Vikings – “The Dead” Top Five Moments. One Last Boat for Ragnar.

Season 3, Episode 10

Air Date: Thursday, April 23, 2015 at 10 pm ET/PT on History®

Rating: ★★★★★

“I can see not the living, but the dead will conquer Paris.” – The Seer

While Viking leaders debate what to do next to conquer Paris, Ragnar (Travis Fimmel) has had enough of their failed attempts. But along with this, Ragnar’s recent statements center around two interesting situations that sound like a contradiction—he announces he won’t fail in raiding Paris but also claims to be a dying man. Will a successful siege of Paris be the last thing Ragnar accomplishes or is there more to his plan than meets the eye?

The Vikings’ season three finale is an exhilarating episode charged with some unexpected twists and turns. Here are my top five moments:

<i>Vikings</i> – “The Dead” Top Five Moments. One Last Boat for Ragnar. 1

Emperor Charles and his daughther, Princess Gisla, have very different perspectives on how to best safeguard their kingdom against the Northmen.

Moment #5 – Count Odo vs. Princess Gisla

Count Odo (Owen Rowe) persistently courts Princess Gisla (Morgane Polanski) but during “The Dead,” their interactions are as warm as a block of ice. I find their exchanges rather laughable as they’re like water and oil—they don’t mix. This doesn’t surprise me; I’ve always had the impression Count Odo’s interest in Gisla isn’t rooted in love, and I also believe the princess is aware of this too. Considering how Count Odo is making all the difficult decisions to safeguard Paris as Emperor Charles (Lothaire Bluteau) has proven to be useless under stressful circumstances, it shouldn’t come as a surprise the Count is trying to find a way to officially rule Paris. Even if it is through a marriage of convenience, wink, wink.

Moment #4 – Rollo looks Ahead

The trip to Paris is turning out to be a fruitful experience for Rollo (Clive Standen). The battlefield provides Rollo with a renewed purpose; it takes his focus away from the loss of Siggy (Jessalyn Gilsig) and his mistakes from the past. It also helps him develop a newfound sense of confidence. But this self-assurance also fuels Rollo’s sense of ambition, which, in the past, has traditionally pit him against Ragnar.

Moment #3 – The Pouring of Secrets

“You can go talk to him now,” Bjorn (Alexander Ludwig) announces to his inner circle as Ragnar’s health appears to take a turn for the worse. As Ragnar lies inside the last boat Floki (Gustaf Skarsgård) builds him, a series of emotionally-charged scenes follow where Rollo, Lagertha (Katheryn Winnick), and Floki all reveal their deepest secrets to him. Their revelations represent their genuine and raw emotions towards Ragnar, which he is now fully aware of.

Moment #2 – Ragnar, the Christian

Rollo has received a hard-to-refuse from Emperor Charles that might pit him against his people.

Rollo has received a hard-to-refuse offer from Emperor Charles that might pit him against his people.

Will Ragnar go to hell or will he meet his beloved friend Athelstan (George Blagden) in Paradise? The answer, for now, is neither of the above but Ragnar’s baptism has fans of the show passionately debating his choice on social media. What a clever distraction series creator/writer Michael Hirst concocts to push forward his plans for the finale as it has plenty of folks guessing—fans and characters in the show included. The baptism ultimately sets a pathway to what happens inside the cathedral in Paris, which is not only a testament to the patient and observant nature of Ragnar, but is one of the most theatrical moments in the history of Vikings.

Moment #1 – Bjorn’s Secret

The scenes between Bjorn and Ragnar are my absolute favorite in this finale. They not only reveal their love and loyalty for one another, but it’s touching to see Ragnar teaching his son how to be an effective leader. Furthermore, it is heart-warming to see Ragnar putting his absolute trust and confidence in Bjorn in order for him to carry out his plans.

Overall

“The Dead” is a superb finale filled with exhilarating moments and surprises. My emotions ranged from sadness, disbelief, skepticism, shock, and excitement with a bit of a gasp in the end – what a cruel cliffhanger when the last scene fades to black and the credits roll!

In hindsight, it’s not hard to figure out the clues provided. From the Seer’s (John Kavanaugh) revelations to conversations such as the one between Kalf (Ben Robson) and Erlendur (Edvin Endre) about how a Christian would never be able to rule the Northmen, Hirst keeps stringing the audience along. The manner in which he builds the narrative, almost as if it were a riddle, parallels the Seer’s prophecies and the patience exercised by Ragnar in dealing with Floki and the French. Just amazing!

Season three has been a fantastic season for Vikings in which Hirst seems to challenge fans with unexpected twists and outcomes, all while showcasing his mastery in crafting complex drama. There was some wait time for the payback to come but did this episode deliver! Looking ahead, Hirst lays out an open canvas to explore for next season. Here is my tally of the storylines I’m anticipating the most:

Ongoing conflicts and tension between Auslaugh (Alyssa Sutherland) and Ragnar.
Ragnar dealing with King Ecbert (Linus Roache) and the vicious attack on the Viking’s settlement by the King’s son Aethelwulf (Moe Dunford).
Ragnar’s reaction to having a new son supposedly with Princess Kwenthrith (Amy Bailey).
Lagertha’s dispute with Kalf—we all know it isn’t over yet.
How Porunn’s (Gaia Weiss) departure will affect Bjorn.
Rollo’s complex dilemma: does he become a rich and important man on his own or will he turn his back on Ragnar and his people? Will he win over Princess Gisla?

Of course, now that Ragnar reveals to Floki he knows who killed Atheltstan, my most anticipated story line is what will happen next as Ragnar will avenge the priest’s death for sure. Be afraid, be very afraid! *Rubs hands together* It will be a long wait until Vikings returns next year and when it does, I anticipate it will come back with a bang!

What did you think of “The Dead?” Did season three live up to your expectations? Please let me know by reaching out to me on Twitter at @lutzelle or leave a comment below.

For more on the show, please visit the Vikings website.

Follow Vikings on Twitter @HistoryVikings, using hashtag #Vikings, as well as some of the cast members – @gblagden, @KatherynWinnick, and @CliveStanden.

Like Vikings on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Vikings.

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elleL

Soaker of life. I like to experience things and see the world. I consider myself a professional traveler. My love for movies and television goes way back but I'm a sucker for action-oriented films and shows. Oh, and I make excellent martinis! Follow me on twitter @LutzElle.