This week’s episode of cVikings was nothing short of brutal. Though there were no epic battles as in the previous episodes, this show never fails to show the strength of its characters, and their need for revenge. Ragnar is back at home with the lesser of his wives, Princess Aslaug. His eldest son chose to stay with his father rather than return home with his mother and his less-than-appealing step-father.
Ragnar is fresh off of a victory over the creepy, skull-kissing Jarl Borg who had previously invaded his homeland. And angered by the massacre of his men in England by King Ecbert. In sweeps King Horik with a solution. He proposes an alliance with Jarl Borg in order to defeat King Ecbert in a show of Viking strength and power.
Surprising to (nearly) all around him, Ragnar agrees to attempt the alliance and sends his brother Rollo to negotiate. Thus ensues the disturbing display of mental illness that is Jarl Borg who seeks the council of his first wife on all decisions, a wife that is quite dead and whose skull he carries around with him. He talks to it, caresses it, and kisses it…for far too long, in what may be the most disturbing makeout session in all of television.
Of course Jarl Borg agrees to the alliance and comes with his men to Ragnar’s home. However, Ragnar and Rollo are set on revenge, and burn Jarl Borg’s men alive in a barn. As for Jarl Borg himself, Rollo and Floki beat him to a pulp and drag him to Ragnar’s throne. King Horik is shocked by the turn of events, and unsure of how to react. The episode leaves off with Ragnar showing clear intent to execute Jarl Borg, but what is to ensure is still unsure.
As for the lovely and strong, Lagertha, her return home is less than happy. Her new husband is furious that she left to help Ragnar, and even more angered at her return without Bjorn. He humiliates her publicly, and later than night sends several men to her bedchamber to viciously beat her. Though she fights back, the odds of defeating 5 men alone is a feat that even the great Lagertha cannot attain. Lagertha appears at dinner the next night bloodied and bruised. When her husband attempts to humiliate her further by exposing her breasts to the entirety of his clan, Lagertha stabs him through the eye with a knife. She stands ready to be attacked for her outburst, but instead is met with a helping hand, in the form of her husband’s decapitation by one of his own men. I know none of us are mourning the loss of that particular character, and seeing his head laying on the floor and Lagertha’s strong stance above it, was nothing short of brilliant.
As the seer said, “The gods will always smile upon the brave women.” And although this message was not conveyed to Lagertha, it certainly describes her. Tune in next Thursday, April 10th, 2014 on the History Channel.
