Vikings raiding San Diego Comic con

https://nl.pinterest.com/tamirisfontes/vikings/

Hail Vikings,

Vikings will be at San Diego Comic-Con for the third year in a row. This event will take place on the 21-24 of July 2016. They are already sold out but if you have a ticket enjoy. In the first year of Comic-Con they had a boat race, the second year you could get all dressed like a Viking and got a small film audition. They also bring out a comic book every past year they did this especially for Comic-Con I don't know if it is going to be back this year. More information will follow they didn't announce what they will do and which of the cast is going. For last years panel check: http://www.history.com/shows/vikings/videos/vikings-comic-con-panel-2015?playlist_slug=vikings-season-4-curated-list

Vikings trailer season 4 San Diego Comic-Con

Hail Vikings,

Here it is the new trailer of season 4.

From what we know from the IGN interview and the panel:

IGN interview

We find out that there will be more episodes how many maybe 20 not for sure.
There will be a clash between Rollo and Ragnar but will it be a clash?
Bjorn will find out his wife has left and maybe some burial Travis could tease us.
Bjorn will more and more stand on his own and will become mates with Ragnar.
The child of princess Kwindreth is his.
There will be more love triangles.
Rollo needs to get the French on his site with first of all a language problem.
Period of the Vikings this season will be the Golden Age.

Panel

Ragnar will have another love.
King Eckbert want to succeed in the plan to become king of all kings.
There will be a new romance for Bjorn.
Ragnar will become more and more intrigued by death.

@wierdalexj

What do we see in the trailer

We see Bjorn take the lead to tell them who is the king.
Rollo getting married. Our French Romance is in the air although did she try to kill him at the end of the trailer? Will he betray Ragnar or will he stay loyal to Ragnar. I do think Rollo will kill a squad of Vikings but that is only to get Ragnar to him I think. If Ragnar is not there he want it to get Ragnar to Paris.

Ubbe and Hvitserk are sure growing up to learn from Bjorn. We don't see Ivar in the trailer yet. Will the brothers go and raid England or somewhere else?

Aslaug who wants to know if a woman will succeed in Kattegat. Will she get an answer from the seer? and would she like the answer. I am not sure but if she got smashed to the ground by Ragnar I wonder.

Lagertha will get her revenge on Einar but will she have it also on Kalf? Or does she love Kalf too much to get her revenge just jet.

The arrest of Floki the humiliation and the downfall what I can say about this that it looks like he is still familiar with the god Loki. Although I couldn't see it for sure in the trailer. Because Loki was on a rock not bound inside a cave and I saw no snake although he screamed. Loki his chains were made of his children. Would they kill Helga and Angrboa? Will we see Floki die or is this just a test, and will he survive this test?

To end with the seer "If the fans knew what was coming in S4, they would be dancing naked in the halls"

@gma_27

©TamaraBakx

Waiting for SDCC Vikings trailer

http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/06/26/comic-con-first-look-at-the-official-vikings-sdcc-comic-book

Hail Vikings,

Today you needed to be in the San Diego at Comic-Con to raid with the Vikings.
I found a couple of things while the trailer is still waiting for. It is the interview they did with IGN and the teaser from Vikings itself. More to come......

Teaser 2 hours before the trailer:

http://histv.co/1CsC4vs

IGN interview:

http://www.ign.com/videos/2015/07/10/vikings-cast-interview-comic-con-2015

©TamaraBakx

Birthday Clive Standen Rollo

@teamStanden and @CliveStanden

Hail Vikings fans,

It is almost the Birthday of Clive Standen (Rollo).
Together with @teamStanden we want to raise money for Sea Sheperd.
Because Clive is one of the ambassadors.
So if you want to join go and donate at: www.justgiving.com/twitter-teamStanden

With Spoilers Vikings season 3 'The Dead' Viking season 4 what we know so far

http://www.patriciabracewell.com/2015/04/vikings-3-episode-x-the-dead/

Hail Vikingsfans,

I am so sorry this came out today but due to illness I couldn't do it any sooner.

