"Paul Levinson's It's Real Life is a page-turning exploration into that multiverse known as rock and roll. But it is much more than a marvelous adventure narrated by a master storyteller...it is also an exquisite meditation on the very nature of alternate history." -- Jack Dann, The Fiction Writer's Guide to Alternate History

Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Vikings 5.4: Four or More Good Stories


As we know from history, the Vikings ventured almost all over the world - indeed, if you consider North America, further than even the Mongols - and therefore we shouldn't be surprised to find Vikings in its fifth season pursuing so many of those disparate good stories, likely (eventually) to weave together.  These tonight in episode 5.4 included -


  • Bjorn in Sicily, soon to Africa, with a Byzantine chieftain on the way to meet a powerful Arabic leader.  This part of the world is now bursting with Islamic conquest, but Byzantium aka the Eastern Roman Empire is at its zenith, too, so there's fertile ground here for intrigue and Bjorn to get some kind of foothold.  Not to mention a beautiful Greek priestess who holds some strong cards.
  • Ivar manages to outsmart Heahmund at least one more time, leaving him rats rather than Norse corpses when the English retake York.  Where have the Vikings gone?  Likely through some Roman tunnels that Ivar hints he discovered. But to where?
  • Floki makes the right decision for history - he's not going to die on Iceland, but will go back back to the world of men, and bring some of his brothers to this land of the gods he's found.  From our vantage point, this is the beginning of the Norse reach to North America.
  • Back in Scandinavia, we have all kinds of stories brewing.  What are those terrible circumstances in which it is foretold that Lagertha will see her son Bjorn again?  Who will remain loyal to her?  When will the King of Norway openly confront her in battle, now that he's cemented his reign with a Queen?
I'm enjoying this season of Vikings more than last year's, and we have yet seen anything of Paris.  Maybe that's because Paris is the center of Knightfall, which I'll be reviewing the next episode of soon.

See also Vikings 5.1-2: Floki in Iceland ... Vikings 5.3: Laughing Ivar

And see also Vikings 4.1: I'll Still Take Paris ... Vikings 4.2: Sacred Texts ...Vikings 4.4: Speaking the Language ... Vikings 4.5: Knives ... Vikings 4.8: Ships Up Cliff ... Vikings 4.10: "God Bless Paris" ... Vikings 4.11: Ragnar's Sons ... Vikings 4.12: Two Expeditions ... Vikings 4.13: Family ... Vikings 4.14: Penultimate Ragnar? ... Vikings 4.15: Close of an Era ... Vikings 1.16: Musselman ... Vikings 1.17: Ivar's Wheels ...Vikings 1.18: The Beginning of Revenge ... Vikings 4.19: On the Verge of History ... Vikings 4.20: Ends and Starts

And see also Vikings 3.1. Fighting and Farming ... Vikings 3.2: Leonard Nimoy ...Vikings 3.3: We'll Always Have Paris ... Vikings 3.4: They Call Me the Wanderer ... Vikings 3.5: Massacre ... Vikings 3.6: Athelstan and Floki ...Vikings 3.7: At the Gates ... Vikings 3.8: Battle for Paris ... Vikings 3.9: The Conquered ... Vikings Season 3 Finale: Normandy

And see also Vikings 2.1-2: Upping the Ante of Conquest ... Vikings 2.4: Wise King ... Vikings 2.5: Caught in the Middle ... Vikings 2.6: The Guardians ...Vikings 2.7: Volatile Mix ... Vikings 2.8: Great Post-Apocalyptic Narrative ... Vikings Season 2 Finale: Satisfying, Surprising, Superb

And see also Vikings ... Vikings 1.2: Lindisfarne ... Vikings 1.3: The Priest ... Vikings 1.4:  Twist and Testudo ... Vikings 1.5: Freud and Family ... Vikings 1.7: Religion and Battle ... Vikings 1.8: Sacrifice
... Vikings Season 1 Finale: Below the Ash

 
historical science fiction - a little further back in time
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