What a way to cap off the Vikings mid-season finale! We are still picking up our jaws from the episode. If you need to catch up on last week, do that before continuing. Also, if you haven’t yet watched the mid-season finale, here is your warning!
*SPOILER ALERT*
Kiev
Ivar (Alex Høgh Andersen) asks if Hvitserk (Marco Ilsø) is ready to fight against King Bjorn with him and the Rus. He replies that he is. Later, a servant summons Ivar to go to Princess Katya’s (Alicia Agneson) bedchambers, where she is waiting with a blonde wig. She begins to kiss him, but he resists her.
Later, Ivar and Princess Katya talk in the streets, and she informs Ivar that she risked her life by doing what she did. She also told him that she knows Prince Dir (Lenn Kudrjawizki) is alive, thanks to Ivar. She also declares that she is not in love with Prince Oleg (Danila Kozlovsky.) Without giving much away, Ivar merely tells her that they should continue to talk some more. He also tells her that he is falling in love with her despite not knowing who she is.
Ivar and Prince Oleg begin to plan their attack. He suggests that they go in from the beach. He is well aware that his brother will be waiting there, but he has a plan to get onshore from the river and over the mountain as well.
Vestfold
Bjorn (Alexander Ludwig) and Queen Gunnhild arrive at King Harald’s (Peter Franzén) capital. King Harald is confident they will win, but Erik (Eric Johnson) tells the group that they have no idea what is coming. He fears it is the end.
They begin to strategize on a defense plan, assuming the Rus will attack from the sea and head for the capital. Erik tells King Bjorn and Queen Gunnhild that King Harald has summoned the other Kings and warriors; however, he doesn’t believe they will come.
At the docks, Queen Gunnhild helps with the preparations. Erik tells her that she doesn’t have to work, but she stubbornly doesn’t listen. Consequently, she doubles over in pain and falls into the water. Erik quickly jumps in to get her. Queen Gunnhild ends up losing the baby.
That night as the group dines, King Bjorn asks Erik to send for the other Kings and Earls in his name instead of King Harald. The Rus could already be at sea, and they need help. On the other side of the room, King Harald stares at King Bjorn’s wives and tells King Olaf (Steven Berkoff) that he doesn’t understand why King Bjorn takes everything for himself. King Olaf’s response irritates him.
Afterward, King Harald’s men forcibly bring Ingrid (Lucy Martin) to him. Earlier, Ingrid had rebuffed his proposition to make her Queen of Norway. He is jealous of King Bjorn and decides to have her. She attempts to fight him off but is unable to. The next day, Ingrid comes across King Olaf (Steven Berkoff.) She cries over what happened, and as he holds her, he tells her to cry for all of them.
The Rus vs. Vikings
The day has arrived, and as the Viking army waits along the shore, they see the Rus boats approach. Queen Gunnhild kisses her husband before she takes her position. The horns blare as the Rus fleet arrives, each side carefully watching each other.
As soon as the Rus army land on the shores, the battle begins, and soldiers fall on each side. While a majority of their men fight along the beach, a small group enter the rivers alongside the city. The Vikings are also waiting for them there and attack as they get off their boats. Unfortunately, it isn’t enough, and the Rus army manages to get through the barricade.
Queen Gunnhild fights her way to one of the boats. Ivar spots her as he protects Prince Igor (Oran Glynn O’Donovan). He watches as Prince Oleg slashes her leg. Fortunately, she manages to jump off the boat quickly. Ivar, Hvitserk, and Prince Oleg continue to forge their way forward, climbing up a mountain.
Meanwhile, King Harald and his army are still protecting the beaches. Unfortunately, they are unable to keep the Rus as bay. King Harald yells for his army to retreat and is struck and falls to the ground. When Erik rushes to him, King Harald tells him to save himself, and he watches as Erik grabs his crown and runs. King Bjorn is also fighting off men from all sides. Surprisingly, the son of Ragnar, who was once protected by the Gods, is suddenly stabbed. In his vision, he sees the attacker taking the form of his brother, Ivar.
In the end, it appears that the Rus have won. Ivar, Hvitserk, and Prince Oleg celebrate their victory.
Bjorn and Ivar
Amid the battle, there is a quiet, dreamlike moment where Bjorn and Ivar have a conversation on the beach. Bjorn tells Ivar that he has betrayed their father. Although Ivar believes that their father picked him, King Bjorn reveals to him that it was only after the rest of the brothers refused to go to Wessex, that their father finally asked Ivar.
Ivar feels their father chose him because Ragnar knew that Ivar would be the only one to stay loyal to him. Ivar tells King Bjorn that he has preserved his legacy, which is to defeat their Gods. Despite Ivar’s claims and the rising body count of the Viking warriors, King Bjorn still believes he will prevail.
“I have made many mistakes. I have failed. But this time I will not fail. I will win. The Gods are with me. I will defeat you.”
Ivar responds with a hint of sadness.
“You are wrong. The Gods abandoned you a long time ago, my brother. There is no way you can win. Believe me. No way you can win.”
What did you think of that mid-season finale? Is this the end of both King Bjorn and King Harald? If it is the end for King Bjorn, we like to think that he has reunited with Ragnar and Lagertha in Valhalla.
Did Queen Gunnhild and Erik make it to safety? What will the Rus do with the Vikings now that they have taken over? Will Ivar let the old Gods die and allow Prince Oleg to rule?
Now comes the wait for the second half of the final season!
Vikings airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. EST on History.