Episode 16
Retainer
Oct 21, 2019
9.3 Rating
Arc: Prologue — Canute's Awakening
Episode Overview
Askeladd's origin is fully revealed in a heartbreaking flashback — his Welsh mother enslaved, his Viking nobleman father who wouldn't acknowledge him, his childhood a long education in how the world treats those without power. The episode transforms the series' primary antagonist into its most fully rendered human being.
What Fans Think
Universally cited as the best episode of Season 1. Askeladd's backstory achieves something remarkable — full empathy for a man who has done terrible things, without excusing any of it. The episode fundamentally changes how everything before it reads.
Aggregated fan sentiment from community discussions.
Episode information is collated from multiple community sources and may contain inaccuracies.