It's been 4 months since your comment and the end of the first half of the season. The more we learn about the second, the more it seems less like bloat to me than two seasons in one, with two big plot arcs. The Wessex stuff has seemed superfluous to some, but it's setting up the next several seasons, where much of…

I am assuming nothing good is going to happen to Emily.

I was weirding on that this episode, too. The penitential prayer was from the Episcopalian rite of Holy Communion and there are some other Episcopalian-ish trappings, but the sign outside says it's supposed to be a congregational church. If it were real, they could adopt whatever they cared to. But it's pretty hard to…

Yes, ma'am, you should totally drive around with that thing. Roll the windows down. :-)

I was also disappointed that the episode promo so obviously gave away Yidu's murder. But she was a hot mess of a character. As for Kwen — I was sorry to see her go. She grew from an anachronistic novelty to a much more nuanced (and even sympathetic) character on the strength of Amy Bailey's performance. At least she…

A strong and nuanced female character and a beautiful, physically capable actress. What's not to like?

We know Lagertha isn't dead because Hirst says so in post midseason interviews. Katheryn Winnick has also mentioned a Season 4 scene in which she confronts Aslaug, and that hasn't happened yet. But there was no reason to believe she'd died, otherwise. Lagertha is a central character in the series — the reason, I…

I have so very few fucks to give about what most people (not you) think of the show. Just as long as enough like it to keep Vikings on the air. ;-)

The Variety critic was mostly negative, but he sounds unfamiliar with the show.

I think the story had become a bit bloated. Too many minor arcs and characters. Now there's a big reset.

I'm not sure why he's back yet, but I suppose that's the first story of the second half of the season. He's certainly come to see what has become of his sons, and he might be trying to arrange another trip to Wessex. In any event, I'm confident he'll end up in England again, and think that's where his story will end.

I agree. Really, the first half of the season makes it clear that's what Ragnar wants, so maybe he's been in Hedeby all this time. As we were discussing last week, Ragnar had to be neutralized as an ongoing threat to Paris so Rollo's arc could be completed. So he had to die or step down as leader. Since he probably…

Maybe the best episode of Vikings ever. In 10 weeks, Hirst has cleared away 3 seasons of cruft and propelled the series forward. Rollo gets his due; Ragnar goes away to live the quiet life (perhaps with Lagertha) he's been craving; Bjorn has his father's bearing and wanderlust; Floki stayed true; and the feral Aslaug…

Based on what I've seen on IMDb, tonight's midseason finale is gonna be pretty wild.

Next thing you'll tell me is to return all those medications I bought because I see them on TV.

I'm in the US. And those Sonic commercials are killing me. ;-)

I'm hoping for more than an Episode 10 cliffhanger, but we'll just have to see. There's some good prognosticating here. :-)

Can't fault the Franks on style.

It looks like he has a fleet of natty ships with comically large griffon figureheads. He doesn't intend for Ragnar to drink his French vanilla milkshake.

Let's call it a ship battle. They were bragging about the scale of it before the season started, and the promos are impressive. It's obviously inland.