Ragnar gathers a crew to accompany him on his journey to the west. They raid a monastery at Lindisfarne. Meanwhile, Earl Haraldson finds out that Ragnar has gone, and figures out how to deal with him when he gets back.
Tropes:
- Actual Pacifist: The monks have no weapons or way to defend themselves, meaning almost all of them are summarily slaughtered.
- Authority Equals Asskicking: One of the men starts to complain about Ragnar sending them to their deaths on this voyage, trying to stir up a mutiny. Ragnar's response is to kill him and then challenge anyone else to step up if they dare. No one does.
- Bolt of Divine Retribution: Discussed. Ragnar believes that the heavy thunderstorm at sea is caused by the god Thor being angered at them, but Floki believes that Thor is merely celebrating their ship.
- Catchphrase: The first instance of Ragnar calling one of his children a "little piggie", a term of affection he'll continue even years later.
- Chekhov's Gun: Ragnar reminds Floki when he's cackling madly at the helm of the boat that he can't swim. Cue three seasons later and Ragnar saves Floki from drowning when they are battling the Franks.
- Curbstomp Battle: The monks never stood a chance the moment the Vikings arrived on their land.
- Dare to Be Badass: Ragnar convinces the man at the secret meeting to join him by holding a rousing speech asking them if they "have the balls to join [him]."
- Made a Slave: The few monks not slaughtered, Athelstan included, are made into the Norsemen's slaves.
- Maybe Magic, Maybe Mundane: In what will become a staple of the series, it's unclear if the storm is a sign by the Viking gods showing they are coming to change things forever in England, a warning from the Christian god that violent heathens are on their way, or if it's just a very bad storm. For their parts, the monks have never seen a storm this intense and frightening ever before.
- Nervous Wreck: The monks definitely don't have the hearts of lions. Upon seeing the storm, they think it is the end of times as foretold in Revelations. The senior monk basically tells them all to stop freaking out.
- Ominous Fog: A monk walking at the beach witnesses the attacking ship of the Vikings appearing out of thick fog.
- Secret Test of Character: Earl Haraldson tests one of his men by stating that he can sleep with Siggy, his wife, if he would like. When he tries this, Siggy bitchslaps the crap out of him before Haraldson appears, stating that now he knows who to trust before dragging the man off to be killed.
- Sex Is Violence: Lagertha starts beating the crap out of Ragnar with a shield, furious that he's going off to explore without her. He tries to use the opportunity for some sexual foreplay.
- This Means Warpaint: Right before attacking the monastery, Ragnar applies red paint around his ears.
- Watching Troy Burn: Athelstan takes one long look back at the burning monastery as he's loaded onto the longship.
