Stratego
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Posts posted by Stratego
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On 1/17/2018 at 9:37 PM, saoirse said:Quote
A sense of doom looms over Kattegat as bloodshed ensues. The defeated army flees in the face of the victors, and a legendary warrior makes his way home.
There aren't many legendary warriors. Plus, I thought I saw some sort of a trailer?
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I invite posters to read Wikipedia's write-up of the battle of Edington. Many names used in Vikings appear in the write-up. There were several earlier battles in Wessex (Ashdown) and others over about a 7-9 year period. You'll see Alfred, Aethelred (preceded Alfred as King), Ivar, Ubbe, Halfdan Ragnarsson, and "Aethalstan". From other sites one finds that Ivar is ordering this war that is led by others (brothers and so on). One of Ivar's brother is killed and one is baptized as a Christian. There is more to find if you research the subject deeper.
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1 hour ago, Ohwell said:
Add me to the list of those who miss Sigurd. Hvitserk is as dull as a lump of dough.
On another note, I wonder if Bjorn will go through with the marriage to Reindeer Balls, since he asked her father for her hand in marriage. I don't think he's going to enjoy being shackled every night. I guess he's obligated now, whether he wants to or not?
Shackled? Bjorn is the guy who is wont to assemble a fleet and "Viking"--leaving the "wife" and any children behind. Bjorn learned from his mistake of having a shield-maiden wife.
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One other thing...What is the point of the episode's title The Joke ?
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I can't hold back any more...
Those Sami darts have fastest damn poison ever devised! Where did it come from? What is it? I wonder why no one else (oh say for the next 12 centuries) hasn't continued to use it?
Archers were shown when marching out of Kattegat (yes Vikings did have them!) but nobody used them! Normally they are placed like artillery (well behind the front) used in volleys against a massed formation. Also used against the enemy leaders. Thus, there would be shields used in the attack.
Horses were shown when Lagertha, Bjorn, and Ubbe left the town--but why did they lose them? Mounted knights are really effective (not so good if archers are near though) as shown by the bishop in York.
That battle would have been decisive and the GHA would have withdrawn to the ships. If a second assault is forthcoming, I cry BS! This is not some professional army that trains as an army--they are individuals would fight in packs (local leaders) who have pledged allegiance to someone like Ivar. That allegiance only lasts in victory.
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28 minutes ago, Ravenya003 said:
I like to think that Lagertha spared Heahmund after hearing he was a Saxon priest because he reminds her of Athelstan (and clearly didn't want to share that information with Ubbe). In any case I'm interested to see what they'll make of each other.
There has to be a reason why the bishop character was brought to Kattegat--or for that matter in this season at all. At best Heahmund is a "MacGuffin". One curious point is that everyone who sees Heahmond's sword is in awe of it. I sure hope that this gets explained (and developed) soon.
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Now that Kattegat is settled Bjorn can return to the Med--where his destiny awaits!
I have to laugh at these battles--real combatants were generally in very close quarters--like a phalanx or wedges.
The "chiefs" would be surrounded by the best warriors when they fought--which wasn't often! Then there is the proficiency of the women in battle!
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7 hours ago, nodorothyparker said:
I loved the consternation of Floki's little band of followers when he dragged them halfway across Iceland to show them what looked at first glace like a big smoking crater. It's so nice that NOW he's interested in share and share alike in some sort of Dark Ages version of social democracy. If they were going to go for an Athelstan voiceover anyway, maybe they should have had him laughing there. Also nice to see the Vikings discover the joy of a hot bath.
Bjorn makes me think of the people I've known who've described themselves as serial monogamists. Each new person they fall in love with is The One and the absolute greatest thing ever and there's no hard feelings to the person they're shuffling off to the side, but you know how these things are. I did quite like some of Alexander Ludwig's line readings this episode, particularly in how matter of factly he told the story of inadvertently eating their former employer and in reminiscing with Lagertha about their days farming but yeah, any cachet you might have as the biggest baddest Viking in the place is immediately undercut by having to have your mom go ask for a girl for you.
I want to like the scenes of Team Lagertha sitting around trying to out think Ivar, just as I want to like the Ivar-Heahmund scenes but they each ended up feeling like stuff I'd seen before and a little too on the nose. I too had a moment of wondering if they were really going to go there with Ivar and Heahmund, given what we've seen with Ivar's past issues with women and ability to perform. Alex Hogh is really giving these scenes everything he's got, but he's not getting much in return to bounce off of from JRM who seems to be reading most of his lines with the same curious lack of inflection.
