Anybody else think Ragnar looks and acts like he's stoned? - Vikings (2013) Discussion

[–] Zanza8 8 years ago

Yeah, Ragnar seemed a bit stoned long before he ran into Yidu and actually started using drugs. Maybe he has some minimal brain dysfunction? As to the smirk, I totally agree. Ragnar seems to have only two expressions, a smirk and that dumbfounded expression when someone he's betrayed gets sick of him (Rollo, Lagertha, Aslaug, Bjorn) and I much prefer the second. It's a truly stupid expression but it's better than the smirk.

http://thinkingoutloud-descartes.blogspot.com/

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[–] Scifi71 8 years ago

Thats the actor, who usually has a smirk on his face lol

Humankind cannot bear very much reality. ~T.S. Eliot

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[–] beeball 8 years ago

I've only completed the first two seasons and it's probably not the wisest choice to voice this opinion here...but Fimmel isn't a very good actor is he? He looks and acts like he's stoned because that's the actor's idea of unpredictability and danger?

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[–] TaraDeS 8 years ago

beeball (Wed Sep 7 2016 21:15:53)

I've only completed the first two seasons and it's probably not the wisest choice to voice this opinion here...but Fimmel isn't a very good actor is he? He looks and acts like he's stoned because that's the actor's idea of unpredictability and danger?

Ohhhhhh, now even beebally here, yah!
We had our little fun on the Board of Jonathan Rhys Meyers.
Are you again concerned of the health of some famous actors?
You know, beebally is famous for her deep concern.
Expressed heartfully as often as she can!



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[–] Zanza8 8 years ago

You're allowed to voice an opinion. The Ragnar fans will hate on you for saying Travis isn't a very good actor, but going by Vikings, he isn't a very good actor. He hasn't displayed very much ability on the show.

http://thinkingoutloud-descartes.blogspot.com/

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[–] TaraDeS 8 years ago

Zanza8 (Wed Sep 7 2016 21:52:13)

You're allowed to voice an opinion. The Ragnar fans will hate on you for saying Travis isn't a very good actor, but going by Vikings, he isn't a very good actor. He hasn't displayed very much ability on the show.

http://thinkingoutloud-descartes.blogspot.com/

Now our Board Bubble logged back in and stands for free speech...lulz.

TaraDeS Sat Jun 1 2013 08:19:31
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1379938/board/thread/215300159?d=215300159
...
...
People who are not able to see the differences in the various smirks are explaining to me why so many guys suddenly get their noses cracked out of the blue.
You know, even in northern germany a smile is not always friendly meant.
As a Northman (Norseman sounds for me like a horse with a big nose) so, as a Northman you have mildly facial expressions except you just want to scare somebody to death, in a combat for example. Nowadays sometimes still used in verbal battles.
There is little room for big gestures like e.g. best known from italian opera singers.
Not to blame italian opera singers but can you imagine Ragnar kneeling down and belting out to Lagertha "O sole mio!"?
....



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[–] morangles29 8 years ago

It seems that the great master plan Mr Hirst has come up with for season 4 b will explain the odd behaviour of ragnaR in part a. As I am on my mobile it seems I am unable to use the spoilers key so I shall return to this reply via edit as soon as I resolve this problem

This said Season 4a as script goes could have been better and what I hear from season 4b suggests that Vikings had not only invented soap but boxes of them along being dignified aficionados of operas of the bubble variety. Not happy is the mood.

It explains our raised eyebrows about a Chinese slave able to keep access to 'ancient Chinese medicine' as apparently Ragnar will discover that it was Aslaug's plan from the very beginning to get Ragnar so much drugged he would become erratic, prone to mistakes and unable to focus along becoming slow-witted. Hence the reason why Rollo defeated him (Hirst loves Ragnar).Yidy was 100% into Aslaug cunning plan and ... well Ragnar is angry. Is it why the divorced, widowed, widowed again Lagertha feels she is Ragnar;s heir when he has 5 able sons, Ivar being disabled but everything but stupid. Who knows? Having more of Yidu as in flashbacks and a competition to be queen sounds a bit boring

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[–] xystophoros 8 years ago

This said Season 4a as script goes could have been better and what I hear from season 4b suggests that Vikings had not only invented soap but boxes of them along being dignified aficionados of operas of the bubble variety. Not happy is the mood.

