Honour And Dishonour – As this episode of Vikings: Valhalla begins, Emperor Romanos (Nikolai Kinski) walks into Syracuse with his army as well as Harald (Leo Suter) and Leif (Sam Corlett). Romanos tells The Emir (Christian Vit) that they’ve taken his city. He asks the Emir to surrender and save his people from unnecessary suffering and death. Emir refuses to surrender. He claims a great Saracen army is on its way from Cairo and Alexandria to join them. Leif points out that they won’t have water. Emir offers another solution. He suggests they hold a single combat between two fighters. Emir will be the warrior for his side. General Maniakes (Florian Munteanu) offers to fight for Romanos who says no.

Romanos says Emir will fight his Varangian. Freydis (Frida Gustavsson) wakes up and hears Stigg (Leander Vyvey) training with Harald outside. When she joins them, she learns that her son is feeling ill. Freydis doesn’t think it’s a big deal. Aki (Eoghain Francis Kiernan) says it was a night to remember that he doesn’t remember. Hrefna (Amalia Holm) is asked what she’s doing up. She tells everyone that Kolr is not feeling well. When she returns, she finds Kolr in worse condition. She yells for help. Freydis and Stigg are the first to arrive. Stigg tries to find out more about his condition. Freydis runs out while Stigg checks the kitchen and learns about supplies. He believes it has to do with fungi which is very poisonous. Someone put them in the flour. Stigg leaves to look for a remedy he believes may grow nearby.

Freydis is pulled away from her sick son so he can find out what happened. In Kattegat, Lord Magnus says he visited once as a boy. King Svein of Norway (Jakob Femerling Andersen) is introduced to Magnus Olafsson (Set Sjostrand). Svein says he first bloodied his sword with his father Olaf. Magnus wants to erect a shrine in Kattegat in his father’s name. Queen Aelfgifu (Pollyanna McIntosh) hopes that is all he intends to do. She asks if he wants to take the throne from her son. Magnus says a miracle has occurred in England in his father’s name. Jarl Olaf appeared to a blind monk in a dream. When he awoke the next day, his sight had been restored. The Holy Father in Rome will make Olaf a saint if a second miracle occurs. Meanwhile, Harald prepares to battle Emir.

Leif and Harald talk about what’s at stake. Aki and Hamundr (Ciaran McMahon) see Stigg flee from the village. They find the woman in the kitchen on the floor. Freydis is told Stigg fled and he put the fungi in the flour. Harald and Emir begin fighting. Harald eventually wins. Svein and Magnus talk during dinner. Svein says he was with Olaf in the end and he fought bravely against Freydis. Queen Aelfgifu claims Freydis spared Svein because he’s a woman with intelligence and feelings. When Freydis returned him, she only asked for peace. The Queen intends to keep that promise. Magnus insists he comes in peace as well. He knows they trade with Jomsborg. Magnus would like the Queen to introduce him to Freydis so he can fulfill his Christian obligation to the Pope.

He explains he needs to retrieve his body from Jomsborg. Bosi speaks to Magnus in private. He got an excellent price for the wares Magnus entrusted to him. Magnus is happy with the sword. Stigg finds the possible remedy. Freydis learns that Harald’s breathing has become fainter. In Rome, Emma (Laura Berlin) speaks to the Cardinal (Cosimo Fucso) and the Pope (Paul Ward). She worries her husband has not demonstrated his value. Emma says the Bishops of England believe her husband to be a devout Christian and a generous donor of the Church and its servants. Emma suggests violence is sometimes required when no other method of change is available. She believes the church would be grateful to have such a powerful ally in a time of need.

Emma points out that the Cardinal made an alliance with Earl Godwin who paid him 300 solidi. The Cardinal ends the conversation. The Pope asks Emma to convey his wish that her husband continue his most generous service. Romanos checks on Harald who is receiving treatment for his wounds. He knows Harald’s heart is not still in the North. Romanos promises that his deed will not be forgotten. Romanos tells Maniakes that his men will have two full days of pillage. Maniakes warns him that the destruction of Syracuse castle will not rid the Empire of the Saracen menace. Romanos reminds him he told the Emir that his people would be treated with respect. King Canute (Bradley Freegard) tells Godwin (David Oakes) to begin the conversation with the Pope.

Canute apologizes to the Pope for his previous behavior. He offers him a personal gift as recommended by his wife. Canute hopes it shows that a relationship with a Viking can be beneficial. He tells the Pope it’s a difficult world outside this palace. Canute gives him a head and insists a Viking friend is a good friend to have. The Pope accepts Canute’s generous offer. One of Maniakes’s men shows him Leif’s quarters. They find Saracen writings. Maniakes finds out that he has explosive material in his room. Stigg returns to the village where he finds many people dead. He rushes to help Freydis and Harald. Aki and Hamundr rush him to stop him since they believe he’s poisoning them. Stigg explains he’s trying to help them. Others receive the remedy as well. Hrefna is distraught that Kolr has passed.

Stigg manages to save Freydis and her son. Svein gives Magnus a gift to give to Freydis so she’ll know he comes in peace and has his blessing. The Queen still doesn’t seem to trust him. Once Magnus leaves, the Queen tells her son to pray that he doesn’t return. She reminds Svein that his grandfather made a deal with Olaf when he became king. In exchange for Olaf’s protection, Magnus would one day take the throne of Norway. Svein says that’s only after he’s dead. The Queen believes that’s part of it. Svein isn’t worried about Magnus regardless. Godwin tells Emma they’re preparing to leave and will stop in Normandy along the way. Canute tells Godwin he’s going to Denmark to relay their agreement to his father. He tells Godwin he’s family and it will not hurt to see where it all came from.

Godwin believes he has much to learn since being a Viking got him the victory today. Leif goes to the library and tells everyone to leave. He finds an old man hiding and believes he could be the librarian. The man recognizes his tattoo as the Book of the Unknown. Many Muslims and Christians believe it’s unholy because it questions much of what is believed to be sacred. Leif says he only believes in the truth before receiving the book. Emir’s wife tries to leave Syracuse. Everyone goes for food. Maniakes gives his man the order. They lock Emir’s people inside. Leif tells the librarian he’s looking for a place that is important to him. He finds a map of sorts from Corfu. Maniakes has Emir’s people smothered. The librarian and Leif find out what’s going on.

Leif rushes to try to stop them just before the people are set on fire. Harald realizes something is wrong. Leif tries to confront Maniakes, but he’s surrounded by his men instead. Harald arrives and orders them to stop. Harald argues with Maniakes who says Saracens are like vermin. He worries they will spread and wipe out Christianity. Maniakes says Leif’s science and imagination killed those people while he was just the messenger.

 

Vikings: Valhalla Review

The second episode of the third season of Vikings: Valhalla was okay although the writing could be a lot stronger. It’s starting to feel like the writers have run out of ideas and they’re just rehashing storylines done in other shows. The episode was dialogue-heavy with very little action. The little action we got in this episode was an uneventful battle between Harald and the Emir.

There are so many concurrent storylines and this episode only added more to the equation. The characters have become wooden making it difficult to genuinely care about anyone. Harald could’ve been killed by the Emir and it probably wouldn’t have been upsetting at all. Freydis’s situation is all too familiar as was Stigg’s involvement in the whole thing.

King Canute’s negotiations with the Pope are over and that’s a good thing considering they were so dull. Honestly, the series remains watchable but it doesn’t have much of an emotional punch through two episodes. The episode scores a 5 out of 10. Recaps of Vikings: Valhalla can be found on Reel Mockery here.

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