Margarethe continuing to plot and wheedle is making every last character on Team Lagertha look weak for putting up with it, including Ubbe. I'm glad the show is attempting to develop an actual character for Alfred beyond just being the sainted seed of Athelstan. As much as I loved and still miss that character and am willing to root for his son, he needs to be more than that. The scene with the monk? abbot? disparaging Athelstan and reacting to the mere mention of Ragnar was a great illustration of how history can be twisted or recast in the retelling.
22 hours ago, Silverglitter said:Bjorn and Torvi have such adorable chemistry. So of course their relationship was doomed. Bjorn and Lagertha are ridiculous. Having him have her ask that king to set him up with his daughter was so middle school it almost hurt. I already hate her and this relationship. Adult Bjorn's never been a fave, but I like him less and less with each passing episode.
If they wanted Margarette to play Lady Macbeth, they should've cast a decent actress. Ah well, she'll be gone soon. Cause, Torvi/Ubbe is clearly the plan.
There is protocol people. Lagetha is royalty so it is appropriate for her to speak directly to a king. Bjorn is like a knight--but no higher. It would be presumptious for him to approach the king uninvited to discuss his daughter.
It's as if everyone forgot that the Vikings have different customs than we do with respect to love/marriage/fidelity. That difference was shown in Season I with Athelstan and Lagertha/Ragnar as well as Ragnar with Aslaug. Bjorn did say he would provide for his children but made it clear that it was "over" for him and Torvii. That seems consistent with what we learned about the Vikings earlier.
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Bjorn Ironside built his reputation in the Mediterranean. That, plus Bjorn's announcement to all that was going to lead a sizeable force there makes it mandatory that "something" happen there. One can use there favorite search engine to learn about Bjorn if you want to delve into the subject and "spoil yourself".
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17 hours ago, LittleIggy said:
The nun’s boyfriend the emir is a “heathen.”
No, he would be a Muslim.
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We knew (from history) that the Northmen slaughtered the Northumbrians (and many others!). Their comeuppance is a bit later.
It appears that Lagertha 's rule will soon end. As they say, "long live the King".
Floki and his "disciples" will settle Iceland--they can have it!
Bishop Heahmund becomes "Athelstan II"--but I doubt he finds a couple as welcoming as Ragnar and Lagertha!
Bjorn continues his "Perils of Pauline" saga. This escape must be epic. I am intrigued by that women (forget her name) from the empire.
I will be watching next week, unlike some posters from episode 4.
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2 hours ago, Haleth said:
Aethelred the Unready lived later and was married to (wait for it)... a descendant of Rollo, Emma of Normandy.
Yes, Alfred was really Aethelfred.
Why didn't anyone kill Ivar when they had the chance? Ugh, he's laying there helpless, surrounded by Saxons, and no one thought to put on arrow through his psycho skull?
To paraphrase: "It wasn't in the script."
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Tonight's cases (2) were boring. Ignore any rebroadcasts, wash something instead.
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On 10/15/2017 at 11:21 PM, auntjess said:
The poisoned teacher was different from the norm. Glad she survived, but can't imagine what she went through.
The mercy shown to that student was unbelievable--that teacher truly suffered and could have died. That kid should have spent at least 5 years in state prison for that crime.
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Tonight's (9/13/17) episode. another "different" episode. The mystery is quickly established--and then we follow "Jeffy" on his journey home. A Deux es machina for the climax--with an idiot DA writing the de`nouement.
But this is real life, so....
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14 hours ago, andromeda331 said:
Anyone see the first episode of the season? So you think your son didn't steal the teacher's car with his friends so of course the next logical step then is to help him kill those friends. Stellar parenting.
Not only that, but everyone (including the police!) were treating car theft as a minor crime. All they had to do was: plead guilty, allocute, and sound repentant and all that happens is probation with the crime expunged if "they were good boys".
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I just watched tonight's show (S7 Ep 3) and I have to say this season is more interesting than others (so far). There are elements of actual mystery writing than simply a klunky, linear progression towards the solution.
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This is Season 7, when does CM learn how to act? Jack Webb (back in the decade) showed more emotion--"Just the facts ma'am".
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...and we're back! S07 EP 01 was wednesday. I'm watching a repeat right now (Sat 8/26).
