The Bridge – The show begins with Leif Eriksson (Sam Corlett) lying on the ground. In a blur, his hand is covered with blood from the back of his head. We see glimpses of a battle between the Vikings and soldiers. In the battle, King Canute (Bradley Freegard) and Prince Edmund (Louis Davison) fight off their foes on the Bridge. In a blur, Leif is lying on the ground, surrounded by injured and dead bodies.

The Day Before – Looking at a map, Harald Sigurdsson (Leo Suter) tells Olaf Haraldsson (Johannes Haukur Johannesson) his plan will not work because the soldiers have the bridge surrounded. Storming the gate will result in thousands of dead Vikings. Olaf suggests they force England to run out of food. Harald says the King prepared by bringing in more food. He believes their men will run out before the kingdom runs out of food. Canute asks Harald for suggestions. He recommends not taking London. Olaf assures him without London, they will never take down England. Harald tells them if they take Edmund, they will have taken England. Canute orders him to tell them his plan. He denies the plan is his, but Leif’s.

Leif tells them to imagine the bridge is a boat, with its main arch being a keel that is designed to handle a great weight. He suggests the bridge has unintentionally weakened over time. Olaf tells him to explain. Pointing at the bridge on the map, Leif explains how the drawbridge is centrally located, resulting in vulnerabilities. Leif tells Canute timing is vital because of the tide. If they are not properly positioned with the tide turns, their plan will fail. Olaf questions Leif’s understanding of what he is asking. He believes it is impossible to hold against the current, even if he utilizes his best men and boats. Placing the model boats on the map, Leif assures him he isn’t asking for his best boats, only three of them.

Laughing, Olaf calls Leif crazy. Harald accuses him of fearing failure. He denies fearing failure just stupidity, describing Leif’s plan as ridiculous. Leif assures him it will not be easy, which is why Edmund will not expect it. Canute suggests they search for another option. Leif looks at Harald before they take their leave.

Edmund rides into Eadric Streona’s (Gavin Drea) camp to introduce him to Emma of Normandy (Laura Berlin). Streona gives her his condolences for the death of King Aethelred II “The Unready” (Bosco Hogan). She assures him Aethelred would have been pleased he came to England’s aid. Earl Goodwin (David Oakes) informs him of the Viking camp on the other side of Southwark Island. They discuss a strategy to take out the Vikings. Edmund suggests they trap the Vikings between the swamp and river by crossing the Thames. Streona asks if the strategy belongs to him. He acknowledges the strategy is his, asking why it matters. Streona describes it as an excellent strategy.

Streona questions Edmund’s plan while the Mercian army attacks the Vikings. He suggests Edmund will hide behind the castle walls. Goodwin says Edmund will be where he is needed most. Streona reminds them of Mercia taking all the risks. Goodwin assures him all the glory will go to Mercia. Edmund promises to never forget the risks they will take to defeat the Northmen but now isn’t the proper time to negotiate. Streona believes the timing is perfect for negotiation as the Vikings are camped on his doorstep. In exchange for Mercia’s aid, Streona demands independence. Refusing his offer, Emma tells him to take his army and go. She reminds him of the possibility of the Vikings coming for Mercia after they take London.

As Streona prepares to leave, with his army, Edmund tells him to wait. He offers him an increase in lands for aiding them in the war against the Vikings. He accepts the offer in return for a victory.

King Canute joins Leif by the campfire. Leif assures him his strategy is a good one. Canute says his strategy would put 10K men’s lives at risk. He continues to believe Olaf has more knowledge of the English defense than anyone. Leif reminds him of where they are now. Canute asks Leif to make his strategy more convincing. He questions Leif why he should trust him. Leif admits he cares little about his success, only the Greenlanders, Liv (Lujza Richter) and Njall (Gavan 0’Connor-Duffy) who put their lives on the line for him. He admits being less concerned about their roles than Canute’s. He says everything everyone sacrificed would be for nothing if Canute fails, which he wasn’t concerned about.

Canute says he has been in Edmund’s shoes. His father was a great warrior king. Leif knows the feeling as well, even with his father being a Skogarmaor (an outlaw). Canute understands because Leif’s father was Erik Thorvaldsson. He asks how they make it through the marshes.

