Review "Vikings" (season 5): a pale succession for the sons of Ragnar

This November 29 is a date that Vikings fans have had in mind for several weeks. Indeed, Scandinavian explorers are back on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, for the release of the second part of season 5.Does it deserve at least one binge-watching session? Warning, spoilers!  A Canadian-Irish (not American) series, Vikings has made a place for itself in the television world. Its influence is also clearly felt on other series on this theme such as The Last Kingdom, or Barbarians. Michael Hirst, father of several historical series (including The Tudors), chose to continue to tell the story of Ragnar's descendants. Obviously, the series took a turn with the death of the Norse king in the fifteenth episode of its fourth season. Moreover, this season is the first without Ragnar, a risky bet… But raised? This fifth season opens with the funeral of Sigurd, son of Ragnar who died at the hand of his brother, Ivar. For his part, Floki is still suffering from the death of his wife, Helga, and plans to leave for new horizons. Following the latter's departure, Björn expressed his desire to return to the Mediterranean, while Lagertha reigned over Kattegat. One thing is certain, the Vikings have the firm intention of avenging the death of their king, by attacking the English monarchs. In addition, relations are tense between the sons of Ragnar…

The bet of a season of Vikings without its protagonist

Visually, there is nothing to say. Sublime landscapes, battle scenes with impeccable choreographies, cold colors with a Scandinavian spirit… Vikings remains pleasant to watch. It is also a series carried by its actors always brilliant – special mentions to Gustaf Skarsgård and Alex Høgh Andersen. On the other hand, the iconic characters of the series like Lagertha (Katheryn Winnick) and Björn (Alexander Ludwig) do not really impose themselves. Only Floki (Gustaf Skargård) stands out, having set up his colony in Iceland where the feeling of behind closed doors is very strong. These are some main characters, like Ivar, or secondary characters like Archbishop Heamund (Jonathan Rhys Meyer) who really do well during this season 5. The end of episode 10, mid-season, could have been enough, on its own, to revive the second part of the series, ending on a prostrate and aging Lagertha, but also on the return of Rollo (Clive Standen). Nevertheless, this is not the case since even the formidable warrior, remains confined to her impossible love for Heamund. Moreover, Rollo's return has no real bearing on the ongoing plots – not even the revelation of Björn's fatherhood falling like a hair on the soup. Particularly similar to Ragnar in many aspects, this one does not question anything, and does not evolve following this announcement. In reality, Björn stagnates on this fifth season.

Scripted weaknesses

Unfortunately, Vikings very often lacks rhythm, despite its incredible action scenes, the fault of too many episodes per season – 20 for this season 5. We sometimes regret the time of the first seasons which had only a dozen, but which did not drag as long in length. The broadcast of this season in two parts considerably accentuates this phenomenon. Similarly, countless plots constantly intersect without fully evolving the characters, yet captivating in the past. Paradoxically, the colony of Floki that created this oppressive feeling of closed doors, remains unfinished. Worse, these intrigues on Icelandic lands turn in a loop, and the boat builder, once with great potential, also loses his brilliance despite the acting of his actor. And what about his death, far below anything we could have wished for one of the most complex characters in the series. Shipped is the term that could be used. The very soul of the Vikings has disappeared: no more customs, sacrifices or Norse mythology… The intrigues in England, meanwhile, take up too much space, leaving the Scandinavians behind, but also drowned by the irruptions of insipid characters like Magnus – illegitimate sons of Ragnar and Kwenthrith. Obviously, the spirit of the first seasons is no longer there, gone at the same time as Ragnar to Valhalla. Finally, we feel that Vikings is reaching the end of what it can offer during this particularly uneven season. Below the previous ones, it leaves us rather skeptical. However, there is still a sixth and final season to close this series in beauty, and, who knows, give it back the letters of nobility of its debut.

Vikings Season 5 Trailer

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