Is it not "Cold is the ocean's spray," rather than "Gold is the ocean's spray"?

Can we bump this to the top of the discussion? The drug is clearly paan (a combination of areca nuts and betel leaves), which, as you say, is nothing more than a mild stimulant with purported (but indeterminate) psychoactive properties. It might increase Ragnar's risk of oral cancer, but the wild hallucinations and…

Probably to set up Floki saving Ragnar again…

Both are very compelling theories. Ragnar could totally be playing the long con again, letting it show in his concern for Lagertha as well as in his refusal to let his sons accompany the raid. The England subplot is much less interesting, if unfortunately necessary. But as long as we're speculating…Wigstan might just…

I also momentarily thought the head was Floki's because of the resemblance, but there's no WAY the show would have offed a character like Floki off-screen (especially after Ragnar spared him a watery death in the Seine).

Floki had a lot of great reactions this episode. How about the way he jerks awake and promptly covers his ears when Yidu's lullaby carries over to him? Even a soothing folk hymn, coming as it does in a foreign tongue, is offensive to outsider-averse Floki.

It's immensely gratifying to see Lagertha finally return to the fore here. She's arguably one of the most compelling characters on the show, second only to Ragnar. Best line this episode: "Erlendur. If you're willing to share a boat with a lot of women…then you're welcome to come with me to Paris." Doubtlessly, the…

Yeah, because they're totally above recycling dramatic twists *ahem* ROLLO *ahem*

That little girl is Ragnar's third son by Aslaug, Sigurd Snake-in-the-eye. Admittedly, it's pretty ambiguous here…

…and Harbard

I tolerate the lapses into drama/intrigue because 1) Lagertha and 2) the promise that Ragnar will exact his revenge on Wessex, Paris, or both (eventually).

Wait, how is "berserker" out of place? It's an Old Norse word! Dude is obviously way more than just a tracker; he's a seasoned warrior brimming with bloodlust.