Barbarians Season 1 Episode 3 Recap – On the Edge

[00:01:00] Segimer teaches his sons that nothing in the world is permanent. He told them the wolf would come for everything while destroying the world in the process. But when Ari became Arminius, he was enlightened to a different view of the wolf—the Roman view, to be exact. Varus teaches Arminius and his brother that the wolf could also save lives, like how it saves Romulus and Remus. Arminius tells Varus what Segimer told him about the wolf. “A wolf cannot destroy the world. Only the Roman army can,” Varus answers.

[00:02:00] Arminius prays to Mars for guidance and strength, so he can carry out his mission. Metellus enters Arminius’ tent. “My men and I will accompany you,” he tells Arminius. Arminius responds he has his men, but Metellus said the order came from Varus. They cannot return without the head of Folkwin on a spear. Metellus, his men, and Arminius set out to find Folkwin. He assures Arminius they would find Folkwin as the barbarians would sell their kin to save themselves. Metellus forgot that Arminius is also a barbarian. He asks Arminius how it feels to be back with his filthy race, but he doesn’t respond.

[00:03:30] Thusnelda and Ansgar stare at the bodies of Folkwin’s family. She goes to Segimer to request that they bury Folkwin’s family, but he refuses. Thusnelda reminds Segimer whose family is crucified outside, but that just angers him further. He told everyone to leave his hut, including Thusnelda. Meanwhile, Berulf and Folkwin were ambushed in the forest by a bunch of men who looked like Arminius’ men. Thusnelda took an axe and started hacking at the wooden cross. Segimer and his men came out, so she threatened to fight them. He told his men to bring Folkwin’s family down from their crosses. Arminius arrives just as they are bringing Folkwin’s family down. Segestes and Irmina watched as they thought Segimer would be put to death.

[00:08:00] Arminius allows them to continue taking down Folkwin’s family for a proper burial. Segestes came out of his hut to tell Arminius that Varus, himself, ordered not to touch the crucified, but Arminius didn’t care. He told Segestes to help take down the dead. Meanwhile, Folkwin and Berulf were taken into custody by the new reik of Gernot’s village. He told Berulf he has his mother’s eyes. They only need to tell them the story while they stay the night in their village.

[00:11:00] Thusnelda bathed Ansgar while her mother explained their decision to go against Segimer. She knew Thusnelda thought awful of them for what happened, but she told her they would be the ones crucified outside if Segestes didn’t sell Folkwin out. Irmina couldn’t understand what Thusnelda saw in Folkwin. She told Thusnelda she could be part of a great tribe and have a powerful husband by her side. Folkwin is destined to die at the hands of the Romans, Irmina added. That night, Arminius visits Segimer to ask where Folkwin is. Segimer doesn’t know where Folkwin is but asks Arminius to spare him. Arminius responds he must have Folkwin’s head, or the whole village will lose theirs. Segimer told Arminius he regrets giving them away for the good of the tribe, but he couldn’t do anything for him.

[00:13:30] Berulf told Kunolf and his men the story of how Thusnelda and Folkwin took the eagle from the Romans. Kunolf told Folkwin he could stay with them for as long as he liked. Meanwhile, Segimer led his tribe in cremating the remains of Folkwin’s family. Arminius went to the ceremony to pay respect, but Thusnelda saw him hiding behind the crowd. She went over to make Arminius leave. He left without saying a word. After he left, Ansgar started laughing at the burning bodies. Irmina scolded Ansgar to stop, but he wouldn’t, so Thusnelda took him away from the ceremony. Ansgar kept saying that the wolf was coming, but Thusnelda placed her hand over his mouth. She overhears a conversation between one of Kunolf’s men and Arminius. They were talking about Folkwin. The man told Arminius that Folkwin was with them and guided them towards their village.

[00:18:00] Thusnelda puts Ansgar to bed and mounts up to follow Arminius and his men. Segestes asks Thusnelda where she’s going as he catches her trying to take their horse. He ties Thusnelda to a wooden post inside their home. He makes it known he’s still the man of the house, but Thusnelda no longer sees him for the man he once was. She spits on his face, but Segestes chooses to be understanding. He told Thusnelda she would soon come to her senses once she married Hadgan. Meanwhile, Folkwin is awakened by the sound of the door slowly opening. He wakes Berulf and Eigil to alert them. They slowly await who will come through the door, but it was just a goat. They had a good laugh, but before they could go back to sleep, one of Kunolf’s men slits the throat of Berulf’s friend.