I saw the season finally and yes Micheal Hirst tricked us again although did he? There are definitely difference between the European and American versions of Vikings.I have the opportunity to watch Vikings 3 times a week in the past. It couldn't be better for me. On Monday season 2 Dutch/European version, on Wednesday season 3 Dutch/European version and on friday season 3 UK/American version.

While watching it I saw a lot of things I didn't recognise before or heard something different then I first hear or saw it. But in my opinion the show stays awesome to watch.

Alright this blog will take you trough the finale and some spoilers I read about season 4 also I like to point out that there are 3 new cast members added to season 4. That said let's go and do the finale blog.

Finale 

We start this finale with the bargain of the last episode I will remind you that the Frankia Emperor heard from Count Oddo that the supplies and food are low on stock so he decide to go to the Vikings to give them a bargain to go away, in return they need to leave Frankia as soon as they have the money. Ragnar on the other hand tries to get himself baptized what they did at the end of that Breaking Point episode.

The money comes to the Vikings and Rollo is going to tell Ragnar. At that same moment Ragnar tells Rollo he is dying. Still Ragnar doesn't think about the money he is thinking about a plan. He also tells Rollo that he will meet Athelstan again.

Floki however feels that Ragnar tricked by Athelstan and is ready to tell Rollo that Ragnar poisoned by Athelstan. Rollo is telling Floki that he will stay truth to the gods.

Then Lagertha tells Rollo that the mind of Ragnar poisoned by his baptism but how could it be that Rollo got baptised and isn't poisoned. Rollo tells her that he saw it as a joke and that Ragnar only could be poisoned by one person Athelstan.

Kalf on the other hand hopes Ragnar will die because there couldn't be a christian ruler in the Scandinavian. Or will the son of King Horik Elendur seek his change to kill Ragnar? unfortunately for him it will turn somewhat different from they expect.

Oddo and Gisla what a couple they hate each other but there is still a kind of connection between them. Oddo is a crazy men we will see him in a 50 shades of count Oddo episode medieval style. Why haven't we seen that coming. Torture was pretty normal in that time but this is something I hadn´t forseen first.

Then we have multiple conversations between the Emperor and Gisla. One of them is the victory of the Vikings. Gisla tells him it is no victory at all a strong but yet good conversation. 

Most of the conversations Gisla is a great influence on her dad but when he decide to give her a hand of marriage to Rollo Gisla looks like a spoiled teenager with fear of what will happened she compares Rollo with a beast that has no feelings. Boy we know better than that. Rollo looks that way but we know he could be different.That is maybe the thing I like about Rollo a multiple character with surprises all over the place.

I don´t know what is going to happen between Floki and Helga but it is sad in a way to see them both struggling with their relationship. Floki as we well know has killed Athelstan and he told Helga. She doesn´t know how to handle Floki anymore. A struggle we see back as he attack her twice this season. Helga is scared.Floki on the other hand tries to connect with her again on his own way the way we know only Floki could manage to do. When he is making the last boat for Ragnar´s last journey Helga ask him in an impolite way what he is doing. She seeks a lot behind everything Floki is doing but also she tried to connect with him in a way.

Ragnar and Bjorn´s conversation is one about power and how to rule. You rule with your head not with your heart. This is the last conversation between them before Ragnar dies the plan is than already set by Bjorn and Ragnar.

Because we are a month further in time the Frankia´s are questioning why the Vikings haven´t left and are going to find out. Bjorn takes his responsibility and take them to see Ragnar.Bjorn ask them for a christian funeral and he gets it with unarmed Vikings to bring him inside Paris. That is a deal and all part of a huge plan.After they have left Lagertha goes to Ragnar although he didn´t see her she knows he will be dying soon.

