‘Vikings’ Season 4: Recap Of Episode 5, ‘Promised’

Here’s what went down in episode 5, entitled “Promised” of season 4 of Vikings.

SPOILER ALERT: This article contains information about the fifth episode of season 4 of History Channel’s Vikings. Please proceed with caution if you have not yet viewed this episode and wish to avoid spoilers.

So we find out in episode 5 of Vikings that Lagertha (Katheryn Winnick) and Kalf (Ben Robson) intend to tie the knot. But a marriage between these two is never going to be simple. Between Kalf conniving with Erlendur (Edvin Endre) to kill Ragnar’s line and telling Lagertha he loved her in episode 4, his intentions were never clear to begin with, and by the end of episode 5, fans are still wondering just where his allegiance really lies. But more on that later.

Bjorn (Alexander Ludwig) and Ragnar (Travis Fimmel) discuss which of them is the worst husband ever in episode 5 of Vikings. It’s a close call but I am giving the win to Ragnar — for now. Bjorn still has plenty of time to take the crown yet. And it is this strange sort of character amalgamation that left fans worrying that perhaps the demise of Ragnar will come sooner than I can bare because, we all know, there can be only one Ragnar in Vikings and with his son taking on his crazy mannerisms and personality, it seems likely Bjorn will succeed his father sooner rather than later. As for Bjorn’s storyline in episode 5 of Vikings, it seems he must discover who owns the ring he found on the beserker. His wife Torvi (Georgia Hirst) turns out to be helpful in that matter and suddenly Lagertha’s wedding is looking more like a plot than a plan.

Ragnar seems to be developing an addiction to Yidu’s (Dianne Doan) herbal “remedy.” Episode 5 of Vikings for Ragnar involves him being high most of the time. Yidu also announces her father in an emperor — or is he? Is Yidu just trying to seem more important than she actually is? Mixed in between that is one wicked bath scene involving foot fetishes and a haircut that practically melted Twitter. And, considering just how much snake imagery occurs between Ragnar and Yidu, I am wondering if maybe she has been sent by King Aelle (Ivan Kaye). It would certainly explain the fact Yidu never seemed to need to learn the language of the vikings. If Ragnar isn’t careful, he will get himself killed from all directions.

Suddenly!
I am in DIRE need of a bath….and a cigarette!#Vikings @HistoryVikings pic.twitter.com/MoZcxkaOF6

— Mynda Bullock (@PxlWvr) March 18, 2016

But for Ragnar, these aren’t his only woes as King Harald Finehair (Peter Franzen) and his brother, Halfdan the Black (Jasper Paakkonen) are causing all sorts of problems with Harald’s intention of becoming the king of all Norway. Then Ragnar decides it’s time to head back to Paris and so begins the lead up to the expected clash between Ragnar and his brother, Rollo (Clive Standen).

So, remember when Count Odo (Owen Roe) went all 50 shades with Therese in season 3 of Vikings? Well, it seems he is not the only one with a thing for whips in this season of Vikings. Aethelwulf (Moe Dunford) also has a fondness for them, flagellating himself for his sins while calling his wife out for sleeping with his father. But that’s okay, because Judith (Jennie Jacques) is just as happy to call him out for sleeping with Queen Kwenthrith (Amy Bailey) and fans are left wondering if modern day marriages are more sincere than medieval ones ever were.

Now, just to add to the fetish weirdness going on in episode 5 of Vikings, remember Therese (Karen Hassan) and Roland (Huw Parmenter)? Well, the audience were led to believe they were a couple. A normal couple. But, oh no. They are actually a fully fledged Game of Thrones certifiable brother and sister couple.

Other intrigues to note in this week’s episode of Vikings include the potential for King Aelle to fall at his daughter’s hand (or, by proxy, that of her father-in-law, King Ecbert) and King Ecbert (Linus Roache) admitting he is totally happy signing a contract with the devil in order to be powerful, but Vikings fans already knew that anyway.

While most of the sexual weirdness is going on over the seas, back in Kattegat, while Ragnar is preoccupied with Yidu, his sons have their own worries. Bjorn has dealings with King Harald and Ivar (James Quinn Markey) is getting babysat by Floki (Gustaf Skarsgard) thanks to the arrangement between he and Aslaug (Alyssa Sutherland) in the previous episode of Vikings. And this may not be the best idea ever when Ivar manages to kill a child with an axe that just so happened to be in his wagon. Aslaug defends her son and the feared Ivar the Boneless of the viking sagas is officially born. While Floki isn’t encouraging small children to be cold-hearted killers, he is bonding with King Harald and the audience is left wondering whether Ragnar showing him “mercy” was really such a good idea.

Now, to Lagertha’s wedding. You know that old saying about how the groom should never see his bride before the wedding because it brings bad luck? I’m pretty sure that expression was penned as a direct result of Lagertha and Kalf’s wedding. Which, of course, turns into a bloodbath because Lagertha always said she would kill Kalf and he didn’t seem to believe her. Although, considering how swiftly she stabbed him, it is likely she felt more for Kalf than she ever did for Einar (Steve Wall). But now the audience is left trying to work out whether Kalf was really Team Lagertha or Team Erlendur. But, thanks to the cull in anti-team Lagertha supporters earlier in the season, Lagertha is once again Earl Ingstad, ruler of Hedeby.

What did you think of episode 5 of Vikings? Let us know your thoughts by commenting below.

Vikings returns to History Channel with episode 6, entitled “What Might Have Been” on Thursday, March 17, at 10 p.m. ET.

[Image via A&E Network]