Vikings Season 4 Episode 3-4 Reviews: Is A Bear Or A Berserker Harder To Kill?

"Mercy" opens with Floki still hanging in a cave. Freezing water drips from the ceiling onto him. It's sheer torture. Helga tries to help by holding a bowl over Floki's head. It's a losing proposition though. Lots of screaming occurs. Helga eventually tells Floki that their daughter is dead. This adds to his misery. Ragnar visits with an ax. Is he going to kill Floki? Nope. He's decided to show him mercy (after a visit from the dead Athelstan. And for those of you who don't know, Floki is the one that killed Athelstan in the first place and then lied about it. Side Note: Excellent work by Gustaf Skarsgard this season. I could really feel Floki's pain (and I dont even particularly like the guy). Plus he doesnt look half bad in a loin cloth.

In Hedeby, Kalf and Lagertha have sexy times. He wants to have a child together. At first I thought Kalf was playing Lagertha but it appears he actually loves her. Erlendur conspires with Kalf to get a Berserker to kill Bjorn (while he's alone and vulnerable in the woods).This is payback for Ragnar killing Erlendur's father (King Horik). Kalf needs to kick that guy to the curb before he gets Kalf into loads of trouble.

Over in Wessex Aethelwulf has returned with Kwenthrith (these names are killing me) and her son Magnus. She keep saying the child is Ragnar's (and that he will one day be ruler of Mercia). I'm not entirely sure on either count. Aethelwulf ends up sleeping with Kwenthrith. Remember he saved her from certain death in the tower. Aethelwulf's wife Judith gives herself willingly to King Ecbert (after he encourages her work on the sacred scriptures). Ecbert tells Judith that he (like Ragnar) had a vision of Athelstan. The monk is surely dead. They both cared deeply for Ath (and Judith had his baby).

It's Yol time. I assume this means all the different locations are on the same time line (but I'm not entirely sure). In Kattegat the vikings drag in a Yule log. Ragnar and Aslaug fight over young Ivar the Boneless. Rag says if they treat him like a cripple, he will become a cripple. Aslaug says the child is different and insinuates that Ragnar doesnt love him.

Ragnar has his eye on a new slave girl. Aslaug encourages the union since it gets Ragnar out of her hair. What are Aslaug's motives? Is she conspiring with Yidu to kill Ragnar? Aslaug secretly asks Floki to teach Ivar how to be a viking (and to hate Christians). This is in direct opposition to what Ragnar wants.

Floki visits the Seer. They have a cryptic exchange. What exactly is Floki? Is he a god, the next Seer or something else entirely? I have no idea. Floki licks the Seer's hand and giggles mischievously.

Princess Gisla requests an annulment from Rollo. A priest travels from Rome to grant it. But the joke's on him. Rollo has learned to speak old French (which sounds strangely like English to us). He declares that his fate is with Gisla and he will defend Paris to the death. That wins the princess over and they have sexy times. Apparently it's toe curling. It's so loud that everyone eating dinner can hear the couple. How uncomfortable! Too funny. On a side note, I'm not sure Emperor Charles and Count Odo want Rollo to speak French. Do they want him to know everything the Franks are up to?

Bjorn Ironside is still roaming around in the woods. He kills a bear in a much anticipated scene. It was enjoyable but, to be honest, I thought it would last longer. Isnt it harder to kill a bear? Obviously I have not killed one myself (so I have no frame of reference).

But that quick scene is more than made up for by Bjorn's encounter with the Berserker. Bjorn loses his ax but takes down the hulking giant with some fishing hooks to the face. Bjorn disembowels the guy when he refuses Bjorn's question of "who sent you?" This was one of the most gruesome scenes we've sen-- but vikings dont mess around. Bjorn has Erlendur's ring so he knows the score.

Ragnar takes Yidu to his private cabin and sets her free. She thanks him by whipping up some hallucinogens. That must be good stuff. Is it opium? If so, how long has she been hauling it around? Ragnar swallows a snake... literally. We dont know if Ragnar and Yidu have sex. If not, they probably will soon since Ragnar likes the ladies.

Bjorn arrives unannounced in Hereby. Lagertha is happy to see him. He decides he wants Erlendur's wife Torvi. She was previously married to Jarl Borg (before his untimely death at the hands of Ragnar). Erlendur won't let her take their son. Lagertha volunteers to take care of the child. I'm surprised there wasnt more of a conflict. Maybe we'll get some resolution during the finale (if not before).

King Aelle, Queen Kwenthrith and King Ecbert meet to discuss their future plans. The queen is worried about Aelle trying to hurt Magnus (since he swore to kill Ragnar). Meanwhile Aelle sees Judith (who is his daugher) has a thing for Ecbert. Aelle calls her a bad wife and mother. He thinks beating her is a fine idea. Judith does not back down. I'm sure she was VERY happy to be away from that jerk.

Harald Finehair arrives in Kattegat. He's the wannabe king of Norway. Harald and Ubbe (Ragnar's oldest son) play a board game. It's called hnefatafl. The objective is to kill the king? Hmmm, foreshadowing? And is it just me or did Harald and Aslaug meet previously? I could be way off base. Ragnar gets back from his drug trip. He sees that Finehair has made himself comfy and is sitting in Ragnar's chair. Ragnar eyeballs Harald and says "And you are?"

Favorite Quotes:

Ragnar: "In my world it is believed that the day of your death is fated." Yidu: "In my world you must have a life worth living before you can even consider death." Ragnar: "In my workd, I am constantly torn between killing myself or killing everyone around me." Yidu says she is a slave so she feels exactly the same. Ragnar: " A king and a slave. Its is both our duties to server others, whether we like it or not."
"You dont own me father. Nor does any man own me. Though encumbered everywhere, I am still free."- Judith to her father King Aelle.
"Teach Ivar the true path-- to hate the Christian god as you hate the Christian god."- Aslaug to Floki.
"Show me who you are."- the Seer to Floki.

Grade: 4 1/2 Monsters (out of 5). A lot happened in these two episodes (including an abundance of sexy times). All of the major characters have moved into place for the rest of the season's story arcs.

How will it all end? We know the show will be back next season but who will live and who will die? Ragnar continues to make puzzling comments about his mortality. Of course I thought he might die last season and he's still kicking.