What happens in Baldur?
Spoilers for this episode and earlier events.
Ivar’s treatment of the baby contradicts the divine narrative that has surrounded the anticipated birth; his belief does not protect the child. Thora’s death makes the threat used against Hvitserk a devastating event rather than merely a warning. Judith and Lagertha share a conversation about loss and responsibility while the larger struggle for Kattegat gathers force.
- Season & episode
- Season 5, episode 18 of 20
- Series order
- 67 of 89
Story connections: Bjorn Ironside, King Harald Finehair, Ivar the Boneless and Hvitserk.
Identify a face in this episode.
Episode references: HISTORY season guide.
Key events and consequences
Ivar's rejection of the newborn exposes the distance between the divine story he has accepted and the vulnerable child before him. Thora's execution also makes Hvitserk's coercion an actual bereavement. Bjorn's marriage and preparations meanwhile combine a household future with another military attempt to remove his brother.
- Ivar’s treatment of the baby contradicts the divine narrative that has surrounded the anticipated birth; his belief does not protect the child.
- Thora’s death makes the threat used against Hvitserk a devastating event rather than merely a warning.
- Judith and Lagertha share a conversation about loss and responsibility while the larger struggle for Kattegat gathers force.
Key characters
Bjorn Ironside
Character story
King Harald Finehair
Character story
Ivar the Boneless
Ivar’s treatment of the baby contradicts the divine narrative that has surrounded the anticipated birth; his belief does not protect the child.
Character story
Hvitserk
Thora’s death makes the threat used against Hvitserk a devastating event rather than merely a warning.
Character story
Lagertha
Judith and Lagertha share a conversation about loss and responsibility while the larger struggle for Kattegat gathers force.
Character story
Gunnhild
Character story
Judith
Judith and Lagertha share a conversation about loss and responsibility while the larger struggle for Kattegat gathers force.
Character storyGunnhild
Character story
Aethelred
Character story
Freydis
Character story
Thora
Thora’s death makes the threat used against Hvitserk a devastating event rather than merely a warning.
Character storyLocations and story geography
Kattegat
The treatment of Baldur and Thora makes Ivar's rule destructive within his own household and family circle.
Wessex
Judith and Lagertha discuss loss and responsibility during Lagertha's recovery.
These are places in the story. For the real landscapes used on screen, explore the filming-location guide.
The episode breakdown
Parenthood is tested against the ideal image people have constructed around it. Ivar wants a divine confirmation, Judith claims to have protected a king, and the women’s conversation makes the damage harder to hide behind those stories. The episode’s cruelty should not be mistaken for proof that difference makes a life less valuable; it exposes the failure of the person rejecting the child. Compare that rejection with the work of listening between Judith and Lagertha, where vulnerability briefly creates recognition instead of another demand.
Themes to follow
- Divine self-image collides with responsibility toward a child
- Recognition of vulnerability creates a different kind of connection