We now jump into the dead of Ragnar. Well played by Bjorn who tells everyone you could speak to Ragnar the coffin boat is already closed so no one could expect what is going to happen.

We start with Lagertha what we know from this whole conversation is that she still loves Ragnar. Also that she thinks he will not go to heaven. She actually tells him that she thinks Odin will do whatever happens to get Ragnar into Walhalla because there is where he belongs. If he goes to heaven they will never meet again.

Rollo is the most down to earth person in the talking to Ragnar. He tells Ragnar everybody will die some day. He never thought the gods would take him first. He also tells what he thinks everyone favorite you even the gods. You went from god to just a men when you died. In a way I didn´t saw Ragnar that way I had that with a few other persons. I saw Ragnar as a greatness but not as a god I still don´t know why.

Floki is the one who actually give an anger speech. He is full with anger. Ragnar must understand it was Floki who build the boat to his fame and the last boat who will take him to heaven. Regards to Athelstan it could be a confession but is it really I don´t think so. Floki believes that Ragnar betray him in the end. Floki completely outnumbered himself in many ways in this conversation. He hate Ragnar in many ways but loves him too and he keeps asking the question why do you turn me away from myself. In the meantime Floki heard something and that is why he didn´t betray himself of killing Athelstan in my opinion.

The funeral starts with 6 Vikings men who carry the coffin boat inside of paris then they carry it all the way to the cathedral. It shows us the difference between the Vikings way and the Christian way. The Viking music we hear while carrying the coffin is in my opinion traditional to the Viking way as we turn over to the church music the Christians will know as funeral music.I liked it because they showed the difference also in season 2 with the marriage scene of Floki/Helga and Aethelwulf/Judith.

Funny thing is what happens next they are inside of Paris and out of no where the coffin hide a surprise of King Ragnar resurrection. It took the Frankia's by surprise. First he gets the Emperor but by killing the Cardinal first. After this surprise attack he takes Gisla hostage to get out of the cathedral not only that but he will give orders by not talking to Count Oddo he enables the bridge and so he makes his way through Paris.

After they have opened the gate Bjorn gives a sign to start the raid on Paris. While everyone gets in to raid Paris he gets out to fall into the arms of Bjorn. While we see the surprised faces of the main characters they raid separately from each other to let them know he is still alive. He need to see their faces.

When they have done raiding all get angry with Ragnar while Ragnar stay calm as always he tells them I got you into Paris that was the plan. He knows now how everybody thinks and who to trust and who not. The plan is to go to Kattegat for the winter and one person needs to stay. Bjorn asks for volunteers and it's Floki who wants to stay first. Then Rollo takes the lead into the conversation that Floki have much more to live for. So Bjorn tells Rollo to stay with warriors that wants to stay with him.

When Rollo got audience the Frankia's emperor he got promised the highest rank Frankia has to offer Duke he gets land in the Northern of Frankia and above this all the hand of marriage of Gisla. As the seer has told to Rollo if he had known what the gods had in store for him he could dance naked on the beach. The return mission is to betray and keep Ragnar outside of Paris. No not again! Will he betray him this time only time will tell. In my opinion he can't betray him but that is mine idea. The funny thing about this scene is to actually see Rollo speak Franks "Je vous Salut" I had a laughter about that one.

http://www.history.com/shows/vikings/pictures/season-3-episode-10-the-dead/vikings-gallery-10-4

In the last scene of this season we see that Floki can't sleep like always when he is on the boat to Kattegat if Ragnar wakes from his sleep he ask Floki to come to him. The last sentence of this season "You killed Athelstan" is one to never forget and actually tells us Ragnar knew all along who killed Athelstan.

What I like to see is that the judge stone in season 2 used for Floki. Kill someone with no reason is death most of the time but hopefully they will judge him the same way they did with Rollo in season 2. I hope Floki will stay because it is one big character I wouldn't like to lose just jet.

