User Reviews

There's a valiant subtlety when "Vikings" portrays both comfy adultery and spiritual approach, then proceeds to show Bjorn going Revenant with slight madness. The episode is quieter than previous one, although scheming still persists, especially in beds. Its finer moment comes when it shows apparition in astral atmosphere.

The episode opens with Rollo as he struggles to fit into his new life. He has been severely wounded, depressed and even accidentally intoxicated back in the days, but this is probably the most uncomfortable he's ever been. It comes to a point if one misses the last two episodes, Rollo might just be unrecognizable to them.

Royalties on the other side of the shore are now committing to adultery, any attempt to hide it is minimal at best as though they already know what the other parties desire. This is strangely effective in setting a highly dysfunctional family just ready to plant a knife on someone's back. Meanwhile, Bjorn is facing nature head on as he undergoes his baptism by ice in extremely dangerous coming-of-age ritual.

The best part in the showing is when Athelstan appears to both Ragnar and Ecbert. It's smooth and excellently crafted for spiritual effect. One of the charms of "Vikings" is this oddly mythical moments, they might not be religious in nature, but it's nice to see the characters experience it in their own visions.

Kalf and Erlendur hire a Berserker to assassinate Bjorn, who is surviving alone in the wilderness after killing a bear. The Duke Rollo hires a teacher to learn the language of the Frank while Gisla can not bear him and mistreats him in public. Ragnar and King Ecbert have visions of Athelstan during the night, who say the word "mercy" three times. On the next morning, Ragnar releases Floki while King Ecbert hires a monk to teach art to Judith. Aethelwulf and his soldiers bring Queen Kwenthrith and her son Magnus to Wessex.

"Mercy" is the third episode of the Fourth Season of "Vikings" with a good mystical story but the action is limited to the survival experience of Bjorn fighting a bear. Rollo is receiving of he deserves from Gisla that loathes him. Judith is happy with the arrangement with King Ecbert. And Kalf tells that loves Lagherta but receives no answer. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Mercy"

The life follows its course at Viking's village, Floki continuous has been punished on the cave by Athelstan's death, he suffers the worst torture that a man should endures a never ending drops of water at his head, meanwhile Helga tries to relief Floki putting a bow to catch the water above of Floki's head, enabling to him few minutes of sleeping.

At Paris Rollo pays a heavy price over his betrayal, his wife Princess Gilla derides Rollo about him be a rough savage and demands a divorce be arranged, thus Oto enters in action and convince the wild Rollo to learn their language thru a teacher, although the result is somehow foreseeable, the deal with Franks and the Viking is threatened.

At Mercia King Ecbert's desire lust Judith reaching a fair agreement to be his new mistress, if her has an opportunity to learn and practice Athelstan's work, also the ransomed Queen Kwenthrith is back by the gallantry of Aethelwulf, Judith confess to bewildered Kwenthrith that his Father's son actually is Athelstan.

One night before a rarest phenomenon commonly called deployment took place Athelstan's spirit appears to Ragnar whispering a forgiveness to Floki and also to King Ecbert that he was already dead.

Bjorn keeps going in process of self discovering at wilderness settling a trap to catch a giant bear, nonetheless the beast avoids of the danger, Bjorn has to face the grizzly bear at own hand, meanwhile the danger ain't it properly, the worst is coming and all likelihood is near!!

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First watch: 2021 / How many: 1 / Source: Blu-Ray / Rating: 8.25.

One of the most remarkable aspects of this episode was the scenes involving Athelstan. As an atheist myself, they were so compelling that they almost made me reconsider my stance. The battle between Bjorn and the bear, while not visually the most stunning, holds a strong resonance, portraying Viking courage in a raw and authentic manner. Rollo's evolution into a comedic presence adds a delightful twist, showcasing the show's writing versatility. Floki's long-awaited freedom is a breath of fresh air, accentuated by Gustaf Skarsgård's stellar acting. With every installment, "Vikings" continues to captivate, cementing its status as a television masterpiece.

The episode felt longer than it should. It has a bad pace, at times nothing interesting or even remotely relevant seemed to be happening.

Anyway, worst of all was the bear fight scene. It was so cringeworthy and badly-executed that I was hoping to end sooner. I get it, this is no Revenant and Bjorn is no Leo, but still, that bear didn't look perilous at any moment of the whole scene. It moved slower than my grandpa and it took worse decisions than a toddler.

The good parts of the episode were the Athelstan apparition, which gave me goosebumps and was neatly done, and the Berserker part, which unfortunately only lasted a couple of seconds.

Oh, and the episode should've been called "Bjorn screaming", it would've made so much more sense.