Vikings Episodes 2-3 Recaps: The Vikings Take A Carnival Cruise

Episode 2
Ragnar and crew (which includes Rollo and Floki) set out to try to find England in the West. They encounter a big storm and almost capsize. Before they leave, Ragnar and Lagertha get in a fight because she wants to go too. The Earl kills the blacksmith who made the ship's anchor (proving he's as big a jerk as we thought he was in episode 1). He also tricks a poor sap into trying to have sex with his wife and then kills him for it. Rollo (who we also saw could not be trusted from episode 1) rapes Floki's servant. I predict a big show down between the brothers at some point.

The ship makes it to England. How long does such a voyage take? Ravens also played a role in this episode. They brought two ravens on the voyage which were later released. If the ravens don't return, there is land nearby. If they do return, there is no land.

The Vikings attack a monastery and kill most of the monks. Could the monks have tried to defend themselves at least a little? They were sitting ducks. A few monks are taken as slaves. Ragnar keeps Rollo from killing one monk who he says is worth more alive. Athelstan speaks their language because he has traveled to share the gospel.

Episode 3
The ship safely returns home with treasures and stories of what they saw. The Earl says all the booty is his. The crew can only take one item each (which they are not very happy about). Ragnar chooses Athelstan. Rollo steals more items and Ragnar tells him how stupid he is.

Poor Athelstan is having culture shock. He seems well treated though (especially since a number of the other monks were killed). Ragnar and Lagertha even invite him to sleep with them. I didn't know the Vikings were such a free loving people. Anyway he can't partake since he's taken a vow of celibacy. Too bad cause Ragnar and Lagertha are a smoking hot couple.

Another trip is planned to England. This time Lagertha joins them while the priest watches the farm and children. The Vikings have their first encounter with English soldiers. They win but one soldier escapes on horseback.

Other happenings:

I don't remember seeing any ravens in this episode. Did you?

And I really don't like the Earl. He buried the treasure and then killed a boy supposedly to guard it in the afterlife (but actually because he knows where the treasure is buried).

Does anyone else besides me think Floki is a freak?

Here's the list of characters and actors from Wikipedia:

Main cast

Travis Fimmel as Ragnar Lodbrok, a Viking farmer and warrior

Gabriel Byrne as Earl Haraldson, the local Viking chieftain

Clive Standen as Rollo, Ragnar's brother

Katheryn Winnick as Lagertha, Ragnar's wife, a shieldmaiden

Jessalyn Gilsig as Siggy, Earl Haraldson's wife

Gustaf Skarsgård as Floki, a gifted shipbuilder and friend of Ragnar's

George Blagden as Athelstan, an Anglo-Saxon monk captured by Ragnar on his first raid in England^[6]

Nathan O'Toole as Bjorn, the son of Ragnar and Lagertha

[edit]Supporting cast

Thorbjørn Harr as Jarl Borg

Vladimir Kulich as Eric

Donal Logue as King Horik

Jouko Ahola as Kauko

Ivan Kaye as King Aelle of Northumbria

Maude Hirst as Helga

Eric Higgins as Knut, one of Ragnar's warriors

Gerard McCarthy as Bronsted

Wikipedia:

Episode 2 "Wrath of the Northmen"
After gathering volunteers, Ragnar, Rollo and Floki embark on an unauthorized raid to England. Lagertha violently objects to Ragnar's refusal to take her along. Earl Haraldson has a man killed who attempts to seduce his wife Siggy, as well as the blacksmith who forged Ragnar's anchor. After a tense voyage, Ragnar's men land in England near the monastery of Lindisfarne, which they proceed to sack. They kill many of the monks and capture the rest to take back as slaves, including the young Athelstan, whom Ragnar protects from death at Rollo's hands.

Episode 3 "Dispossessed"
Ragnar's warband returns in triumph to Kattegat, where the Earl confiscates the plundered riches except for one piece per man. Ragnar picks the distraught Athelstan and returns home. The monk's faith and his vow of chastity perplex Ragnar, but he gathers useful intelligence about the kingdom of Northumbria. On that basis, Earl Haraldson authorizes another raid on England. Now accompanied by Lagertha and the Earl's trustee Knut, Ragnar re-embarks post-haste, leaving Athelstan to mind the farm and the children. As the Vikings set foot on English soil, they are met by the local sheriff and a handful of armsmen, who invite the newly landed "traders" to meet King Aelle. Ragnar agrees, but the mistrust of the other warriors incites a battle, in which the Northumbrians are slaughtered.

Grade: 4 Monsters (out as 5). I'm really liking this show