Two Journeys

Key events and consequences

Rollo can demand a place on Bjorn's voyage, but his title cannot command forgiveness from the crew. Ragnar and Ivar take a darker route, killing the remaining companions before surrendering. At home Lagertha uses the leaders' absence to attack the political arrangement that displaced her.

1. Bjorn and his companions are detained by Rollo, who grants passage on condition that he join them. Once aboard, the Vikings drag him beneath the ship before letting him continue with them.
2. Ragnar and Ivar kill the remaining companions of their small party, then surrender themselves in Wessex. Lagertha confines Ubbe and Sigurd before attacking Kattegat and challenging Aslaug’s rule.

Key characters

Ragnar Lothbrok

Ragnar and Ivar kill the remaining companions of their small party, then surrender themselves in Wessex. Lagertha confines Ubbe and Sigurd before attacking Kattegat and challenging Aslaug’s rule.

Character story

Ivar the Boneless

Ragnar and Ivar kill the remaining companions of their small party, then surrender themselves in Wessex. Lagertha confines Ubbe and Sigurd before attacking Kattegat and challenging Aslaug’s rule.

Character story

Bjorn Ironside

Bjorn and his companions are detained by Rollo, who grants passage on condition that he join them. Once aboard, the Vikings drag him beneath the ship before letting him continue with them.

Character story

Rollo

Bjorn and his companions are detained by Rollo, who grants passage on condition that he join them. Once aboard, the Vikings drag him beneath the ship before letting him continue with them.

Character story

Floki

Character story

King Harald Finehair

Character story

Lagertha

Ragnar and Ivar kill the remaining companions of their small party, then surrender themselves in Wessex. Lagertha confines Ubbe and Sigurd before attacking Kattegat and challenging Aslaug’s rule.

Character story

Ubbe

Ragnar and Ivar kill the remaining companions of their small party, then surrender themselves in Wessex. Lagertha confines Ubbe and Sigurd before attacking Kattegat and challenging Aslaug’s rule.

Character story

Aslaug

Ragnar and Ivar kill the remaining companions of their small party, then surrender themselves in Wessex. Lagertha confines Ubbe and Sigurd before attacking Kattegat and challenging Aslaug’s rule.

Character story

Vik

Character story

Locations and story geography

These are places in the story. For the real landscapes used on screen, explore the filming-location guide.

The episode breakdown

What changes in this episode

Bjorn and his companions are detained by Rollo, who grants passage on condition that he join them. Once aboard, the Vikings drag him beneath the ship before letting him continue with them. Ragnar and Ivar kill the remaining companions of their small party, then surrender themselves in Wessex. Lagertha confines Ubbe and Sigurd before attacking Kattegat and challenging Aslaug’s rule.

Why it matters — original analysis

The journeys expose two different uses of family connection. Bjorn needs a relative’s political permission, but the agreement does not erase the memory of what Rollo has done. Ragnar, meanwhile, strips his expedition down to a father and son presenting themselves to an enemy. That reduction is achieved through murder, which makes it important not to romanticize the intimacy that follows. The intercut attack at home places another meaning beside departure: people traveling outward create an opening for someone else’s long-delayed return to power.

Rewatch focus — original analysis

The act performed on Rollo is explicit; a symbolic explanation involving baptism is an interpretation and is not adopted as confirmed motive here. Compare the terms of his conditional cooperation with Ragnar’s choice to surrender. Both movements place characters in someone else’s power, but they have very different resources left to negotiate with.

Themes to follow

• kinship without trust
• ruthless reduction
• parallel risks