On the Edge is the third episode of the first season of the Netflix original series Barbarians, and the third episode of the series overall.
Synopsis[]
Ari commands troops ordered by Varus to hunt down and kill Folkwin, whose family and home village are put in danger for his act of defiance.
Plot[]
Many years ago, prior to giving his sons up to Rome, Segimer told them the tale of the wolf and how it would devour everything. After being taken in by the Romans, Arminius and his brother, Flavus, learned from Varus how the wolf saved Romulus and Remus. Vargus tells him that a wolf can’t destroy the world. Only a Roman army can.
Arminius prays to the gods for guidance during his mission. Metellus then informs him that he will be accompanying him on Varus’ orders. They are not to return without Folkwin Wolfspeer’s head on a pike.
Thusnelda joins Ansgar outside. She can’t do anything but look up at Folkwin’s family that remains crucified in the center of the village. She then confronts Segimer for not burying Folkwin’s family. The family of Segimer’s first sword-bearer. Drunk and enraged, he demands that everyone exit his home.
Berulf urges Folkwin to search for allies so they may get revenge. The Bructeri have always hated the Romans, but that hatred has grown since they beheaded his uncle, Gernot Redbeard. He was their old reik. Gernot’s heir in the Bructeri is Berulf's mother’s cousin. Berulf’s father is Cherusci while his mother is Bructeran. They suddenly find themselves surrounded by the Bructeri.
Thusnelda decides to take matters into her own hands and chop down Folkwin’s family herself. Segimer joins her and orders his men to assist. He then embraces her. At the worst possible time, Arminius and Metellus lead a group of Romans into the village. Thusnelda asks if he still thinks he’s on the right side. They question who ordered for the family to be cut down. Segimer takes responsibility as the dead are deserving of a burial. Arminius admits this is true and allows for the rest of Folkwin’s family to be taken down and buried, much to Segestes’ displeasure as Arminius commands him to assist.
Reik of Bructeri, Kunolf the Brukteer, greets Berulf and tells him that he has his mother’s eyes. He’s heard the tale of how Folkwin stoke the Roman’s eagle and wishes to hear the story from Folkwin himself. So Kunolf offers them a place to stay.
Thusnelda gives Ansgar a bath. Irmina knows what Thusnelda thinks of them. She thinks that Irmina is awful and that Segestes is a traitor. However, Irmina claims that without him, they’d all be hanging. Back when she first met Segestes, she hated him. And that was a good thing. She informs Thusnelda that one day she’ll learn how to use her hate to get what she really wants. Thusnelda is clever. Irmina believes she could marry into a powerful tribe. To a husband she can control. This is why she questions why Thusnelda continues to hang onto Folkwin.
Arminius arrives in Cherusci in search of Folkwin, but Segimer hasn’t seen him. He begs Arminius to spare Folkwin, but he can’t. If he doesn’t return with Folkwin’s head, the whole village will parish.
Berulf tells the story of how Thusnelda, Folkwin, Hanno, and Eigil captured the eagle as if he was there. He remarks that he was there in spirit. Golmad asks about Thusnelda, who’s said to be a warrior. Berulf claims that Thusnelda is not only a warrior but also a seer.
Kunolf tells Folkwin that he’s welcome to stay for as long as he’d like. Folkwin replies that he’s only come to acquire allies and leads them into battle, which Kunolf is in agreement with.
Folkwin’s family is laid to rest. The entire village gathers. Their bodies are put on top of the pyre and set ablaze. Runa leads the ceremony. Thusnelda steps away at the sight of Arminius and tells him that he isn’t wanted. Ansgar unexpectedly appears at the funeral and repeats the phrase "They’re burning!" Irmina begs him to stop as his actions are a disgrace, but he continues until Thusnelda takes him home.
As Thusnelda takes Ansgar home, she overhears Arminius speaking with a Bructeran, who informs him that they have Folkwin. As they ride out, Thusnelda puts Ansgar in bed and tries to leave on a horse, but she is apprehended by Segestes, who binds her to a support beam. He asks why she is doing this to him. She simply spits in his face and tells him that she hopes the five horses he’s selling her to Hadgan for will make him happy.
Folkwin lies awake. He hears the doors creaking and awakens Berulf, Hanno, Eigil, and Luco. They all turn their attention towards the door only for a goat to walk in. The Bructeri woman who they are laying with suddenly begin killing them, forcing Folkwin and his men to flee out the back door as the Bructeri attack, having sold them out for the reward offered for Folkwin’s head. Berulf blocks the door with his body whilst the others escape. Unfortunately, he is stabbed in the chest and killed by Kunolf. Golmad questions why he betrayed them. Berulf was a Bructeran and Thusnelda has connection to the gods, which frighten him. Kunolf replies that Rome would have paid a good price.
