Rule of Not too Much

Struggle. Suffice it to say, struggle summarizes my feelings of this week’s episode of Vikings. Per my modus operandi, this post will probably dredge forward at a molasses pace and will be lengthy. Just wanted to give a heads up: flee if you can. And. Here. We. Go:

The distrust and dissatisfaction many fans feel towards Horik are well placed in that there is some sort of energy emanating from him that deserves some skepticism. Considering the need for Horik to reverberate/echo the “equality” Ragnar dangled and touted to Lagertha in last week’s episode, the triangle (yep, I made a thing there) of the Viking leaders all needing to be equal and/or balanced is just too much of a flashing neon sign for my analytical brain to dismiss (on a side note, isn’t there a nice triangle forming with the English too…hmm). However, isn’t it strange that once Ragnar tries to do something without seeking counsel of Lagertha and Horik, then Horik, perhaps unintentionally ironic, reminds Ragnar and everyone that he is the king thereby implicitly reminding all parties of his station being substantially higher (thus, not equal to any of them at all). Hmm. Now, why oh why would this be important to show, I Wonder?

Considering the “hide-behind-the-grate-and-watch-the-festivities” Ragnar, I seriously doubt that he would so willingly endanger himself by blindly trusting Horik anymore than he needed to in order to make the trek to King Ecbert and retrieve Athlestan. Plus, Rollo’s mid-coitus denouncement of Siggy’s behavior is a further indication of what I assert is Ragnar’s awareness of Horik’s character ‘cause Rollo surely wouldn’t hold that fact back from his brother especially since several people noted the SiggyxHorik vibe happening outright in front of many. Also noteworthy is the weird SiggyxRollo moment on the dock that just happened to be right in front of Horik and son indicates a strong intrigue with several levels to trap the needing-to-avenge king’s camp into believing the game is playing out exactly how he wants. I do know, however, that Ragnar already had some indication of the lackluster moral compass (yep, a nautical pun) Horik touts considering the first trek to England entailed a dissolution of a truce between another Viking triangle. Promise, I didn’t forget about that one nor did I forget about the weird “who is not paying the other” scenario that easily demonstrates how Horik’s compass is and has always been self serving, yet the audience and Ragnar were a bit obfuscated and befuddled ‘cause conflicts.

Although Ragnar had an emotional experience with his birthed boneless baby, I’d say the “he’ll see reason” Siggy says in various forms to Horik highlights an endearingly prophetic warning for this forthcoming trip:

Ragnar’s faith in Horik goes no further than a means to an end.

Now, I am not suggesting that Ragnar plans on usurping Horik for mere ambition but rather wants to eradicate the plague of intrigue and games thus improving the lives of his kinsman and kinswoman especially considering much of the action occurring this season connect concretely to Horik’s abandonment of honor and duty with the Borg-Ragnar-Horik treatise of this season. Also, the quality of life proposal in Ecbert’s bath resonates a simplistic yet effective understanding for the future of Vikings in general that somehow dissolved when Horik was left to treat with Ecbert.

Horik’s games parallel nicely with Ecbert’s games in the past two episodes wherein there’s intrigue and games between foes and allies. The symmetrical presentation between team Viking and team England directs the audience to understand Ragnar’s overall vision with more clarity. While I did mention I thought Lagertha is demonstratively better as a leader overall in my response to last week’s episode, Ragnar is often overlooked as being a simple farmer, which I know he uses to his advantage to obscure his mentality from any of his opponents. Horik does not understand Ragnar much the same way that Floki says Ragnar does not understand him (although, I’d say Ragnar understands Floki).

Furthermore, I cannot help but find even more of an indication of Ragnar’s distinctness when noting how Athlestan’s task for Ecbert is to chronicle the history of a failed civilization that perhaps serves as an ominous warning the audience should note. I could go on ad nauseaum here, but I won’t. Summary: Ecbert’s need to understand past failed pagan civilizations via Athlestan pairs nicely with Ecbert’s need to understand the pagan Viking civilization via Athlestan. Coincidence? Not likely.

Ok, back to King Horik who rules over free people, touts equality as needed, yet reminds people of his social standing as being significantly greater than their own thus contradicting any previous indication. His communique with Lagertha did nothing more than present his vision of her as yet another game in his “screw over Ragnar while seeing I take care of myself” endgame. Meanwhile, her reaction to Horik’s equality speech on the docks seemed disingenuous when seeing the interaction between Ragnar and her during a similar speech, which brings me to my point of this rambled mess. Ragnar, Lagertha, and Rollo all setting sail on the same ship at the same time suggests there was plenty of time to devise a plan against the king who started all their troubles. I mean, the camera bouncing back and forth practically pits the Horik longboat against the fan-favorite longboat (minus poor Floki of course).

