Ragnar, wounded and near death, has a dream of walking towards the open gates of Valhalla, only to see them close before him. Aslaug asks the Seer if a woman would rule Kattegat, should Ragnar die. Bjorn has Floki arrested for killing Athelstan. When Ragnar awakens, he chastises Bjorn for imprisoning his friend. Bjorn wants to prove himself by surviving deep in the wilderness. Aslaug procures a new slave girl, Yidu. In Hedeby, Earl Kalf announces that he and Lagertha will share the Earldom, to t
Bjorn has set off alone into the harsh Scandinavian winter. Helga frees Floki from his bonds. Ragnar confronts Helga, who admits what she has done, and he tells her that he understands. Ubbe accompanies the manhunt for Floki and discovers him hiding in a stream. After he is captured, Ragnar chains Floki inside a damp cave. Ragnar finds Helga digging a grave in the frozen ground for her daughter. In Wessex, King Ecbert proposes to rescue Princess Kwenthrith of Mercia and her child, who is being h
Ragnar and King Ecbert experience separate visions of Athelstan, who relays the words "mercy". Rollo starts to learn the language of Francia. Kalf hires a berserker to assassinate Bjorn, on behalf of Erlendur. Bjorn kills a bear that escaped his trap. Floki and Helga struggle with the death of their daughter. Ragnar approaches the cave and frees Floki. Lagertha sleeps with Kalf and he tells her he loves her. Aethelwulf returns with the rescued Queen Kwenthrith and her son Magnus. Judith's obsess
Floki visits the Seer who tells him that he has waited hundreds of years for Floki's arrival and licks Floki's hand instead of the other way around. Aslaug asks him to teach Ivar the way of the gods. Ragnar grows closer to Yidu and lets her live in his private lodge. She gives Ragnar "medicine" from her native China, which leads to a night of hallucination. In the wilderness, Bjorn meets the berserker and kills him. He discovers that the berserker has King Horik's ring. Bjorn arrives back in Hed
Ragnar and Bjorn discuss whether they trust King Harald. Ragnar is addicted to Yidu's "medicine", and they discuss their secrets. Yidu says that her father is a Chinese Emperor, while Ragnar confesses the loss of his English settlement. King Harald's brother Halfdan arrives in Kattegat and lets Ragnar know he is eager to kill Christians. Meanwhile, Torvi reveals to Bjorn that the ring he is carrying, which he took from the berserker, was Erlendur's. In Wessex, Aethelwulf and Judith argue, and Ju
Ragnar announces his plan to raid Paris, and gives Ubbe and Hvitserk their arm-rings, so they can travel with him. Before they leave, Ragnar asks the Seer how he will die; he replies that Ragnar will die when "the blind man sees him". In Wessex, Ecbert sends Aethelwulf and Alfred on a pilgrimage to Rome. In Paris, Charles begs Rollo to not return to Ragnar, and Rollo assures him that he will not. Odo reveals to Therese that he will have Charles killed and overthrown. Meanwhile in Kattegat, after
Ragnar suggests attacking from both the river and by land. Rollo notices Lagertha's warriors become stuck in the marsh, and fires upon them and the ships. As the ships approach the forts, Rollo orders the Franks to raise a metal chain between them, which capsizes some ships. Lagertha's attack retreats, and the Franks begin to set the Viking ships on fire. Bjorn rescues Harald and Halfdan, and Ragnar saves Floki. As the Vikings retreat, Ragnar shouts to Rollo that he saved his life when everyone
The Vikings retreat and Ragnar's leadership is questioned by Harald. Ragnar tells Bjorn to land near a cliff, and reveals a new plan: they will take the ships overland, behind the Frankish forts. In Paris, Odo tells Charles they should not trust Rollo, and Roland agrees. Gisla reveals that she carries Rollo's child. Odo meets Therese, but she and Roland betray and execute him. Rollo is awarded the Iron Hand of Frankia. In Wessex, Ecbert returns after victory over Mercia but tells Kwenthrith she
As the Vikings carry their ships overland, Harald and Halfdan kill a Frankish family. Lagertha has a miscarriage and is comforted by Ragnar. Aethelwulf and Alfred arrive in Rome, and the Pope makes Alfred a consul. In Wessex, Ecbert is crowned King of both Wessex and Mercia. King Aelle is displeased when Ecbert tells him they are no longer equals. In Kattegat, Sigurd discovers Siggy dead; he tells a drunken Aslaug, who shrugs off her death, and jokes with Ivar. In Paris, Charles appoints Roland
A fleet of Frankish ships led by Rollo approaches the Vikings. In Paris, Charles has Roland and Therese executed, while Gisla prays for Rollo. The Vikings and Franks battle and the Vikings defeat the first French wave. Rollo leads his remaining ships into battle. Halfdan, Floki, and Lagertha are wounded. Ragnar and Rollo begin to fight. The Franks gain the upper hand, and Ragnar tells Bjorn to take Lagertha and retreat. Ragnar charges Rollo but is grabbed and thrown back into a ship, as they ret
