Ep 7. Paris

As the title suggests, "Paris" picks up with the Vikings laying siege to the city of lights, though the episode is more concerned with the internal strife of the Vikings than with grand battle scenes.

We check in first with the city itself, as Princess Gisla (Morgane Polanski) crowds into the cathedral with other Parisians to pray for protection from the pagan invaders. There, she meets with her father, the Count Odo (Owen Roe), who has just handed over the keys to the city to Rollo (Clive Standen) in exchange for his help defending Paris from the approaching Viking forces.

The Vikings, meanwhile, are preparing for battle, and the tension between Lagertha (Katheryn Winnick) and Kalf (Ben Robson) continues to simmer. She's suspicious of his ambition and desire to lead, while he insists he only wants to rule with her by his side. The Franks, it seems, are sensing this dissent and hope to take advantage of it, sending out scouts to observe the Vikings' movements.

Back in Kattegat, the aftermath of the raid on Wessex is felt as Torvi (Georgia Hirst) tends to injured Bjorn (Alexander Ludwig), and Ragnar (Travis Fimmel) circles the comatose Yidu (Dianne Doan) warily. She continues to ply him with drugs, and the two share a trippy hallucination that ends with Ragnar seeing an image of his dead daughter.

Elsewhere, Floki (Gustaf Skarsgård) is still dealing with his disillusionment with the gods and his own role in the Viking society. He tells his wife Helga (Maude Hirst) that he's seen a vision of a ship made of human nails, a grotesque reminder of the people he's killed. It's clear that Floki is unhinged by his guilt and sense of betrayal by his once-beloved gods.

As for the battle in Paris, it's quick and brutal, with the Vikings employing a new weapon - a battering ram on wheels - to breach the city's walls. Rollo leads the charge, and we see glimpses of his inner turmoil as he fights alongside his brother's former comrades. Have his loyalties truly shifted, or is he still torn between his two identities?

While "Paris" offers plenty of action and intrigue, it's more focused on character development and shifting relationships than on sweeping battle sequences. The tension between Lagertha and Kalf is especially intriguing, as she grapples with her own desire for power and control. Meanwhile, the vision quest between Yidu and Ragnar feels increasingly important, as her motives - and true origins - remain shrouded in mystery.

As always, the performances are strong across the board, with special mention going to Standen. He brings a depth and complexity to Rollo that makes his betrayal of his brother all the more poignant. It's a testament to the show's writing and pacing that, even as we're invested in the outcome of the Paris battle, we're equally invested in the emotional journeys of its characters.

Overall, "Paris" is another strong entry in season three of Vikings, balancing action, drama, and characterization with skill and nuance. It leaves us wanting more, eager to see how these threads will continue to unravel as the Vikings navigate this new world of shifting alliances and uncertain futures.