‘Vikings’ Season 4 Part 2: Recap Of Episode 12, ‘The Vision’ [Opinion]


Welcome to the recap for Episode 12, entitled “The Vision” of Season 4 Part 2 of Vikings.

SPOILER ALERT: This recap contains information about the 12th 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.

Poor Ragnar may have gotten his son, Ivar (Alex Hogh), to follow him to England to exact revenge on King Ecbert (Linus Roache), in Episode 11 of Vikings. But, now in Episode 12, he must find enough men to fill the ships his son, Bjorn (Alexander Ludwig), has been kind enough to donate to the cause.

However, the Vikings in Kattegat are not impressed Ragnar has taken so long to feel guilty about the destroyed village in England so are not prepared to travel with him.

[Image by History]

Ragnar is gracious amid the insults piled upon him in Episode 12 of Vikings and devises another plan to get people to join him. Digging up his stash of treasures meant for his time in Valhalla, Ragnar decides he would rather dine in Valhalla as a poor man than a disgraced one. And so a crew of the old, injured, and unworthy is formed. For history buffs, one of the things Ragnar is known for in the Deeds of the Danes (also known as the Gesta Danorum) by Saxo Grammaticus is for leading an army of the old and infirm.

Ragnar’s remaining sons, however, are horrified their father would stoop to such levels. In fact, at times during Episode 12 of Vikings, Ragnar himself seems to struggle with his decision, but he forges ahead in an effort to right the wrong from all those years ago between him and King Ecbert.

Ragnar and his son, Bjorn Ironside, discuss just how Bjorn will get to the Mediterranean when Duke Rollo (Clive Standen) and Paris are in the way. Bjorn has decided to send out feelers to see just how Viking Rollo still is. Ragnar is concerned his brother might betray his son, but Bjorn seems prepared for that.

[Image by Bernard Walsh/History]

Episode 12 of Vikings sees the return of Harald Finehair (Peter Franzen) and his brother, Halfdan the Black (Jasper Pääkkönen) to Kattegat as they prepare to set sail with Bjorn. The audience is reminded of Harald’s original plan to become the king of all Norway. However, Harald is very diplomatic in explaining to Bjorn he doesn’t think it possible he will ever be able to overthrow King Ragnar. Whether he is lying about this is yet to be seen.

Lagertha (Katheryn Winnick) also travels to Kattegat with Astrid (Josefin Asplund) in Episode 12 of Vikings. Lagertha meets up with Aslaug (Alyssa Sutherland) and suggests they show a united front when their sons leave for the Mediterranean. Aslaug suggests a sacrifice and Lagertha agrees, but Aslaug is not about to let Lagertha join her in the sacrifice, after all, she is the queen of Kattegat.

Lagertha takes her opportunity during the sacrifice to remind Aslaug of all that she has taken from Lagertha in the past and a line is officially drawn in the sand. As Showbiz Junkies noted in an interview with Katheryn Winnick, Lagertha is “extremely disappointed that [Kattegat is] not ruled by the right ruler.”

Margrethe (Ida Nielsen), the slave girl all of Aslaug’s sons are sleeping with, admits to Sigurd (David Lindström) that Ivar is impotent, thus reneging on her deal in Episode 11 to remain silent about his inadequacies. It seems Margrethe is either very stupid or playing the game more than first anticipated.

While Ragnar has not yet visited Aslaug in the Season 4 return of Vikings, she speaks to Ivar, horrified her disabled son will be making such a treacherous voyage and demands Ivar gets Ragnar to visit her.

[Image by Bernard Walsh/History]

When Ragnar does finally visit his wife, the scene is actually beautiful. Ragnar admits his faults — her faults as well — yet compliments her for never turning his sons against him.

After this visit, Aslaug has a very disturbing vision that sees Ivar drowning if he travels with Ragnar to England. When she confronts Ivar about this vision, he disputes it. He will go regardless because he would rather die at sea on an adventure with his father, than at home in Kattegat, as a cripple.

So, finally, the day comes when Ragnar and Ivar set out on their journey. There seems to be some regret on Ragnar’s behalf as he watches Ivar use his crutches to get on board the ship. He doesn’t help him when he falls, though, and earns even more respect from Ivar when he does not pity him.

It is a small fleet that set off and it is discovered fairly quickly that Ivar is scared of water. When the storm that Aslaug predicted finally arrives, Ragnar immediately ties Ivar to the ship’s mast rather than have him thrown off board and drown, regardless of how terrified Ivar seems.

As a massive wave takes the ship, Ragnar tries desperately to untie Ivar as they are pulled under the water. However, the episode concludes without a clear answer as to whether Ragnar and Ivar survive this event and fans will have to wait until Episode 13 of Vikings to find out if Aslaug’s vision was correct.

What did you think of Episode 12 of Vikings? Let us know your thoughts by commenting below!

Vikings returns to History Channel with Episode 13 on December 14, Wednesday, at 9 p.m. ET.

The synopsis for Episode 13 (entitled “Two Journeys”) is below.

“Ragnar’s fleet is shipwrecked and washes up on the Wessex coast, but without enough survivors to form a credible force, Ragnar and Ivar have a difficult decision to make. Rollo meets his Viking comrades again and can’t resist the urge to join Bjorn’s voyage, risking his marriage and his new Frankish identity. Ragnar too is taking a risk as he carries Ivar towards the Royal Villa in Wessex – throwing himself and his son upon the mercy of King Ecbert.”

[Featured Image by Bernard Walsh/History]

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