The apology tour.
Warning: Full spoilers for the episode below.
"Forgive me for all my faults. All of my failings."
The second half of Vikings' fourth season -- which basically feels like a fifth season thanks to that time jump at the end of midseason finale -- kicked things off with a ragged, regretful Ragnar weighed down by his massive failures. "The Outsider" featured the fractured King doing somewhat of a (final) apology tour as he visited upon his sons, Floki, and Lagertha in an attempt to reconnect, once more, with his past before offing himself.
This was an excellent way to bring us fully, and quietly, into the time jump. It allowed us to meet new characters (some actually new, others new because they're now grown) while reflecting upon the entire journey so far. Ragnar's life with Lagertha, his frayed friendship with Floki, the doomed settlement over in Wessex - the breadth of the entire series to date was at the center of this one and the idea that one is only as beloved as their last triumph, or despised as their last mistake, truly hit home.
In this culture, someone is always to blame for failure. Even if it's technically no one's fault, there are the Gods and their fickle fortune. Even if Ragnar tried his hardest during the second raid of Paris -- which is debatable since he was high almost the entire time -- the idea that he lost because of a deep betrayal by his brother isn't up for discussion. The Gods did not favor him. It's brutally black and white.
Still, Ragnar got taken to task in "The Outsider" for his self-imposed exile. For running away when he should have stayed and taken the scorn. Being King means you have a duty to your people, and to your family, even if you feel like a colossal lump. Ragnar was a shade of his former self here and it was great. Despite everything, his past still embraced him warmly. Even freakin' Floki - after the sheer hell Ragnar had put him through. It was all supremely touching.
Lagertha too -- now having moved into a new relationship with the younger Astrid (Josefin Asplund) -- found herself pining for her past days with her first husband. Ragnar, despite having let most everyone down with his self-pity, still casts a large shadow. People want to love him again. Especially his sons, who barely knew him when he took off.
The case of Ivar (the Boneless) is an interesting one. He could easily be a sympathetic character, and the scene where he cried in Margrethe's arms while she tried to console him after not being able to perform sexually (for the sake of his ego and for the sake of her own survival) was moving, but the problem here is that we knew him as a wicked, cruel kid first. It's hard to walk that back. He's not without motivation and complexities, but he's still the "dark seed." Will his journey to Wessex with Ragnar be the thing to settle and calm his various resentments? I'm looking forward to this pairing as most of the other Lothbrok boys blend together a bit.
The Verdict
"The Outsider" was a great gateway into the second half of Season 4, giving us a worn down, defeated Ragnar on a final quest to seek forgiveness. Ultimately, things didn't work out the way he planned (he'd planned for a fairly grim, unceremonious end), but I could still see this all of these scenes as his final meaningful moments with these characters before he takes off to try and kill King Ecbert.
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