‘Vikings” season 4, episode 7 review: Rollo tastes victory as Ragnar retreats

Last time on “Vikings” we saw Ragnar and Rollo come face to face on the shores of Paris. Ragnar was upset (but not surprised) that Rollo has betrayed him once again, and Rollo looks like he’s standing strong with Paris. We haven’t seen these two brother speak yet, and that’s the moment above all else that we have been waiting for. Is Rollo going to go back on his word to Paris and help Ragnar? Has this been a set up between the two brothers this whole time? Let’s find out what tonight has in store for us.

Ragnar: Now that he knows Rollo has betrayed him, he has to change his plan of attack on Paris, sending some ships the way Rollo expects and sending another large team by foot to surprise attack. Even though she is pregnant, Lagertha is helping to lead the attack by foot, but Ragnar is worried because of the baby and because of his love for her. She tells him that the Seer told her long ago that she will never have another child, so if he is right then it doesn’t matter what she does.

Raid on Paris: The ships head towards Rollo, but as Lagertha’s group trudges on, they end up getting stuck in tar hidden in the weeds, slowing them down and giving Rollo enough time to see them sneaking up on his camp. Without being able to make a shield wall, the vikings are taken out one by one on Rollo’s command. As for the ships, he has a plan of attack here too: With the river being so narrow, he waits until the ships are full steam ahead and then pulls up a great chain across the river. Some of the ships can’t stop (like the one Floki is on) and it tips everyone out into the water right before Rollo sets the boats on fire. Add on top of all that, we saw Rollo sending riders to Ragnar’s camp to burn it to the ground and kill everyone they can (including Helga who is barely alive), and with that Rollo has his first victory. After retreating Ragnar feeds his drug habit for 3 days as the army waits for word on what to do next. Ragnar finally decides to retreat, but Bjorn sees that something is wrong with his father he just doesn’t know what yet.

Some other random tidbits: Back in town the wanderer has returned and is having sex with all of the vikings women and Sigurd sees all.. and so does Floki in a vision. Bjorn tries to confront Erlendur about the ring, but he denies ever seeing it before. And last but not least king Ecbert has found a way to be promised the kingdom of both Wessex and Mercia over Queen Kwenthrith.

There was a moment in this episode where Floki was going to drown and Ragnar jumped out of the boat to save him. No matter what Floki has done to Ragnar or vice versa, there is a love there for Floki that Ragnar can’t deny. What we would like to see is Floki be the one to help Ragnar free himself from the hold these drugs have on him and bring him back to the warrior we have been missing all season. Episode grade: B+

What did you think of this episode of “Vikings”? Leave us a comment below and share your thoughts on the season so far.