Vikings
Season 3 Episode 10: “The Dead”
Written and Created by Michael Hirst
Starring Travis Fimmel, Clive Standen, Katheryn Winnick, Alexander Ludwig, Gustaf Skarsgard, Ben Robson, Maude Hirst, Morgane Polanski, Lothaire Bluteau
The History Channel
Air Date: Thursday, April 23rd, 2015, 10:00pm

Before the Vikings 3.10 “The Dead” review, let’s recap last week. Spoiler alert! Watch the episode before you read past the recap.

I reiterate — spoilers!

Last week the vikings tried to invade Paris once more, this time by infiltrating the city quietly using the shieldmaidens led by Lagertha (Katheryn Winnick). They are pushed back but not before everyone sees Rollo (Clive Standen) be the manliest man ever. Something has to be done about the vikings though. Despite their defeat, there is sickness and hunger in the city. Emperor Charles (Lothaire Bluteau) wants to negotiate, while his daughter, Princess Gisla (Morgane Polanski), wants to stand strong. Ragnar asks for gold and a very surprising request — he wants to be baptized. He hopes to join Athelstan in heaven. The priest says Ragnar will go to hell.

Ragnar: “That is not your decision to make.” And karma, priest!

He is baptized and Floki, Lagertha, and Rollo witness it to their shock and horror.

King Ecbert (Linus Roache) is a bad father and a bad person. He makes daughter-in-law Judith (Jennie Jacques) his mistress, and then praises his son, Aethelwulf (Moe Dunford) on a job well done in Mercia.

Vikings 3.10 “The Dead” review: The vikings are still camped outside Paris. Ragnar is dying (he says). He asks Bjorn for one favor — he is the only one he can trust. Then I am screaming in disbelief as Bjorn (Alexander Ludwig) closes the lid on Ragnar’s coffin. This cannot be. There is no show without Ragnar. The three that were the most horrified at the baptism make confessions to dead Ragnar. To simplify:

Rollo — Admits his jealousy.

Lagertha — Admits her love.

Floki — Admits his hate and love.

Ragnar’s coffin is brought inside the city for a “proper Christian burial,” as per Ragnar’s request through Bjorn. And then…

I can’t give everything away, can I?

What I can tell you is that the Seer’s prophecies about Rollo and Ragnar are coming true. They are not done with Paris. Some will go home to Kattegat and some will stay. Rollo is given an offer that spews vile insults. He replies with a interested smile.

Vikings season 3 ends well. Although, it does not have as much shock as “Born Again,” it has enough surprises, and enough promises of the future, to guarantee our return to watch season 4.

Questions for seasons 4:

1. How will the Lagertha and Kalf (Ben Robson) relationship play out?
2. What will Ragnar do to Floki? Will Helga forgive him and help him, or rebuff him as she has been doing?
3. Rollo? (Can’t ask the question without revealing his fate)
4. When will Ragnar find out about his child with Queen Kwenthrith? About Athelstan’s son, Alfred? How will he react?
5. Will King Ecbert get his comeuppance? How?
6. Will Vikings develop my spinoff idea?

The last words of the episode are the ones we have been waiting for.

Vikings returns for season 4 in 2016 on The History Channel.

Videos

Vikings: Season 3, Episode 10 – Preview

Don’t miss the season 3 finale of Vikings on Thursday, April 23rd at 10/9c on HISTORY.

Vikings: Recap: “Breaking Point” (S3, E9)

Watch highlights from Vikings Season 3 Episode 9, “Breaking Point.”

Vikings Season 3: Everything That Has Happened

Get caught up on full episodes of Vikings before the season finale on Thursday, April 23rd at 10/9c on HISTORY.