History Channel’s Vikings tells the story of Ragnar Lothbrok (Travis Fimmel), his ambition, his rise to power, his exploration and raiding. It also tells the story of those around him, his family, his friends, and his warriors.
Granted, there is quite a bit of creative license considering there isn’t much Viking recorded history from that period so the creators are doing the best they can. It’s not like a dragon suddenly flies out of nowhere and lays waste to Paris. The creators fill in the blanks by comparing Viking epics and legends of Ragnar and his sons with verifiable historical records available from the time period.
When last we saw Vikings we ended on a cliff hanger where Ragnar disappeared for years only to return to Kattegat in the final scenes. Now, we are being told the second half of season 4 will return in November and continue exactly where we left off.
I need to unpack this a bit. The second half of season 4. The second half.
OK.
Fairly certain this was announced very early in 2016 and I just somehow missed it but still… The first season was 9 episodes, supposedly it was 9 episodes because 9 is a lucky number in Viking culture. Seasons 2 and 3 were 10 episodes each, presumably to allow more time to tell each season’s story arc, and also 10 is an even number. Season 4 clocked in at 10 episodes, or so I thought, it boggles my mind we already have 10 episodes under our belt for season 4 and now we are going to get another 10 episodes for the back half of the season.
Which might actually explain the lackluster first half of season 4. Instead of Vikings we ended up with French and English politics which, look, I know was needed to set up what I think is coming but it still made for a snooze worthy first half. I love character exploration, I love exposition, and I normally love political machinations but I found myself seriously not caring about any of the French or English characters and we spent way too much time with all of them with nary a Viking in sight.
I hope the back half of Season 4 goes back to, well, Vikings and steps away from scenes that contain absolutely zero vikings. Which is seems they are given the time jump that saw Ragnar go grey and his sons all become fully grown adults.
ScreenRant reports that series creator and writer Michael Hirst, discussed the second part of season 4, claiming that “this season is monumental and unlike anything we’ve ever done:”
We’ve propelled Vikings to the topmost level of historical drama as we follow storylines inspired by real life events such as Bjorn Ironside sailing through the Mediterranean and Ivar the Boneless becoming the most feared warrior of all time. It’s not a story of one man, but a saga of Ragnar and his sons.
Vikings will return Wednesday November 30th at 9pm ET/PT, here’s the synopsis for the mid-season premiere:
In the midseason premiere, Ragnar’s reappearance in Kattegat triggers a chain of events no one – except the Seer – could have ever imagined. He unexpectedly arrives home to see what has become of his sons and to handle unfinished business in Wessex with King Ecbert (Linus Roache). Meanwhile, Lagertha (Katheryn Winnick) plans a power play in Kattegat and Bjorn (Alexander Ludwig) prepares to fulfill his long-held dream to explore the Mediterranean in a sleek new boat built for him by Floki (Gustaf Skarsgård).”
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