«Vikings» Season 4, Episode 15: The End of a Legend

In the 4th season "Vikings" the fans had to say goodbye to an important main character. An exit that causes a lot of grief and anger among the viewers. In the 15th episode "Snake Pit" fans have to part with an important figure in the story. Will some viewers implement their announced boycott?

Thanks to "Game of Thrones" we are well prepared for it, even if the main characters surprisingly bless their time. And to be honest, you can't even say that in the 15th episode "Snake Pit" it's actually a surprise. The title alone reveals what viewers can expect if they are familiar with the Ragnar Lothbrok saga and know how the legendary Viking died: His eternal enemy King Aelle has him thrown into a pit of snakes, where one of the most famous warriors dies sadly comes to an end. Anyone who knows this little fragment from the story knows immediately from the title of the 15th episode "Schlangengrube": Now the time has come! Ragnar's death is here. Unfortunately, miracles don't happen, the series doesn't suddenly take a different direction or ignore historical facts. Yes, Ragnar (Travis Fimmel) really does die. The Viking, whom you may not have always loved and sometimes even hated in the last four seasons of «Vikings», receives an undignified, tragic death.

Ragnar has come to terms with his life and in the power of King Ecbert (Linus Roache) befriends the thought of his own death. Maybe he did that a long time ago - after all, we've already seen him attempt to hang himself in the last few episodes. Ragnar looks resigned. There is no longer any desire or will to rebel or flee. He has only one wish: his son Ivar (Alex Høgh Andersen) should be safe and brought back to Kattegat. Because of Ivar's disability, he doesn't pose a threat to the British anyway. In a final, touching conversation between father and son, Ragnar appeals to Ivar one last time. In him he sees a worthy successor. One who will be underestimated by his enemies, but will conquer them all. It won't be the last important speech from Ragnar in this special episode of «Vikings» Season 4. Ecbert, continuing like a dangerous animal in a cage, delivers Ragnar to King Aelle (Ivan Kaye), who has long sought revenge. The blind coachman who takes Ragnar to Aelle knows that even now that Ragnar is imprisoned, the men around him are afraid and fear him. His reputation precedes him. Ragnar the legend. But his downfall is bitter and hard to bear for die-hard fans.

Ragnar does not die a heroic death and yet he is a hero to the last second. Aelle has the Viking abused and tortured by the armed soldiers. He himself torments Ragnar, even carving a cross in his forehead. And Ragnar? Like a true Viking, he endures all the pain and doesn't buckle. At the end, as he faces death, he speaks one last time to the Christians present who have filled a pit with snakes. He would be happy to come to Odin's richly laid table, Ragnar calls out to the world, covered in blood. And there he will wait for his sons to tell him their glorious heroic tales. Travis Fimmel, who has portrayed the Viking since 2013, recalls filming this episode with mixed feelings. For a long time he discussed with "Vikings" creator Michael Hirst. "I hate speeches," Travis revealed in an interview with "Entertainment Weekly". "It was written to be a big deal, but I didn't want him to say all that." Hirst also remembers Travis telling him over and over again, "My character doesn't make speeches." In the end, Ragnar says goodbye to the audience with words about dazzling Valhalla before dying in the snake pit. It's been a year since the filming of this episode.

But attentive fans have suspected it for a long time. The history series cast is active on Instagram. Again and again there are new pictures from the shooting of the 5th season. However, Travis Fimmel was completely absent from the snapshots. Recently there was a great fear that Clive Standen's Rollo would not survive the 4th season of "Vikings". Because he was not only missing in pictures, but also shot an action series. In the meantime, however, Clive has also reported back on the set of season 5 with an Instagram photo. With touching flashback scenes, the audience - together with Ragnar - could take a look into the past. Back when everything was different, maybe even better. Ragnar's daughter Gyda was still alive. The brothers Ragnar and Rollo were not at odds. Ragnar and Lagertha's love was undiminished. The friendship with Floki strong. And Athelstan was still alive. Athelstan, yes, Athelstan. He continues to run like a red thread through the story even shortly before Ragnar's death. For years there have been discussions among fans: does he love Lagertha or Aslaug? He definitely loved one, maybe sometimes more than the women who often got on his nerves: Athelstan (George Bladgen). Shortly before his death, Ragnar presents the cross he once received from his good friend and presents it to Alfred, Athelstan's son. It's another farewell to a man who touched him deeply. Now they are united in death.

"Ragnar is dead, but Ragnar lives on," says Michael Hirst, who, as he also reveals in the interview, has already finished working on the 16th episode of season 5. With Ragnar a legend has died and a fan favorite of the "Vikings" viewers. He lives on in his sons. Visually, Ubbe (Jordan Patrick Smith) is reminiscent of young Ragnar. But above all Ivar should be important for the future of the series and represent an exciting character. Because after not only losing his mother Aslaug (Alyssa Sutherland), but also his father, he is plotting revenge. The anger that has accompanied him throughout his life is now directed at King Ecbert and Aelle, as well as Ragnar's first wife, Lagertha (Katheryn Winnick), who murdered Aslaug. So it won't get boring in "Vikings" all that quickly. On the contrary, Ragnar leaves five strong, grown-up sons with whom we can explore completely new angles and stories of the cruel Vikings. And in the 15th episode, a new, mysterious character has also been announced. A Viking with only one eye appears to be heading for Kattegat in his boat. Is he a friend or another enemy?

On Twitter, Facebook & Co, many fans shared their impressions while watching the 15th episode "The Snake Pit". The mood? Mixed. Credit for Travis Fimmel's portrayal of Ragnar, however, is all over the web. While many viewers mourn the loss of Ragnar, some fans are suddenly critical of the series. "Is there still a future for 'Vikings' when the main character is dead?" Many fans ask between the lines. "Game of Thrones" should have proven that this is possible. We've collected some thoughts and opinions on the last episode.