Vikings: Valhalla season 1—All episodes reviewed and explained

Episode Five: “Miracle”

At 59 minutes, “Miracle” is the longest episode in the series, and it’s packed with character development. It features a little of everything, from power struggles and schemes to betrayals and even the return of an old favorite!

The Norsemen celebrate their victory over the English, elated over avenging the massacre of the Danes on St. Brice’s day. King Edmund has been captured, but there’s more in-fighting between the Vikings. Harald is determined to kill Edmund to fully settle the score, while King Canute believes he should be left alive.

Meanwhile, there are some really interesting character dynamics going on in London. We get some good insight into Olaf and learn that his true desire is riches. All he cares about is seizing England’s gold reserve for himself. In fact, he’s willing to go as far as capturing Queen Emma’s children and holding them for ransom until she tells him where the gold is stored. Emma, however, is strong-willed enough to hold out even when her children are threatened. She’s strong, powerful, and intelligent; a true descendant of Rollo.

King Canute was once again the most entertaining character in this episode. He steals every scene he’s in. I love that he’s not just raided England to get revenge for his fallen Vikings, but also to take the English throne for himself. I mean, there’s no one stopping him.

Canute even thanks Eadric Streona for pulling his army out of the battle, which effectively handed the Vikings their victory. He also invites Streona to London for a celebratory feast. Canute thanks everyone involved in the raid and begins to dish out rewards. Most importantly, he tells Leif Erikson that his sister Freydis is officially pardoned for her murder of Gunnar in the premiere.

In fact, Canute declares Leif a hero for destroying the bridge, a feat he says not even Ragnar or Ivar the Boneless could achieve. For that plan alone, Lief will go down in Viking folklore. It seems Leif is keen to remain in Denmark rather than go back to his home in Greenland. Now that he’s tasted success, he wants to continue to build his reputation.

Things seem to be going fine until Canute announces that he wants to make an example of someone at the feast. We’re left wondering who it could be. It turns out that Canute isn’t as fond of Eadric Streona as we once thought. Clearly, he sees the ruler of Mercia as a potential threat to his future on the throne of England. Therefore, he promptly has Streona’s head chopped off in front of everyone. Canute is not a person to cross.

We get the impression that Canute is fond of Edmund. He admires the boy’s courage to challenge him in battle rather than hide behind his walls. In fact, he’s even willing to allow Edmund to rule by his side! How will this unlikely partnership work out?

Back in Sweden, we catch up with Freydis. After being attacked by a mysterious berserker, she finally makes it to Uppsala, where Jarl Haakon sent her on a pilgrimage to learn more about the Gods, and to learn her destiny. As all Vikings fans know, if you want to know your destiny you need to visit the all-seeing, all-knowing Seer. But the Seer was killed by Ivar the Boneless, right? Yes, but Freydis meets him nevertheless, and he tells her that she will soon be tired and that what she’s running from will catch up to her.

I don’t think any fans expected to see characters from the original series in this spinoff since it’s set around 100 years later, so this was a nice little callback. Dead or not, the Seer has a habit of showing up when we least expect him.

Verdict

This is another great installment. It very much has the feel of a “post-battle” episode, with lots of world-building and exploration of character dynamics.