Vikings, Season 4, Episode 4 Recap, “Yol”

[Screen capture via A&E Network]

Episode 4 of season 4 of Vikings revolves around the celebration of Yol (or Yule as we know it), not YOLO, although, to be honest, there is a little of that mixed in as well 😉

Here’s what went down in Episode 4 (entitled “Yol”) of Season 4 of History Channel’s Vikings:

KATTEGAT And Ragnar’s Love Shack

Things are getting festive in Kattegat thanks to Yol. Aslaug (Alyssa Sutherland) has given her husband, Ragnar Lothbrok (Travis Fimmel) a hall pass when it comes to the shittest slave ever, Yidu (Diane Doan). So, considering this, Ragnar gets all deep and meaningful with Yidu about life, death and how slaves are no different to kings when it comes to freedom. (Remember that word, because Episode 4 of Vikings is brought to you by the letter F and the symbol ♀)

Now that they have gotten all deep and meaningful in whatever language it is the pair of them share (do they even teach language at slave school?), it’s time to enter the midlife crisis section of Vikings. To celebrate, they hit the drugs. Yidu whips up something hallucinogenic and Ragnar forgets all about his woes.

That awkward moment when you get so stoned you eat a snake
[Screen capture via A&E Network]

Speaking of woes, Floki (Gustaf Skarsgard) is left on the outer in this episode of Vikings. But that’s okay because the Seer (John Kavanagh) has his sights set on him. Aslaug also thinks Floki is a wasted resource and sends her son, Ivar the Boneless to Floki to learn how to hate the Christian god be a pagan.

SOMEWHERE IN THE WILDERNESS

Bjorn Ironside (Alexander Ludwig) found himself in Episode 3 of Vikings and is now heading home to enlighten everyone. But on the way there he comes across the massive beserker Kalf (Ben Robson) and Erlendur (Edvin Endre) whipped up as the final Hunger Games challenge for Bjorn.

[Screen capture via A&E Network]

HEDEBY

Bjorn has learned plenty from the bear though and the beserker doesn’t stand a chance. This makes Kalf and Erlendur nearly shit their pants when Bjorn turns up at Hedeby. While Bjorn has no idea the beserker was sent from Hedeby, he does have a surprise in store for Erlendur: he plans to take his wife, Torvi (Georgia Hirst). Erlendur has a hissy fit, but–surprisingly–doesn’t try to kill Bjorn (seriously Erlendur, you are the wussiest viking ever!) Instead, Torvi leaves with Bjorn after Lagertha (Katheryn WInnick) agrees to look after Torvi and Erlendur’s child.

PARIS

Rollo (Clive Standen) gets issued with divorce papers in Episode 4 of Vikings. But that’s okay because between throwing his tutor in Episode 3 and getting issued, he has managed to get a pretty decent handle on the language. Gisla (Morgan Polanski) is notably impressed. The icing on the cake though is when Rollo insists Gisla can do as she pleases with his viking band to prove his devotion to her. Needless to say it is now time for the “Rollo gets lucky” section of Vikings.

[Image via A&E Network]

ENGLAND

In England they are celebrating the shitty version of Yol; Advent. This means they get to eat gruel and have not much fun at all. Which is fitting with King Aelle’s (Ivan Kaye) mood. The king who considers himself the most pious of kings, is not at all impressed at the familiarity occurring between his daughter, Judith (Jennie Jacques) and her father in-law, King Ecbert (Linus Roache). When he calls Judith on it, she grows a set and basically tells her father to piss off. Added to this situation, Aelle is also pissy that Queen Kwenthrith (Amy Bailey) has named her son of viking descent, Magnus, as the sole heir to Mercia. I can see a hatred for pagan ways and vikings called Ragnar here that could easily turn into a viking saga involving a pit of snakes brewing…

And Then Shit Happens

So while Ragnar is getting laid not around, shit happens in the form of King Harald Finehair (Peter Franzén) and his brother, Halfdan the Black (Jasper Pääkkönen). They have traveled to Kattegat because apparently fine hair isn’t enough to get Harald laid. Instead, he needs to become the king of all Norway before his lady love will consider him.

Now that’s all good and well until Aslaug points out that in order to become the king of all Norway, Harald will need to overthrow her husband.

Oh. Shit.

So, what did I miss?
[Screen capture A&E Network]

It’s now that Ragnar decides to turn up, all happily laid and ignorant as shit to what is about to go down.

So what did you think of Episode 4 of Season 4 of Vikings? Let us know by commenting below!

Vikings returns to History Channel with episode 5, entitled “Promised” on Thursday, March 17, at 10 p.m. ET.

You can read my recap of Episode 5 here.

[Image via A&E Network]

RELATED ARTICLES

• Vikings, Season 4, Episode 3 Recap, “Mercy” (thesnarkingdeadrecaps.wordpress.com)