Tonight on the History Channel Vikings returns with an all new Wednesday, February 1, 2017, season 4 episode 20 called “The Reckoning” and we have your weekly Viking recap below. On tonight’s Viking season 4 episode 20 episode as per the History synopsis, “Prince Aethelwulf (Moe Dunford) is targeted by the Vikings’ battle plan, while Ecbert (Linus Roache) stays behind formulating his own plan.”
Tonight’s episode looks like it is going to be great and you won’t want to miss it, so be sure to tune in for our Viking recap between 9PM – 10PM ET! While you wait for our recap make sure to check out all our Viking spoilers, news, photos, recaps & more, right here.
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Vikings begins tonight in Wessex a Bishop comes to find King Ecbert (Linus Roache) sitting on the floor and rocking at the foot of his bed. At the same time, Prince Athelwulf (Moe Dunford) and his army struggle to fight the Vikings’ Great Army that has surrounded them.
Bjorn (Alexander Ludwig), Ubbe (Jordan Patrick Smith), and Sigurd (David Lindstrom) plans seem to work as the Vikings clearly get the upper hand. Aethelwulf is knocked off his horse and watches as his men are all being killed. Ivar (Alex Hogh Anderson) arrives with his men and Aethelwulf cries out to his men to save themselves; ordering them to retreat.
The Vikings celebrate their victory, Ivar, Ubbe and Sigurd are reprimanded by Bjorn who demands to know what they are happy about reminding them it is not over yet as Aethelwulf returns to his father and wife Judith (Jennie Jacques), telling them they need to find safety at once. He orders Judith to pack things up for her and the boys.
King Ecbert refuses to leave, Aethelwulf tells him he needs to go as the King. Ecbert tells his son that he will renounce the crown to Aethelwulf in a short ceremony. Aethelwulf admits he cannot leave his father there to die, regardless of what he thinks. Ecbert begs Aethelwulf to trust him and this is God’s will, insisting he gets the Bishop and he becomes King Aethelwulf.
As Aethelwulf gathers his family to leave, his father comes out to him telling him to leave and keep his family safe, but only long enough to gather strength and power and take back all that is his. He kisses Judith, who thanks him for loving her, he tells her that he knows what he has to do.
He orders Alfred to listen to the highest and the lowest for he has a destiny he cannot escape. He reminds him to remember that the greatest Christian virtue is humility and to take care of his brother and mother.
Ecbert seems like he has lost his mind, but the Bishop tells him he is not leaving there as it is a holy site. Ecbert blesses Aethelwulf and everyone as they leave. Wessex is left desolate.
Ecbert and the Bishop are busy drinking their fine wine when the Viking army arrives. Bjorn orders them to charge, but once inside the village walls they see no one and Bjorn tells them to be careful as it could be a trap. They pillage and burn everything, but Bjorn is angry.
Ecbert staggers out of the chapel and approaches Bjorn; he orders the Vikings to spare King Ecbert, which doesn’t please Ivar.
Floki wanders the building with Hvitserk (Marco Ilso), they pass the guards and enter the chapel where the Bishop is standing. He begs God to forgive them for they do not know what they do; before Floki can kill him Hvitserk stabs him. Floki hears his wife, Helga (Maude Hirst).
Helga is walking with Tanaruz (Sinead Gormally) who is frightened of the burning building they are in. Tanaruz grabs her blade, and as Helga tells her she loves her, she stabs her in the chest. Tanaruz then stabs herself in the chest.
Floki finds Helga bleeding on the floor, she tells him he is not like anybody else and to be himself. She says this world is too small for him, he cries as she draws her last breath. Floki carries Helga out of the village and lays her on a fur pelt, in the ground, with some jewelry. He talks about Odin and her journey to Valhalla as Bjorn watches in silence.
Ivar, Bjorn, Hvitserk, Ubbe and Sigurd discuss what they should do to Ecbert, who is hoisted in a cage above them. Bjorn says they need to consider their what is best for their people and their position of strength over their need for revenge, Ivar disagrees.
