'Vikings' Season 5 Spoilers: Ragnar's Sons Divided To Become Their Father's True Successor

"Vikings" Season 4 was undoubtedly one of the most suspenseful and pivotal chapters in the series with the death of iconic character Ragnar Lothbrok and the subsequent revenge of his sons against their enemies. The finale capped the season with bloodshed, murder and charted the direction of Ragnar's sons' fate for the upcoming fifth season.

According to a recap by Entertainment Weekly, the finale saw the Heathen Army finally reach Wessex as Ragnar's sons instigated the battle against Aethelwulf's forces resulting in death and destruction in the battle's path. In the episode, Aethelwulf decides to retreat to fight another day, but his father Ecbert refuses to leave his home. Instead, he leaves the crown to his son, to whom he entrusts the fate of their people. As Ragnar's sons reach Ecbert, the former king strikes a deal with them by signing over to them the farmlands that Ragnar wanted for the Vikings, in exchange for the privilege of choosing his own death.

As Bjorn agrees to the terms, Ecbert ends his own life in his own bathing pool, finding peace in the memories of the people he loved including Ragnar and Lagertha. The episode also shocked the viewers when Ivar, who wanted to continue raiding and pillaging their enemies' lands, killed his own brother Sigurd after a heated exchange among the brothers who were divided about what to do after their victory. 

In an interview with Vikings show creator Michael Hirst by Variety, he said that the finale marked the end of the brothers' unity as their common goal of avenging their father has been met.

The showrunner said that Sigurd's death will further divide the brothers who all had their ambitions to become their fathers' true successor. Another thing that will come to play is the validity of Ecbert's move to sign over the lands to the Lothbrok sons when he was no longer king at the time it was done.

As for Floki who suffered the deaths of the three people close to him -- Ragnar, his daughter and Helga, the new season will see him welcome a new chapter in his life.

"Floki is going to commit himself to the gods. His previous life is over - he might as well be dead. The new season will find him submitting to the will of the gods," he said.