Laura Smith
In the History Channel's Vikings, Rollo, Ragnar Lothbrok's older brother, is forced by Floki to eat mushrooms. While under the influence of the mushrooms, Rollo hacks the leg off a captured Mercian soldier and makes an embarrassing advance towards Princess Kwentirith. Despite this, Rollo survives the mushrooms, unlike his fellow mushroom consumer Torstein, who dies. One theory is that Floki gave Rollo a different mushroom from Torstein, one with healing properties and pain-blocking properties, so that Rollo could defend himself from King Horik's men.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for survival | Given a different mushroom from Torstein, which had healing and pain-blocking properties |
| Effect of mushrooms | Fights off King Horik's men, hacks off a captured soldier's leg, makes inappropriate advances towards Princess Kwentirith |
| Floki's intentions | To test if the mushrooms were safe, to give Rollo berserker strength, to fake Torstein's death |
| Rollo's health | Bedridden, weak |
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What You'll Learn
Floki gave Rollo a different mushroom with healing properties
Floki gave Rollo a different type of mushroom than the one he gave Torstein. While Torstein received the mushroom that makes one puke and pass out, Rollo got a mushroom with healing and pain-blocking properties. This allowed Rollo to defend himself from King Horik's men.
Indeed, after consuming the mushrooms, Rollo fought off two of Horik's soldiers despite being bedridden. Floki, who is knowledgeable about herbs and their effects, may have wanted to test the mushrooms on Rollo first before giving them to Torstein. It is also speculated that Floki wanted to help Rollo defend himself and knew that the mushrooms would give him berserker strength.
The mushrooms also had hallucinogenic effects on Rollo, leading him to find humour in an otherwise embarrassing encounter with Princess Kwentirith. The mushrooms may have also contributed to his violent behaviour, such as hacking off the leg of a captured Mercian soldier.
In addition to the mushrooms, Floki may have used his "magic fingers" to help Rollo heal faster. Floki has previously demonstrated his ability to heal, as he saved Ragnar's life when he was severely injured. He also used herbs and sages from Kattegat to help heal Rollo and Ragnar after they were injured in battle.
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Rollo was only pretending to be weak
It is possible that Rollo was only pretending to be weak after consuming the mushrooms. This theory is supported by the fact that Rollo was able to fight off King Horik's men despite appearing to be bedridden and barely able to stand. It is suggested that Floki gave Rollo a different type of mushroom from Torstein, one that had healing and pain-blocking properties, allowing Rollo to defend himself effectively. Additionally, Rollo's improved fighting abilities could be attributed to the influence of the mushrooms, which are known for their hallucinogenic properties and ability to induce violent rages.
Furthermore, it is speculated that Floki may have had ulterior motives for giving Rollo the mushrooms. Some viewers suggest that Floki wanted to test the mushrooms on Rollo first to ensure their safety before giving them to the "blonde lad", indicating that Rollo's survival was always intended. This theory is strengthened by the observation that Floki had multiple opportunities to harm Ragnar and his family but did not take them, suggesting he may have been playing traitor to expose Horik's plot.
The idea that Rollo was pretending to be weak is further supported by the fact that he was able to travel with Ragnar's expedition to England after the mushroom incident. This indicates that Rollo had recovered sufficiently to embark on a challenging journey, suggesting that the mushrooms may have only temporarily incapacitated him. Additionally, Floki's medical skills and knowledge of herbs and fungi could have been a factor in Rollo's recovery, as he was able to save Rollo's life and help him heal.
While the show takes creative liberties with historical accuracy, the theory that Rollo was pretending to be weak adds an intriguing layer of deception and strategy to the narrative. It showcases Rollo's cunning and resilience, as well as Floki's strategic thinking and understanding of mushroom properties. This interpretation of events provides a satisfying explanation for Rollo's survival and his ability to defend himself against King Horik's men.
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Floki wanted to test if the mushrooms were safe
Floki's intentions regarding the mushrooms are a subject of debate among viewers of the show. Some viewers interpret Floki's actions as a test of the mushrooms' safety, while others believe he intended to harm Rollo. One theory suggests that Floki gave Rollo a different type of mushroom than the one given to Torstein, knowing that Rollo was a skilled warrior and his death wouldn't bother Floki terribly. This theory is supported by the fact that Rollo exhibited different symptoms than Torstein, who appeared to be unconscious and vomiting, while Rollo was still able to fight despite being bedridden.
