Re: Vikings season 2 episodes discussions (spoilers inside, of course)
That was fucking disturbing tonight.
Ewww...
Yeah, good old Floki is going to turn on Ragnar if a better opportunity presents itself. When ambition is god, small men can do terrible things in an effort to become bigger men.
I think Floki is certainly sensitive to Ragnar's growing imperious attitudes. He misses the days when they were more equals for sure, whether that is enough to turn him, we'll see. Loyalty is a big thing with him, but so is his sensitivity to the wishes of the gods. He took that return trip from England rather badly. He could see that as the gods' punishment for running out on Horrik like they did?
I saw Ragnar's warning to Bjorn not to think with his dick as a sign of genuine regret. Ragnar wants his sons, but he wanted them with Lagertha. He regrets that she's out of his life--or at least not married to him anymore.
I loved the scene on the porch where he's chatting with Auslaug and discussing Lagertha. His comment about 'It will be dark, soon' besides implying the Blood Eagle ceremony, makes me wonder if it is a foreshadowing of trouble's for Ragnar when getting back to England?
Also, the party early on when Ragnar is watching folks through the latice. That scene really counterpointed Floki's not wanting Ragnar at his wedding. Ragnar is slowly isolating himself from the folks who got him where he his. His conversation with Bjorn about trust was a further highlighting Ragnar's growing isolation.
Personally, I think Horik was pretty much playing Jarl Borg. He might have considered helping him escape briefly but then thought better of it. As for Siggy, she's playing a dangerous game. I do think she loves Rollo, but she wants power, too. She'd *prefer* to be with him, but she's not going to abandon her own ambition. That doesn't make her any worse than any of the men involved, but simple fact is that Rollo has the strength and the temper to kill her if he got angry. That he didn't shows that he respects her, but he's living on a knife's edge. He could snap. He's not some 21st century renaissance man who believes in equality for all.
I think the chances of Siggy betraying Rollo, or Ragnar, is far more likely than Floki. I can see Floki going to build boats and get out from Ragnar's growing hubris, but he wouldn't put a knife in his back. Siggy wouldn't hesitate if it advanced her interest. That would piss of Rollo, though. If he couldn't make himself fight Ragnar back at the start of the season, I don't think he'd go for treachery like that, which seems like it would be Siggy's style.
It will be interesting to see what happens to Jarl Borg's lands. Borg thought of giving Ragnar's lands to Rollo when talking to Horrik. I wonder if Horrik at Siggy's instigating or on his own might think of setting up Rollo as the Jarl there?
Athelstan, Athelstan.....what will you do when the shit hits the fan? That scene with the crow and the eye was very well done.
This could turn out to be amazing. Ragnar's constant concern for Athelstan, I wonder if Ragnar's missing Athelstan is because he is one of the few folks left that he, Ragnar, fully trusts? The scene with the crow was great, Odin's eye on him, Athelstan is searching for meaning. I wonder if he'll come across Cicero' 'The Nature of the Gods' or Lucretius's 'On the Nature of Things'? Athelstan could be the real knife in the gut to Ragnar, or the real danger to Ecbert and Aella's plans, or just the greatest wild card in the show. The 'God Save England' scene was interesting for how the actor played his joining in. He left the feeling of Athelstan's commitment to this life in Britain still very murky. I wish we'd spent less time with Borg in prison and more on Athelstan, or we just had a longer show.
Somebody early on in the Christian church did not want women to have power. 
Siggy continues to intrigue. I like that clever wench. 
He's too fundamentalist for me.
