Vikings
Season 4 Episode 13: “Two Journeys”
Directed by Sarah Harding
Written and created by Michael Hirst
Starring Travis Fimmel, Clive Standen, Katheryn Winnick, Alexander Ludwig, Gustaf Skarsgard, Maude Hirst, Alyssa Sutherland, Alex Høgh Andersen, Marco Ilsø, Jordan Patrick Smith, David Lindström, Josefin Asplund, John Kavanagh
The History Channel
Air Date: Wednesday, December 14th, 2016, 9:00pm

Last time on Vikings, Ragnar scrounged up men for his journey to Wessex, paying them with his death riches. There was a sacrificial feast in honor of Bjorn’s journey to the Mediterranean. Lagertha was quite hostile towards Aslaug, who was in a daze. Aslaug tried to keep Ivar from going with Ragnar, but there was no dissuading him. He needed to finally feel like a man. The episode ended with Ivar drowning, as in Aslaug’s vision.

Spoilers below.

Vikings 4.13 “Two Journeys” review: Don’t worry, father and son live! They wake up on a beach.

“So father, what are we going to do?” There is no crew left except a surly handful. Ragnar does as Ragnar does – brutality coupled with such sweetness. He throws away Ivar’s last semblance of trying to be normal, telling him it will never be.

“Once you realize that, that’s when rightness will happen.” Father of the year – and very true. They explore their surroundings, realizing that they landed in Ecbert and Auethelwulf (Linus Roache and Moe Dunford) land, who already know Ragnar is here. “You and me – an old man and a cripple,” Ivar defense mechanism is to always be on the offense.

On the Normandy coast, Bjorn’s boats sail to Frankia. He goes to see his uncle Rollo, who is so happy, to himself. He plays it cool though – “we are where we are.” Bjorn wants safe passage. Rollo takes the map and locks them up. He will not let Bjorn have safe passage, unless… Rollo can come along. Yaaassss!!!! Although, his little lady might have something to say about it.

“When you hear thunder, it is only thunder, but for me… it is still Thor.” He goes. The Vikings test him via drowning. Do the gods deem him still worthy?

Lagertha is going to take back Kattegat. Torvi has to do something for her – luring Ubbe and Sigurd. Will Lagertha kill them?

The battle for Kattegat begins, and the clash of metal and roars is exciting and exultant. They are her people. Will Aslaug hand over her crown? Or die?

Ragnar is brutal and kills his own men. But they have a real father-son journey on the way to Ecbert.

“Your legs have given you a strength – a strength even your brothers don’t have.” Such a myriad of emotions flit across Ivar’s face.

The instructions are… Ivar has to sit there and act like a cripple while Ragnar is tortured. They walk and crawl towards that fate.

Although there was only one incredibly visual (not in the super gory way) battle in the episode, “Two Journeys” was so full, it felt like 12 journeys. And let’s be truthful… Lagertha’s triumphant return to Kattegat was a full circle journey in itself because she was taking back her rightful place.

Everything about this episode was glorious and had me cheering – Rollo’s return to his viking roots (it took long enough). Lagertha’s return to Kattegat (THAT took long enough). Ragnar’s return to Wessex (you know). The scenes with Ragnar and Ivar are even more poignant than I thought they would be. He had this sort of relationship with Bjorn, once upon a time, but Bjorn had to go fight a bear to prove his manhood. Ivar just had to fight through his circumstances. Andersen kills it.

Vikings airs Wednesday nights at 8:00pm ET on The History Channel.

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Vikings 4×13 Promo “Two Journeys” (HD)

Vikings: Recap: Two Journeys (Season 4, Episode 13) | History