[00:20:00] Folkwin kills Kunolf’s men before they escape. Berulf tells them to go as he volunteers to stay behind and hold the door for them. Kunolf kills him. Folkwin and Eigil safely escape as Kunolf doesn’t pursue them. One of Kunolf’s men fears the wrath of their gods for betraying their guests, but Kunolf doesn’t care. Folkwin and the rest of their party safely make it out of the village, but things were looking grim for Ansgar. Irmina and Segestes woke up in the middle of the night and saw Ansgar hitting his head on a wooden post. Irmina told Segestes he should put Ansgar out of his misery. Segestes couldn’t kill his son, so Irmina told him she’d do it.

[00:22:00] Thusnelda heard everything her parents said as she stared helplessly at her brother. Morning came as Arminius and his men arrived at Kunolf’s village, but they were too late. Irmina took Ansgar away while Thusnelda tried to call him to his senses. She begged Segestes to let her go to stop her mother. Irmina and Ansgar stop by a cliff where she plans to throw Ansgar. Segestes finally decides to release Thusnelda. She ran as fast as she could towards the cliff. Irmina releases Ansgar as he slowly walks towards the cliff. Thusnelda barely makes it as she stops Ansgar from walking to his death. Irmina told Thusnelda that Ansgar was already dead. Thusnelda angrily shoved her mother towards the edge, but she couldn’t push her over. Thusnelda curses her mother for what she is about to do to Ansgar.

[00:26:00] Irmina went back home only to find Hadgan interrogating Segestes. He’s looking for Thusnelda, but she never came back home. Thusnelda took Ansgar deep within the forest. The oracle found them, but she told Thusnelda she couldn’t take Ansgar with her. She also told her Folkwin was waiting for her. Folkwin and the rest of the men were about to enter the dark lands. One of the men refused to enter as he feared the dark lands more than the Romans. The man decides to turn back as Folkwin walks onward. They noticed Luco was missing. They knew he returned home, so they pressed on. Thusnelda follows Folkwin into the dark lands while Hadgan threatens Segestes and Irmina. They told him Thusnelda had left. Hadgan wants his payment back, but they wouldn’t give it back.

[00:30:00] Hadgan didn’t have any choice but to leave empty-handed. He vowed to return to claim what was rightfully his. Meanwhile, Arminius and Metellus have a good laugh remembering the previous war. He told Arminius the meal they were eating reminded him of Pannonia. Arminius reveals that he, too, was in Pannonia during the war. It seems that Arminius’ cavalry came to the aid of Metellus and his men. They were trapped between the mountains and a swamp. Knowing that Arminius served in the war made Metellus trust him. The two of them showed off their battle scars. Some of Arminius’ men caught Luco on his way back to their village. He was crying in fear of being captured by Romans. Arminius invited Luco to sit by their fire and talk things over.

[00:33:00] Folkwin knew he was on the ropes, so he asked the gods for help. He makes a sacrifice for the gods to kill Varus along with all of his men. Folkwin told the gods he would offer up his firstborn as tribute. Arminius told Luco that Metellus would kill him if he didn’t tell them where Folkwin was hiding. Luco didn’t have any choice, he didn’t want to betray Folkwin, but he also didn’t want to die. Luco tells Arminius that Folkwin entered the dark lands. After getting the information, Metellus kills Luco. Arminius asks Metellus why he still killed Luco. “I hate a traitor,” he responds. They ride for the dark lands.

[00:36:00] Hanno and Eigil were talking about things they were going to do when they got back home. Eigil told Hanno he would marry his sister to make him Uncle Hanno. That day will never come as Eigil dies when a spear pierces his neck. Arminius and his men attack their camp. They manage to kill everyone except for Folkwin. Metellus has Folkwin on the tip of his sword. He gives the sword over to Arminius to behead Folkwin himself. Arminius decides to behead Metellus instead to return the favor since Folkwin saved him from Berulf. Arminius kills all of Metellus’ men as they try to kill him and Folkwin.