What language is your post in?

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[–] IamGOB1 7 years ago

i thought the asian slave was a plant of the king's son, the king that ragnar headbutted to death.

also I feel the actor fimmel is channeling brad pitt early days, val kilmer morrison style, johnny depp, type of deal. floki has a depp vibe too. I don't mind it as it adds some flair to these wild beastmen. My only issue is the whole morality play. the two brothers who are more recent characters are more realistic. respectable and likeable to their own(vikings) I mean they show respect and talk lightly to all vikings, trying to show love. But they brutally murder everything non viking. I see this as such a missing thing from ragnar's group. Bjorn is such a handjob in this regard. let's go raid the world....but be supernice aboot it, eh.

btw fimmel's eyes went from phosphorescent neon blue in season one to like greenish in 2 to straight gray almost.

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[–] morangles29 8 years ago

You know 2hat we should search for all the crazy operas including the 17th ones about Vikings I bet we could find something after all Alfred has his opera already.
Ragnar singing..
Imaging a scene a la Beowulf with loads of choirs a la VerdI Aida naturally comes to mind but this time we would have also the shadows of Haraldson and Borg who rejoice at Ragnar soon death by Aelle pets
Ragnar dreams of Lagertha and it is a touching duo as she dreams of him counterbalanced by the two villains. It would end by Aelle in a very brief part sort of using the theme song of the estranged lovers to end up by a sinister laugh

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[–] averagejoeman2013 8 years ago

I looked at it as him slowly losing his sanity. He never sought power...it was just the end result of him outsmarting the more powerful person who sought Ragnar's end.

- He wanted to raid east only for his family's well being but ended up killing the Earl to basically save himself

- He had a competing Earl and King each seek to end him..he eliminates both and becomes a king with a lot more land (we see him with an increasingly erratic expression as he wields the sword on the mountaintop at the close of the season)

Stay tuned for the documentary: "From Wheaties to Fruit Loops...the Bruce Jenner story"

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[–] Zanza8 8 years ago

I don't understand why people say Ragnar never sought power. He killed his earl and his king to get their power, and if he didn't want to be an earl or a king, he could certainly have handed that power off to someone else. He could have made Rollo the earl. He could have made Bjorn the king. He could have taken his family and settled in England, or elsewhere in Norway, as a farmer. Certainly he wanted the power. He took it, and he killed to keep it.

http://thinkingoutloud-descartes.blogspot.com/

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[–] averagejoeman2013 8 years ago

I believe he didn't seek power. When they went to England, he accepted the offer for land. He wanted a place to live and farm. He never challenged the Earl until his life was in danger and Rollo was tortured. There was no way out there. Could he have handed the position to someone else?.... sure. But I am pretty sure he figured the safest hands were his own. The same thing happened when he thwarted the king's attempt to kill him and his family. Bjorn proved to be impulsive.... Rollo had not yet reformed....Floki was crazy and would have killed Athelstan and probably led them all to their deaths...etc.

I saw he killed others who prevented him from his return to Paris. That trip was born only of vengeance. The others wanted to pillage... but Ragnar said it was only to confront Rollo. Those he killed (like the guy warning of the massacre in England or the drug dealer gal)... all would have derailed this effort.

Ragnar became petty and vindictive....sure..but I do not believe power was ever his intention. But that's just me.

Stay tuned for the documentary: "From Wheaties to Fruit Loops...the Bruce Jenner story"

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[–] SevenHouses 8 years ago

I agree with your interpretation.

"Now, who has the key?"

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[–] michaelohman 8 years ago

Agree as well.

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[–] Zanza8 8 years ago

Oh, come on, Joe. Just because Ragnar whines about how he never wanted all this power is no reason to take him at his word. It's a pretty safe bet that when someone kills to get something and to keep it, they really want it.

http://thinkingoutloud-descartes.blogspot.com/

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[–] beeball 8 years ago

Maybe if Fimmel was a better actor, there wouldn't be so much misunderstanding of the character's relationship with power...

