As the episode begins, Vitus (Gershwyn Eustache) is brought back to the palace. He tells Aulus (David Morrissey) about the slaughter and that he was spared so he could tell the story. Vitus unveils the heads he is has been carrying in his bag. Aulus learns that every fallen man has a weird symbol on their head. After the intro, Harka (Mackenzie Crook) watches Phelan (Julian Rhind-Tutt) from a distance. Phelan wants to know why the young men had to die. He admits he doesn’t know much about the world. Harka tells him that everything is a sacrifice. He also tells Phelan that everything he thought was true.
Harka explains that he is there to help him and show him the way, but he is there to destroy him too. He loves him and despises him. Harka eats a butterfly in front of Phelan but that doesn’t help Phelan understand anything. Aulus leaves the palace and puts Vitus in charge. On his way out, Aulus tells Domitius (Paul Chahidi) to keep an eye on Vitus because he has been acting odd since he returned. Meanwhile, Brearn (Caoilfhionn Dunne) pulls Ania (Liana Cornell) aside. They speak about Ania missing her child and she suggests it is a test of her loyalty to a dead man.
Brearn does have a child because she prefers women. She also says women are better kissers and Ania wants to find out how. Brearn agrees to show her and she does a few moments later. After they finish, Ania asks her new lover what the dead man’s plan is all about. Brearn says that the dead man keeps his own counsel. Then, she explains that what she knows will bring her pain. Veran is on the run and they’re going to kill everyone who is loyal to Veran. That means Ania will eventually have to make a choice between fighting or killing her child. After that, we see that Andra (Samantha Colley) wants to speak with Veran but he has vanished.
She wants riders to go out searching for him everywhere. Vitus takes a bath and remembers everything that happened to him. Once he has finished, he drinks and goes nuts. He finds the red circle before we jump over to Ania. She tells Brearn that she will be gone for two days before riding off. Aulus reaches the spot where he is going to meet Hella (Laura Donnelly). While Aulus is away, Domitius makes his move. He confronts Vitus hoping to get information that can bring down Aulus. Vitus is convinced that Aulus is going to meet his own friend. He can smell the magic in the air. The severed head is the way the Druids sent their invitations. Domitius wants to know everything.
After that, we jump over to Lucius (Hugo Speer) who has become a skilled fisherman. After catching fish, he goes into town to sell them to the locals. He is followed by a stranger. Vitus speaks with Domitius and his men. He tells them everything Aulus has done and he signs the paperwork at the end. Veran performs a ritual before Ania arrives and tells him about the massacre. He says the attack was on him and not Roman. It was his brother who was responsible. He believes it was meant to form an alliance between their two darkest foes. The stranger confronts Lucius. Lucius recognizes the man was Josephus.
Veran wants Ania to return to the traitor’s camp and tell them where he is. Otherwise, they’ll become suspicious of her. Vitus tells Domitius everything. Hella tracks down Aulus and knocks him out so she can take him to Harka. Meanwhile, Josephus and Lucius speak about old times and their deadly exploits. Lucius doesn’t want to talk about it anymore and he tries to leave but Josephus wants to talk more. Josephus wants to know Lucius remembers killing the crucified man. Phelan finds Aulus and speaks to him briefly. Vitus and other soldiers prepare to take the evidence back to Roman. He notices he has a red symbol on his arm.
He ends up killing both soldiers before leaving with copies of his testimony. Ania returns to Brearn with flowers. Ania doesn’t have the sword and that raises suspicion. Ania says she didn’t ride to the coast because she found Veran along the way. Josephus believes Lucius has the spear with him. Lucius doesn’t want to talk about what happened that day even though he is a part of the man’s story. The man goes on and on about the man being born again. Lucius accidentally knocks the man to the ground killing him. Before Josephus dies, he tells Lucius that the man forgives him.
Phelan takes Aulus to Harka who offers him an apple. Aulus finds out about Harka being Veran’s brother. Harka wants to know how he can help Aulus. Eventually, Aulus explains he wants to know the lake of tears is located. He believes he will be able to find the person he is looking for at the lake. Harka warns him that her powers are growing with every passing day. He insists Aulus will have to be sly to capture her. He wants Aulus to leave the girl to him. Aulus admits he remembers him and the 3 things he told him. Phelan listens to Aulus explain those three things. Finally, Aulus reaches the third thing. He blows a butterfly out of his mouth.
Harka likes that. He begins laughing and says he will help Aulus. He sheds a tear and gives it to Aulus so he will know where the lake is.
Britannia Review
Despite watching this episode twice, once for fun and once for the recap, I still don’t understand everything. I am not sure the writers have a clue what is going on half of the time either. Nevertheless, I guess you don’t have to fully comprehend everything to enjoy the show. The problem is that I am not a big fan of it. At times, it proves cohesive and interesting enough to be good but those moments are always fleeting. They are overshadowed by the insanity or something odd.
If you like it, you’re going to like it. If not, you’re going to find many flaws that justify staying away. I like the show at times but not much. I think it could be a lot better than it is but I’ll say that it is somewhat original. For me, there isn’t much else to enjoy. The episode was a bit better than some of the others but I wish they would focus a bit more. The show has been all over the place this season with too many characters. This one didn’t show Cait or Divis once and they’re likely the most interested characters. The episode scores a 6 out of 10.
Previous recaps of Britannia can be found on Reel Mockery.
Jay Skelton is a fan of all television shows and movies. He tries his best to keep up with the latest foreign television shows and movies. Jay loves skinny dipping in the dark too.
I agree. There is no plot and no focus. It will not keep our attention without a story line. It seems like the characters are all coming on the stage as if it’s the end of the show to say farewell because there is certainly no story. Or that the writer is off doing another show and wants to stall before coming back to continue.
Who knows? It seems people either love or hate this show. Wish it had a more coherent storyline and took itself serious.
so what is your thought of one eating the butterfly – and the other releasing said butterfly. does it mean they both align with the powers of darkness? or are they one in the same person?
Has been a while since I watched the second season of Britannia so I don’t recall everything clearly. But, your suggestions make sense. I could see it going either way. Harka ate it and Aulus blew it out. Maybe it translates to some deeper power pulling the strings? This show has a lot of things that are difficult to comprehend.