Ubbe says they need to stay there because their father wanted the land and to settle people there. Hvitserk agrees, saying they have a king to ransom and a great army this time, unlike when Aethelwulf killed their farmers. Sigurd agrees with Ivar, but isn’t sure about what the other brothers are saying. Bjorn says they need to do what their father wanted.
Ecbert tells them he loved their father and he was his friend. He knows that Ragnar (Travis Fimmel) wanted to build a farming community over everything else. He proposes that he can give them the legal right to stay in the East kingdom, and no one can question his claim as he is king and they have more than enough men to enforce it. Bjorn wants to know what he wants in return.
Bjorn asks Ivar what he thinks. Ivar says they should take the land but on the condition, Ecbert dies and he gets to do it. Bjorn accepts Ecbert’s offer but informs him that he must die for what he did to Ragnar. Ecbert says the only thing he wants is to choose the way he will die; Bjorn agrees. The deal is written and sealed by King Ecbert, praying he succeeds. Ecbert says he has a final journey to take, as the brothers hug over the agreement.
Bjorn finds Floki to offer his condolences over Helga’s death. Floki says he has also died, along with Ragnar and his sweet Helga and now he is an empty ship for the gods to do with as they choose. He tells Bjorn to take care and leaves.
Ecbert is followed by Bjorn into his bath chamber, where Bjorn offers him a blade. Bjorn leaves the room as Ecbert climbs into the water. He remembers some of Ragnar and Judith’s words; smiling as the memory of crowning Aethelwulf as King of Wessex. Ragnar’s voice says, “They will avenge me, do not be afraid!” as Ecbert cuts his arms open and dies.
The Vikings celebrate in the village with food and drink. Suddenly Bjorn sounds the horn announcing no one can doubt what they have achieved, with their great army they have defeated two English Kingdoms.
He admits as the sons of Ragnar, their first duty was to avenge his death and they have done that but they have also fulfilled his father’s dream – Ivar is not happy when he says MY father. He celebrates that they have the legal right to the land and farm there and now they can bring settlers over but he will not be there as his fate will bring him elsewhere.
Bjorn says his destiny is to continue exploring the Mediterranean Sea but his brother are going to stay there for them. Ivar shouts he will be there but not to settle down, saying they have a great army now and why not use it; there are many places to attack and raid. He encourages them to come with him.
As they cheer Ubbe protests but Ivar tells him he is simply saying those who are not afraid to continue, he will lead them to battle but jokes that Ubbe can put on an apron and settle down if he needs to. Hvitserk believes they should settle down there but Ivar stands up and shouts asking who will follow him.
Sigurd begs Ivar not to do this, as sons of Ragnar they need to stick together. Ivar doesn’t care what he says telling him he wouldn’t piss down his throat even if his lungs were on fire; the Vikings all laugh but Sigurd says that is probably because he isn’t really a man, and calls him “Boneless”.
King Harald (Peter Franzen) stands up admitting he would like to stay but he has other plans. His brother wants to go with Bjorn syaing he wants to see the Mediterranean. Bjorn hugs him telling everyone it seems the only thing that kept Ragnar’s sons together was the death of their father. Ivar says it is Bjorn who is doing it but everyone else will follow him. Sigurd calls him crazy and has the mind of a child, telling Ivar how funny it is when he crawls around like a baby.
Ubbe and Bjorn tell them to stop, but Sigurd keeps going, saying it must be hard knowing his mommy died and she was the only one who loved him. Ivar grabs his axe and hurls it across the table right into Sigurd’s chest. Sigurd pulls it out of his chest and attempts to reach Ivar, but falls dead before him. His snake eye wide open.
In Sherborne, Dorset England the Saxons gather as a Priest (Jonathan Rhys Meyes) performs a funeral. Later, he is having sex with the widow and beside the bed is armor and a sword.
End of episode.
