‘Vikings’ Showrunner Teases ‘The Most Astonishing Endgame’ Between ??Ragnar Lodbrok And Yidu

Vikings is raising the stakes in season 4, and even though Vikings is only four episodes into the season, things are already picking up. Showrunner Michael Hirst says the most recent episode, “Yol,” revealed key events that may affect the course of the entire season of Vikings. Fortunately for fans, Hirst was willing to expound on what he means and on what “Yol” will mean for the future.

Vikings showrunner Michael Hirst teases Ragnar’s drug trip and more

Based in part on the true love story of John Lennon and Yoko Ono, the story of Ragnar (Travis Fimmel) and Yidu (Dianne Doan) was a carefully created subplot that has so far led the Viking king on an unusual journey.

Captured and enslaved in a Chinese territory, Yidu has seen and experienced much in her travels to make her almost indispensable as either the slave that she has been or the lover that she is to become for Ragnar. In “Yol,” Ragnar and Yidu escape to the privacy of his cabin to indulge in a very potent Chinese hallucinogen, a drug which the Vikings showrunner reveals will cause long-term problems for Ragnar.

Hirst also teases a future to the developing relationship between Ragnar and Yidu, suggesting that they will soon share a deep bond. Ragnar will find that he can confide in Yidu in ways that he can trust no one else.

“Let’s have someone that Ragnar can open his heart up to who’s the weirdest person you can of. And then that has — I can’t tell you — but that has the most astonishing endgame,” teases the Vikings showrunner. “The relationship between Ragnar and Yidu has the most astonishing endgame. But when you look back on it, it’ll make sense.”

Another key moment in “Yol” came when Bjorn (Alexander Ludwig) rips out the intestines of Erlendur’s assassin. Hirst says Vikings is typically more graphic than most American shows, because it caters to an international market, and this episode was certainly no exception. The scene, conceived and directed by Helen Shaver, is something typical of Vikings and the way that the series likes to push the envelope.

Micheal says Vikings has a new contact at The History Channel and the executive is proud of the way the show’s producers and directors explore graphic sex and violence without regard to American standards. It almost seems as if Hirst is warning us that the season is going to be even more graphic.

“He wanted people to see that actually this wasn’t just an American network show. This was more than that,” the Vikings executive producer said. “This was pushing boundaries like other shows.”

Betrayal is “promised” in the next episode of Vikings

When The History Channel released the first trailer for season 4, Vikings revealed that Ragnar would be facing betrayal on all fronts, as many power-hungry warriors seek to bring him down. Among those rivals is Ragnar’s own brother, Rollo (Clive Standen).

The plot summary for episode 5 of Vikings, entitled “Promised,” hints that Rollo may have a plan for overtaking his brother. The summary reads that Rollo will try to deceive his brother, and can there be any greater motive for that than to try to wrestle power from Ragnar?

King Harald Finehair ( Peter Franzen ) is also after Ragnar, hoping a victory will bring with it the heart of the princess.

Ragnar even faces betrayal from the women in his life. Aslaug (Jessica Sutherland) has her own ambitions for taking over the throne of Norway, as revealed when she asked the Seer (John Kavanagh) if he could one day see a woman ruling the land.

“Yes, I have seen it. A woman will one day rule Kattegat,” the Seer replied, though he didn’t specifically state that ruler would be Aslaug, herself.

Facing foes coming at him from so many different directions, it seems to make sense that a Chinese slave is Ragnar’s only source of comfort and companionship. As Yidu and Ragnar grow closer, will she be able to help Ragnar or will she be his undoing?

Vikings airs on Thursdays on The History Channel.

[Image by The History Channel]