Vikings Season 4 Episodes 11-15 Reviews: Where Do We Go From Here?

"Vikings" returns for the second half of it's season (there are 20 episodes total in two parts) with some major shockers. There's a time jump of some ten years as Ragnar's sons (Ivar, Sigurd, Hubee, and Hvitserk) grow up. Ragnar is MIA after his crushing defeat in Paris.

I'm not sure Aslaug misses Ragnar that much. She has settled in as queen of Kattegat. Meanwhile Lagertha continues as earl of nearby Hedeby. She has a new love interest in a woman by the name of Astrid. Lagertha is preparing her for something but we're not sure what.

Ragnar returns and challenges anyone to kill him. The boys think about it but don't have the nerve. Ragnar asks them to go to England but no one wants to. Lagertha also turns him down. Ragnar finally asks Ivar (who he views as a cripple). The boy accepts. Ragnar secretly plans to die in England. We saw Ragnar unsuccessfully try to hang himself earlier.

Meanwhile Bjorn, Floki, Hvitserk, Halfdan, Harald (remember them?) and a few others set their sights on the Mediterranean. Along the way they stop in France and pick up Rollo. Much to his wife's chagrin, Rollo has grown tired of courtly life and longs for the adventures being of a viking.

Aslaug has a vision that Ivar drowns on the journey to England and begs him not the go. She was correct in that their ship capsizes during a storm. Ragnar saves his son from drowning. A few others survive only to be killed by Ragnar and Ivar as they slept. I'm perplexed by this. I know the two want to go it on their own but is OK to just kill your fellow vikings for now good reason?

Ragar carries Ivar on his back to the nearest town. Ragnar is imprisoned by King Ecbert (who is not sure what to do with his old friend). Ragnar wants Ecbert to promise safe passage back to Kattegat for Ivar. Ragnar will then be turned over to King Aelle. Before leaving, Ragar makes Ivar promise that he will seek revenge for his fathers death on Ecbert (instead of Aelle). Again, I'm not so sure about this plan. I guess Ragnar is still sore that Ecbert killed the Wessex settlers. Either way, both Ecbert and Aelle should be very afraid. Ragnar also tells Ivar that he is the strongest of his sons. He is angry and unpredictable. Many in the future will recount the fierceness of Ivar the Boneless.

Before leaving Ivar meets Alfred (Athlestan's son with Judith). Both men will play prominently in each other's future if the show follows history. Alfred is in fact "Alfred The Great". He will eventually become king and protect England from the viking horde. We also get a glimpse of Ragnar's other son Magnus who is exiled (for the time being).

Back in Kattegat, Lagertha traps Ubbe and Sigurd. She then attacks Kattegat. Aslaug concedes and asks for safe passage but Lagertha is having none of it. She shoots Aslaug in the back with an arrow. When Lagertha told Aslaug, she didnt forgive her for taking Ragnar all those years ago, she wasnt kidding. The young men return to find their mother dead. They want to avenge her but both think Aslaug never really loved them. She only cared for Ivar (and Harbart). I guess Aslaug talked about Harbart a lot for the boys to remember him.

As Ragnar is driven to Northumbria, he has flashbacks of his life and sons. He also has a vision of the Seer. Remember he prophecied that when the blind man sees Ragnar his life will end. And guess who is driving his cart but a blind man. Has Ragnar given up his belief in Valhalla and the gods? It's a complicated question. Ragnar wants to leave on his own terms. King Ecbert disguises himself to watch his old frenemy die.

And in one of the most shocking moves in recent TV history, Ragnar is tortured by King Aelle and then dropped into a pit of poisonous snakes... where he dies. Say what? Now where is the show going? Most people (like me) watch it specifically for Ragar. And I also really like Lagertha. Is this a mistake on the writers part or did Travis Fimmel want off the show? Obviously Ragnar dies at some point since this story is one thousand plus years old but did it have to be now?

In other news, who is the mysterious character without an eye? I have no idea.

Grade: 4 3/4 Monsters (out of 5). Kudos to "Vikings" for going there. I have no idea what will become of the group now. I'm also not sure what will happen to the show from a ratings standpoint. Travis Fimmel was a big draw. I would watch him do anything. He turns what could have been a dasterdly man into a character that we all rooted for (despite his penchant for killing people and stealing their stuff).