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The ending: I think most people wanted a definite ending--simple, straight-forward, and (according to their tastes) happy. But the entire season was based on one's perspective: Varga = bad and must be defeated by Gloria = good yet the outcome of the show (good or bad) is like the outcome of the election--based on one's perspective and tastes. The writer's were trying to show that by ambiguity of Varga's fate. The fate of others was like anvils falling from the sky--too contrived and final--and not ambiguous like Varga's fate. I think the writer used too many characters to tell his story given there was only ten episodes. It needed to be like 24 and have that many episodes in order to "do things right".
Oh, and I claim the "Attaboy" for calling the connection between Varga and Mrs, Goldfarb.
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17 hours ago, MissBluxom said:
Emmet's confession didn't amount to anything more than an accidental death. He isn't guilty of murder. He isn't guilty of anything.
Nikki may be very clever. But if she were really clever, she wouldn't live her life as a criminal. That rarely ends up being a life lived outside of prison. She's already been to prison twice. She is not supremely clever.
+1!
Gloria is as incompetent as a cop as the sheriff. She pulls "evidence out of thin air" to formulate her theory of the Emmit/Ray relationship--and then her mind "snaps shut like the proverbial steel trap". Emmit's "confession was nothing more than "I've been a bad brother and took advantage of Ray's naivete. He proceeds to describe exactly (what we saw!) happen--an accident--and proceeds to arrest Emmit! Gloria never asked what happened to the stamp! It wasn't found by the "detectives"--so where did it go? Emmit made no mention that he retrieved it--or that anyone else was at the scene--so what happened to the stamp? Compare Gloria's response to Emmit based on he interpretation of "her alternative facts" and the sheriff's actions concerning arresting an ex-con who "confessed to all four murders". If we didn't know who killed who (like the cops) why would people find fault with the sheriff?--Certainly not incompentcy. Any reasonable cop would arrest the confessed murderer. In real life, the whole thing would be turned over to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension because Meeker county wouldn't have "the resources" to properly investigate and analyse the evidence. Possibly they would find fault in the story. Though I could see the prosecutor (Meeker County) making a plea deal to avoid trial (likely exactly what Varga wants!). But. that's another story... . My point: the sharp criticism of the male cops is not warranted based on sexism--Gloria made the same mistakes using a nearly identical path to her conclusion. We only know the real facts because the writers contrived everything that way. Ergo, the writers are contriving the reaction of sexism to boost ratings.
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22 minutes ago, AimingforYoko said:
Remember every stupid decision Ray made for Nikki? Worth it. She was your one-in-a-million, Ray.
I've never seen a show with a bigger intelligence disparity between the genders.
Singing to the choir--writing to the audience.
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Emmit coming to the police station "to confess" should be an admission that Ray died an accidental death and that the "crime" was that Emmit "took advantage" of Ray with respect to the long-ago deal with the stamp--a non crime. The writing of this season is "klunky". First we "see" the real story unfold between characters, then anvils are dropped so other characters "learn" what was happening/happened around them so they understand what "we" already know.
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6 hours ago, MissBluxom said:
Even though she was not shown as chief, it wasn't all that bad because the moron chief wasn't shown at all. If past seasons are any guide, he will either never be shown again. Or, hopefully, will just be shown one more time when he is fired or quits because of his complete incompetence. As someone fairly clever once said, "He is a real shit cop."
"The Boss" is a sheriff, an elected "top cop" of the county. Eden Valley eliminated its municipal police force and opted (paid) for service from the county. Gloria and (dimwit) were absorbed into the county PD as deputies.
34 minutes ago, WaltersHair said:BTW, I half expected one of the sheriffs at the bus crash scene to do a Tommy Lee Jones: "I want a search of every gas station, residence, warehouse, farmhouse, henhouse, outhouse and doghouse in this area."
But NO. The police are once again the Keystone cops. Seriously why are Gloria and Winnie the only competent police for 200 square miles? Very frustrating this season.
Those were US Marshals. They are there because it was a prisoner transfer bus--their case. Gloria is a Mary Sue character whose purpose is to be the protagonist for the target audience.
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S01.E09: Lost Love
in The Resident
You beat me too it 9just watched the episode!). Recall the foreshadowing of Claire (to Dr. Bell) about the cameras to catch mistakes? Lily would have been in IC and I'm very confident that cameras would have been installed there as well as the ORs. I bet we'll see a videotape of NP Nic (they are sensitive to that NP designation) going into the IC, getting the IV, inserting it etc and then leaving the room. Later we''ll see Dr. Lane enter the IC and adjust the dose controller. Dum da dum dum!