King Horik plans an attack on Ragnar and his family.
Tropes:
- All Your Base Are Belong to Us: King Horik has dozens of warriors brought by ship to seize Kattegat. It appears at first that he's successful, with several of Ragnar's men caught unaware and killed. Subverted ultimately as Ragnar and Lagertha turn the tables on them.
- Bolivian Army Ending: Rollo is attacked by several men and attempts to fight back with an axe despite having problems even standing. The camera cuts away and we do not find out in this episode whether he made it or not.
- Fake Defector: Floki pretends to be on King Horik's side, but actually is loyal to Ragnar all along and reports Horik's plan back to him.
- Names to Run Away from Really Fast: Floki and Helga call their daughter Angrboda – after the giantess who was Loki's second wife and gave birth to the wolf Fenrir, the Midgard Serpent Jörmungandr, and Hel. Helga is, obviously, taken aback by it.
- No-Holds-Barred Beatdown: Ragnar killing King Horik. Amongst others he repeatedly stabs him and repeatedly slams down his shield on Horik's head.
- Old Soldier: Gunnhild, Horik's wife, is a shield-maiden and part of Horik's plot to exterminate the House of Lothbrok. She holds her own against Lagertha but is ultimately defeated and killed.
- Please Spare Him, My Liege!: After realizing he's fucked, Horik asks Ragnar to spare his son Erlendur.
- Shoot Your Mate: Horik orders Floki to "kill somebody of importance" to prove to him that he is trustworthy. Floki appears to poison Torstein but in truth gave him harmless mushrooms to deceive Horik.
- Use Your Head: Ragnar repeatedly punches Horik with his own head in fury over Horik's attempted attack on Ragnar and his family.
- Wham Shot: Torstein appears very much alive and healthy in the midst of Ragnar's hall. Then Floki shows up when Horik is surrounded, indicating that Floki was loyal to Ragnar all along.
- Wouldn't Hit a Girl: Bjorn allows Horik's surviving daughters to flee.
- Would Harm a Child: Horik orders Siggy to murder Ragnar's infant sons. She takes the dagger but secretly reports it to Ragnar.
- Later, Ragnar orders one of his men to execute Horik's young sons. Lagertha is not pleased with this but walks away, leaving the boys to their fates.
