“I do not believe in the god's existence. Man is master of his own faith, not gods. The gods are man's creation, to give answers that they are too afraid to give themselves.” “It gladdens me to know that Odin prepares for a feast. Soon I shall be drinking ale from curved horns. This hero that comes into Valhalla does not lament his death! I shall not enter Odin's hall with fear. There I shall wait for my sons to join me. And when they do, I will bask in their tales of triumph. The Aesir will welcome me! My death comes without apology! And I welcome the Valkyries to summon me home!” yup… this was amazing. i don’t think i’ve enjoyed this show as much as others but this episode is honestly so worth it. it makes me think how much better this show could’ve been if the whole show was as well written as this episode… or at least somewhat on par 😂 SPOILERS BELOW genuinely a masterful conclusion, masterful dialogue and masterful acting. travis fimmel is actually the goat man. the flashbacks of all the important moments and people that were in his life was just so good. ragnar giving athelstans son his cross was such a beautiful moment. and i also love that in the end with his conversation with the seer, ragnar really does care for lagertha. but ragnar was not only a likeable character but also has probably one of, if not the best character journeys in tv, he was a farmer that literally discovered england, he lead the first viking army to ever attack france and became king. and also cleared out that the seers prophecies mean nothing and that the gods are a man’s creation. ragnars speeches in this episode reflects on his legacy, life and death and his existential journey. while he has always been a believer in the norse gods, his faith throughout the series has been tempered with by moments of doubt. in his final hours in the cage, ragnar not only questions the gods but also reflects deeply on the meaning of his life and the inevitability of death. and as ragnar faces execution in King Aelle’s pit, he shows both defiance and acceptance. “It gladdens me to know that Odin prepares for a feast,” hinting at his belief in the afterlife while also trying to intimidate the king and his men. his refusal to beg for mercy while being tortured shows his strength and awareness that his death will carry great meaning. truly a masterpiece episode. somewhere in my top 11-20. and ragnars conclusion is up there with some of the greatest character conclusions like jax, elliot, don and jack shepard from lost. prolly a t5 ish protagonist. doctor > ragnar don > ragnar tony > ragnar elliot >= ragnar ragnar >= jax