Ubbe steps forward to challenge Ragnar, but instead they embrace. Ragnar asks his sons to come with him to England, but Bjorn refuses, as he plans to raid the Mediterranean with Floki, Harald, and Hvitserk. Ubbe and Sigurd promise to stay and protect their mother and Kattegat, now an important trade center. Ivar sees his brothers sharing the slave girl Margrethe, and wants her as well. After failing to sleep with her, he threatens to kill her but instead cries as she tells him that being Ragnar'
Ragnar asks warriors to accompany him to England; however they refuse and say the gods have deserted him. Ragnar talks to Bjorn about his plan to sail past France, and Bjorn says he will seek diplomacy with Rollo. Sigurd chides Ivar that their mother and brothers pity him. Harald and Halfdan arrive to sail with Bjorn. Bjorn notes Harald's conquest of Rogaland, but Harald assures him that he cannot overthrow Ragnar. Lagertha arrives and agrees with Aslaug to perform a sacrifice to the gods for th
Ragnar, Ivar, and a few other survivors are washed up on the beach in England. Some blame Ragnar for their misfortune. Aethelwulf finds Ragnar's black raven banner on the beach and alerts King Ecbert, who reassures him that Ragnar is simply one man. In Francia, Bjorn's fleet arrives and he asks Rollo for safe passage but is imprisoned along with Floki, Harald, and Halfdan. Harald and Halfdan chastise Bjorn for having trusted Rollo. Later, Rollo meets Bjorn and agrees to allow them free passage,
In Kattegat, Aslaug renounces herself as Queen, promising Lagertha that her sons will not seek revenge. In exchange, she wants safe passage to leave. Lagertha initially agrees, but then kills Aslaug. Ubbe and Sigurd arrive to find Lagertha in the great hall. Ubbe challenges Lagertha's warriors in an attempt to kill her but fails. Astrid tells Ubbe and Sigurd that they will die if they harm Lagertha. In Wessex, Ragnar and Ivar are seized by Aethelwulf. Ecbert arrives and promises no harm will com
Ecbert has arranged a ship to take Ivar home. Ragnar speaks with Ivar alone and says goodbye, knowing he will be handed over to Aelle and die. Ragnar tells Ivar to take revenge on Ecbert and to be ruthless. Ragnar gives Athelstan's cross to his son Alfred and tells Ecbert that in the end, Athelstan chose Christ. On the road, Ragnar has visions of his younger days and of a discussion with the Seer, where he denounces his belief in the gods. Ragnar arrives in Northumbria and is tortured by Aelle.
Lagertha in Norway and Aethelwulf in Wessex consider the consequences of Ragnar's death, while his sons start to plan their revenge. Lagertha orders defences to be built around Kattegat. Ivar challenges Lagertha to single combat, but is refused, and promises that one day he will kill Lagertha. Meanwhile, Bjorn and Rollo reach Al-Andalus (today Spain and Portugal) and raid Algeciras, as Halfdan and Harald start plotting to overthrow the Lothbroks as part of their conquest of all of Norway. Floki
Ubbe, Sigurd, and Ivar decide to gather a large army and return to England to avenge Ragnar. Before returning to Gisla and his children, Rollo offers land in Normandy to any Norsemen willing to settle, but is rejected. Halfdan introduces Harald to Egil, the bastard son of an earl. Judith visits her family in Northumbria and tries to convince King Aelle to ally with Ecbert against the coming attack. However, her father shows no intention of reforging an alliance with Wessex. Ubbe frees Margrethe
As the great army assembles, Bjorn and Ivar argue over its leadership. Harald spots Ellisif, the woman he fell in love with years ago, who he had wanted to impress by conquering Norway. But she has since married a Danish earl, of lower status than him. Ubbe and Margrethe are married, but Ubbe agrees to share her with Hvitserk. Helga wants to join the great army with Tanaruz, but Floki is not happy with her decision. Harald and Halfdan have Egil infiltrate Kattegat. Halfdan suggests Harald kill E
Kattegat is attacked by Egil and his men, but they are repulsed and Egil is captured. Torvi is severely injured. Under torture, Egil confesses to Lagertha that he had been paid by King Harald to attack her. Meanwhile, in Mercia, terrified villagers flee before the advancing heathen army. Harald pretends to forgive Ellisif, then kills her husband Vik. Ellisif later pretends to forgive Harald, seduces him, and is about to kill him but is instead killed by Halfdan. Tanaruz runs away from Helga, but
The Saxons charge into the Norse shield wall and suffer heavy losses. Aethelwulf orders a retreat and flees to Ecbert's capital to ready its evacuation. Ecbert refuses to leave and cedes the crown of Wessex to his son. The bishop Edmund refuses to abandon Ecbert. The Vikings arrive and Hvitserk kills Edmund. Ecbert is captured and Tanaruz stabs Helga and then commits suicide. Ivar demands the blood eagle for Ecbert, but Bjorn reminds his brothers of Ragnar's dream of settlement and agrees to all