What happens in The Key?
Spoilers for this episode and earlier events.
Olaf’s proposal moves into practical voting, while Harald cultivates the support Bjorn expects to receive. Kjetill’s alignment adds another uncertainty. Ivar’s assistance to Dir puts his covert opposition to Oleg into action; the prince answers the guards’ failure with gruesome punishment. Katia unsettles Ivar because of her resemblance to Freydis. Lagertha’s community strengthens its defences, and she speaks with Gunnhild about the grief that has changed her life.
- Season & episode
- Season 6, episode 5 of 20
- Series order
- 74 of 89
Story connections: Bjorn Ironside, Lagertha, Ivar the Boneless and Hvitserk.
Identify a face in this episode.
Episode references: Episode guide.
Key events and consequences
Harald's canvassing demonstrates that the election is being made through persuasion and obligation rather than inherited fame alone. Ivar and Igor's help for Dir changes opposition from sympathy into action. Katia's resemblance to Freydis meanwhile gives Ivar a private uncertainty that his hosts can observe and potentially use.
- Harald courts support among the voting rulers.
- Ivar and Igor help Dir escape.
- Katia resembles Ivar’s dead wife Freydis.
Key characters
Bjorn Ironside
Character story
Lagertha
Character story
Ivar the Boneless
Ivar and Igor help Dir escape.
Character story
Hvitserk
Character story
King Harald Finehair
Character story
Gunnhild
Character storyGunnhild
Character story
Freydis
Katia resembles Ivar’s dead wife Freydis.
Character story
Igor
Ivar and Igor help Dir escape.
Character story
Katia
Katia resembles Ivar’s dead wife Freydis.
Character storyLocations and story geography
Norway
The gathering rulers make kingship a contest for support that Bjorn cannot simply inherit.
Kiev
Dir's escape creates an active challenge to Oleg inside the court where Ivar remains dependent.
These are places in the story. For the real landscapes used on screen, explore the filming-location guide.
The episode breakdown
An election and an escape
Olaf’s proposal moves into practical voting, while Harald cultivates the support Bjorn expects to receive. Kjetill’s alignment adds another uncertainty. Ivar’s assistance to Dir puts his covert opposition to Oleg into action; the prince answers the guards’ failure with gruesome punishment. Katia unsettles Ivar because of her resemblance to Freydis. Lagertha’s community strengthens its defences, and she speaks with Gunnhild about the grief that has changed her life.
Promises versus consent
a formal process does not eliminate bargaining, and an alliance is not the same as trust. The episode is especially useful for separating what viewers actually see from what characters suspect. Katia’s resemblance is presented as a problem for Ivar, not proof of resurrection. During a rewatch, list each promise alongside the person expected to enforce it; the weakest commitments quickly become apparent. The election scenes reward attention to reactions rather than speeches alone. Bjorn’s reputation and the voters’ immediate interests do not necessarily point toward the same outcome, even when both are praised.
Themes to follow
- An election and an escape
- Promises versus consent