Ep 6. Burial of the Dead

In Vikings season 1 episode 6 'Burial of the Dead', we see the aftermath of the raid on Lindisfarne. Ragnar and his men returned to Kattegat with many treasures, prisoners, and a monk named Athelstan. Ragnar's brother, Rollo, is still wounded from the battle and receives care from Siggy, the Earl's wife. Meanwhile, Earl Haraldson is unhappy with Ragnar's success and urges his men to stay away from him.

The episode starts with a funeral for the fallen Vikings from the raid. During the ceremony, Ragnar gives a speech honoring his fallen comrades, including his brother-in-law, Knut. The turn of events has made Ragnar realize that his time is limited, and he must make enough wealth to secure his family's future. Athelstan, the captured monk, seems fascinated by Viking culture and observes the funeral with curiosity.

Back in Kattegat, Rollo is recovering from his injury, and Siggy is taking care of him. She questions Rollo's loyalty to his brother Ragnar and tries to provoke him by asking if he's jealous of his success. Rollo denies her accusation and declares that he would do anything for his brother. Siggy, who is unhappy with her husband Earl Haraldson, seems to have a soft spot for Rollo.

Meanwhile, Athelstan is learning more about Viking culture and their gods from Ragnar's wife Lagertha. She explains how the Viking women fought alongside their men and that their gods rewarded courage and strength. Athelstan appears surprised by Lagertha's strength and determination and seems to be thawing towards the Vikings.

As Ragnar's men divide the treasures they've acquired from the raid, there is one problem: the Earl wants a share of it. Ragnar refuses, claiming he has the right to the spoils as he led the raid. The Earl is not happy about it and threatens Ragnar, telling him that it's his duty to maintain law and order in their community. As tensions rise, Ragnar decides to make an unexpected move.

Meanwhile, the Earl's wife Siggy is unhappy with her husband's behavior. She accuses him of being afraid of Ragnar and urges him to take action to stop him. She also reveals her true feelings to Rollo, and they end up having sex. Rollo seems confused and shocked by Siggy's behavior, but he doesn't stop her.

As the episode nears its conclusion, Ragnar gathers his men and tells them that they will have a "ship-burning" ceremony. The ceremony involves burning one of their older ships as a sacrifice to the gods, cementing their legacy. They build a great fire and burn the ship, and Athelstan looks on in amazement.

In the final scene, the tensions between Ragnar and the Earl reach their tipping point when the Earl threatens Ragnar's family. Ragnar responds by challenging the Earl to a duel, to the death. The episode ends with the Earl accepting the challenge, setting up the next episode's climactic battle.

Overall, episode 6 of Vikings is an exciting, well-paced entry in the series. It continues to explore the dynamics between the characters, with Siggy's treachery and Rollo's loyalty coming to the forefront. It also reveals more about Viking culture and their beliefs, with the ship-burning ceremony being a memorable moment. The stage is set for an epic showdown between Ragnar and Earl Haraldson, making the viewer eager to watch further.