‘Vikings’ Season 4 Part 2: Recap Of Episode 13, ‘Two Journeys’ [Opinion]

Welcome to the recap for Episode 13, entitled “Two Journeys,” of Season 4 Part 2 of Vikings.

SPOILER ALERT: This recap contains information about the 13th 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.

We open Episode 13 of Vikings with Ragnar Lothbrok (Travis Fimmel) and Ivar the Boneless (Alex Hogh) surviving their voyage across the sea to England, so Aslaug didn’t need to worry after all. However, there is major destruction, and only a handful of Vikings survived along with Ragnar and Ivar.

Regardless, it doesn’t take long for Aethelwulf (Moe Dunford) to discover Ragnar has arrived. He immediately tells his father as he is panicked at the thought of Ragnar’s return. King Ecbert (Linus Roache), however, is unfazed and is much more interested in his upcoming trip to Repton. The show’s creator, Michael Hirst, recently told Mashable about how Repton is the site of a historically important Viking find, so it seems Episode 13 of Vikings is setting the scene for the Great Heathen Army showdown at some point in Season 4 or 5.

As they attempt to trek across land, Ragnar is reminded of just how hard it is to be a Viking when you are disabled. Ivar just wants to be normal but Ragnar insists on throwing away Ivar’s leg brace and telling him he is not normal. It’s this type of tough love Ragnar has had with Bjorn in previous episodes of Vikings and he tells Ivar that he isn’t normal, but “once you realize that, that is when greatness will happen.”

Ragnar’s journey in Episode 13 of Vikings is not an easy one. His fellow Vikings, his son included, are constantly heckling him and his decisions. He has fallen a long way from the mighty Ragnar of previous seasons. And this episode is the first one in which Ragnar admits that he has no plans of returning to his homeland. Those who have read Ragnar’s tale in the Gesta Danorum will understand where this statement is leading.

Ragnar has a plan though, and he and Ivar kill their fellow Vikings as they sleep. With the group dispatched, Ragnar and Ivar — the cripple and the old man — plan to simply slip under the radar. But what it really turns into is a bonding session between Ragnar and his son. Right up until that moment when they reach an English village and are arrested.

Across the sea in Episode 13 of Vikings, Ragnar’s other son, Bjorn Ironside (Alexander Ludwig), is approaching Paris. His plan is to find out if his uncle, Duke Rollo (Clive Standen), will let him pass without being attacked. In return, Bjorn’s group will not attack Frankia. Rollo responds by introducing his family and then taking Bjorn’s group captive.

Halfdan the Black (Jasper Paakkonen) is interrogating Bjorn about their captivity. However, Bjorn is calm, no doubt hoping his uncle will pull through and support them, even if honor to his own kind has been low on Rollo’s list of priories in the past.

And pull through, Rollo does. He even brings in the full map of Bjorn’s Mediterranean fragment and shows Bjorn exactly how big the area is. However, there is one condition to Bjorn’s safe passage in Season 4 of Vikings: Rollo gets to go along on Bjorn’s adventure. While Rollo’s wife is not okay with this, Bjorn is, and so Rollo gets to be a Viking once more.

Lagertha (Katheryn Winnick) also has a plan, and Episode 13 of Vikings sees her lay the groundwork to take back Kattegat from Aslaug (Alyssa Sutherland). She tells Astrid (Josefin Asplund) that Aslaug is not fit to be queen, neither does she want Aslaug’s sons to rule. However, Astrid is sympathetic, pointing out the fact they are also Ragnar’s sons.

But, could Aslaug be predicting Lagertha’s attack during a vision she has in Episode 13 of Vikings? If so, this could mean Lagertha has more of a fight on her hands than she originally anticipated.

Regardless, it seems Torvi (Georgia Hirst) has discovered Margrethe (Ida Marie Nielsen) knows quite a bit about Aslaug’s boys and a plan is hatched between her and Lagertha’s group. Which means Aslaug’s sons are confined rather than attacked. However, their safety is still up in the air at the end of Episode 13 of Vikings.

On top of that, Torvi seems to have another plan with Lagertha. And, when Lagertha finally does attack Kattegat at the end of Episode 13, it is revealed Torvi is fighting on Lagertha’s side from within Kattegat, being a double agent of sorts.

What did you think of Episode 13 of Vikings? Let us know your thoughts by commenting below.

Vikings returns to History Channel with Episode 14 on December 21, Wednesday, at 9 p.m. ET.

The synopsis for Episode 14 (entitled “In the Uncertain Hour Before the Morning”) according to TV.com is below.

“Lagertha is near realizing a long-held ambition; Ragnar acquires a surprising concession from King Ecbert.”

[Featured Image by Bernard Walsh/History]