Overview:
Spear, Fang, and Mira are still on the run from the savage Viking warriors who are determined to make them pay for the pain that they’ve caused. The enemies intensify their efforts and this emotional showdown spans the land, air, and sea before it reaches its cathartic conclusion.
And did someone say Dino Babies!?
Our Take:
“Vidarr,” the namesake of this episode of Primal, gets uttered between the Viking father-and-son warrior team as they begin to mount the final stage of their revenge. These two have faced daunting struggles, but they emerge with greater confidence than ever before that they can avenge their fallen community that was ravaged by Fang and Spear. The definition of “Vidarr” is never made explicit in Primal, but in Norse mythology it refers to the God of Vengeance. These Vikings are inspired by Vidarr to ascend to greatness and do their fallen people justice. However, this free-floating concept of vengeance and becoming its willing puppet of destruction is essential to the growing conflict that reaches its boiling point in this remarkable episode.
An eerie calm washes over the start of “Vidarr” while the characters take some time to heal their wounds and appreciate the serene nature of the sea before they collide with a metaphorical iceberg of pain. One of the more extraordinary elements of “Vidarr” is that despite how the first act is restricted to a ship, with nowhere to run, this episode still feels massive in scope. The storyboards and choreography creatively maximize the space on these ships in visually satisfying ways. It takes what could have been a very claustrophobic and limiting episode and turns it into an installment that feels as busy and expansive as any story where Fang and Spear are tirelessly on the move through the jungle. Now, more than ever, there needs to be a Primal video game that properly immerses the player in this carnage. The final act of “Vidarr” even turns into a glorified escort/protect mission.
The battles in “Vidarr” are particularly exciting because of the efficiency of the fighters who come at Fang, Spear, and Mira with a multitude of weapons. This naturally feeds into more creative combat as they attempt to counter each of these tools with their limited means.The audience has repeatedly seen Spear and Fang accomplish the impossible in battle, but “Vidarr” accomplishes the same with Mira. The relatively new character properly holds her own with Fang and Spear instead of someone who continually requires rescue. Mira even proves herself to be more capable than her aggressive partners when it comes to the finer aspects of navigation, like how to steer their ship. There are several moments where she outright risks her own safety to help prevent Fang from harm when Spear is otherwise occupied. It’s never seemed as if Fang has had any trust issues with Mira, but “Vidarr” solidifies their bond and becomes an important episode for the two of them.
It’s always appreciated when a show like Primal truly takes the time to let moments breathe and that it never feels like the show is rushing to the next action sequence. Primal has been an exceedingly patient series right from the start, yet two seasons in there’s still so much value in the muted moments of reflection for the characters. This approach goes even further when “Vidarr” applies the same methodical introspection towards its Viking figures. They get to be viewed as real, pained people and not just destructive automatons. It’s important to learn that they’re haunted by their previous encounter with Fang and Spear and that from their perspective their loved ones have been consumed by a monster. “Vidarr” works as well as it does because its characters on both sides of this war get to shed copious tears in addition to blood.
“Vidarr” goes out on a complex note that again urges the audience to consider who the real heroes are in this story. A happy ending is technically achieved as Fang, Spear, and Mira successfully protect Fang’s eggs, but it comes at the cost of a father and son who just wanted to keep their own family safe. These warriors are introduced as obstacles, but this doesn’t make it any less devastating to watch them get brutally destroyed. There’s an intentionally visceral nature to the son’s death that highlights these characters’ ruthlessness. The audience can’t help but feel conflicted when this tragedy is immediately followed by the “heroes” celebrating their victory.
“Vidarr” is another standout episode of Primal that excels in action, storytelling, and emotion, but it’s also another major instance this season where the audience is asked to soberly assess these characters. As Primal continues to grow and change, it fearlessly tears down its heroes and prepares for an uncertain, bloody future.