Tonight on the History Channel Vikings returns with an all-new Wednesday, December 13 season 5 episode 4 called “The Plan” and we have your weekly Viking recap below. On tonight’s Viking season 5 episode 4 episode as per the History synopsis, “Guided by Bishop Heahmund’s visions, the Saxons devise a battle plan. Meanwhile, Ivar the Boneless strategizes on his own as the Vikings face increasing pressure; and Bjorn Ironside finds himself in a new territory and must convince the local commander he is a trader and not a raider.”
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 9 PM – 10 PM 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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In the Straits of Gibraltar, Bjorn Ironside (Alexander Ludwig) moves forward with his three ships, along with Halfdan the Black (Jasper Paakkanen). Halfdan wakens Bjorn when they see land and Sinric (Frankie McCafferty) tells them it is the Pillars of Hercules, they mark the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea. Bjorn feels his father would relish this opportunity but Sinric continues to caution him about the lands and people as they don’t know who he is nor does he know how strong they are.
Bjorn wants to go to Rome as it is the center of the map and the center of the New World, Sinric says since the map was drawn the New World has changed, in fact, the Roman Empire is no more, and what is left is only a shadow of its former glory. He suggests they go to an island nearby called Sicily instead.
Outside of York, King Aethelwulf (Moe Dunford) tells Alfred the great (Ferdia Walsh0Peelo) that even though they saw some of the Northmen leave, they can not be sure they have weakened any, so they cannot think of attacking nor reclaiming the town. Bishop Heahmund (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) agrees, saying he dismissed the peacekeepers, since they are Heathens and are here to make trouble, not peace.
Aethelwulf suggests they go back to rebuild their army but Heahmund disagrees, speaking of a vision he had. Alfred says he speaks in riddles but he explains that the Pagan Northmen died because they starved to death, and tells the King they should close all the roads, refusing them anyway of coming or going from York, trapping them and starving them, forcing them to surrender. When Alfred asks what they should do, Aethelwulf assures his son they should do as Heahmund says, with God’s help.
Ubbe (Jordan Patrick Smith) returns to Kattegat, where Margrethe (Ida Nielsen) greets him happily with a kiss. Torvi (Georgia Hirst) quietly walks away. Lagertha (Katheryn Winnick) welcomes Ubbe home, saying she has heard of their great army’s success, and their revenge for Ragnar’s (Travis Fimmel) death. He talks about Ivar (Alex Hogh Andersen) and how both Ivar and Hitserk (Marco Ilso) are his enemies; Lagertha agrees to make a pact. She will support him against them, if he will support her against King Harald Finehair (Peter Franzen). They agree to do it for the people of Kattegat.
Lagertha assures Torvi that Bjorn will come back, but Torvi worries about Lagertha trusting Ubbe since Bjorn should be ruling Kattegat after her. Ubbe tells Margrethe that he will not be sharing her with his brother Hvitserk anymore. She seems to be happy but tells him that she thinks Lagertha is losing her power and the gods are not pleased with her. She thinks Ubbe is the one, true ruler of Kattegat, not Bjorn, and he knows it.
Bjorn asks Sinric to tell him more about Sicily. He tells him of the Emperor ruling Sicily and reminds Bjorn when they enter to lands in the morning that they are coming there as traders, NOT raiders.
The Vikings are hunting in the woods outside of York, when the Saxons kill them all. Meanwhile, Hvitserk informs Ivar that the hunting party did not return again. Ivar continues to enjoy his food and drink. Hvitserk says they are almost out of food and there is sickness in town. Ivar is annoyed, wondering if Hvitserk is saying that Ubbe was right and should have negotiated with the Saxons. Hvitserk said he didn’t go with Ubbe because he is no one’s dog, Ivar taunts him and barks at him, everyone laughs until Hvitserk storms out of the room.
Margrethe continues to talk about how the gods have turned against Lagertha to Torvi. Lagertha hears her, saying she is right, they are all equal. She admits she has no feelings towards her either way and could kill her for her words of betrayal but she is sick of betrayal. She tells her to have the courage to be loyal and she would respect her; Margrethe rushes off in tears.
Alfred watches as his mother’s people begin to arrive at their camp. Judith (Jennie Jacques) introduces Mannel (Paul Reid) to her husband, who offers his loyalty to Aethelwulf. Mannel is awestruck to serve under Aethelwulf and Bishop Heahmund, who reminds him that they should not be so vain.
