'Vikings' Season 4 News, Spoilers: Departing Cast Members, Showrunner on Two Shocking Deaths
While popular historical drama series "Vikings" has always had its fair share of surprising and brutal deaths, Thursday's episode, titled "Portage," ended with not one, but two, major and shocking female character deaths.
Ragnar (Travis Fimmel) put an end to his lover and former slave Yidu (Dianne Doan) via a brutal drowning while Judith (Jennie Jacques) literally and figuratively stabbed her supposed ally Kwenthrith (Amy Bailey) in the back as the latter was attacking King Ecbert (Linus Roache).
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, "Vikings" showrunner Michael Hirst said that the two most recent deaths are only the beginning and that there will be more to come in the two remaining episodes in the current season of the Viking drama.
According to the "Vikings" boss, who reported that he was "very pleased" with the two character deaths, "I think both deaths are quite shocking in their own way, but totally plausible and believable and part of a much bigger story."
As Hirst explained, Yidu's death was a way for Ragnar to free himself from his addiction to the drugs the slave was supplying him. And though the pair's dalliance may have seemed like a love story, he said that Ragnar actually isn't "in the market" for a romantic relationship.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Doan spoke about her character's exit, saying, "She was safe with Ragnar, but I don't think she ever saw a future there."
"How it ended was, I think, the best way for her to leave," the actress added.
As for the death of Kwenthrith of Mercia, Hirst said: "I wanted Kwenthrith's death to be meaningful and powerful. The fact that it eventually involved Judith was also very good for the general story."
The "Vikings" executive producer also hinted at the upcoming showdown between Ragnar and Rollo (Clive Standen), saying, "Basically in that final showdown everyone's lives – all our major characters' lives – are on the line."
"Vikings" airs Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET on History.
