‘Vikings’ Season 4: Recap Of Episode 3, ‘Mercy’

Here’s what went down in episode 3, entitled “Mercy.”

SPOILER ALERT: This article contains information about the third episode of season 4 of History Channel’s Vikings. Please proceed with caution if you have not yet viewed this episode and wish to avoid spoilers.

While we missed Lagertha (Katheryn Winnick) in episode 2 of Vikings, her story line is explored in more detail in episode 3. Kalf (Ben Robson) is not only proclaiming his love to Lagertha, but also appearing to double cross her with Erlendur (Edvin Endre). On the first hand, Kalf is hoping he and Lagertha can have children together (Spoiler alert Kalf: no she can’t). Then, he is organizing a berserker to take out Bjorn (Alexander Ludwig) thanks to his previous agreement with Erlendur about wanting to take out the entire Lothbrok dynasty. Honestly, I think this story line could go either way, I am still completely undecided on Kalf’s intentions.

Speaking of Bjorn, though, episode 3 of Vikings sees him still struggling to trap food for himself. However, we finally get to see the outcome of the battle between Bjorn and the bear that Entertainment Weekly teased us about.

Exclusive: See Bjorn fight a bear in these new photos from @HistoryVikings: https://t.co/Hzad1uZfpc #Vikings pic.twitter.com/Y9IExGcbqI

— Entertainment Weekly (@EW) January 15, 2016

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So Bjorn finally tracks down the bear who has been stealing all the food from his traps. At first it is a near miss thanks to Bjorn leaving his axe behind at the cabin he has been staying at. However, after getting rolling drunk, he then ventures out to find the bear and kill it. Which he does, but not without the bear getting a decent swipe at him first.

After tending to his wound and skinning the bear, Bjorn does the only thing anyone can do when they have found themselves: jump naked into an ice-hole and emerge victorious.

Ragnar (Travis Fimmel) sees birds scatter and it is almost like he can hear his son bellowing out his victory. But for Ragnar, this episode of Vikings is less about victory and more about eyeing off Yidu (Dianne Doan) and telling his children stories about Harbard (Kevin Durand). When his children ask if Ragnar has ever met Harbard, he replies that he hasn’t, but perhaps their mother has. I can see this is going to be a long, drawn-out end to Ragnar’s second marriage.

Ragnar does have a victory of sorts, though. So far, in season 4 of Vikings, Ragnar has struggled with the forced hand he has been given with Bjorn arresting Floki (Gustaf Skarsgard). This episode sees a dreamlike sequence in which Athelstan (George Blagden) appears to Ragnar and repeats one word over and over again to him: “Mercy.” It is this vision that makes up Ragnar’s mind. He sets Floki free and hopes Floki shows him the same mercy he has shown in return.

Even though Floki is freed, episode 3 of Vikings is a tough one for him. Not only does Helga (Maude Hirst) finally tell him about the death of his daughter, Angrboda (Rosalie Connerty), but he is slowly going mad with the torture Ragnar had inflicted on him in episode 2 of Vikings. The torture is unique and particular to the viking culture, having been based around a story about the god Loki. This myth and how it relates to Floki is explained in more detail in this article on Tumblr. It will be interesting to see just how Floki will react to both Ragnar’s cruel punishment as well as his merciful release in subsequent episodes of Vikings.

Athelstan not only appears to Ragnar in episode 3 of Vikings, but also to King Ecbert (Linus Roache). While Athelstan asks Ragnar for mercy, with Ecbert, he offers up the sign of the cross before leaving. Ecbert tells Judith (who had relented and joined him in bed the previous night) about his vision. Ecbert is convinced Athelstan is now dead and Judith (Jennie Jacques) grieves for the man she really does love.

It is perfect timing for her sorrow though, as her husband, Aethelwulf (Moe Dunford), returns with Queen Kwenthrith (Amy Bailey) and she is able to pretend they are tears of joy at her husband’s return.

Queen Kwenthrith introduces her son, Magnus, to King Ecbert and announces the child as her heir — even though the child is of viking descent.

As for Aethelwulf, it seems no one can resist the charms of Kwenthrith and he has finally submitted to temptation and laid with someone other than his wife.

Meanwhile, in Paris, Rollo (Clive Standen) is still struggling with the Parisian lifestyle and the fact that his new bride, Gisla (Morgane Polanski), is determined to obtain a divorce thanks to their marriage not yet being consummated. Poor Rollo tries with his broken French, but cannot get the message across that he is serious about their marriage. The argument is in public and ugly.

Of course, Gisla’s father, Emperor Charles (Lothaire Bluteau), is only concerned with the fact vikings are scary — especially when the one you have married off to your daughter may not be there to protect your country from the savages. Luckily, Charles has Count Odo (Owen Roe) on hand. Rollo, however, was never planning on leaving (he can’t after all, he’s a traitor to his people now, but the emperor has forgotten that in his mad panic) and the count agrees to teach Rollo French so he can talk things over with his bride.

What did you think of episode 3 of Vikings? Let us know your thoughts by commenting below.

Vikings returns to History Channel with episode 4, entitled “Yol” on Thursday, March 10, at 10 p.m. ET.

[Image via A&E Network]