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Near the end of the fourth episode of Britannia, the scenes of the sacrifice of King Pellenor were interspersed with Sawyer's desperate plea for the return of his daughter Islene. Both men were, in their own ways, disappointed by their gods. King Pellenor left the mortal world, after asking and not receiving forgiveness from his daughter. Sawyer lived, now companion to his baby girl who tearfully vowed to look after him.
King Pellenor sent for the Druids to pass judgment on his daughter Kerra. Everyone, including Kerra, expected that she would be sentenced to death, flayed alive the way her part Roman mother was. Amena even added to the charges against her; she gave Pellenor the Roman scrolls that Kerra kept, given to her by her mother. Veran asked Pellenor if he were ready to accept the judgment of the gods. Pellenor said yes. Veran declared that it was the will of the gods that Pellenor himself be sacrificed.
By now, we know that Veran had been in contact with General Aulus. Pellenor, however, had no idea that the people he believed spoke for the gods had been talking with his enemy. Pellenor gracefully accepted Veran's judgement; it was Kerra who tried to protest. When his son Phelan encouraged him to make his peace with Kerra, the old King stubbornly refused.
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Just before he was about to be killed, King Pellenor asked Veran what his story was, inscribed upon his face from the gods by the Druids. 'You were Pellenor, King of the Cantii, chosen by the gods. The gods took your beloved wife. Your heart was against it, but you obeyed the gods. A darkness entered you, darkness you cast upon your children, and you were broken. A broken father. A broken King.' Clearly disturbed, Pellenor protested that he was more than that. It was as though he could not quite believe that his life was summed thus when he did everything the gods asked of him. He screamed for Kerra, who ran to him. Kerra could not give him the forgiveness he asked for, but she told them that if his faith was true, they would see each other again.
There was much talk on other publications about the similarities between Britannia and Game of Thrones. Its presentation of an alien culture, however, was more akin to the early days of Vikings. King Pellenor's end did not come easily. The last command of Veran was a gruesome way to die. Afterwards, Veran asked Kerra to kneel and declared her Queen of the Cantii.
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In the woods, away from the power struggles of the age. Sawyer told Cait a story of an old man who hurt his back. A Druid came to the village, used a sparrow nest, rabbit bones and crow feathers, and the old man walked out of his hut as though nothing happened. Sawyer believed that the gods could turn back time and give him back his daughter Islene. There was such naked pain in Cait's face as she watched her father, first hopeful, then despondent. Eleanor Worthington Cox is a phenomenal young actress.
The fourth episode of Britannia was not only a story of two damaged faiths, it was also that of two daughters. Kerra had been decreed by the Druids the new ruler of her people. Cait could plainly see that just as her father took care of her when she was a child, she must look after him now that he had lost his sight, and was shaken by the loss of Islene. What do you see, Veran asked the newly proclaimed Queen Kerra. The scene cut to young Cait, determined and drawing her strength from deep, deep love.
Strays
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■ Cait returned the black pebble to Divis; she emphasised that she washed it.
■ Divis' plans changed when he saw General Aulus' eyes. He was not a man.
■ Divis gave Cait a small bottle with ointment for her father's wounds. He advised her to head for Crugdunon.
■ Aulus kept the traumatised Philo alive. He gave Brutus an award for bravery, then tasked him to sit with Philo and to call him when Philo speaks again. Aulus even placed the severed head of Decimus in the tent with them.
■ Kerra advised Phelan not to bow to the will of the Druids when he was King.
■ Lindon offered to take Kerra to Gaul with him. They sh-gged in her cell on what she thought was her last night alive.
■ Amena told Phelan he must speak to the Druids and get their blessing.
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■ When Amena spoke to Veran, she tried to push for Lindon to be the next King. Phelan, she said, was weak.
■ Phelan asked Optio Vitus what was the worst thing he ought to fear. Vitus said it was Aulus Plautius.
■ In exchange for safe passage to their sacred burial grounds, the Cantii offered to release Vitus back to the Romans.
■ Brutus became very nervous when he heard Vitus was alive and returning to camp.
■ Lucius suspected that Aulus arranged for the Cantii, via the Druids, to sacrifice King Pellenor.
■ Aulus sent men to follow the Cantii; he wanted to know everything about the Amber Palace, their sacred burial site.
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