Late Laughs

Conan

The quest to expand is never easy, and season 4 proved this. Predictions came to pass, battle lines were drawn and the leadership of the Viking people was once again left fractured, the unity Ragnar sought to achieve knocked asunder.

The chaos of last season’s finale has made season 5’s premiere highly anticipated. Everything that has come to pass during the past four seasons means little now that a war mind. One of her sons will kill her, so the seer claimed, but will the answer be an obvious one, like Ivar (Alex Høgh Andersen, “A War,” 2015), or someone she cannot anticipate? season in “Vikings.” As noted, Floki’s character arc is at the top of many cast members’ minds, particularly that of the man who plays the role. While discussing Floki’s future with Entertainment Weekly, Skarsgård reflected on the weight of multiple sorrows that have led to his character’s surrender. According to Skarsgård, “Floki has definitely lost everything” and “submits [himself] to the will of the gods.” Skarsgård notes that “this world is not for [Floki] anymore,” and that he must go so that he can find “some sort of meaning to live again.” As a character with a rich history, his is a journey that is arguably the most anticipated to watch unfold when the series restarts this November.

Meanwhile, while brothers feud, one son of Ragnar seems determined to further the Viking conquest. Bjorn (Alexander Ludwig, “Final Girl,” 2015) will finally trek to the Mediterranean this season, with trailers hinting that a desert storm or two lurks in his future.

President Trump’s former campaign manager, Paul Manafort, was charged with conspiracy against the United States. Apparently, his “conspiracy against the United States” was suggesting to Donald Trump that he run for president.

The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon

Trump’s former campaign manager, Paul Manafort, was charged with fraud, tax evasion and money laundering as part of the Russia investigation. I don’t want to say Trump’s nervous, but he just hopped into a white Ford Bronco and took off down the highway.

The Late Show With Stephen Colbert

one of season 5’s most

This year’s San Diego

While other historically based series have struggled to maintain their momentum, “Vikings” seems to have captivated audiences worldwide. Much of this, no doubt, is due to the exquisite craftsmanship of the narrative, thanks to creator and writer Hirst, who is renowned for his attention to detail on historical projects. Films such as “Elizabeth” (1998) and “Elizabeth: The Golden Age” (2007), along with the beloved series “The Tudors,” speak to the devotion Hirst has to depicting key historical events with a nice serving of dramatic flair. The research involved, the intricacies of the costumes and settings, and every aspect of production is selected to ensure that the words and historical details are as closely adhered to as possible.

When it comes to “Vikings,” Hirst told Entertainment Weekly that “the show has grown in the same way the Viking age grew,” which was essential in that “it’s about real things, it’s about real people.” The success of historical dramas such as “Vikings” lies, for Hirst, not necessarily in the beautifully depicted battle sequences or the in-depth historical lore, but in the sheer fact that “in some ways, all of our lives were actually touched by Vikings and Viking culture.” The series speaks to a universal longing to be connected to ancestry, therein finding a sense of place and of self. The waters will get deeper and the waves bloodier, as the wars begin between brothers and a queen. If season 4 holds any clues for what comes next, only more heartache and treachery can await the sons of Ragnar. Unknown lands will be discovered and dire prophecies perhaps fulfilled as season 5 of “Vikings” returns Wednesday, Nov. 29, on History Channel.

Trump and his Republican buddies are still trying to do anything. So far, nothing. The latest chop at the T-ball is tax reform. Today, they announced a $1.5-trillion overhaul of the tax code, with major tax cuts to corporations and the rich. This is the biggest story! Or it would be, if we had not just heard that Beyoncé will be starring in the new “Lion King!”

The Late Show With James Corden

The Dodgers lost in seven games, but in L.A. they talk about baseball a little differently. Here they say that the Dodgers were canceled after seven episodes.

Late Night With Seth Meyers

After Hillary Clinton joked last night that she was considering dressing up as president for Halloween, Donald Trump Jr. tweeted, “That’s cute. She can borrow my Donald Trump mask.” Ha, that’s Donald Trump Jr., just a chill, normal dude who owns a mask of his father’s face.