'Vikings' season 4 episode 19 spoilers: 'Death comes to important people,' says EP on season's end

With only two episodes left in its fourth season, the historical action-adventure series "Vikings" is definitely upping the ante. And with the Great Army raiding the English countryside and a surprise assault on Kattegat coming up, nobody is safe, not even the fiercest warriors of Ragnar's clan.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, series creator and executive producer Michael Hirst teased viewers that nothing could prepare them for what's going down in the upcoming battle sequences between the Great Army and the Saxons. It's an inevitably violent battle mixed in with huge amounts of emotions.

"It's full of surprises," Hirst said. "And death. Death comes to important people," he added.

Who dies and who lives? This is the question in everybody's mind as they await the revelations and grief that the penultimate episode of "Vikings" season 4 might bring. After avenging Ragnar's (Travis Fimmel) death on King Aelle (Ivan Kaye) via the brutal "blood eagle method," right where Ragnar himself died, the Great Army moves on to bring their own brand of chaos to the English countryside in episode 19 titled "On the Eve."

How will King Ecbert (Linus Roache) and his son Aethelwulf (Moe Dunford) protect their realm? Will the King of Wessex's complicated love-hate friendship with the late Viking leader count for mercy where Ragnar's sons are concerned? Or will blood be spilled mercilessly in the vengeful sons' quest to fulfill their father's visions?

On the other hand, a sneak peek for the next episode shows Kattegat under siege by King Harald's (Peter Franzén) and Egil's (Charlie Kelly) blindsiding schemes. Will Lagertha and what is left of the Kattegat army be able to defend their stead in the absence of their best warriors? Or will the Great Army be welcomed by a new king on their return home?

"Vikings" season 4 episode 19 airs on Wednesday, Jan. 25, at 9 p.m. EST on History.