Summary
Tensions develop between several of the characters, with the arrival of King Sweyn and Queen Aelfgifu in England bringing new life into the show. And while the death of one of the two Kings isn’t shocking because it seemed inevitable this character would die, it’s surprising that it happened as soon as it did.
This recap of Netflix’s Vikings: Valhalla season 1, episode 7, “Choices”, contains spoilers.
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Vikings: Valhalla season 1, episode 7 recap
In bed with Freydis, Harald declares that he loves her. And when she says she will give everything for love, he claims he will set aside his destiny for her. But there’s trouble ahead as Kare sails on a boat that has human heads on spikes with the baby (who now has a cross on his head) below a female body. Godwin informs King Edmund that King Canute isn’t around, and so, that might mean good news for King Edmund, who wants to make changes.
There’s been a wedding! King Canute and Emma got married during the night. And with each wedding comes to in-laws, AKA King Canute’s father, King Sweyn Forkbeard. His reason to visit? To rule in King Canute’s place. Kare’s boat reaches land, and Leif and Freydis grab the baby. Kare, on the other hand, is nowhere in sight. In retaliation, Haakan tells Freydis to go to Uppsala. Once there, Harald and Freydis view the damage that Kare has inflicted. “They’re cleaning the land, not killing people,” Harald remarks”. Young girls are found hiding. But it becomes apparent that they were purposely spared to give Freydis a message: his God has ordered him to destroy Kattegat and to kill Freydis.
Godwin suggests to King Edmund that he should start a resistance. Shortly afterward, unaware of Godwin’s schemes, Sweyn makes Godwin the Jarl of Wessex. Olaf meets with Kare as he wants to unite Norway. And to do so, he needs Kattegat. How will he gain Kattegat? With Kare’s help. From the outskirts, Leif watches the interaction. After King Edmund goes through with Godwin’s suggestion to start a resistance, Godwin leads King Edmund into a trap. As such, King Edmund falls off his horse, and as he lies injured, Godwin stabs him in the heart. The King is dead. Well, one is.
The ending
Emma and King Sweyn learn that King Edmund is dead, with Godwin and others declaring it as an act of god. As Emma inspects his body, she pays close attention to his stab wound. It’s enough to provide her with the knowledge that Godwin is behind his death. King Sweyn gets greeted by his grandchildren, turns out that Queen Aelfgifu is in town. When King Sweyn says that Canute’s and Aelfgifu’s marriage is nothing in the eyes of the gods, Aelfgifu reveals her threat. She has a fleet hidden, and if they don’t hear from her, they will sail under Olaf’s flag to Kattegat. Finally, Emma and Aelfgifu come face-to-face. Aelfgifu claims that this is her home now, with Godwin offering his support to her. The episode concludes with Olaf meeting up with Harald.
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