Vikings Season 5 Finale: A Rundown of Audience Responses

The Vikings season five finale has divided the audience, with mixed reviews and tangled emotions. Some viewers found the season too monotonous and disappointing, while others praised the ending and the actors' performances. This article delves into a comprehensive analysis of the audience reactions and provides insights into the show's strengths and weaknesses.

Overall Sentiment

The consensus seems to be that season five of Vikings marked a downturn in the show's quality. While the plot took a sharp turn after the death of Ragnar, the subsequent episodes failed to meet the high standards set by earlier seasons. Many viewers found the characters' changes and the repetitive nature of the show, including more fight scenes and less character development, to be unengaging.

Declining Quality and Monotony

One of the primary complaints about season five is the noticeable decline in quality. The show became more focused on civil wars and less on character development, leading to a less compelling narrative. This shift was particularly evident after the fourth season, where very little new was introduced, leading to a sense of stagnation.

Specifically, viewers highlighted the loss of certain original protagonists, like Floki, who seemingly lost his magic and energy. The monotonous nature of the show, akin to The Walking Dead, led to frequent fast-forwarding and ultimately disengagement. This sentiment is encapsulated in the quote, 'It very much starts becoming like the walking dead... lots of filler episodes and boring dialogs and more of the same fight scenes.'

Positive Aspects and Praise

Despite the overall negative reaction, there were still some positive comments regarding specific episodes and moments in season five. For instance, the finale was praised, with many viewers finding the ending and the actors' performances to be outstanding. A standout moment was the scene where Ubbe asked Floki for advice, to which Floki responded, 'Always take stones out of your shoe.' This advice resonated with many, and another notable line from Floki that was well-received was 'Let the Past Go.'

Eighties Nostalgia and Disappointment

Some viewers, like one commenter, expressed a sense of nostalgia for the eighties and Power Rangers, contrasting it with the disappointment of Vikings. They noted that Vikings, which started so well and had a great cast, ended up becoming another mediocre TV series. However, the commenter also appreciated the ending, stating that it was one of their favorite seasons despite their overall disappointment.

Another viewer had mixed feelings, acknowledging that while they were disappointed, the show still showed promise with its unique storyline about the "undefined esoteric/supernatural" element, left unresolved in the finale. They hoped this thread would be developed and not dropped.

Conclusion

The final season of Vikings faced mixed reviews, with some viewers hailing the ending and performances, while others found the show to be a decline in quality. Whether Vikings can maintain its former glory in subsequent seasons remains to be seen. For now, the finale serves as a definitive end to an era of one of the most anticipated historical dramas of recent years.