Ragnar's preparations for the raid to Paris continue. Meanwhile, Athelstan struggles with his religious beliefs.
Tropes:
- Character Death: Athelstan gets murdered by Floki, who kills him as a sacrifice for the Gods because he believes that Athelstan brings disaster over Kattegat.
- Crucified Hero Shot: After Athelstan's encounter with a ray of light that he believes is a sign of God, he falls on his back with his arms stretched out to the sides. He also stretches his arms after he understands Floki is in his room to kill him.
- Dead Guy Junior: Bjorn names his newborn daughter after Siggy, who died saving his two half-brothers.
- Due to the Dead: Ragnar takes Athelstan's body to the place by the waterfall where Athelstan taught him the paternoster. He also sets up a cross, to give Athelstan a Christian burial.
- Gory Discretion Shot: Shadows and camera cuts prevent us from seeing Floki's ax hitting Athelstan's face.
- He Knows Too Much: Ragnar kills the sole survivor of the massacre at the Wessex settlement to keep it a secret, in order to protect his leadership status and have the warriors needed to attack Paris.
- Ear Ache: Judith gets her right ear cut off while being tied up to a pole in public as a punishment of her adultery. The order to cut off her other ear and nose is stopped by Ecberth after she admits the father of her child is Athelstan. Ecberth is convinced Athelstan's status as a man of god makes his son a special one.
- I Just Want My Beloved to Be Happy: Porunn pushes Bjorn to take another woman as his lover, considering herself inferior after her disfiguration.
- Important Haircut: Ragnar shaves his head after Athelstan's death.
- Platonic Declaration of Love: Ragnar to Athelstan, when the latter announces that he wants to leave Kattegat after rediscovering his Christian faith.
- Riddle for the Ages: We are not shown the immediate events after Athelstan's death, only Ragnar carrying his wrapped body into the hills to bury it.
- Slut-Shaming: Judith is publicly pelted with vegetables to insults such as "whore" by the people at Ecberth's castle after she's accused and sentenced for adultery.
- Wham Episode: After constantly voicing his hatred of Athelstan out religious reasons, and jealousy over Ragnar's trust, Floki kills Athelstan
