The Marshes: Kent the Road to London – The Vikings raid a settlement in Kent. Leif Eriksson (Sam Corlett) slaughters an enemy before moving to another. He is nearly killed when a Viking steps in to protect him. Liv (Lujza Richter) is deep in battle alongside her male companions. Njall (Gavan O’Connor-Duffy) hides in a building. As he wraps his injured hand, a man rushes to pilfer a box of goods. He is killed by a Viking warrior who searches the box to find a chest of coins and other valuables. Njall kills two men as they enter the room to attack the warrior searching through the box of valuables. Njall looks at the warrior before heading back to the battle.

Two Viking warriors enter a building to meet a priest who orders them to leave in the name of Jesus Christ while holding up a Christian cross. A Viking warrior throws his weapon, hitting the priest in the chest. Looking at the warrior, he says you are too slow, Pagan. Olaf Haraldsson (Johannes Haukur Johannesson) enters a building to discover a hidden trap door in the floor. He opens the door to find three women hiding inside. He utilizes his finger to motion for the women to emerge from their hiding place.

The Vikings celebrate their victory when Olaf brings in Lady Kent (Katie Kirby). Screaming, he orders her to tell them. She says, “Your war is pointless” because King Aethelred (Bosco Hogan) has already died. Harald Sigurdsson (Leo Suter) accuses Lady Kent of lying. Olaf asks him what she had to gain for lying about the king’s death. Harald accuses her of protecting the king. Walking over to her, he asks how long the king has been dead. She informs him it has been 10 days since his death and Prince Edmund (Louis Davison) has taken his throne. Helping her up, King Canute (Bradley Freegard) demands to know the whereabouts of Aethelred. She informs him of Edmund’s visit to London to meet with other nobles.

Olaf believes King Aethelred’s death play in their favor because the nobles will refuse to support London, with Edmund on the throne. Harald reminds Olaf of the purpose of his trip, which was Aethelred’s head. Canute promises to give him Edmund’s head instead.

London – Prince Edmund (Louis Davidson) prays by his father’s dead body. Pulling Aethelred’s sword out of its sheath, he takes ownership. Emma of Normandy (Laura Berlin) thanks Earl Goodwin (David Oakes) for accompanying Edmund to Mercia. He assures her Edmund is to have all the credit for convincing Eadric Streona (Gavin Drea) to support their cause. She tells Edmund Aethelred would be proud of him. She issues an order to have Streona and his army sent to the south to trap the Vikings in the marshes. Edmund questions if her plan is to have him cower behind the palace walls. She believes he is too valuable to England to put his life at risk in battle. Refusing to heed the order, he informs her of his plan to join Streona in battle.

Goodwin reminds him of his position, a king in waiting. Edmund demands to be crowned. She warns him of the dangers of taking the crown. He asks, what is the risk. She says once he takes the crown, his fate will be entwined with England forever. England will fall along with him if it is permitted to happen. He assures her letting Streona claim victory will also be a risk. When she promises to handle the situation if it arises, he angrily stomps away. She tells Goodwin Edmund has found his voice.

The Vikings cheer their victory and give credit to Odin. A warrior walks in to give Njall a sack of coins. Harald congratulates Leif on his first battle as he kills the wounded. Leif reminds him of how Christians are supposed to be merciful. Harald says he is always a Viking first. He shows mercy by ending their pain. Leif reminds him of why he joined King Canute’s army. Harald believes he joined to make the world forget his father and remember him instead.

Edmund spares with several soldiers while Goodwin watches. Boasting his victory, he says bring on the Vikings. Goodwin informs him he isn’t ready to enter battle. Edmund orders for more soldiers to approach when Goodwin asks for a sword. He is surprised by Goodwin’s desire to fight him. Goodwin orders everyone to leave before the sparing begins. As Edmund accuses him of fearing embarrassment when he defeats, Goodwin swings down his sword. Edmund begins to pant for breath as he goes to the ground.

Goodwin asks him to recall his last defeat when Edmund charges him, with his sword drawn. Goodwin breaks Edmund’s shield when he says your soldiers fear harming you, but I don’t care. Edmund fights for his life until he is defeated. As Goodwin walks away, Edmund attacks him from behind. With the tip of his sword at Edmund’s throat, Goodwin asks if he believes the Vikings will offer him a reprieve.

Goodwin tells Edmund his arrogance is his enemy, not him. Edmund still believes he should fight alongside Streona. He warns him the Vikings may take his head in place of his father’s if he is coronated now.

Sweden The Road To Uppsala – Freydis Eriksdotter (Frida Gustavsson) travels to Uppsala with Jarl Estrid Haakon’s (Caroline Henderson) people. They stop for water at a river. Yrsa (Alfrun Laufeyjardottir) describes the place as beautiful. As they sit by the water, a berserker whose face is covered in scars approaches. Yrsa’s breathing increases as the berserker stares at her necklace. He pulls his sword out of its sheath. Haakon’s man charges the berserker but runs into his sword. Freydis pulls her knife. A fight ensues. Yrsa stabs the berserker in his arm. Freydis charges him but is also knocked to the ground. The man stabs Yrsa as Toke (Jack Mullarkey) attacks him with his ax. The berserker grabs him by the throat while Freydis chokes him to death. Yrsa is injured while Toke is dead. Freydis holds Yrsa as she sobs.

Emma discusses the Vikings with the Ealdorman of Kent (Alan Devine), Ealdorman of Sussex (Mark Huberman), Ealdorman of Anglia (Gavin O’Connor), and Ealdorman of Northumbria (Martin Philips). She refuses to let the Ealdorman describe the Viking attack as a raid. She assures them it is a war. She blames the war on them for killing their people.