What we know from season 4 so far

There will be another time jump in the season. There are 3 new characters namely King Harald Finehair, Halfdan  King Harald Finehair brother and Yidu. We will see more countries and old characters of last season. The boys of Ragnar will be grown up in a way. Yidu is a Mythology Chinese Emperor. 

Actors from the new characters

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/vikings-season-4-spoilers-793610

King Harald Finehair played by Peter Franzén Scandinavian warrior (The Gunman)

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0291918/?ref_=nv_sr_1

Halfdan played by Jasper Paakkonen brother of King Harald Finehair (Frozen Land)

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0701747/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1

Yudi played by Dianne Doan a new and unique Chinese character (Once upon a Time)

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3999319/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1

Charters

King Harald Finehair information:

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/254814/Harald-I

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harald_Fairhair

Halfdan information:

http://www.englishmonarchs.co.uk/vikings_19.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halfdan

Yudi information:

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/542319/Shun

http://www.ancient.eu/Jade_Emperor/

©TamaraBakx

With Spoilers Vikings season 3 'Breaking Point'

http://www.history.com/shows/vikings/pictures/season-3-episode-9-breaking-point/vikings_s3e9_gallery_6

Hail Vikings,

What an episode and I yet can´t wait for the season finally. I got so much to discuss with you guys. This episode is good in many ways it refer to one and other. It isn't predictable. It will be a bit of a recap in a few ways episodes but also seasons of Vikings.

Again we start with King Ragnar and Floki in the episode before we started the same way only a different place and setting. It is not about how to attack but about the defeat. They will try it differently this time by the idea of the others. The first attack it is all about the women. By taking down the French men one by one in the great hall towards Paris. While doing so they make less noise. But here we can see a true battle between Lagertha who knows how to fight and Gisla who doesn´t know how she is going to battle but also arms her women with a small dagger/knife. Where we can see Lagertha battle. Gisla is not particular good at fighting we haven't seen her fight yet, she is good in politics. 

When this girl power almost kill the guards inside the hall the men show up. When they came through the burning doors of the hall. After the pike car wheel we see Rollo take command first he defeat the wheel then a lot of soldiers alone. What a great warrior he almost singlehandedly take down lots of the soldiers of the French army. But he is blind to see what happens. His eyes are the eyes of Floki who sees what coward Count Oddo does and he reinforce the army. When Floki calls out for Rollo, Rollo started to realise that this is yet another retreat they need to make. Before that Lagertha saves Kalf but it was also a warning to him that she could kill him anytime. While doing the retreat they lose Cedric and Earl Siegfried to the French because they can't reach the gate in time.

Then we have the most interesting part of the episode or should I say the beginning of the end and the beginning of something new. The funny thing in this part is that you could interpret in many ways. Many would say it is the switching of believe who made him there laying in his own blood pool. I agree it could but it wouldn't be me that I doubt about this. He is laying as it starts there as a baby the beginning at the end of the scene he is still the baby but I will tell you why. What we see in this scene is how he became that way and how he will end that way. It is the circle of live they show us. Not only that there is much more in there. This is how I wrote it down in my handwritten book.

Ragnar-Odin-Athelstan-Jesus-Odin-Athelstan-Odin-red-cut in the hand of Ragnar by Odin I  think to made him realise that he doesn't need to ignore the faith he was born in these are the stages he lived in taken as the believes. But there is more to it as far as I can see the changes from Athelstan are also in there.

Then we go to the next stage: laying in a pool of blood like a baby-Athelstan-Jesus-Odin-Jesus-Athelstan-red-crow-human wolf-giant-himself outside of his body-Odin-laying in a pool of blood like a baby. In this you can see the doubt, but also the change in Athelstan's live, the changes of Ragnar himself, circle of live, but also his way how he become a King. He started as just a farmer a crow, he needed to become a human wolf to become Earl, and he needed to become a giant to become King.

