Harald is one of the great conquering warriors of his time, yet has no luck in love.
She is not impressed; when he follows her to the bedchamber, she breaks his nose.
Astrid wont turn on Lagertha so easily, it seems.
Credit: Jonathan Hession/History Channel
She has her own ambitions, though: Could Harald be a means to an end?
Astrid represents the ascendant generation of Viking culture, someone raised on the stories of Ragnar Lothbrok.
She seeks her own glories.
Ivars plans are different.
In a stunning, rainswept battle sequence, Ivar leaves his safe perch to ride his chariot into battle.
Yet cowering is the wrong word.
Dont you know who I am?
he screams at them in his own tongue.
You cant kill me!
He makes eye contact with Bishop Heahmund, who seems to acknowledge something in the young Viking warlord.
Heahmund is a devoted Christian, already begging the Lords forgiveness for the violence he must undertake.
Yet hes also a man of violence of appetites the Bible declares sinful.
He fights for a god who deplores fighting, wandering across his religions moral spectrum.
The battle ends, and York remains Viking.
The sons of Ragnar have a difference of opinion.
Ubbe takes Hvitserk to meet with the Saxons, offering peace in exchange for land.
Heahmund beats him and sends the brothers back to Ivar, who laughs at their silly hopes.
Ubbe sets off for home, refusing to acknowledge his younger brothers status as chieftain.
But Hvitserk remains behind.
But not everyone is with him.
but Floki experiences this new place as somewhere between heaven and hell.
It is the land of the gods, yet empty.
It is tantalizing, mysterious, unknowable.
He speaks to the Allfather and thanks him for finding his humble servant a good place to die.
But although Floki is a devoted fundamentalist, he is also a spiritual soul open to new discoveries.
Recall his fascination with the Mosque, his moral confusion over Ragnars love for his despicable monk.
So Floki opens his eyes to a new decision.
He will not die.
I will live here with the gods!
