Ragnar Lothbrok, infamous Viking, is dead. 

Okay, technically, he died like a thousand years ago, but that doesn't make it any less devastating. 

If you turned on your TV to escape all of the death that 2016 has brought us, you were surely disappointed. 

Vikings Season 4 Episode 15 was absolutely incredible. 

It's not easy to take a death that everyone knows is coming and still have it pack such an emotional gut punch. 

We were all expecting it, but that just made the moments leading up to it that much more unbearable. 

Ragnar: You're blind.
Blind Man: Sure am. But the horses know the way. But don't worry, I can see you Ragnar Lothbrok. I can see you.

• Permalink: Sure am. But the horses know the way. But don't worry, I can see you Ragnar Lothbrok. I can...

I was curious to see how the blind man from the Seer's prophecy was going to play into Ragnar's death. 

Ragnar believed he was taking matters into his own hands, and that he orchestrated the events that led to his death. Yet, the Seer's prophecy came true and made Ragnar question if any of it was really his idea at all. 

Ragnar is a man used to being in control, and he wanted control over his own fate. It was fascinating watching him refuse to accept that this might have all been part of the gods' plan all along. 

Still, he refused to be absolved of his sins, and his last words were of Valhalla and waiting there for his sons. Whether he really believes that or not was irrelevant as long as Aelle and his men believed him. 

The torture scenes were so hard to watch. Ragnar barely flinched while having a cross carved into his forehead, but I sure did. His bloody face and eye swollen shut were disgusting. 

Thanks to some of your comments, and other things I've read, I knew the snake pit was coming, but that did not make it any easier to watch. Being beaten to a bloody pulp and then dropped into a pit of snakes? Yeah, that's definitely up there on the list of worst ways to die. 

And if all of that wasn't gut-wrenching enough, we got to witness Ragnar's life literally flash before his eyes. 

It was actually endearing to get to reminisce in those early moments when Bjorn and his sister were young, not to mention getting to see Athelstan again. 

We basically just got a really quick rundown of all of the important moments in Ragnar's life on the series. 

Shut up and listen, idiot. You have many gifts, and anger is a gift. What is in here [points to his head] is a gift. You do not think like other men. You are unpredictable. That will serve you well. Use your anger intelligently, and I promise you my son, that one day the whole world will know and fear Ivar, the Boneless.

Ragnar

• Permalink: Shut up and listen, idiot. You have many gifts, and anger is a gift. What is in here [points...

Ecbert is kind of an idiot. 

Or, maybe he's just too trusting, but either way you almost feel sorry for the guy. 

He was having a legit crisis of conscience over turning Ragnar over to King Aelle and his certain death. 

Yet, despite their deal, Ragnar went back on his word and told Ivar to seek revenge on Ecbert, not Aelle. 

Ecbert probably should have seen that coming, but as Ragnar said, Ivar is not to be underestimated. Ecbert is going to regret letting him go home real soon. 

Though, maybe not as soon as initially thought. Ivar returned home and found out Lagertha killed his mother, so now he's got a choice to make. 

Which parent will he avenge first? 

Logistically, his mother makes the most sense, since Lagertha is a lot closer. 

Lagertha is a fierce, strong warrior, but Ivar is batshit crazy. I'd be a little worried if I were her, especially because underestimating the cripple seems to be a big theme. 

That final shot of Ivar was like straight out of a horror movie. Dude is Creepy. As. Hell. 

After losing Ragnar, I am not emotionally prepared to lose another major character anytime soon, especially not Lagertha, so here's hoping Ivar doesn't do anything too drastic just yet. 

I don't know about you guys, but I will definitely be ready to check in on Bjorn and Floki on Vikings Season 5 Episode 16. 

If the super quick series of flashbacks wasn't enough, you can watch Vikings online and re-live all of Ragnar's biggest moments. 

Stacy Glanzman was a staff writer for TV Fanatic. She retired in March, 2019.