Vikings
Season 4 Episode 9: “Death All ‘Round”
Directed by Jeff Woolnough
Written and created by Michael Hirst
Starring Travis Fimmel, Clive Standen, Katheryn Winnick, Alexander Ludwig, Gustaf Skarsgard, Maude Hirst, Morgane Polanski, Lothaire Bluteau, Linus Roache, Jennie Jacques, Moe Dunford, Alyssa Sutherland
The History Channel
Air Date: Thursday, April 14th, 2016, 10:00pm

Last week on Vikings, Count Odo got what was coming to him via “50 shades,” death by whipping. Kwenthrith (Amy Bailey) was horrified when Ecbert (Linus Roache) said he was now king of Wessex and Mercia. When she expectedly went to kill him, Judith stabbed her instead. Aslaug (Alyssa Sutherland) flipped out on Harbard (guest Kevin Durand) because he sleeps with everyone. He does not want her to try to possess him. Ragnar (Travis Fimmel) is completely addicted to his medicine. When Yidu says there was no more medicine and threatened to expose his secret about the massacre of the viking settlement at Wessex, he drowned her in front of his sons. How far the mighty king has fallen!

Spoilers below.

Vikings 4.9 “Death All ‘Round” review: King Harald and his men massacre a family, unbeknownst to Ragnar. It is only a matter of time before Ragnar has to deal with his eventual attack.

Floki (Gustaf Skarsgard) has another Aslaug vision of her crying for Harbard. I really like this Seer trajectory.

Lagertha (Katheryn Winnick) lost her baby. Although it was inevitable given her exertion and her history of miscarriages, it was really sweet to see her turn to Ragnar for comfort, and him briefly acting like the Ragnar we once knew.

The emperor makes Roland a count and his bed partner. Gisla (Morgane Polanski) is not happy about her father giving power to him. Rollo (Clive Standen) doesn’t care about that. What he does care about is her not having sex with him because she is with child. I predict next week Gisla will find Rollo in bed with three French whores.

Aethulwulf and Alfred arrive in Rome to meet the holy father. There is a nice juxtaposition between Alfred receiving a blessing with a symbolic crown of thorns, and Ecbert being crowned King of Wessex and Mercia. King Aelle is not happy, thinking Ecbert will use his new expanded kingdom to upset the balance of their alliance. He’s right to be afraid.

Ivar (the Boneless) is a mean, mean kid.

Torvi is being blackmailed into killing Bjorn (Alexander Ludwig) by Erlander. The outcome of this is quite predictable. You have to watch, but this was my favorite scene of the episode.

“I don’t care about Paris. I came for Rollo.” That’s how it always is – brother against brother. He’s even saving the last of his drugs for that confrontation.

The boats are on the other side and back in the water. It’s time to go back to Paris.

Vikings airs Thursday nights at 10pm ET on The History Channel.

Video

Vikings: Season 4 Episode 9 Official Preview | History

Check out this preview for Vikings Season 4 Episode 9. Watch new episodes Thursdays 10/9c on History.