Just kidding folks ;)

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[–] Ladonia84 7 years ago

Maybe, that is more your lack of understanding the character...

I understand exactly where he is coming from in regards to power. He has had many scenes that explain exactly how he feels about being king and why he is king.

if you compare Ragnar's rise to power to say, Eckbert who straight up states he has ambitions to be king and makes political moves that leads to get the crown, then you will see that their is no confusion about Ragnar's character and how Fimmel has acted the part.

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[–] wind_of_rage 7 years ago

Do you even watch this show?
Both Jarl Haraldson and King Horik tried to flat our murder Ragnar and his entire family. Both where acting out of envy and greed with Ragnar never beeing anything else than fourthcomming and an trustworthy soldier/ally.
I wouldnt want to live under YOUR rule THATS for sure.

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[–] roland-rockerfella 8 years ago

Ragnar comes across a bit odd simply because he is. Remember Ragnar was far more of a visionary than any of those around him, he wanted to explore new lands and new cultures. He wanted to do more than simply raid, he wanted to explore and learn. That's why he comes across a bit off, compared to those around him he is. I think Travis Fimmel's portrail of him is spot on. Every time you look at Ragnar you think " there is something diffirent about that one, he's odd "

You can see Bjorn beginning to go the same way, while he doesn't have any of Ragnar's quirkiness he is beginning to break out of the standard Viking mould and wanting to explore and experience things from a diffirent perspective.

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[–] VGsam 8 years ago

Which is why his people never undertood his closeness to Athelstan. They were both open minded and curious people who could except each others relgion.

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[–] caroline1789 8 years ago

VGsam: Agree 100%. Athelstan and Raynar are kindred souls. At a time of ignorance,, close-minded religious fanaticism etc. Ragnar and Athelstan are the only two characters who dare to question, who. possess vision and curiousity. I have only one caveat: After Athelstan's born-again experience I.e., re-embraces his Christian faith after receiving a "sign" and Floki watching him throw his armband into the sea, Athelstan wants to leave realizing his life is in danger. Ragnar freaks out saying that he can't leave, that he's the only one he can trust, his best friend -- and promises that he will protect him, he leaves the monk alone in a hut completely defenseless knowing that Floki wants to kill him. Why didn't Raynar actually try to protect his friend? The only way to do this, of course, is to move in with Athelstan or have Athelstan move in with him. Even then, the monk's situation was perilous.

He would have had to order all of his subjects in Kattigat that any attempt to hurt Athelstan would be punishable by death and even then......

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[–] caroline1789 8 years ago

I might also include King Egbert of Wessex in this category. He is enraptured by the relics he keeps hidden away left by the Romans -- the fragments of Ceasar's commentaries of the Gallic Wars and the paintings.. He also values Athelstan for his open-minded ness and his talent for languages, illuminated manuscripts ( Many monks could copy Illuminated Christian manuscripts but only Athelstan could copy and thus preserve the fragments of the Roman writings. ). It would be dangerous even for a King to possess and reproduce such "heathen" relics but he knows Athelstan, who has the same appreciation of them would never betray him.

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[–] mike-hickey-875-785078 8 years ago

Kinda looks like Channing Tatum's long lost brother to me.

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[–] targa9 8 years ago

At first I was annoyed. But because he's so strange, and Ragnar Lodbrock is a legendary figure ( unlike his sons and Rollo, who are historically placed), I grew to like Himmel's " wild and stoned" portrayal of this immense hero of Viking lore! Plus, it's hard to maintain a balance and keep your character interesting after several seasons-- so Himmel is doing a fine job.

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[–] Terminator991 7 years ago

I think the actor is just really high off of pot and acts like himself while performing

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[–] maguew_9 7 years ago

I think Travis Fimmel does an incredible work here, one of the most brilliant performance in a series in my point of view

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[–] Ladonia84 7 years ago

Ragnar is Fimmel, Fimmel is Ragnar. Yes, this role was made for him.

Seriously, the entire cast, so far, are perfect in their roles.

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