Segestes and Irmina lay awake at night at the sound of Ansgar repeatedly slamming his head into the support beam. Irmina says that they wouldn’t let an animal suffer so and it would be cruel to allow Ansgar to. Meaning that the boy should be put out of his misery. Thusnelda overhears this discussion and watches frantically as her mother leaves with her brother the following morning. She pleads with her father to release her so that she may save Ansgar.
Irmina walks Ansgar into the woods and leads him to a cliff. She suggests they play "the wolf is coming." Irmina then ties a blindfold over his eyes and turns him towards the cliff. Ansgar inches closer and closer towards the cliff. He nearly walks off until Thusnelda comes to his rescue, saving him just as he reaches the edge. She then turns her attention towards her mother, grabbing her by the throat and holding her over the edge of the cliff, though she doesn’t have it in her to push Irmina over.
Irmina returns home to find Segestes being attacked by Hadgan and his men. He’s come looking for Thusnelda.
Thusnelda meets with Runa in the woods. She informs Thusnelda that Folkwin is looking for her and that Ansgar is better off staying with her as he is special to the gods. She assures Thusnelda that Ansgar will be well looked after.
Folkwin reaches the Dark Land. Luco warns him that no mortal has ever gone in and come back out. It is supposedly the land of the undead. Luco is too afraid to proceed and turns back around whereas Hanno and Eigil follow behind Folkwin into the Dark Land.
Hadgan tells Segestes that he’s owed a bride, but Segestes and Irmina explain that Thusnelda is gone. Hadgan is either owed a bride or five mares, but Segestes refuses to give him anything. So Hadgan promises retribution.
The Romans set up camp for the night. Metellus remarks that the slop reminds him of Pannonia. He served as part of the 15th legion, commanded by Tiberius. Arminius was also deployed there as prefect of the auxiliary Germanic troops. Metellus realizes that Arminius was among the troops who saved him and his men when they were trapped by the enemy. Arminius bares a brand or what he calls a souvenir from Pannonia steel on his right arm. Metellus bears a similar wound on his left thigh. Metellus then admits that Arminius made the right choice in allowing the Cherusci tribe to bury their people against Varus’ wishes. A sobbing Luco is then captured by the guards and brought before them.
Folkwin begs the gods to avenge his family: "Gods, I beg you to revenge my family. You are more powerful than the three Women of the Woods. Show me your power. Varus, and all who ride under his flag shall shed their blood on our soil. Their guts and entrails shall fertilize our fields, and their skulls will hang from our branches. For this, I will sacrifice what's most precious to me. My firstborn."
Luco reveals to Arminius that Folkwin went into the Dark Land. When Arminius reveals he can lead them there, Metellus kills Luco as he has outlived his usefulness. They proceed to mount up and head into the Dark Land.
Folkwin, Hanno, and Eigil gather around a fire. Hanno tells Eigil that when they get home that he’ll marry his sister. In his dreams, she blessed him with a ton of kids and Eigil will be an uncle. Suddenly, a spear pierces Hanno’s throat. The Romans have found them and a fight ensues. Folkwin is the last man standing is his crew after Hanno is killed as well. Metellus holds him at knifepoint and hands his sword over to Arminius to finish the job. Rather than beheading Folkwin, Arminius kills Metellus instead.
Cast[]
Starring[]Guest Starring[]
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Co-Starring[] |
Death Toll[]
- Metellus — Varus ordered Arminius and Metellus to kill Folkwin after he stole the eagle. They tracked him down to the Dark Land, where Arminius killed Metellus as he didn't have it in him to kill his childhood friend.
- Berulf — On the run from Varus, who placed an outstanding bounty on Folkwin's head, the group sought refuge with the Bructeri, who attempted to kill Folkwin in hopes of claiming the bounty. While Folkwin managed to escape, Berulf was killed by Kunolf.
- Luco — Too scared to cross through the Dark Land, Luco separated from the group with intentions on going home, but he was captured by the Romans and stabbed in the back of the neck by Metellus.
- Hanno — Hanno was killed in the Dark Land by the Romans with a spear.
- Eigil — Eigil was killed by Roman soldiers in the Dark Land.
Trivia[]
- Arminius and Metellus mention how they both served in Pannonia, which was a province of the Roman Empire bounded on the north and east by the Danube.
Gallery[]
Episode Guide[]
| Season 1 | |
| SE1E01: Wolf and Eagle | SE1E04: A New Reik |
| SE1E02: Vengeance | SE1E05: Treason |
| SE1E03: On the Edge | SE1E06: The Battle |