The Vikings chop down trees that are split into pieces. Steel is forged into hooks. As Leif applies wax to wood, Njall asks, what is it. He calls it a “new Viking ship.” The crowd roars in laughter.

As the Vikings prepare to implement Leif’s strategy, he speaks to his friends, Liv and Njall. He explains how grateful he is for their friendship. Skarde (Edward Franklin) kisses Leif on the cheek, “May the Gods be with all of us.” Njall asks for the Allfather to watch over them. Skarde jokes with Liv about how she learned to shoot a bow. She admits he taught her. They say Valhalla and do a group hug before placing their new boats in the marsh.

We see Leif struggling to get up while surrounded by dead bodies.

The Vikings gradually their boats, which look like surfboards, through the water. Soldiers can be seen ahead. Several Viking warriors get off their boat while Leif floats underneath a building on stilts. Utilizing a bow, he shoots all three soldiers with arrows. Throwing their gear into two boats, they climb aboard. They row toward the soldiers. Leif asks Liv what she thinks about the drawbridge. She says it looks as if the Gods built it. Correcting her, he says carpenters built it. Leif calls for tarps.

King Canute joins his army outside.

Leif and the others near the drawbridge. A soldier looks over the edge of the bridge, where he sees a man in a boat passing through. Out of view, they remove their tarps and emerge from their boats. Moving to the opposite side of the bridge, the soldier looks over to see a man in a boat. Leif and the other slowly climb onto the bridge.

Viking ships can be seen on the horizon. Bells and horns can be heard in the distance. A Viking warrior alerts the others it is time to wake up.

Edmund stops when he hears bells tolling outside. Viking ships are moving toward the bridge. Harald and the others get situated on the bridge. Liv ties a rope around a column below the deck of the bridge. Soldiers rush across the roof of the tower. Goodwin, Edmund, and Emma look over to see the Viking ships approaching. When Emma asks the range, someone assures her the ships are too far away.  Olaf orders the Vikings to row. Soldiers line up inside the castle in front of the entrance gate. Emma orders for the defenses to be raised. Olaf orders the rowers to hold. Edmund questions why he is marking time. Emma suggests he is waiting for something. Disagreeing with Edmund who claims to hear drums, she says it is the shields.

Canute leads his army toward the bridge while Olaf continues to hold the ships. Liv pants quickly while they wait for the Vikings to cross the bridge. Harald, Leif, and the others begin to hack away at the bridge columns. Canute calls for his army to hold. Standing in the center of the bridge, a Viking waves a white flag. Emma says, “Acknowledge a parley.” A soldier waves a white flag from the castle roof. Canute continues forward without his army. Leif and the others watch from below the bridge. They tighten their ropes. Stopping in front of the castle, Canute gets off his horse. Edmund questions his actions. Emma informs him of Canute’s challenge. She suggests they keep Canute occupied till Streona’s arrival.

Canute speaks, “You must be the Boy King, Edmund.” Edmund identifies him as the Viking leader. Canute identifies himself before telling him his plans to murder him for Aethered’s decision to kill his people. Edmund assures him he will be the one to die for his crimes. Canute reminds him of his position behind a wall before calling him a bleyoa. The Vikings chant bleyoa. Edmund asks the meaning of the word. Laughing, Canute says it means a coward. He gives Edmund the title, “King Bleyoa”. When Edmund says archer, Emma yells hold. She suggests he continue to hold until Streona and his army arrives. Canute continues to provoke Edmund, asking him to emerge from behind the wall like a Man King.

They continue to bicker back and forth. Canute tries to convince Edmund to come out and fight his men on the bridge. He assures him if he is the winner, the Vikings will accept his decision. The crowd roars when Canute calls him the Coward of London and turns to walk away. Irate, Edmund screams, “I’m not a coward” before issuing Canute an order to come back. He orders for his horse to be brought to him. Goodwin tells him it is now the right time. Disagreeing, he refuses to wait for Streona. He accepts the responsibility of removing the Vikings from England. All the soldiers agree to join him in the fight. He orders for the gates to be opened.