Having the episode entitled boneless suggests that there is more happening within the dynamics of the triangle of leaders. The battle/ambush of Ecbert’s son Aethelwulf by Horik’s son Erlendur will create a nice source of tension between the Vikings and the English (could that be anymore obvious? how many Viking warriors touched Aethelwulf only to let him go? seriously, that message is pretty loud and clear); however, I think Horik’s orchestration of this forthcoming retaliatory battle will be used to create a divide (perhaps an opportunity to attack someone directly who could possibly stand in Horik’s way), but I truly believe that the two newest players in this game of boats (yep, that happened) have a presence of mind to know better.

I fear, however, the ramifications of Floki as perhaps the end game device in Horik’s plan. The Siggy game helped Horik immensely in better understanding his foe which then lead him to Floki. How this presentation goes for the remainder of the season makes me nervous and seriously wary of my worst fear(s) coming to fruition: Floki’s purpose might be the mechanism Horik forever creates a divide between everyone on the other ship. While Ragnar has been distant from Floki, there has been no indication that anyone beyond Siggy has any awareness or understanding of Floki’s feelings thus making Lagertha, Bjorn, Rollo, and even Athlestan (obvious, I know) easily prey to whatever may come from Horik’s proxy. Thus, boneless plays off the weak-willed spineless and would apply to Horik since he would not be the one directly responsible (nor was he directly responsible with the ambush either since the son was another proxy). Just like Ecbert has been bonelessin his interludes too wherein others have done his bidding without any direct involvement from him (I mean, hello 3 guards to sate the princesses desires?).

Ok, ok. First, for anyone reading this analysis, I say that my post will be a long, thorough critical analysis of the Lagertha arc. Just wanted to give a heads up:

I was so incredibly happy with the Lagertha in S2E5, for not only does she demonstrate her strength as a physical combatant fighting well amid the men on the field but her overall strength as a character is fascinating: she understands the value of duty unlike many of the male characters in the show (e.g. Ragnar, Rollo, King Horrik, Borg, as well as countless others) and actively works to balance her personal ambitions with that duty. Considering her character’s insistence to be a good wife, a good woman, a good mother, and a good friend, I sat with my mouth agape much of the time I saw Lagertha in S2E6 “Unforgiven” after struggling immensely with the violence, shame, humiliation, and various forms of abuse upon returning to her husband after the incredibly profound ending to the previous week’s episode which I paraphrase as follows:

Bjorn: Don’t take any more shit, mom. Lagertha: Do you know who I am, kid?!

Now that I have had some time to reflect (I only watched it Saturday night as I cleared out the week’s DVR offerings), I think, for as insignificant as it may appear, that I understand the reason for the violence Lagertha encounters (before you throw hate my way, I did not not say that I accept or any other comparable synonym with condone). And. Here we go:

The seer’s advice to Siggy at the beginning of this episode really resonated with me in that I use that ominous declaration as foreshadowing the end game between Lagertha and Sigvard:

The gods will always smile on brave women. Like the Valkyries, those furies who men fear and desire.

While she made it pretty clear in S2E4 that she understood the ramifications of Borg’s conquest over Ragnar’s lands for her people, she also made it pretty clear to Sigvard that she could best him in one-on-one combat. Early in this season the audience knows he has hit her, but I argue she chooses to let him go with only slapping her. There is no indication of what their marriage was like (or why she marries him at all), but the audience needs to understand that their limited presentation shows how she did not actively engage in any sort of violence with her husband prior to his attempt to have her give him his husbandly rights. The need for sex (consensual or dutiful) conveniently arises only after she demonstrates to his people that he does not possess a leader’s mind:

He did not recognize (because of second-husband pride perhaps) how such a close usurpation could easily spill onto his lands. Using chess for an analogy, he’s limited to viewing the moves that just happened while Lagertha sees several moves ahead thus reinforcing her intelligence while establishing the difference between husband and wife. She wants to proactively engage against an imminent threat rather than waiting to see how they might be affected whereas he does not see beyond her relationship with Ragnar.

Now, hold up. I know that she was his ex, but I don’t necessarily hold her personal relationship as being the main justification for her argument to become involved. Throughout the series, Lagertha often displaces her physical/emotional needs to serve those around her (think on her duty as nurse and overseer when the fever eventually overwhelmed the town; she risked her own life, while he daughter was ill, to take care of those who were ill). Just wanted to put that out there to show that I do acknowledge the opposing view on this engage or not engage discussion.

Ultimately, I assert Lagertha’s plea and argument to become involved signals her prowess as a strategist. Moreover, her being physically capable in overpowering Sigvard is just a further indication of his inferiority. Because she announces so fiercely that errs and is mistaken by assuming he can usurp the agency she holds on her body, she diminishes any hope he may have in ever being her superior. To add insult to injury, she left to rally with her ex husband and fight against Borg’s forces while showing the entire community her husband does not have control over her.

