Viking 1.8
Apr. 22nd, 2013 02:00 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
osprey_archerFinally I have seen a Vikings episode almost on time! And...naturally it is the episode that I am all "WTF, Ragnar???" over. But I guess that's good, because now I can SHARE.
First: I hadn't really been interested in Siggy until now, but I enjoyed the speech she gave Rolle about how he would never get anywhere without her help. She basically encapsulated all of Rollo's problems: he wants to compete with Ragnar, but he doesn't have the strength of character or will to do it, and he hasn't quite (and can't quite) admit that to himself.
He is, it occurs to me, kind of like Juan Borgia, except slightly less of a fuck-up.
If Rollo is wise enough to make Siggy his right-hand woman, he will - if not challenge Ragnar - at least be able to make himself a respectable figure in his own right. I doubt he has the willpower to admit his flaws and let her help him quite as much as he needs, but we'll see.
But let's get to the important part of this episode, which is clearly ATHELSTAN and the part where Ragnar decided to sacrifice Athelstan in order to get himself more sons, because I guess the whole "The gods only want willing sacrifices" thing must be new this year. Because otherwise surely Ragnar would realize he had to tell Athelstan, because even if Athelstan had quite sincerely become a pagan, that doesn't mean he would be willing to be sacrificed!
I actually think it makes sense that Ragnar didn't realize that Athelstan hadn't totally stopped being Christian, though. He doesn't seem to spend much time contemplating Athelstan's emotional state - and why should he? Athelstan is, after all, just a slave - and probably he figures that what you see is what you get with the priest. So if Athelstan has started acting like a pagan, then of course Ragnar accepts that.
Basically he's always treated Athelstan like a pet. We (and, I think, Athelstan) have assumed that Ragnar was fonder of him than that, but, uh, I guess we were wrong.
Think about how Ragnar brushed it off when Athelstan asked if he was still a slave, for instance. This is a question of burning import for Athelstan, and Ragnar just sort of makes a joke out of it. He may be fond of Athelstan, but fundamentally he doesn't see Athelstan as a human being.
Which of course SINKS ALL MY SHIPS, GAH RAGNAR.
And not just Athelstan/Ragnar - although that is so wrecked - but Athelstan/any Viking ever, because he has to be wondering how many of them knew about this. Clearly Thyri did (she tells Athelstan she's washing him up because she "has to"), and Thyri isn't very high on the list of people Ragnar would tell.
But also Ragnar/Lagertha and their beautiful marriage! Why is Ragnar suddenly obsessed with having more sons? Is it because he's earl now? Has all this power gone to his head?
You could I suppose go somewhere terribly depressing with this - because this episode is really about Athelstan having an identity breakdown: his Christianity was central to his self-understanding and he denies it again, and again, and again, and it doesn't seem to get easier any time. The last time, he whispers it, and he's holding into the rosary he's twisted around his wrist.
They aren't demanding that he deny it: he does it of his own free will, even though he doesn't really want to, because...well, it's not clear. He's tired of being different and wants to fit in? He feels betrayed by God? (I'm thinking of the look he gives Ragnar when Ragnar says "It looks like your god finally came through for you.")
He's not letting go of an identity that no longer fits, he's trying to get rid of it, because it's hurting him - because it keeps him apart from everyone else - but it's also precious to him: denying it is a self-betrayal.
Athelstan is, in short, in a very bad place, and I could absolutely buy Ragnar/Athelstan (or Ragnar/Athelstan/Lagertha) coming from a place of self-hatred on Athelstan's part - especially if there was any sort of established relationship; it would seem like too much trouble to even try backing out, especially now that Ragnar has so conclusively proven he doesn't care about Athelstan at all.
***
In other news, it is beautiful today and I finished my art history paper (two down, one to go! Naturally the one left has the earliest due date), so I am going to go take a nice long walk.
First: I hadn't really been interested in Siggy until now, but I enjoyed the speech she gave Rolle about how he would never get anywhere without her help. She basically encapsulated all of Rollo's problems: he wants to compete with Ragnar, but he doesn't have the strength of character or will to do it, and he hasn't quite (and can't quite) admit that to himself.
