Vikings (TV Series) Burial of the Dead (2013) User Reviews

The Challenge and the Funeral

[claudio_carvalho · 8/10 · 25 September 2017]

The wounded and weak Ragnar challenges and defeats Eart Haraldson killing him. He becomes the next Earl and gives a funeral to Haraldson. Ragnar also learns that Lagertha is pregnant. By the end of the winter, Ragnar sails with three ships to loot England. But this time, King Aelle is waiting for the Vikings.

"Burial of the Dead" shows the predictable fate of Eart Haraldson. Rollo does not seem to be a trustworthy character and his attitude toward his brother are at least suspicious. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Burial of the Dead"

Awesome Show

[ichon5000 · 9/10 · 9 April 2013]

I really enjoy this show. I was afraid it would be too lame & Hollywood with no grit. But its very balanced.

The scenery is beautiful. The people seem real. Gustaf Skarsgård is awesome as Floki Travis Fimmel is really awesome as Ragnar. This is a way better role for him than being a pretty boy which alienates most male viewers.

I'm glad it didn't take 2 years to get rid of David Pearce as Svine or is that SWINE !! Him & Byrne played a great role because I truly disliked them !

Cant wait for next show :)

A Mixed Conclusion & Continuation

[amongpixels · 8/10 · 1 January 2021]

"Burial of the Dead" is filled with plenty of strong, emotional moments - including the Earl's final moments, Ragnar discovering Lagertha is bearing another child, and Ragnar finally taking leadership of his clan.

However, the episode's conclusive nature also shines a light on some of the characters and elements that have been rushed thus far, like how Rollo just shows up again after his torture and barely mentions it (I thought he was supposed to be in real danger?), or how the Earl's relationship with his daughter, Thyri, is basically nonexistent. The show often seems to have a lack of character reactions, particularly considering how large the cast is, which creates some disconnect at times.

It also doesn't help that Ragnar acts rather dour and strange throughout the episode, claiming that the Earl was "a great man" (which is ridiculous), yet also refuses Siggy's request to burn his body? Thankfully, Rollo does make note of Ragnar's lack of holding grudges, but Ragnar thinking highly of the Earl doesn't make much sense to me after the Earl killed his friends, tortured his brother, and destroyed his home. Perhaps this is an intentional flaw they are establishing for Ragnar? Either way, it doesn't make him particularly relatable in that regard. I pretty much agree with Athelstan on everything, who is constantly taken aback by the Viking ways.

As for King Aelle, it was a little disappointing that his first big "antagonist moment" is just killing one of his own men, which the show already did with the Earl. Hopefully there's some more originality and depth to Aelle going forward. Regardless, this was a solid enough episode, but certainly not perfect.

Hail O Ragnar (dialog)

[A_Different_Drummer · 9/10 · 10 March 2015]

Apologies Dominus.

I am going to do something in a review I seldom do. It is similar to mixing metaphors, but on steroids. Don't say you were not warned.

But truth is truth.

Just before watching this superb episode, I was checking out, on the internet, a video prepared by two top economists trying to explain what is going on in our crazy world. (This written March 2015).

We have, they said, moved past the point where capital and labor are naturally of value. Today technology is moving so fast that ideas and innovation are where society is headed. Entire industries that used to rely on monopolies and controlled outputs will break open. People who try to escape by relying the social systems will find that both government and the social programs will ultimately collapse. But there is good news, they said. We come from hunter-gatherers. It is in our DNA. We were not created to go to a factory job and do the same thing for 8 hours, nor were we created to sit back and watch TV and receive payment for doing nothing. We will need to get creative again. And go back to our roots.

So, as these thoughts were buzzing through my head, I watched Ragnar, a man who had figured out it was possible, and profitable, and doable, to sail west for spoils, not east, duke it out with the man who refused to accept such innovation for fear of "appearing weak." I watched that man die.

And I watched as his toady, a man who seemed he could get a job in any bureaucracy in the world, without an appointment, demand that Ragnar be killed .. only to get killed himself.

And 2 thoughts came to me at the same time:

1. This is good TV.

2. Those economists might be onto something,

The best

[lucif-30343 · 10/10 · 27 July 2021]

The serie vikings is the best in the world ragnar the king.

I was not expecting that

[Abdulxoxo · 7/10 · 25 January 2021]

I have to say I did not see that coming. But I like it. Infact love it. I thought The Earl was an interesting and easy-to-like character for the most parts. He was a fleshed out character. IMO. Despite being the 'bad guy' We get to see the human side of his character as he was a grieving father. I think he knew he had no chance against Ragnar but takes up the challenge anyway as he sees "himself in Ragnar when he was his age". I honestly wouldn't mind if the character survived to the end of the season but I liked that he's killed off as well 'cause it boasts the story forward and develops the character of Ragnar. I thought that part where his slave willingly volunteers to be killed off so that she could be with her master in the afterlife was disturbing and weird as hellll but it's middle ages so you never know with them.

What A stupidity

[haidarkanaan · 1/10 · 6 January 2019]

If this how things are going .. why no one challenge the current Eart and defeat him then became a king ??? why didn't they think about it and turn their lives into a combats and fights? Ragnar was weak but no one think i must be the king ..