WiC Watches: Vikings season 6
By Corey Smith
Episode 6×06: “Death and the Serpent”
Well folks, I’m happy to report we have our best episode of season 6 yet! Unfortunately, greatness is never achieved without sacrifice, and so one of Vikings’ longest running characters is now feasting in the halls of Valhalla. And while it wasn’t the biggest surprise if you’ve followed along with some of the show’s leaks, that it happened this soon was a shock. So buckle up folks, business has just picked up!
First up, as last week’s episode seemed to imply, Harald ends up winning the election for King of all Norway, realizing his life’s ambition. Of course, one man’s triumph is another man’s failure, and in this case, Bjorn Ironside is left wondering just what the hell happened. Bjorn pledges allegiance to his new king but clearly understands some sort of treachery is afoot. Sure enough, we quickly learn that Kjetill Flatnose was Harald’s agent in the lead up to the election, and that he promised all the various jarls and petty kings whatever they wanted on Harald’s behalf.
Kjetill, it seems, has his eye on becoming king of Iceland. Sure, Kjetill could simply name himself king since no one lives in Iceland, but where’s the fun in that? Kjetill needs Harald to send him settlers, hence their bargain. Harald has no intention of keeping his promise and quickly sends men to kill Bjorn, leading Kjetill to ally himself to the man he betrayed just last episode. Things move quickly in medieval Norway.
For his part, Bjorn seems woefully unaware that Harald might want him dead. Bjorn and Harald have fought each other before, yet Bjorn refuses to believe Harald might kill him literally right up to the moment Harald’s men try exactly that. It’s hard to remember such a badass warrior ever being as unaware of events around him as Bjorn, but I suppose no one is perfect. King Olaf likewise seems unconcerned for his welfare considering he’d recently kept his new king as a captive for months.
Either way, Bjron and friends fight their way onto the streets, with Kjetill taking a severe wound, and are only saved by the arrival of a mysterious stranger named Erik. What with his red hair and comments about his banishment, it seems pretty clear we’re meeting Erik the Red, one of the most famous Vikings in history. Where Erik will fit in the story remains to be seen, but Bjorn is headed back to Kattegat, where he’ll learn some really bad news.
But before we get to that though, let’s check in with Ivar and Oleg, the world’s bestest of friends. Oleg marries Freydis/Not Freydis before attending history’s worst wedding reception. Freydis/Not Freydis is in on Oleg’s mental torture of Ivar, and with just the three of them celebrating the marriage, Oleg immediately begins consummating the marriage in front of Ivar. We still have no idea exactly where Oleg dug up an exact duplicate of Freydis to marry (and the show seems to have no intention of answering that question), but it is slightly interesting to watch the master manipulator Ivar get mentally beat to a pulp by Oleg.
All of which brings us to Lagertha, who despite appearing throughout the hour I’ve avoided discussing since her death that gives the episode its weight. Lagertha and her group of shieldmaidens are readying to defend their town once again from bandits, and after sacrificing some more children as scouts, they actually do a great job of routing the bandits using some serious 13 Assassins techniques. And I’m happy to report that one random shieldmaiden who caws like a bird lost her head.
But Lagertha still has to face down the bandit leader. I knew she wouldn’t die in this fight, since we knew Lagertha will meet her fate die at the hands of one of Ragnar’s sons. Still, the action was good enough to make me stop clipping my toe nails, and Lagertha emerged victorious, though wounded. But while the fight might have been awesome, Gunnhild’s comment about never seeing anything like it and how she worships Lagertha now fell flat for me. Gunnhild the shieldmaiden has never seen two people fight? OK.
Either way, Lagertha finally decides to return to Kattegat, hopeful that Bjorn has returned as well. Lagertha clearly knows her time is limited due to her wound, and sets out to see her son one last time before feasting in Valhalla. But happy endings are just as hard to come by on Vikings as they are in real life, and tragedy awaits Lagertha upon her arrival in Kattegat. Bjorn is not yet returned, but another son of Ragnar is, and Hvitserk hasn’t gotten any saner since we last saw him.
As a singer belts out a powerful dirge in Kattegat’s great hall, written we assume honor Lagertha (it’s not in English), Lagertha makes her way through the rain-drenched streets, where she runs into Hvitserk. Hvitserk is off his rocker once again, seeing Ivar slithering through the mud as some sort of snake creature, and attacks, only to find it’s actually Lagertha.
I’ll admit, although Hvitserk was the most logical candidate to kill Lagertha and fulfill the prophecy, having it come as a result of HIS madness as opposed to malice was a powerful choice. Lagertha might have murdered Hvitserk, Ivar and Ubbe’s mother Aslaug in cold blood, but it was a testament to her character and strength that only Ivar ever held a grudge. Hvitserk’s heartbreak over discovering he’d killed Lagertha felt genuine, and we felt pity for this son of Ragnar who has lost his way.
For her part, Lagertha clearly forgave Hvitserk before ascending to Valhalla to sit beside Ragnar once more. As when Ragnar departed, we’re left without one of the show’s more intriguing characters, even if her choices had served the plot more than common sense this season. I also can’t help but think that Ivar is partly responsible, given his role in driving Hvitserk mad, perhaps fulfilling the prophecy in a way that’s not as obvious.
With Lagertha off the board, it finally feels like we are moving towards a conclusion for the series. I hate that it came at the expense of such a strong character, but it’s good to feel like we’re headed somewhere. Bjorn is sailing home to tragedy, not only his mother’s death but his son’s as well (don’t forget Hali, Vikings!), along with having just lost Norway to an enemy. With Oleg lurking as well, the final episodes of this series aren’t likely to be boring.