‘Vikings’ season 4 episode 19 spoilers, promo, speculation: Fate of King Ecbert

“Vikings” season 4 episode 19 titled “On the Eve” will decide the fate of King Ecbert (Linus Roache). The battle between him and Ragnar’s (Travis Fimmel) sons has already begun. However, it remains to be seen who wins it.

In the last episode, not only King Aelle (Ivan Kaye) realised how powerful the great army was but also the audience. Fans now wonder what will happen to King Ecbert who is their next target.

The great army will give bum’s rush to English countryside

Last episode did not show much of the battle but the forthcoming episode will apparently not disappoint fans. Showrunner Michael Hirst has revealed that “truly awesome battle sequences” wait in the next episode. The great army will rampage through the English countryside and King Ecbert will panic. “This is the time to act,” he says in the promo.

King Ecbert will plan defence

King Ecbert and Aethelwulf (Moe Dunford) will discuss on how they will defend Ragnar’s sons. The father-son duo shared an emotional conversation in the last episode when Aethelwulf finally asked his father if he loves him. King Ecbert didn’t give an answer. It would be interesting to see how they would work together on the mission.

King Ecbert doesn’t love Aethelwulf

Hirst has finally revealed if King Ecbert loves Aethelwulf or not. “I don’t think he (Ecbert) loved his son, particularly,” he said. “For some curious reason, he’s been able to articulate his love for Ragnar and Athelstan, but he still found it difficult to embrace his own son.”

Power struggle between Ivar and Bjorn continues

“Vikings” season 4 episode 19 promo has revealed that Ivar (Alex Hogh Andersen) and Bjorn (Alexander Ludwig) are still fighting for power. In the last episode, Bjorn declared that he will lead the troop and others shall follow his command. In the next episode, Ivar tells Bjorn, “The true heir to the great Ragnar Lothbrok will turn out to be a cripple.”

Will King Ecbert die?

Going by the last episode, Ragnar’s sons seem unstoppable. They are keen to avenge the death of their father. However, Ragnar asked Ivar to revenge from King Aelle and not Ecbert. However, the great army will move towards England and rampage the countryside. King Ecbert will plan defence but will he be successful? It seems like he won’t.

Hirst said the audience witness one of the amazing battle sequences in forthcoming episode and likely there will be death. “These are truly awesome battle sequences, but beneath that, there’s a huge amount of emotional life. It’s full of surprises. And death. Death comes to important people,” Hirst told Entertainment Weekly.

Furthermore, he also revealed about the emotional state of King Ecbert when he would die. “I think that these questions (referring to the question Aethelwulf asked him in the last episode that if he loves him or not) embarrass him, toward the end of his life, and make him confront things he’s shut himself away from.”

It is certain that Ragnar’s sons are running on vengeance and nothing seems to divert them from their goal. Besides King Ecbert’s fate, another thing to look out for is the finale. Whether the finale be an aftermath of the battle with King Ecbert or this battle will go on for two episodes remains to be seen.

“Vikings” season 4 episode 19 will air at 9PM ET on Jan.25 in the US. The show also airs in Australia on SBS One at 8:30PM.