All His Angels
"All His Angels" is the fifteenth episode of the fourth season of History's historical drama television series Vikings, and the 44th episode of the series. Directed by Ciarán Donnelly and written by Michael Hirst, it aired on December 28, 2016.
The episode stars Travis Fimmel, Katheryn Winnick, John Kavanagh, Moe Dunford, Alex Høgh, David Lindström, Jordan Patrick Smith, and Linus Roache. Clive Standen, Gustaf Skarsgård, Alexander Ludwig, and Alyssa Sutherland also appear in archive footage.
It received wide critical acclaim, particularly for Fimmel's performance, and it was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Makeup for a Single-Camera Series at the 69th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards.
Plot
In Wessex
Ecbert visits Ragnar in his cell to inform him that he has arranged a ship to take Ivar home later that day. Ragnar tells him that he wishes to speak to his son alone and Ecbert sends his guards to fetch him. Ragnar informs his son of the ship, but Ivar does not want to leave his father behind, and rather stay and die with him. Ragnar tells him that he has to live as he thinks Ivar to be, among all of his sons, the most important to the future of their people. He tells him to use his anger intelligently, so that one day everyone will know and fear Ivar the Boneless. Ragnar tells him that he will be handed over to King Aelle who will then kill him. Ivar promises that he and his brothers will avenge his death, but Ragnar tells him that they have to take revenge on Ecbert, instead. Ragnar gives Ivar his arm ring and tells him to be ruthless. In the courtyard, Ivar receives a chess piece from Prince Alfred and then leaves on a carriage.In Ecbert's bedroom, Princess Judith tells the king she would be in pieces if it were not for their relationship. Ecbert confesses his love for her and says that she has helped him through the most difficult years of his life. Judith reminds him he has always thrived on adversity, but Ecbert tells her that this time is different, as he deeply regrets committing his friend Ragnar to death. Judith says he has no choice, but Ecbert wonders if that is true and compares himself to Pontius Pilate.
Ecbert visits Ragnar for the last time and tells him he thinks King Aelle will make a big spectacle out of his death. Ragnar says that will allow him to make a great speech about the gods and entering Valhalla. Ecbert reminds him that he does not believe in the gods. Ragnar agrees, but says that faith is as important to his people as it is for Ecbert and his. In the courtyard, Ragnar gives Athelstan's cross to his son Alfred and tells Ecbert that in the end, Athelstan chose Christ. Ragnar is then caged on a carriage and brought away.
Later that night, Ecbert leaves Judith in his bedroom, takes Athelstan's priest clothes, and leaves court.
On the road to Northumbria
Ragnar has a conversation with the blind driver of his carriage, who tells him that his reputation in England is far scarier than the truth and asks him how he plans to escape. Ragnar replies that he has no intentions of escaping. When they camp for the night, the soldiers treat Ragnar like a dangerous caged animal, hence he plays with their fear for him.On the road, Ragnar continues his conversation with the blind driver, who tells him that, although he cannot see the road, he can see him. Ragnar asks when they will reach King Aelle and the driver replies "tomorrow". Ragnar now sees the Seer in the driver's place, and tells him that it will be at least another day before he is put to death, hence his prophecy is not true. He tells him that it was himself who guided his fate and not the gods, and that his prophecies are dangerous. He makes the example of Lagertha, who was told that she would never have another child. She then got pregnant, but put her unborn child in danger as a consequence of the Seer's prophecy. The Seer says that perhaps it was her fate to lose the child exactly in the way it happened. Ragnar tells him that he does not believe in the gods' existence. The Seer tells him that he has only groped for meaning and that he may have been wrong. He then disappears and the blind driver reappears in his place. When the contingent passes by the island of Lindisfarne, Ragnar remembers meeting Athelstan for the first time.
In the meantime, Ecbert walks the road for Northumbria cloaked as a priest. He wears no shoes and he is drained by the journey.
In Northumbria
Ragnar arrives in Northumbria and is tortured by Aelle for days. Ragnar refuses to beg for mercy or repent his actions, instead remembering the happier times of his early life as a viking. Eventually, Aelle prepares a pit of snakes and gives Ragnar a final chance to repent his sins. Instead Ragnar recites a boastful poem about looking forward to Valhalla and the future triumphs of his sons. He is promptly dropped into the pit and killed by the snakes. Ecbert observes the execution, seemingly relieved by Ragnar's unbroken spirit.In Kattegat
Ivar returns to Kattegat, to discover that his mother, Aslaug, was killed by Lagertha. Across the fjord, a longship carrying a black cloaked figure, missing his right eye, approaches; later is discovered that this "man" is really the Allfather of the Norse gods, Odin.Production
"All His Angels" is the fifteenth episode of the fourth season, directed by Irish director Ciarán Donnelly and written by showrunner Michael Hirst. It is the 44th episode overall.Writing
Hirst told IGN he had always intended to kill off Ragnar at some point, with the original plan being the departure of Fimmel's character in the first-season finale.Hirst and Fimmel recalled having an argument about the delivery of Ragnar's last speech. Fimmel initially felt uneasy about it, but he was convinced of its importance and impact on Ragnar's sons: "me and Michael spoke about how the kids will find out what he said. It’s all for them, he doesn’t believe it".
Filming
Principal photography for the episode took place at Ashford Studios and on location in Ireland in mid-winter 2015-2016. Regarding Ragnar's final scene, Michael Hirst told Entertainment Weekly "it was shot in the deepest winter, in the harshest conditions, with Travis absolutely suspended in this cage, above a muddy field, in torrential freezing rain."Music
The musical score of "All His Angels" was composed by Trevor Morris. Additionally, Norwegian musician Einar Selvik, who had been working with Morris on the music of Vikings since season two, provided the ancient Norse instruments and vocals. The soundtrack album for season four features two original tracks from the episode: "Dreams of the Past" and "Death of a Legend", the latter featuring Selvik's vocals.For "All His Angels", Selvik wrote and produced a song to accompany Ragnar's final moments, "Snake Pit Poetry". It features vocals by Icelandic singer Hilda Örvarsdóttir and it was released in an extended play on October 20, 2017, together with a second version solely performed by Selvik.