Canute asks Olaf if this is his strategy as they stare down at the marsh. He asks how the army will cross the marshes. Olaf informs him of roads that will take them through the marshes to a bridge and the south entrance of London. He suggests they send scouts to assess the marshes to note any changes. They decide the best person to lead them through the marsh is Leif.

Harald informs him of their decision. When he assures him, it is an honor to lead an army through the marsh, a Viking warrior interrupts. He asks why Olaf didn’t choose him to do it if it is such a great honor. Liv tells Leif they may want him dead. Leif agrees to go as an act to repay his debt. The other Greenlanders agree to accompany him on the trip. When they meet their peasant guide (Eddie Jackson), Harald informs them of his mother being slaughtered by Aethelred on Saint Brice’s Day. He gives them torches to light their path.

Freydis gives a sacrifice for the Gods. She asks for courage and guidance for her and her friend to Valhalla. A falcon takes off from its perch.

The peasant guide leads them through the marshes. Leif tells Njall to keep them low. Harald asks about their location. The guide assures him the bells of London will be audible when they get closer to the bridge. Harald starts forward but is stopped by Leif. When the guide encourages them to move forward, he is killed. Leif yells to the others they have been caught in a trap by Mercian soldiers. They are ordered to get rid of their torches. Liv screams for Ulf (Sam Stafford) after he is hit with an arrow. Harald screams for them to fall back. They make it back to the camp without Leif.

Harald informs them of the ambush. Laughing, Olaf suggests they encountered rearguards. He assures him they were waiting when they arrived. Olaf tells him he is exaggerating. Harald asks if he would like to ask all the dead. Canute asks if they got to the bridge. Harald denies they reached the bridge. He now believes they are outsmarted by the soldiers. They are waiting outside when a soldier approaches and plants the king’s banner in the ground. Canute believes they are being dared.

Emma assures the Ealdorman the Vikings are staying put. An Ealdorman questions her plan when Edmund speaks up. He informs them of his trip to Mercia, where he convinced Streona to come to London, so they can ambush the Vikings in the marshes. He warns them of the risks of including Streona in their battle. They stand in unison to toast King Edmund. One of the ealdormen suggests they push Edmund’s coronation forward. Edmund is satisfied with the decision.

Emma warns them of the danger they have bestowed upon them for giving Edmund the crown. She says he has taken on the responsibility of an “impulsive child.” Goodwin voices his disagreement, saying Edmund is the future King of England. He tells her she has more to lose if Edmund fails as the King of England.

Harald asks if they have seen any sign of Leif. He suggests Liv have her wound treated by a healer. Njall informs him of their plans to return to the marsh for Leif. Harald is not keen on the idea. His belief is Leif is no longer alive. Njall says with Leif dead, there is no reason for them to remain in England. Harald agrees to pay Freydis’ debt if they decide to leave.

Freydis and Yrsa enter a village on their way to Uppsala. She assists Yrsa into a building, seeking a healer. The lady hands her a baby to care for while she assesses Yrsa.

In the marsh, a young Saxon girl (Rosalie Connerty) discovers Leif who is barely conscious. She places an idol between his fingers and prays before making her exit. We see the tip of a sword pointed at Leif’s chest. Harald approaches the soldier from behind and cuts his throat. Leif tells Harald he thought he died. They take a boat through the marsh. He informs Leif of Canute’s belief that the Saxons dare them to attack London. After getting out of their boat, they join a group of people walking through the marsh.

Freydis is asleep when the woman comes for the baby. She asks about Yrsa’s condition. The woman says she will probably survive. While assessing Freydis, she finds the cross on her back. She explains how a man put it on her body. The woman asks about the attack that injured Yrsa. Freydis tells her their attacker had a strange mark on his forehead. The woman suggests she go to Uppsala, where a priest will help her. Freydis is reluctant to leave without Yrsa. The woman promises to watch over her until she returns.

Edmund is crowned the King of England.

Leif and Harald follow the people to an area, where soldiers are unloading what looks like a cart. Harald says they are preparing for a siege. A woman approaches Leif to question why he is covered in mud and doesn’t speak. Lying, Harald tells her Leif’s village was burnt down by Vikings. He says the Vikings killed his children and stole his possessions. The woman offers him food and prayer. As they cross the bridge, a soldier orders them to stop to allow the bridge to be raised for a ship to pass through. Leif assesses the area below the bridge while they wait for the bridge to be lowered. They are then permitted to pass.

Uppsala – Freydis joins a group of people walking toward Uppsala.

Jarl Kare (Asbjorn Krogh Nissen) discovers the berserker’s body. He picks up the twine (could be a necklace or bracelet) Freydis utilized to kills the berserker. He sees the rope marks on the berserker’s neck. He orders the others to find whoever is responsible for killing the Berserker as the episode comes to an end.

 

Vikings: Valhalla Review

Let’s start off by asking you to forgive me if I misidentified any of the characters. There is so many of them, along with the scenes being fairly dark, I wasn’t able to identify some and may have possibly misidentified others. Please give me a head’s up if any corrections need to be made.

I feel there is too much emphasis placed on religion in the first three episodes. Would like the show geared toward the battle between the Vikings and the Mercians and Saxons.

The acting is spot-on, with Sam Corlett in the lead. The wardrobe and props are also great. I do feel the directing gets a bit messy, especially during the fighting scenes. This creates chaos and confusion for some audience members, including myself.

The show does seem to skip forward in time  a bit too quickly. With 10 episodes to work with, it makes one question their intentions. The episode deserves a 7. Get more Vikings: Valhalla recaps here. Support ReelMockery by clicking the link to learn how.