Furthermore, it is speculated that Floki may have wanted to test the mushrooms on Rollo to see if they induced a berserker-like state, as Floki himself is described as "pretty close to being a berserker". The idea that the mushrooms were used to induce a berserker state is supported by the fact that Rollo fought with increased aggression and strength, characteristics often associated with berserkers.
Additionally, Floki may have wanted to test the mushrooms on Rollo as a form of redemption or apology for his previous actions. In the show, Floki is often portrayed as a skilled healer, having saved Ragnar's life and helped heal Rollo and Ragnar with herbs and sages. By testing the mushrooms on Rollo, Floki may have been seeking to use his knowledge of mushrooms to aid his friend and make amends for his past behaviour.
Overall, while there are varying interpretations of Floki's intentions, the idea that he wanted to test the mushrooms' safety on Rollo before giving them to others or inducing specific effects is a prevalent theory among viewers.
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Rollo was given a pain blocker
In the History Channel's Vikings, Rollo, Ragnar Lothbrok's older brother, is given mushrooms by Floki. These mushrooms are hallucinogenic and are said to have healing and pain-blocking properties.
Rollo is bedridden and weak when Floki gives him the mushrooms. Despite his condition, Rollo fights off two of Horik's soldiers. This suggests that the mushrooms gave Rollo the strength and pain tolerance to defend himself.
One theory is that Floki gave Rollo a different type of mushroom from the one given to Torstein. While Torstein's mushroom made him pass out, Rollo's mushroom may have had healing and pain-blocking properties. This would explain why Rollo was able to fight off Horik's soldiers despite his injuries.
Additionally, Floki is known to have medical skills and knowledge of herbs and their effects. He has previously saved Ragnar's life and helped heal Rollo and Ragnar with herbs from Kattegat. It is possible that Floki used his knowledge of mushrooms to give Rollo a pain blocker, allowing him to survive the attack from Horik's soldiers.
The mushrooms also seem to have affected Rollo's behaviour, as he finds an embarrassing encounter with Princess Kwentirith hilarious. This further supports the theory that the mushrooms had a significant impact on Rollo's physical and mental state, potentially including pain-blocking effects.
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Rollo was a berserker Viking
Rollo, originally known as Rollo Sigurdsson, was a fearsome Viking warrior and the older brother of Ragnar Lothbrok. He was known for his impulsive streak and internal struggles. Rollo participated in the Norsemen-Balts Battle alongside his younger brother, fighting with typical Viking viciousness.
Rollo was indeed portrayed as a berserker Viking in popular culture. In the TV series Vikings, Rollo consumes intoxicating mushrooms, which are speculated to have healing and pain-blocking properties, enabling him to defend himself against King Horik's men. This depiction of Rollo as a berserker Viking draws inspiration from the ancient texts and the notion that berserkers were Norse warriors who fought in a trance-like fury, possibly induced by hallucinogenic mushrooms.
Berserkers, or berserks, were Norse warriors known for their uncontrollable and violent behaviour in battle. They are mentioned in Old Norse literature and various sagas, such as the Vatnsdœla saga and the Völsunga saga. The Úlfhéðnar, or "wolf-skinned warriors," were associated with Odin's special warriors, fighting without armour and exhibiting madness akin to that of hounds or wolves.
Rollo's character in the series aligns with the characteristics of a berserker. After consuming the mushrooms, he fights with increased aggression, hacking off the leg of a captured Mercian soldier and behaving inappropriately towards Princess Kwenthrith. Additionally, Rollo's impulsive behaviour and internal struggles mirror the traits often associated with berserker Vikings.
Overall, the depiction of Rollo as a berserker Viking in popular culture draws inspiration from ancient texts and the historical reputation of berserkers as fierce Norse warriors.
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Frequently asked questions
Rollo survived the mushrooms because Floki gave him a different mushroom from Torstein, which had healing properties and/or pain-blocking properties.
Rollo ate Agaricus Bisporus mushrooms, which Floki gathered from the forest.
After eating the mushrooms, Rollo fought off two of Horik's soldiers with an axe. He also hacked the leg off a captured Mercian soldier, saying that he "didn't like the angle of the leg."
Floki may have wanted to test if the mushrooms were safe to use on Torstein. Alternatively, he may have wanted to give Rollo berserker strength to defend himself.
