Spoilers for this episode.
Aethelwulf's army loses the battle against Ragnar's sons, forcing him to retreat and warn his family. Ecbert renounces the throne in his favour and insists on staying behind while the new king leads the others to safety. The Vikings reach the abandoned stronghold and begin plundering it. During the destruction, Tanaruz stabs Helga and then kills herself, leaving Floki to bury his wife in England.
The brothers capture Ecbert and argue about his punishment. Bjorn wants land where their people can settle, while Ivar favours another brutal execution. Ecbert offers East Anglia in return for choosing the manner of his own death. They accept without knowing that he has already abdicated and no longer has the authority he claims. Allowed to return to his bath, Ecbert ends his life after saying farewell to the family he sent away.
With their revenge complete, the brothers disagree about what comes next. Bjorn wants to sail back toward the Mediterranean, while Ivar wants to keep raiding. Floki, overcome by the deaths of his daughter, Ragnar and Helga, tells Bjorn that he feels dead himself. The celebration ends in another killing when Sigurd taunts Ivar and Ivar throws an axe into his brother's chest. Sigurd falls dead before the assembled warriors. Elsewhere, Bishop Heahmund conducts a burial before visiting the widow in her bed.