Vikings: Valhalla season 1—All episodes reviewed and explained

Episode Seven: “Choices”

Prepare yourselves: with betrayals, new alliances, and battle plans being laid, the tension is about to reach a boiling point!

Let’s start by talking about what’s going on in Norway because a huge battle is brewing. Olaf and Kare form an alliance in order to take over Kattegat. We learn that Kare has been pillaging every pagan village in Norway to cleanse the land of the Old Gods and spread Christianity across the north. So far he’s doing a pretty good job at it. He’s burned down Uppsala in the name of God, which we see when Freydis and others travel there. Now he’s setting his sights on Kattegat. He claims that God himself has commanded him to build a great church in Kattegat with a spire that reaches heaven.

With Kare’s army alone, conquering Kattegat is difficult, but now that he’s got Olaf’s army beside him, things will get very interesting.

With Canute away from England, his father Sweyn Forkbeard temporarily assumes the throne, making a lot of big decisions that, frankly, I don’t think Canute would agree with. It’s fair to say he’s not a very nice man. He makes his son look like an understanding, diplomatic leader. We see this when Eldorman Sigeferth requests that his house of Wessex be pardoned from paying royal taxes, as was the case under King Ethelred. However, Forkbeard has no intention of making Wessex exempt. After being denied, Sigeferth turns to Edmund with the same request, although Edmund has no reason to grant it considering that Wessex did not help in the recent battle.

Soon after we see Godwin and Edmund travel to a remote part of the countryside to meet up with other English nobles. It appears they’re both intent on gathering allies for a rebellion against the Viking rule of England. The meeting goes pretty well, with everyone pledging their allegiance to Edmund. But that’s when we get the biggest shock of the series so far. It turns out that Godwin has set up a trap for Edmund: he uses a rope to trip his horse and then kills him, making it look like a freak accident.

Over the course of the series, I’ve come to like Godwin. He’s an interesting character because while he comes across as nice and diplomatic, he’s got a dark side. He’s not afraid to stab his friends in the back to get what he wants. He kinda reminds me of Petyr Baelish from Game of Thrones.

With Edmund dead, the royal bloodline is in tatters. Now Canute has England all for himself…but he’s not in England; it’s his father calling the shots.

Also in London, Canute’s wide Queen Aelfgifu conveniently shows up to claim her rightful place beside her husband as the Queen of England. But does she really think the people will follow her rather than Emma? As Forkbeard suggests, in the eyes of God her pagan marriage is invalid. Therefore, Emma is the rightful Queen.

In Kattegat, Haakon chooses someone to sacrifice to the Gods to send a message to Valhalla, so that the Gods may be with them in battle.

Verdict

This is one of the slower episodes; it’s concerned with sliding all of the pieces into place for the fight to come. I enjoyed the politics and twists, especially Godwin killing Edmund. I did not see that coming. In many ways, I’m disappointed that we didn’t get to see more of Edmund. He was one of the strongest characters in the series. The fact that we won’t get to see him grow and develop feels like a major blow.

That said, now it’s time to move on to the climax of Vikings: Valhalla. All forces are gathering in Kattegat. Who will come out on top?