Ep 8. Sacrifice

Sacrifice is the eighth episode of the first season of the hit historical drama series Vikings. On a personal level, Ragnar has been dealt with some serious blows in the past few episodes. He has lost one of his children, and his wife has left him and their remaining children. In this episode, he must learn to deal with these losses while also facing external threats to his position as the newly crowned earl.

The episode begins with a flashback to Ragnar's childhood, where he and his brother Rollo are taken to a seer for a prophecy. The seer tells Ragnar that he has a great destiny and that he must be prepared to make sacrifices to achieve it. The flashback serves to set up the theme of the episode, which centers around the idea of sacrifice.

The main storyline of the episode involves Ragnar trying to shore up his political power by forging an alliance with King Horik, a powerful leader from a neighboring kingdom. Horik is cautious, however, and demands that Ragnar demonstrate his loyalty by making a sacrifice to the gods. Ragnar must make a difficult choice between his own beliefs and the political expediency of making the sacrifice.

Meanwhile, Ragnar's troubled brother Rollo is struggling with his own sense of purpose. Feeling overshadowed by his brother's success, Rollo turns to drink and is on the verge of giving up altogether. But a chance encounter with a wise woman encourages Rollo to think about his own destiny and what he can do to fulfill it.

The two storylines are linked thematically by the idea of sacrifice. Both Ragnar and Rollo must make sacrifices to achieve their goals. For Ragnar, the sacrifice is both literal and symbolic, as he offers up a valued possession to the gods. For Rollo, the sacrifice is more personal - he must give up his self-pity and find a new direction for his life.

The episode also features a subplot involving the Christian monk Athelstan, who is still struggling to come to terms with his captors' way of life. Athelstan is torn between his loyalty to his Christian faith and his growing fascination with the pagan rituals and beliefs of the Vikings. The conflict between Christianity and paganism is a recurring theme throughout the series, and this episode offers some interesting insights into the ways in which different cultures and beliefs can clash and overlap.

Overall, Sacrifice is a compelling and thought-provoking episode that explores some of the key themes and conflicts of the series. It is also a turning point for many of the characters, as they are forced to confront their own fears and weaknesses in order to move forward. Fans of the series will find plenty to enjoy here, as the episode delivers both action and drama in equal measure.