In Sicily, Bjorn and his men arrive. Commander Euphemius (Albano Jeronimo) greets them but isn’t happy when they introduce themselves as traders and would much prefer them to be warriors. Once they are able to sit down for a meal, Sinric revels to Bjorn that the Commander would like Bjorn and his men to be his bodyguards; he will pay them very well. Bjorn agrees and Euphemius stands up and kisses him on the cheek, which startles and confuses him.
A beautiful woman named Kassia (Karina McAdams) begins to sing, they learn she is a Nun, the Commander had abducted from the Holy Land and the Emperor sentenced him to death for abducting her; they are all mesmerized by her voice.
Lagertha goes to see the Seer (John Kavanagh), who reveals she will see her son Bjorn again, but it will be in terrible circumstances. The consequences of Ragnar’s death have not yet played out, and she has only seen the beginning of the end. He tells her to prepare for what is to come. He refuses to tell her what is about to happen, so she cannot change her fates. She pleads because she is only thinking of her son. He says too much knowledge is only an agony to bear by herself.
Hvitserk prays to Lord Odin, asking for a sign that he made the right choice, asking for about his fate; suddenly arrows fly over his head.
Back in Sicily, Bjorn and Halfdan are etching in stone and sharpening swords when Halfdan notices Kassia with Sinric. Bjorn catches Sinric and demands to know what is going on; he says Euphemius isn’t really the commander. An Arab leader agreed to invade the island on Euphemius behalf in return for a yearly tribute; this leader is in Africa. Bjorn wants to know about this other world – Africa. They wonder if Sinric is a spy, Halfdan puts his knife to his throat and wonder if he is a go in disguise as Bjorn now wants to meet this Arab leader.
Aethelwulf listens to Heahmund speak of his vision, as it seems that the Pagans are surely burning their dead. Aethelwulf wants to attack now but the Bishop wants their condition to worsen and suffer more dismay, until only rags and bones wander the streets of York. Aethelwulf tells him they cannot always follow only his visions and doesn’t like that he is putting himself before him. He shouts that he is his KING; Heahmund bows down saying he is his humble servant and to do with him what he will. Aethelwulf kneels down saying he believes he is not humble, but he is still his servant as well as the Lord’s and they will proceed together for our country and for the sake of England.
Inside the walls of York, Hvitserk doesn’t understand Ivar’s plan of pretending to burn their people. He says he found out that the Romans were very clever and his plan is based on what he found out, promising Hvitserk will know what that is in good time.
Floki (Gustaf Skarsgard) prays to Allfather, begging for forgiveness, as he is just an artist and boat builder. He is thankful for being brought to the land of the gods but has no idea why. He is deeply happy and could laugh all day but has been thinking that it is wrong of him to be enjoying this paradise alone. He wants to share the paradise with others and hopes Allfather will agree, that he could go back to the land of the living and invite those who are true believers and courageous. They can build a city uncontaminated with false strangers. He begs to go back to the land of the living. Thunder bangs and Floki laughs.
In Vestfold, Norway, King Harald watches as Astrid (Josefin Asplund) joins him at the waterfront. She tells him she has made up her mind, after asking the gods for advice she has come to a decision. She looks at him and informs him that she agrees to marry him. He smiles and tells her that is good, as he couldn’t have waited any longer.
Astrid approaches him as he is dressed in his ceremonial outfit, under the whale bones. When she is asked if this is what she wants, she thinks of her private, intimate moments with Lagertha, she looks at Harald and agrees that this is what she wants. The priestess asks for a blessing on this marriage, she dips the ring in blood and Harald places it on her finger. He smiles and she smiles as he says that perhaps his luck has finally changed; everyone cheers!
Floki lowers the sails on his boat as he looks at the fiery volcano, awaiting the rising tide. He prays to the Allfather once more and closes his eyes.
In Sicily, Sinric approaches Euphemius telling him that Bjorn wants to meet the Arab leader, Ziyadat Allah. He refuses to see him but Kassia says he must take her as he promised her, otherwise she will leave him. He agrees. Bjorn is surprised that he changed his mind because of something she said. On the travels, Halfdan and Bjorn wonder who Kassia is to give her such power.
Aethelwulf smiles when he is given word that the Northmen are gone, their ships and everything; they have left York. The Saxons enter the city and find burning ashes and empty buildings, but when they approach the church, Bishop Heahmund opens the doors and finds horses and rats inside. Aethelwulf smiles but the Bishop is disturbed as he does the sign of the cross. He wonders why the rats are above ground.
END