Blood Eagle
- Episode aired Apr 10, 2014
- TV-14
- 45m
IMDb RATING
8.5/10
6.1K
YOUR RATING
Ragnar and King Horik clash over differences; King Aelle arrives in Wessex; Ecbert has an eye on a new alliance.Ragnar and King Horik clash over differences; King Aelle arrives in Wessex; Ecbert has an eye on a new alliance.Ragnar and King Horik clash over differences; King Aelle arrives in Wessex; Ecbert has an eye on a new alliance.
- Awards
- 1 nomination
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe "blood eagle" execution, for which the episode is named, is not a product of Hollywood imagination. There are numerous, arguably accurate, accounts of it in Viking sagas being performed on enemies considered worthy of its brutality - in some cases against English kings.
- Quotes
Floki: But warriors don't show their heart, until the axe reveals it.
Bjorn Lothbrok: You are so wise, Floki.
Floki: I'm not wise at all.
Floki: I'm just a joker.
- ConnectionsFeatured in WatchMojo: Top 20 Most Satisfying Revenge Kills in TV History (2019)
- SoundtracksIf I Had a Heart
(Main Titles)
Written by Karin Dreijer (as Karin Dreijer Andersson)
Performed by Karin Dreijer (as Fever Ray)
Courtesy of Mute and Rabid Records
Featured review
Finally it reaches some of the heights of the first season
Yes, the second season has been OK. But being "OK" is too weak for the continuation of what I felt was the best TV history series, period.
Season 2 almost seemed lifeless compared to the pretty much flawless hypnotic complex imagery/sound/thought-scape of the second half of season 1. For example, in Sacrifice S1/Ep8 we end up with a masterful gut wrenching blend of beauty, gore, clash of religions, as if the ancient gods had risen and came back to guide or haunt ;-) the living. Yet there is plenty of human plots too with just the right mix of thought, action, nudity.
So what do we get in Season 2? A run of the mill fight for powers. Yes, there is gore, there are killings, but somehow, the magic got lost in the process. No signs of Valhalla anymore, just people wanting to kill other people. Remember the enigmatic/menacing King Horik of the first season? Every time he appeared on screen, I got a feeling he knew more of the inner workings of this world and how to manipulate people into his own plans. Can't see much of that in season 2 - the charisma is gone.
Anyway, I just kept watching - and finally, in "Blood Eagle" I got some of the magic spell handed over again. There is some beautiful cinematography of times good and bad, some new aspects of Viking life that have not been covered before and of course violence to match. The Vikings are back - not surpassing season 1, but at least rising above average and providing some much needed surprise.
Season 2 almost seemed lifeless compared to the pretty much flawless hypnotic complex imagery/sound/thought-scape of the second half of season 1. For example, in Sacrifice S1/Ep8 we end up with a masterful gut wrenching blend of beauty, gore, clash of religions, as if the ancient gods had risen and came back to guide or haunt ;-) the living. Yet there is plenty of human plots too with just the right mix of thought, action, nudity.
So what do we get in Season 2? A run of the mill fight for powers. Yes, there is gore, there are killings, but somehow, the magic got lost in the process. No signs of Valhalla anymore, just people wanting to kill other people. Remember the enigmatic/menacing King Horik of the first season? Every time he appeared on screen, I got a feeling he knew more of the inner workings of this world and how to manipulate people into his own plans. Can't see much of that in season 2 - the charisma is gone.
Anyway, I just kept watching - and finally, in "Blood Eagle" I got some of the magic spell handed over again. There is some beautiful cinematography of times good and bad, some new aspects of Viking life that have not been covered before and of course violence to match. The Vikings are back - not surpassing season 1, but at least rising above average and providing some much needed surprise.
- tpolakov-2
- Nov 3, 2014
- Permalink
Details
- Runtime45 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 16:9 HD
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