The Profit and the Loss

Not sure what has happened, but this entire season has tanked. Vikings was previously one of my favorite shows, but the emphasis on drugs and sex during this season has absolutely ruined it. This episode includes what seemed like 10 minutes of nothing but sex scenes. While there isn't any nudity, the scenes are very provocative and inappropriate for families. The last 3 episodes have been wrought with sex, vice telling a story. It's as though the writers are out of ideas. Additionally this show is on the HISTORY channel, but the representation of the few remaining elements of the show dealing with combat or even the basics of Viking culture have been totally off the mark and are historically inaccurate.

The vikings are back in France, and with it, lots of fights, deaths, surprises and amazing moments.

The end of the last episode left us with Ragnar meeting his brother Rollo again, now each one on side of the fight. And even if Ragnar is the king, Rollo won't take it down, and is more than happy to show his brother and all the other vikings what he has been doing in the time he has worked with the French to improve the defenses of Paris. It all does for an amazing combat, full of surprising moments, blood and violence, with both sides not willing to give up. It doesn't ask for much acting, but all the cast does a great job to make the fight believable, and the quality of the direction is good, never letting the viewer catch their breath.

On the other hand, Ragnar and his Chinese medicine stick is becoming a little bit boring. It is clear he seems to be hocked up on whatever Yidu is giving him, and that it is influencing him and his decisions. But the show could have come with a better idea to make things more difficult for him and his vikings.

But the show keeps its good level in this action-packed episode.

The whole magic of Vikings comes from Ragnar's curiosity and his cunning while dealing with situations like this invasion of Frankia, but in the whole season 4 he just comes of as a crazy drug addict and schizophrenic, I know they have to kill him off eventually but don't destroy what you have build with him through 3 seasons, if you have to kill him off then do it as his character deserves, not by making him just another crazy king......

I am just terribly disappointed by this season, Vikings used to be the alternative from fancy CGI fighting, characters had this beautiful simplicity to them which made everything work out so good. But this season:

Lagertha kills Karl at their wedding day ?! Ragnars addiction!! The whole England thing !! Rolos love story, no comments... And this battle is so awful, I mean in every battle Ragnar had a strategic move or something and here "we cover our heads"!!!!!!

Terrible writing for the whole season 4!

and Rolos wife in armor ?!

This episode kicks off with a brutal and messy battle, and from the first moments, you know things are going wrong. The Franks are better organized, better armed, and absolutely brutal in the river.

Ragnar looks completely lost. He's high, barely functioning, and making erratic decisions. He's no longer a god among men-he's a shadow of the king he used to be. His warriors start doubting him, and even Bjorn's loyalty begins to crack.

The river fight is intense, chaotic, and bloody. Boats sink, men scream, and the Franks dominate. The Viking strength doesn't matter when they're up against precision and planning.

The final shot-Ragnar returning with a severed head-is chilling. It looks like Floki's, but nothing's confirmed. It's a moment that makes you question what's real and what Ragnar is imagining.

The theme of the episode is collapse-the fall of a leader, the loss of strategy, the erosion of morale. Rollo, in contrast, doesn't say much, but feels powerful and confident. The brothers are now clearly on different levels.

I give this episode a 9. It's not just about the battle-it's about watching Ragnar unravel, and that's both sad and fascinating to witness.

I don't get how people are giving this episode a real low rating like for real ? Everything in this episode was magneficent starting from the casts' acting and ending by even the soundeffects ! And for those saying it is disappointing for retreating , have you guys ever heard about twists and drama ?