Ep 7. Blood Eagle

The episode "Blood Eagle" is the seventh installment in the second season of the historical drama television series Vikings. The episode picks up after the events of the previous episode, in which the vikings launched an unsuccessful attack on King Ecbert's kingdom of Wessex.

In "Blood Eagle," the vikings continue to lay siege to Wessex, while back in Kattegat, Aslaug goes into labor with Ragnar's child. However, the main focus of the episode is on the punishment known as the "Blood Eagle," which is a ritual execution method that involves cutting open the victim's back, breaking apart their ribs, and pulling their lungs out of the opening to create the shape of an eagle.

The main character of the episode is Jarl Borg, who has been captured by Ragnar and his men. Jarl Borg had previously betrayed Ragnar and the vikings, and they now plan to execute him using the Blood Eagle. However, King Horik disagrees with this method of execution and tries to convince Ragnar to spare Jarl Borg and come up with a different punishment.

The conflict between Ragnar and King Horik comes to a head in this episode, as they have different ideas on how to deal with Jarl Borg and the Wessex situation. Meanwhile, Jarl Borg bravely faces his fate and prepares for the Blood Eagle execution. Despite the gruesome nature of the punishment, he does not show any fear.

As the episode progresses, tensions rise between the vikings and King Ecbert's army. The vikings show no signs of backing down, and their siege tactics become more aggressive. However, King Ecbert has an ace up his sleeve and pulls a surprise move that catches the vikings off guard.

Overall, "Blood Eagle" is a tense and brutal episode that showcases the harsh realities of viking culture. Despite the violence and gore, the episode is also a character study of sorts, as it focuses on the relationships between Ragnar, King Horik, and Jarl Borg. The episode also sets up future conflicts that will come to a head in later episodes, making it an important chapter in the overall narrative of the series.