The corruption of power: Season 4 of Vikings

Here in early April, we are fast approaching the Season 4 finale of 'Vikings', the story of Ragnar Lothbrok and his family in Medieval Scandinavia. As Season 3 ended, we saw the attack on Paris as a success and Ragnar's brother Rollo stayed behind to look after the settlement and even get engaged to the French Kings daughter. Boy, the things that have happened and are yet to happen with the last two episodes of the season.

Travis Fimmel as Ragnar Lothbrok

At the start of Season 4, the vikings returned to Kattegat, King Ragnar hovered near death, and Floki was arrested for killing Avelstein. Meanwhile, King Ecbert lead a campaign on Queen Kwenthrith's behalf to regain the crown of Mercia form nobles who stole it from her and imprisoned her. Raganr is incensed that Bjorn had Floki arrested without his consent, but goes ahead with the arrest to not show weakness in the kingdom. Bjorn is greatly confused by this and decides to go on a solo hunting trip up north to learn more about himself and what he can accomplish. After a short skirmish with a Bear and a Beserker sent to kill him by an old enemy, Bjorn later returns with the wife of said enemy to Kattegat in time for the return to Paris.

Meanwhile, Floki briefly escapes before recapture and is sent to to hang from the walls of a cave as water drips on him as happened to Loki in Norse Mythology before Ragnar frees him because of the death of Floki and Helgas daughter due to illness. Tensions grow between Ragnar and his wife and she decides to have Floki teach Ragnar and hers son Ivar the Runes to have him better become a Viking and have him possess hatred for the Christian God. Ragnars first wife Lagertha returns to her home to crush her enemies and eliminate the Jarl who has taken control of her settlement so she can regain the power she once had.

In England, King Ecbert sends his son to save the Queen of Mercia and they grow close enough together to sleep with each other as the Ecbert asks Judith, his sons wife, to become his mistress. She accepts on the condition of being given the freedom to explore painting and flaunts this in the face of her father King Aela. Once home, Ecbert sends his son on a pilgrimage to Rome with Judiths son Alfred and the King plots the takeover of Mercia.

Ragnar discovers a newly bought slave named Yidu possesses medicine to help with his illness and he gives her greater freedom and confides in her the destruction of the settlement in England. Two newcomers come on to the scene, King Harald and his brother arrive to assist in the attack on Paris and the settlement prepares for the invasion. Meanwhile in Paris, Rollo betays the settlement to armed Parisian forces while growing closer to the French Princess Gisla and they eventually fall in love.

The attack on Paris is a complete disaster on all fronts and the Vikings are forced to retreat and re-plan their attack. In the latest episode, Ragnar kills the slave Yidu for threatening to tell his secret and has the boats moved upstream away from the battlements to prepare a sneak attack. The Princess Gisla announces her pregnancy as Rollo prepares for a new attack. King Ecbert secures the crown of Mercia with the blessing of one of its last noble surviving nobles and Queen Kwenthrith is trapped within the high walls of the castle. She attempts to escape with Judiths help and is betrayed and killed by Judith to both their horrors.

And so the last two episodes approach; will the surprise attack on Paris work? Will King Ecbert move to unite the two kingdoms and move against King Aela? Will Bjorns attacker move against him again soon? How long can Ragnars power last? The last two episodes of Season 4 can answer some of these questions, but regardless of what happens it will be a memorable and surprising time.