Bad ass, indeed. Her speech at the end of “Answers in Blood” condemns not just Ragnar’s failings (as well as so many of the men presented in the show) to abide by his obligations and duties to others selflessly but she also indicates her ability to move all those under his care to strive to be better. Think of the fangirls who eagerly run to greet Lagertha despite her having left Ragnar and these people four years ago. The audience appreciates almost immediately how important that moment is in showing Lagertha as the HBIC. Sure, her actions saved them, so maybe the fangirling is more of people being giddy. I would argue, however, that people ran to greet her because she dutifully assists them and her former family even though she holds no obligation to either party presently. Her needs are to help those other people, and she dutifully helps with no regard for her emotional needs (aka being a spiteful HBIC with troops and not helping out her ex, which is so typically presented in most TV shows).

Even during her imminent exit, the people do not seem disgusted or unhappy with her choice to return home; she places a significant duty on their shoulders (I mean, she didn’t look at Ragnar when she said everyone needed to look after Bjorn) because her obligation to her husband conflicts with her obligations to her son (noticeable within the split lip and return home episodes). After all, her duty to Bjorn put the events in place necessitating numerous disagreements between the Jarl and his wife.Lagertha takes her duty as mother seriously, so her making the entire community a surrogate dutiful parent forher only son seems like her acknowledgement to concede one duty to them currently in opposition with the duty she has to Sigvard (as well as the people of Hedeby).

Suffice it to say, I come to the matter at hand: explaining an analysis of this week’s Lagertha and her struggles to exist after returning home. I’d like to focus specifically on a few key moments during the Skol toasting scene:

Her uneasiness whilst at the table. Her fidgeting with her earring, that dangles in the ear closest to her husband, offers the audience an interestingly new Lagertha who seems genuinely, uncharacteristically nervous unlike the calm, cool, and collected woman from the previous episodes (or the entire series).

Sigvard’s drunkenness. While showing some sort of toast to honor his wife’s return, much of the characterization Vikings has made of Sigvard shows him as being too deep in his cups and perhaps only finding bravado (or Earl’s authority, maybe?) with some liquid courage. I mean, the freaking burp there was incredibly cliche and reminiscent of some bawdy Restoration Play like The Country Wife.

The fleeing women. While Lagertha is not completely an enigma, the only other shieldmaidens presented thus far have been with protecting Asglod, going to Ecbert’s realm, and the one who took on Borg and died. The women’s escape really shows how precarious Lagertha’s return will be not to mention her husband practically telling her that she’s sleeping alone thereby completely in need of her own devices.

Sleeping alone. Her husband does not actively engage in the conflict in their quarters because she successfully defeated his authority. He has to rely on others to do his dirty work, for his coping mechanism (oh, the sweet taste of liquid courage in some cups) further compromises his ability to best her. Plus, she already thwarted him in his last physical encounter with her and then thwarted him in his decree to remain neutral. Thus, his reliance on others to defeat her demonstrates his shortcomings and inefficacy as Earl.

Despite those aspects, the scene with the beaten yet still proud Lagertha left me gobsmacked. Sigvard’s attempt to successfully demean Lagertha comes only after he relies on weaker men to reclaim his rights as man, Earl, and husband. There is the moment where the camera pans out, to what I’m assuming is meant to be Lagertha’s view, showing some women laughing and/or quickly looking at the noise to return back to their table. She cannot rely on any of the women to help her because there has not been any indication any of the fighting, shieldmaiden women exist in this place; thus, she stands alone as a woman against a man, a wife against a husband, and a female leader against a male leader. His need to proclaim her value, aka her breasts’ parallel to Freyja (not a good omen btw), serves to indicate his failing in all of those categories (considering Bjorn’s interaction with that slave girl being somewhat protective albeit naive and/or possessive) and his possession of her breasts. Therefore, he attempts to reestablish his masculinity by highlighting his possession of her femininity (again, breasts being symbolic).

So, I mean her reaction (stabbing him in the left eye seems a bit sexual: knife is phallic and eye is vulvic thus Lagertha’s symbolically inserting a phallic object into a vulvic one) is defensive and symbolic to all those around her. Despite being beaten and despite being reminded of her place as being below Sigvard’s, Lagertha reminds everyone who the hell she is by standing up for herself. Now, the surprise and further indication of Sigvard being insignificant upon his wife’s return comes from dude willing chopping Sigvard’s head right off. Much like the fangirls back in Kattegat showing the audience how important they see Lagertha, this man (who I cannot say I remember ever seeing before that moment) feels inclined to intervene while others watch aghast as this woman assaults her husband. Before this head chopping happened, I feared the people would react poorly to Lagertha’s decision (yeah, I know the story but still felt fear).

While this man’s willingness to step up and help Lagertha (again, noticeably beaten resonating loud and clear by her face for the majority of that scene) shocked and surprised, I feel his intervention serves to establish how the people within Hedeby could easily follow Sigvird’s wife rather than Sigvird.