The ninth episode of Nautilus, titled “Ride of the Valkyrie,” is the penultimate installment of the show’s first season. On Sunday, we’ll be treated to a two-part finale on AMC. However, let’s not jump the gun, as this week’s new episode is definitely worth talking about. For the first time, we finally get to see the Viking treasure ship! Let’s jump straight into our summary and critique of episode nine.
This episode begins with the Nautilus emerging from the water and sailing under the northern lights. While on deck enjoying the view, Nemo shares a story about his daughter with Humility. I don’t notice any damage to the vessel from thelast episode’sbugs that eat metal, so we are left to infer that repairs were completed and extra water was removed prior to reaching this stage.
The team comes together for a substantial meal. They talk about their destination, the Pillars of Halvare, and the Norse deity, Freya. This is a moment of essential unity as each person shares what they plan to do with their portion of the anticipated treasure. There are instances of worry and appreciation too. It’s positive to observe that their trust is still intact for the time being.
What happens in Nautilusepisode 9, “Ride of the Valkyrie”
Cuff, who is on duty, summons Nemo to the small deck to observe something unusual. Some of the others also join them. They pass by tall spires with skulls mounted on their peaks. The warning immediately brings back the crew’s fear and anxiety. As they keep moving through the fog, the massive structures of Halvar become visible.
Nemo has the Nautilus submerge as they look for the treasure ship. When a sunken vessel is found, Blaster and Suyin stay on board while the others put on diving suits and leave the Nautilus.
Inside the sunken vessel, they come across a fully armored skeleton seated with a lengthy sword resting on its lap. Nevertheless, the crates surrounding it are empty, revealing no valuable items. One after another, each diver is taken away by an invisible being.
Nemo awakens to find his friends also bound, along with him. They are located on a cliffside plateau, encircled by a group of warrior women. These are not Amazons, but rather descendants of the Vikings who safeguard this burial site.
The leader accuses the Nautilus crew of entering forbidden territory and refuses to believe Nemo when he explains about the submarine. She plans to display their heads on spikes, but Nemo insists on a trial.
As the Viking women talk and get ready for a trial, Nemo observes a large amount of jewels and gold within the tribe. He figures out that the burial site and stories about treasure were meant to attract treasure hunters into a trap.
A pair of warrior women locate the Nautilus beneath the water and enter via the hatch. It’s interesting that the Nautilus crew needed diving suits, while these women depended only on their physical abilities and expertise. A conflict quickly erupts between them and Blaster and Suyin. Suyin pulls out a revolver and wounds one of them, causing her to retreat.
At the trial of Nemo, every member of the Nautilus crew is asked to give their opinion on his character. They face challenges with some of the questions posed by the tribal leader. (There are those trust issues once more.) She sees him as a man of integrity, yet still sentences all the ship’s crew to death.
Now, we are aware that these individuals won’t simply submit to being killed. Consistent with their nature, a fight ensues. There are several enjoyable moments in the combat and some instances of looting during the action. The Nautilus crew managed to escape by jumping off the cliff, abandoning their diving equipment.
Injuries occur during the escape. Nemo loses his hold on a valuable necklace he took and must decide whether to go after it or rescue Cuff.
As the Nautilus gets ready to depart, the Viking women demolish the cliffs and conceal the treasure. The debris almost covers the Nautilus as it collapses. The falling rock formations generate a small tsunami that forcefully shakes the submarine. In the end, the vessel emerges from the remaining cliffs into more tranquil waters.
Later, after being cleaned and dried, the crew comes together to talk about their future. Nemo, burdened by feelings of disappointment and the mistakes he has made, informs them that he will leave them on land. However, the connection they formed during their journey is not entirely severed. Following heartfelt speeches, they decide to remain with him and the Nautilus.
This episode ends with Crowley receiving Millais’s telegram in London. It tells him that Nemo plans to bring the Nautilus there. He gets ready by placing soldiers around the company building. Interestingly, Nemo has already arrived…a bit too fast according to my calculation.
The tsunami that pushed the Nautilus to safety slightly tested my suspension of disbelief. I half-anticipated the whales making another appearance, but I’m glad they didn’t. I truly enjoyed the Viking women, despite their leader’s strict perspectives. They were the main interaction of this episode.
Nevertheless, I have many questions about their society, such as: with so few men, does that imply all their children are related? Are the women selected from another community and brought here? It’s probable we will never find out.
More Nautilus reviews:
- Episode 1, “Anahata”
- Episode 2, “Tick, Tick, Boom”
- Episode 3, “What’s Hidden Below”
- Episode 4, “Wet and Slippery”
- Episode 5, “Anguille Fumée”
- Episode 6, “The Deep Blue”
- Episode 7, “Cold War”
- Episode 8, “The Breaking Point”
This piece was first released on Muara Digital Team.net asReview: In Episode 9 of Nautilus, the crew encounters adversaries rather than riches..
