While undoubtedly shieldmaidens existed, there were certainly nowhere near as many of them as this show likes to use. But yeah, I wanted it to feel a bit more like a boss battle, a real clash of the titans. It ended up just being cool, rather than epic.

Horik's not pining, he's passed on.

Those were great moments, but they were also the last couple of moves in the fight. I'm not saying that it didn't look like there were life and death stakes involved, just that I really like to see Lagertha fight and wanted it to last a bit longer, and that one way to do that would have been to maybe add a couple of…

Speaking of tableaux, I loved the scene toward the end where Ragnar's waiting for the other characters to leave the great hall before killing Horik. The way each character leaves seems to say a bit about who they are: Athelstan fades into shadow, Aslaug does a little twirl before departing. Finally Lagertha and…

Realistically, yes, but the show doesn't have to be realistic! I guess I was just looking for a couple more punches, maybe a light slash or two, before the fight concluded, to really get across that these women are both extremely skilled and well-matched fighters.

I loved that they set up a confrontation between two accomplished shieldmaidens, but I felt like they kinda skimped on the fight, like it was mostly feints and parries until Lagertha's slice landed. I liked it, but it coulda been even cooler, you know?

They get the most amazing locations on this show. There was an earlier scene of three little waterfalls that was quietly arresting, then we get Ragnar way up there at High Hrothgar as the seat of his new empire to metaphorically stun us with the immensity of his accomplishments. I'm gonna miss all that natural beauty.

I was just bemoaning the lack of geographical understanding that tour promoters seem to have about places they schedule. Hell, I've been to shows in Pontiac that billed themselves as being in "Detroit."

It's just a few exits north of Detroit on I-75, close enough for the rest of the nation to pretend it counts as part of the real deal. At least it's closer than Auburn Hills.

Liked solely for the phrase "beaver damming." Especially since Tommen was like 8 in the books and sex with him was never on Margaery's mind.

This will not be a popular opinion, but I personally have always been really attracted to Geddy Lee, so I would go with Rush, but I fully realize that other people's standards would put them over the line.

I wasn't really viewing it in a sexual way, though I can see how my earlier comment may have given you that impression. I merely meant that Ecgbert's interest in Athelstan didn't seem to be entirely tactical, that he became attached to him, in a platonic fashion, because of their shared love of learning, and thus…

Obviously, there is a peak complexity=sexiness level, after which any additional complexity only serves to make you look like more of a nerd.

I felt that the way they shot the cavalry charge into the shield wall, in particular, was very convincing, it really looked like the horses were sending guys flying at times. And I actually winced when Rollo got run over, they did a good job with the cuts to make it look like he really got hit.

I thought it was very interesting that Ecgbert kept insisting that Athelstan would be killed if he went as an envoy. Obviously, with the archer lying in wait, he wasn't entirely off-base, but that repeated sentiment, combined with steering Athelstan by his shoulders at the negotiation, implied a protectiveness on…

I got a kick out of the look on Linus Roache's face when Aelle shoved his head at the end.

Swear to god, there was a video of it going around a few years back.

She also made a habit of pre-chewing her kid's food, then spitting it into his/her mouth, rather than cutting it up like a normal person, because it was supposedly "more natural."

I love how they keep throwing in little scenes that seemingly exist mostly for the shippers. Ecgbert caressing the half-finished manuscript, like: *sssiiiiiigghhh* "And now he'll never finish it…" *stifled sob*

I rather liked it myself, though I did see it as an angsty teenager, when the "love beyond death" thing greatly appealed to me. I'm not saying it's a great movie, but it was an ambitious one (despite the sentimentality), and quite visually interesting, at the very least.