There was a big death featured in “Vikings” Season 5, episode 15. The death of a relatively new but important character came as a shock to viewers. There are a few more episodes left in the season and that means more heroes may fall. In a recent interview, showrunner Michael Hirst explained the reason for the death and also talked about the impact it will have on the future.

The following article contains spoilers from all the episodes of “Vikings” Season 5 that have aired.

Bishop Heahmund (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) is no more. In a way, the character appears to have had a premonition of his death in a dream just before battle. In an interview with Variety, showrunner Hirst explained that the warrior priest went to war “almost wanting to die.” He wanted to cleanse himself of his sins, but in the end, he damned himself.

Hirst pointed out that Heahmund’s last words were that he loves Lagertha (Katheryn Winnick). This was important for the showrunner because it shows that love is the most important thing in life.

While the death of Bishop Heahmund is huge for the show, Meyers pointed out that the warrior priest is actually a “footnote” in history. The actor explained that there is no need for his character to continue on the show. The actor compared his character to that of a Roman candle, whose job is to “shine bright, have its effect and leave.”

Meyers recalled how the death scene was filmed in the snow in a “bitter cold” environment. It is not clear who killed Bishop Heahmund in “Vikings” Season 5. Hirst explained that it is not important to focus on who killed the warrior priest, but what is more important to the story is that this important character is removed from the political scene in Wessex and how this death will impact Lagertha.

Not everyone was shocked by the death of Bishop Heahmund. A review by Forbes suggested that the death is a good thing for the show because the warrior priest served no purpose, his story didn’t make any sense, and Meyers “overacted” the part. The romance with Lagertha reportedly feels forced, and the outlet also pointed out that it is historically inaccurate to say that a bishop can’t take a wife in this time period.

According to TV Guide, the most interesting consequence of Bishop Heahmund’s death is its impact on Lagertha. The former queen of Kattegat has vanished. The character has experienced a lot of pain over the years, but since her body hasn’t been found, she must be alive.

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