He is, it occurs to me, kind of like Juan Borgia, except slightly less of a fuck-up.
If Rollo is wise enough to make Siggy his right-hand woman, he will - if not challenge Ragnar - at least be able to make himself a respectable figure in his own right. I doubt he has the willpower to admit his flaws and let her help him quite as much as he needs, but we'll see.
But let's get to the important part of this episode, which is clearly ATHELSTAN and the part where Ragnar decided to sacrifice Athelstan in order to get himself more sons, because I guess the whole "The gods only want willing sacrifices" thing must be new this year. Because otherwise surely Ragnar would realize he had to tell Athelstan, because even if Athelstan had quite sincerely become a pagan, that doesn't mean he would be willing to be sacrificed!
I actually think it makes sense that Ragnar didn't realize that Athelstan hadn't totally stopped being Christian, though. He doesn't seem to spend much time contemplating Athelstan's emotional state - and why should he? Athelstan is, after all, just a slave - and probably he figures that what you see is what you get with the priest. So if Athelstan has started acting like a pagan, then of course Ragnar accepts that.
Basically he's always treated Athelstan like a pet. We (and, I think, Athelstan) have assumed that Ragnar was fonder of him than that, but, uh, I guess we were wrong.
Think about how Ragnar brushed it off when Athelstan asked if he was still a slave, for instance. This is a question of burning import for Athelstan, and Ragnar just sort of makes a joke out of it. He may be fond of Athelstan, but fundamentally he doesn't see Athelstan as a human being.
Which of course SINKS ALL MY SHIPS, GAH RAGNAR.
And not just Athelstan/Ragnar - although that is so wrecked - but Athelstan/any Viking ever, because he has to be wondering how many of them knew about this. Clearly Thyri did (she tells Athelstan she's washing him up because she "has to"), and Thyri isn't very high on the list of people Ragnar would tell.
But also Ragnar/Lagertha and their beautiful marriage! Why is Ragnar suddenly obsessed with having more sons? Is it because he's earl now? Has all this power gone to his head?
You could I suppose go somewhere terribly depressing with this - because this episode is really about Athelstan having an identity breakdown: his Christianity was central to his self-understanding and he denies it again, and again, and again, and it doesn't seem to get easier any time. The last time, he whispers it, and he's holding into the rosary he's twisted around his wrist.
They aren't demanding that he deny it: he does it of his own free will, even though he doesn't really want to, because...well, it's not clear. He's tired of being different and wants to fit in? He feels betrayed by God? (I'm thinking of the look he gives Ragnar when Ragnar says "It looks like your god finally came through for you.")
He's not letting go of an identity that no longer fits, he's trying to get rid of it, because it's hurting him - because it keeps him apart from everyone else - but it's also precious to him: denying it is a self-betrayal.
Athelstan is, in short, in a very bad place, and I could absolutely buy Ragnar/Athelstan (or Ragnar/Athelstan/Lagertha) coming from a place of self-hatred on Athelstan's part - especially if there was any sort of established relationship; it would seem like too much trouble to even try backing out, especially now that Ragnar has so conclusively proven he doesn't care about Athelstan at all.
***
In other news, it is beautiful today and I finished my art history paper (two down, one to go! Naturally the one left has the earliest due date), so I am going to go take a nice long walk.
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no subject
Date: 2013-04-22 07:12 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-04-22 08:45 pm (UTC)Actually, we could just write AUs after the end of episode seven. That would work. Nice!Ragnar/Lagertha/Athelstan shenanigans!
(Also, clearly as we share a love for Samavia and an affection for Athelstan, if not all of Vikings, we should be friends! Plus you have a Disappointed Rabbit icon.)
no subject
Date: 2013-04-23 11:51 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-04-22 11:06 pm (UTC)When Athelstan was tripping on mushrooms and suddenly Ragnar was RIGHT THERE I legit thought they were going to kiss. I mean, it's just cruel not to follow up on that "join us, priest".
no subject
Date: 2013-04-22 11:44 pm (UTC)And re: the mushroom scene: that's what I thought, too! Maybe Ragnar didn't want to kiss the guy he was planning to offer up as a human sacrifice? Wouldn't want to start having second thoughts about that, after all.