To the Gates! is the eighth episode of the third season of Vikings. It is the twenty-seventh episode of the series overall. It first aired on April 9, 2015. It was written by creator Michael Hirst and directed by Kelly Makin.
Synopsis[]
The Viking Army embarks and Paris goes into lockdown as the army prepares the defenses, overseen by Odo. The Vikings are determined to make it through the gates of Paris, and will stop at nothing to succeed.
Plot[]
The attack of Paris takes place. The plan is simple: Lagertha, Kalf, and Erlendur lead an attack on the city gate, making their way by taking the bridge. Meanwhile, Floki, Ragnar, Bjorn, and Rollo try to breach the walls from the water. As the attack begins the fate of Paris seems to be a heavy defeat, but Princess Gisla manages to restore faith in the troops by showing the Oriflamme, the holy banner of their patron, Saint Denis. Eventually the defense holds, pushing back the Vikings from all sides. At the gates Kalf understands that the battle is lost, and after dulling Lagertha's senses, falls back with a wounded Erlendur and very few survivors. Floki's assault machines are burned with oil and fire. After suffering heavy losses, the Vikings are forced to retreat. While the Franks celebrate their victory, at the Viking camp the warriors have to deal with their wounded, including a badly wounded Bjorn and Ragnar who had been thrown down from the walls. Floki is consumed by his guilt, having trusted omens from the gods of certain victory. Helga, disgusted by his selfishness, leaves him. Later at night, Ragnar speaks out to Athelstan and tells him that he is bound and determined to conquer Paris.
Cast[]
Main[]
- Travis Fimmel as King Ragnar
- Katheryn Winnick as Lagertha/Earl Ingstad
- Clive Standen as Rollo
- Gustaf Skarsgård as Floki
- Alexander Ludwig as Bjorn
- Alyssa Sutherland as Queen Aslaug
- Ben Robson as Earl Kalf
- Lothaire Bluteau as Emperor Charles
Guest Starring[]
- Maude Hirst as Helga
- Morgane Polanski as Princess Gisla
- Owen Roe as Count Odo
- Gaia Weiss as Þorunn
Additional Cast[]
- Georgia Hirst as Torvi
- Edvin Endre as Erlendur
- Greg Orvis as Earl Siegfried
- Huw Parmenter as Roland
- Mark Huberman as Louis
- Michael Hough as Frightened Warrior
- Sean Duggan as Monk
- Laurence Foster as French Archbishop
- Lauterio Zamparelli as French Officer
- Karen Hassan as Therese
Uncredited[]
- Unknown Baby Actress as Siggy Bjornsdottir
- Robert MacDomhnail as Viking Warrior
- Charles Sans as Injured Viking Warrior
- Gemma Weston as Shield-maiden
Episode Deaths[]
- N/A
Trivia[]
- The Siege of Paris occurs in 804 AD on Vikings. However, Paris was actually first attacked forty-one years later. And the real Siege of Paris did not occur until 885 AD.
- This episode contains the longest, most ambitious battle scene in the show's run thus far. It lasts for a full thirty minutes and is non-stop action.
- Princess Gisla raises the Oriflamme to inspire the soldiers of Paris. However the Oriflamme was first used in 1124 by Louis VI, over one hundred years after the events depicted in the episode.