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Breaking Point is the ninth episode of the third season of Vikings. It is the twenty-eighth episode of the series overall. It first aired on April 16, 2015. It was written by creator Michael Hirst and directed by Ken Girotti.

Synopsis[]

The Vikings set out for a second assault on Paris. Emperor Charles, recognizing the desperate state of affairs, must make a difficult decision. In Wessex, Judith is compelled to make a difficult decision of her own.

Plot[]

After the failure of the first Siege of Paris, Ragnar organizes to attack again after dark. Led by Rollo, Lagertha, and Kalf, they siege Paris from the side, attempting to take a large wooden bridge inside its walls. The Franks are ready with a war machine that sends Floki and the other Vikings fleeing. Rollo manages to sabotage the war machine and the Vikings continue the assault. Eventually, the Vikings are driven back, but leave behind Siegfried.

Meanwhile at the camp, Ragnar is visited by a vision of Athelstan. Athelstan reaches out to Ragnar. As Ragnar reaches back Athelstan is transformed into Jesus. At this point Odin interrupts this gesture causing Ragnar to curl up into a ball. Ragnar is then left clutching himself in a pool of blood as Odin looks down on him.

Although the Franks have managed to defend the city, a mysterious illness has spread in Paris and its citizens are dying and starving. Count Odo begs Emperor Charles to agree terms with the Pagans in order to lift the siege for the sake of the people. The two sides agree to meet.

Back in Kattegat, Ansgar is found preaching Christianity. He is later tested, fails and then put to death.

Ragnar secretly meets the Franks early outside the walls to form an agreement. Though offered much gold and silver, Ragnar doesn't accept. Knowing his end is drawing near, he asks to be baptized He explains that he wants to be reunited with his Christian friend, Athelstan, in the afterlife. He is then baptized as the other Vikings watch.

Cast[]

Main[]

Guest Starring[]

Additional Cast[]

Uncredited[]

Episode Deaths[]

Trivia[]

  • George Blagden is credited in the opening sequence as Athelstan appears in a brief vision of Ragnar's.
  • The lines that King Ecbert speaks beginning at 26:15 are lines from T.S. Eliot's "Burnt Norton."
  • Ansgar is a real historic person. In Danish history he is described as the person who brought Christianity to Denmark. He lived almost at the same time as Charlemagne. In the episode he is seen carrying "jernbyrd" (Danish for ordeal), but it was in fact not him who did it, but a bishop later in history during King Harald Bluetooth's reign, named Poppo, who did that to prove his Christian faith to the Danish king, who was not yet Christian, but becomes one later.

Gallery[]

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