Vikings 5.13: The Sacrifice

The biggest shock in episode 5.13 comes at the end.  Ivar and his bride, transforming their appearances to look like gods - to my eyes, they look like Caesar and Cleopatra, if they'd been staring in a zombie movie - decide they need a "sacrifice" to make this "celebration" kosher, if you'll forgive the mixed metaphor from another religion.  It appears, based on an earlier conversation, that this sacrificial lamb will be Hvitserk - which makes sense, given that he's ridiculing Ivar's claim that he's a god and impregnated his wife.   On the other hand, the sacrificial figure was hooded - we didn't see Hvitserk - so there's a chance, maybe even a good chance, that they're (the story gods) setting us up to think it's Hvitserk, and it's really someone else.  I hope so.  Hvitserk is not my favorite of Ragnar sons - Bjorn then Ubbe would be first and second in those roles - but I'd like to see him survive.

And speaking of brothers, it's interesting to see yet another Ragnar son - this one in England, who introduces himself to Bjorn.   The new brother was born and raised in England, so he's thoroughly English, with no Viking culture or accent.   He could be an important character in episodes ahead.

Speaking of brothers and back to Ubbe, he and Torvi being converted is a pretty big deal, too.  Alfred announced that when he announced his marriage and appointment of Heahmund back to  his bishop's post.   But apropos the marriage, I'm still wondering what his new bride will say when Alfred realizes she's not a virgin.  Possibly Alfred's so innocent that he won't realize this?

We'll just have to see.   I'll be back here next week with review of what the next episode tells us.

See also Vikings 5.1-2: Floki in Iceland ... Vikings 5.3: Laughing Ivar ...Vikings 5.4: Four of More Good Stories ... Vikings 5.5: Meet Lawrence of Arabia ... Vikings 5.6: Meanwhile, Back Home ... Vikings 5.7: A Looming Trojan-War Battle, Vikings Style, and Two Beautiful Stories ...Vikings 5.8: Only Heahmund? ... Vikings 5.9: Rollo ... Vikings 5.10: New and Old Worlds ... Vikings 5.11: Rollo's Son ... Vikings 5.12: "The Beast with Two Backs"

And see also Vikings 4.1: I'll Still Take Paris ... Vikings 4.2: Sacred Texts ...Vikings 4.4: Speaking the Language ... Vikings 4.5: Knives ... Vikings 4.8: Ships Up Cliff ... Vikings 4.10: "God Bless Paris" ... Vikings 4.11: Ragnar's Sons ... Vikings 4.12: Two Expeditions ... Vikings 4.13: Family ... Vikings 4.14: Penultimate Ragnar? ... Vikings 4.15: Close of an Era ... Vikings 1.16: Musselman ... Vikings 1.17: Ivar's Wheels ...Vikings 1.18: The Beginning of Revenge ... Vikings 4.19: On the Verge of History ... Vikings 4.20: Ends and Starts

And see also Vikings 3.1. Fighting and Farming ... Vikings 3.2: Leonard Nimoy ...Vikings 3.3: We'll Always Have Paris ... Vikings 3.4: They Call Me the Wanderer ... Vikings 3.5: Massacre ... Vikings 3.6: Athelstan and Floki ...Vikings 3.7: At the Gates ... Vikings 3.8: Battle for Paris ... Vikings 3.9: The Conquered ... Vikings Season 3 Finale: Normandy

And see also Vikings 2.1-2: Upping the Ante of Conquest ... Vikings 2.4: Wise King ... Vikings 2.5: Caught in the Middle ... Vikings 2.6: The Guardians ...Vikings 2.7: Volatile Mix ... Vikings 2.8: Great Post-Apocalyptic Narrative ... Vikings Season 2 Finale: Satisfying, Surprising, Superb

And see also Vikings ... Vikings 1.2: Lindisfarne ... Vikings 1.3: The Priest ... Vikings 1.4:  Twist and Testudo ... Vikings 1.5: Freud and Family ... Vikings 1.7: Religion and Battle ... Vikings 1.8: Sacrifice
... Vikings Season 1 Finale: Below the Ash

 
historical science fiction - a little further back in time