Final bump - I finished it too!
Man, what a ride it has been, since the beginning until now. I wasn't even bothered with the final of the first part of Season 6 'cause it seemed all a dream or a vision, so Bjorn was stabbed for real? by Ivar? and then he died but he didn't? at least he got the most glorious and badass sendoff one could think for, hail Bjorn Ironside, you were with us, if not as an actor, as a character from the beginning, it was sad to see you go in the premiere, but what an epic sendoff it was!
And for other goodbyes....
- Bye Ivar, I hated you so much but by the time of the last season we all got used to you so we kinda went along with you. Enjoy creeping around the floor in Valhalla's great halls!
- Bye Harald, king of all Norway and of the friendzone! seriously, who else in the series got more luck than him? refused and abandoned by every woman, raped by Lagertha, and when he wanted to marry Bjorn's widow, she chose SUICIDE BY SWIMMING rather than marying him. He was a magnificent asshole you couldn't help to root for.
- Bye Hitvserk, I'm still pissed at how you killed Lagertha, and you kinda were along for the ride, but hey, at least you made out of it alive!
- Bye Ubbe, you discovered America, congrats!
And speaking of America... WHOHOHOOOOO WE GOT FLOKI BACK!!! ALL HAIL FLOKI THE SHIP BUILDER!!! A pity Gustaf sat out the whole season 6 except for the very end, at least he appeared in all seasons.
Final considerations: yeah, we all know that the series lost its charm after Ragnar was gone - Travis Fimmell was the casting decision of a lifetime, the best TV character seen on screen after Walter White, bar none. I only accept disagreements about this if we talk about Cillian Murphy as Thomas Shelby in Peaky Blinders, otherwise Travis wins
Ragnar, Lagertha, Floki, the beautiful landscapes, the amazing music (thanks Wardruna).... whenever any of these elements was present, Vikings could do no wrong. Amazing series, the post Ragnar season weren't that great but still good enough to follow without regrets. I'm happy I stuck with it the whole time, and I forgive the series some errors and plot baffling choices here and there, overall it was a great experience and congrats to the authors for caring just enough to not make it end in a complete shitfest like another series that will go unmentioned.
Raise your horns for Vikings and Ragnar!!!