Skarde informs Leif the tide is turning. Olaf orders the rowers to hold while Edmund and his soldiers prepare to walk through the gates. Canute orders the archers to move forward as their arrows are lit. Olaf tells the rowers to prepare the roofs. The Vikings pour buckets of water on the makeshift roofs that cover the ships. The soldiers rush out of the gate. Canute orders his men to create a shield and hold. With his sword raised, Edmund and his army charge toward the Vikings. A fight ensues as Emma and Goodwin watch from the castle roof. Leif, Harald, and the others prepare to bring the bridge down. Olaf orders the men to row. The fight between the Vikings and soldiers continues when Canute orders his men to retreat.

Canute orders his men to fall back. Edmund orders his soldiers to follow the Viking warriors. When someone tells Emma Edmund is winning, she is not totally convinced. Olaf orders the rowers to stop. Emma orders Goodwin to bring Edmund and his army back. Goodwin questions why. She says it is a trap. Emma prepares the archers on the castle roof. Njall, Leif, and Harald shoot their arrows connected to ropes at shields on the Viking ships. The men pull in large ropes and wrap them around the bow of their ships.

Emma orders the archers to shoot the ships. Several Vikings are hit as the archers prepare to shoot again. Goodwin and an army of soldiers head out in Edmund’s direction. Olaf orders the rowers to pull away. He orders them to row. The bridge begins to crack. Goodwin orders his soldiers to defend the bridge. Leif climbs back underneath the bridge to hack away at the column. Emma orders the archers to target the area underneath the bridge. Tomas (Robert McCormack) and Njall are hit by arrows. Leif continues to chop away at the column while Harald shoots a soldier on the bridge.

Edmund orders his soldiers to get ready while Canute issues a shield wall order. A man rides out to Streona to alert him of the ongoing battle between Edmund’s army and the Vikings. Olaf continues to push the men to row as Leif chops away at the column. Harald fights off the soldiers on the bridge. Goodwin alerts Edmund of the Vikings’ plan to bring down the bridge. Looking frightened, Edmund doesn’t speak. Laughing Canute stares Edmund in the face. Emerging from the crowd, a Viking warrior raises his sword high. The crowd roars in laughter. Edmund turns to go back across the bridge. Canute orders his men to attack. Skarde is killed by a soldier’s arrow. Liv shoots one of the soldiers before she is hit. Olaf continues screaming for his men to row. Edmund crosses the bridge.

Leif yells, “Now,” prompting Olaf to order his men to raise the sails. Harald, followed by Leif jump into the water as the bridge comes down. Edmund is caught on the bridge. Olaf and the Vikings cheer. Harald is pulled into a boat. Standing, he chants, “Yeah.” Olaf’s attitude changes. Edmund stares up at Emma on the castle roof. Streona and his army arrive on the opposite side of the castle, with no bridge to cross. One of his men suggests they can attack. He says, “No, he wanted glory, now let him taste defeat.” Edmund stares in horror as Streona and his army turn to leave. Canute and his army approach him from behind. He orders his men to bring him the Boy King.

Grunting in pain, Leif slowly gets up while Harald praises his success. The men chant, “Hail, the Greenlander.” Leif raises his fist in the air as the episode comes to an end.

Vikings: Valhalla Review

The Vikings achieved what they set out to do, capture King Edmund. While Leif’s plan worked, it wasn’t flawless. He may be viewed as a hero among the Vikings, but he lost three of his closest friends in the process.

Edmund made the decision of an immature King to fight the Vikings without Streona. Now, he is stuck in a trap. Will someone come to his rescue? Maybe Goodwin or Emma have something up their sleeve. We won’t find out until the next episode.

Much improvement was noted in the fight scenes from the previous episodes. I felt too much time was invested in the bridge scenes. The conversation between King Canute and King Edmund didn’t accomplish anything. It took what felt like forever for the bridge to collapse. The episode from start to finish could have easily been slashed by 20 minutes and the audience wouldn’t have missed a thing.

Some of the content appeared to have been utilized multiple times throughout the episode.

The episode deserves a 6.5. Get more Vikings: Valhalla recaps here. Support ReelMockery by clicking the link to learn more.