This article, “is vengeance gained for the attack on Saint Brice’s Day,” contains spoilers regarding Netflix’s Vikings: Valhalla season 1.
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In the opening episode of Vikings: Valhalla, leading character Harald Sigurdsson leaves for Denmark for Norway. But whilst he is away, Aethelred the Unready claims that there is a threat. Among the men to respond to Aethelred claim is Harald’s brother Sten. However, shortly afterward, Aethelred the Unready reveals that there isn’t a threat, and instead, he wants to purify the field and exterminate all Vikings living on the island. A bloody massacre occurs, and several Vikings, including Sten, die. It doesn’t take long for news of the bloodbath to spread, with Harald and King Canute both promising revenge for the attacks. But are they able to gain that said revenge?
Is vengeance gained for the attack on Saint Brice’s Day in Vikings: Valhalla season 1?
Most, if not all, of the Vikings commit to ensuring that Aethelred the Unready pays for the bloodbath. Unfortunately, he dies before anyone can make him pay for his brutal actions. However, the Vikings, Harald in particular, are desperate to honor those killed, and they continue with plans for a battle. It doesn’t take long (the fourth episode, to be precise) before King Canute brings his army and they attack. Thanks largely to Leif’s plan to attack the bridge, and after King Canute taunts Kind Edmund into battle, King Edmund gets led into a trap. The result of which makes it very easy for King Canute to win the battle, and gain vengeance for the attacks in episode one.
As for Harald, his goal to gain vengeance doesn’t happen as he would hope. As Harald is about to chop off King Edmund’s head, and honor Sten, King Canute prevents him from doing so. King Canute states that he wants King Edmund alive, and if Harald kills him, he will kill Harald in return. It soon becomes clear that King Canute keeps him alive so they can rule together. Therefore, unable to kill King Edmund, Harald drinks in misery.
