halfdan? Where did King Finehair end up?
- Will Bjorn be successful in traversing across the sea and discovering the mediterranean for himself?
- Where is Torvi? Does she still remain with Bjorn or has she moved on?
- Will Ragnar take up his old place as king and will Queen Aslaug allow him to do so?
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