Warning: This article contains spoilers for Wednesdays episode ofVikings, Moments of Vision.
The episode tracks multiple characters in a nonlinear fashion, cutting from the fighting to preparations for the battle.
There are flashbacks, and sequences that could either be spiritual visions or dying hallucinations.
Credit: Jonathan Hession/History Channel
A battle scene told from different points of view, including points of view of people who died.
How much did you plan out these character exits before working on the episode?
And then it didnt happen, which was mildly surprising to me.
I knew that Astrid was going to die, even though I didnt want her to die!
What I want to show, as well as cool action, is psychological damage.
Theyre fighting battles every other year, or whatever it is.
And its gonna wear them down.
With Lagertha, I wanted to start showing the psychological impact of continuously being between life and death.
They died in their 30s, essentially.
That is the typical lifespan of a Viking.
They didnt live for very long.
So Halfdans death, and the death of Torvis first son in the battle, and Astrids very young.
Young people dying is a very powerful part of that episode.
Im warned constantly about saying this, but I do think thatVikingsis a grown-up version ofGame of Thrones.
It actually deals really with mortality, really with the big issues.
Its not an entertainment in that sense.
I hope it is entertaining!
But it really drills down into things that are important.
And Lagertha starts to break.
One of our big characters starts to break in this sequence.
The psychological impact is yet to be worked through.
Thats a story in itself, Lagerthas breakdown.
We also caught a brief look at Clive Standen returning to the show as Rollo.
There are things that have been unresolved in his life.
Hes coming back to deal with things that were never dealt with in the past.
Specifically, his relationship with Lagertha.
And whether or not, frankly, Bjorn is the son of either of them.
It was a big thing for a short time it was brought up, and then it was hidden.
But the actual reason is deep and psychological and personal.
He wants to find out things about himself and about Lagertha and about Bjorn.
I was extremely happy and thrilled that Clive wanted to come back.
He was busy doing his other show [Taken].
He lovesVikingsso much that he made sure he could come back.
While the battle was raging among Ragnars family, we followed some dark turns in Flokis colony.
That story is separate, but it feels like its commenting on whats happening back in Scandinavia.
We left off with him offering himself as sacrifice.
He was talking about how his character had losteveryone, lost his wife, lost his best friend.
What was left for him?
I said, Well, I had a thought.
Do you want to build a city on the hill?
In other words, do you want to make a run at build a society in a new place?
Its a part of the main story, a reflection of the main story.
I wouldnt have even started down this line if there wasnt a payoff.
The payoff is so catastrophic, so extraordinary, so terrible.
I wish I could tell you!
It looks bad now, it gets worse.
That storyline really delivers, and says something about the human experiment.
In the previous episode, we saw Alfred (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo) become king.
Weve seen this character at every stage of his life, from birth onward.
Its the story of someone who really becomes his historical self.
He becomes the king in a terrible situation, and he really, finally cracks it.
Ivar has now achieved everything he ever hoped for, and sits on the throne of Kattegat.