That brings me to another link in this episode the scene he is explaining why he has the last judgement. He became Earl by other people's actions (Lagertha). He became King not out of ambition but again he had no choice as result of other people's actions (Rollo, Floki, Bjorn, Siggy) Does he do this to ask forgiveness to Erlendur, Kalf, Floki, Rollo, Lagertha etc. And wasn't the sentence to Athelstan I don't ask for forgiveness but I hope you forgive for what I am about to do. Ragnar got baptized at the end of this episode.

In the scene we are at Wessex and King Eckbert and Judith have an interesting conversation also not about faith but about what might be and what has been. There is one link this episode I could find between Ragnar and Eckbert. Footsteps echo in the memory the scenes Ragnar has is definitely an echo of memory. If we take King Eckbert and Ragnar they are very similar. The emperor of France is as smart as the both of them but in a different way. King Eckbert needs Judith (daughter in law), the emperor needs Gisla (daughter).   

In Kattegat they bring Aslaug a Christian missionary who is actually thinking that he could face the gods who he founds deaf, dumb and blind. Deaf is about Heimdall because his ears are hidden in Yggdrasil, the eye of Odin is there hidden as well. The Cristian also talks about the pagan gods that their made up. When he challenged by Aslaug to let the gods decided what to do with him he accept, the first time he has nothing the second time he burns his hands. Hands that are also get hurt in another scene the scene of execution where a French soldier loses his hand because the executioner pulled his head back.

There are more things I could write about but then I would spoil all the episode so I don't.

©TamaraBakx

SPOILER ALERT Vikings season 4 UPDATE

http://www.history.com/shows/vikings/pictures/season-3-episode-8-to-the-gates/vikings_s3e8_gallery_3

While season 3 is still on TV and the preparation  season 4 are on it´s way.

What can I tell you about season 4 our beloved cast are gathering again in Ireland for preparations and the shooting of the new season 4 will start on 20th of April.

Actors who are already present or on their way to Dublin as far as I can tell are:

Clive Standen (Rollo)

Katheryn Winnick (Lagertha)

Alyssa Sutherland (Aslaug)

Maud Hirst (Helga)
Gustaf Skarsgård (Floki) 
Gee Hirst (Torvi)
Moe Dunford (Eathelwolf)
Edvin Endre (King Horik's son Erlendur)

Amy Bailey (Kwindreth) 

Unknown so far:

Travis Fimmel (Ragnar) I think we can count him in because he need to take back the settlement and conquer Paris

Alexander Ludwig (Bjorn) had preparations in Ontario so I think we can count him in

Ben Robson (Kalf)

Gaia Weiss (Porunn)

Linus Roache (King Eckbert)
Kevin Durand (The Wanderer Habard)

Returning to the directors seats 2nd block filming is Helen Shaver.

Finally I like to say that Clive Standen (Rollo) answered my question. Do you see difference between them and how would you describe them? How is it to work with different directors?

Clive Standen: "Every Director works closely with Michael Hirst but each one always brings a different flavour and style...keeps the show fresh"

©TamaraBakx

Vikings season 4 announced

https://www.facebook.com/Vikings?_rdr

Hail Vikings fans,

Today the exciting news finally came out there will be a season 4. After this exciting news I also read a tweet by someone of the cast that it was already spoiled. It wasn´t me who actually spoiled it. History Channel failed to keep it secret because they asked for extra´s before they even told the news of this new season, also director Helen Shaver told some of the Vikings cast that she will be directing the second block of next season.

So no secrets there the only secret that will keep us until the end of this season is who will survive Paris or who survives this season. I think that with this in mind we could say we see Vikings (new or still) raiding Paris because Michael Hirst talked about that in past interviews.

https://www.facebook.com/Vikings?fref=ts

Tomorrow you could chat on Facebook with Athelstan (George Blagden) there is an Q and A planned for him at 6:30 PM EST

©TamaraBakx