A NETFLIX ORIGINAL SERIES
[grunting softly]
[Runa] Show me what you see. Show me.
[Ansgar grunting]
Show me what you see.
[choking]
Yes, show me.
[Folkwin coughing]
Why did you do that?
Huh?
- What made you stop the duel? - [chuckles]
[grunts]
I wanted to kill you.
I really wanted to kill you.
I prayed to Mars to give me the strength.
[Folkwin] That's what I thought.
What?
Yeah, that your Mars is useless. [chuckles and grunts]
Ari.
[coughs]
At least now you know your name again.
[coughs]
Ready?
[Folkwin] Yeah.
[groaning]
[grunting]
[Thusnelda] You take the eagle from us.
You fight for Rome.
And then you kill your own men.
Just to be clear, this doesn't mean a damn thing.
Where I'm sitting, it doesn't look that way.
I'm a prefect of the Roman cavalry.
[Thusnelda scoffs]
Fight with us.
Join our side.
What side?
I see only a wounded man and a woman in the woods.
All I did was clear a debt.
My life is in Rome.
[Folkwin] What business do you have there?
You're one of us.
Not anymore.
You buried Folkwin's family.
According to our rites.
You buried them?
That shows where you belong, Ari.
We'll never see each other again.
That's the best way.
Find a place far away from here and start a new life.
Are you really returning to Rome?
What will you say about all this?
Varus just wants your head.
And he'll have it.
[Folkwin] You really think that you'll get away with that?
To Varus, you barbarians all look alike.
[Pelagios] Governor Varus says that Rome will teach you how to fill your granaries,
but the tribute is not negotiable.
I'm begging you.
My people are starving.
If you don't have enough cattle or grain, you can give us slaves.
I will never allow the Cherusci people to be enslaved!
[speaking Latin]
[in English] You're a beggar. And Rome doesn't need beggars,
but strong leaders.
[speaking Latin]
[in English] Your time is up now, Reik Segimer.
- You asked for my sons and I gave you. - [Pelagios speaking Latin]
[Segimer in English] I'm giving you as a pledge…
- [woman screaming and crying] - …for peace between our peoples.
[woman continues crying]
[young Arminius] Father, please! Don't send us away!
[speaking Latin]
[Pelagios in English] I'm grateful for that.
[speaking Latin]
[in English] That's why I've got a proposal for you.
[speaking Latin]
[Pelagios in English] Make way for your son Arminius.
[speaking Latin]
[in English] He will lead the Cherusci.
You want to make Arminius reik of my tribe?
[speaking Latin]
[Pelagios in English] You owe it to Arminius.
[speaking Latin]
[Pelagios in English] It's the only way he will honor your memory.
- [Varus continues speaking Latin] - [in English] A son succeeds his father.
[speaking Latin]
[in English] That is the natural course of events.
A son succeeds his father, only…
when his father is gone.
I see we understand each other.
- [Folkwin] The Romans are well armed. - [Thusnelda] Let's go to the Marsi.
No.
But don't you think we need friends?
The only choice we have… is to convince the Bructeri.
Have you still got a fever?
The Bructeri wanted to sell the Romans your head.
And they killed Berulf, I know. [grunts]
But the Bructeri… they only believe in gold and the gods.
Greed and faith.
And we have plenty of both.
- Yeah, and then they'll kill us. - [grunts]
You, they'll love.
[horses whinnying]
[adventurous music playing]
- [Thusnelda] You want me to fool the gods? - [Folkwin] Yep.
They think you are a seer.
And no tribe fears the power of the gods as much as the Bructeri.
[Arminius in Latin] They were led by Folkwin Wolfspeer.
Well done.
I knew you wouldn't disappoint me, my son.
I was only doing my duty.
But unfortunately, many good men were lost.
You did everything right.
Make sure every single Germanic person sees what I do to our enemies.
You have certainly earned your reward.
I will bring honor to your name in Rome, Father.
You aren't going back to Rome.
But I thought… my life would be in Rome.
You have achieved everything you can in Rome, Arminius.
Everything someone like you can hope to achieve.
Someone like me?
You were born a barbarian.
You belong here… in Germania.
This is where you can best serve Rome.
This is your destiny.
I'm giving you that which you were born to have, Arminius.
You will become the reik of your tribe.
Arminius, Reik of the Cherusci.
That's what I raised you to be.
I thought…
you raised me to be your son.
[breathing heavily]
The Cherusci already have a reik.
[Varus] I already spoke with Reik Segimer.
He agrees with me.
Old wolves know…
when the time has come to leave the pack.
A man's true pride…
lies in being able to choose his own end.
[melancholy music playing]
[Segimer in English] Nothing lasts forever.
Stars…
trees, animals…
people.
Even the gods.
Everything perishes in the end.
The wolf will come…
and the world will burn.
The wolf…
[wolf howling]
…will devour the moon.
He'll devour the sun.
He'll devour everything. Everything. Everything that ever existed.
But it's nothing you need to be scared of.
Everything that begins…
ends eventually.
[sweeping music playing]
[breath trembling]
[breathing heavily]
[panting]
[dramatic music playing]
[yelling]
[Runa chanting]
[Thusnelda] It will never work.
[Folkwin] Not all Bructeri are like their reik.
Golmad hates the Romans.
Just like us.
And they admire you.
[thunder rumbling]
A thunderstorm's on the way.
Then we'd better hurry.
No.
Let's wait.
[Varus in Latin] You have achieved everything you can in Rome, Arminius.
You were born a barbarian.
You belong here… in Germania.
This is your destiny.
That's what I raised you to be.
This is where you can best serve Rome.
[dramatic music playing]
[yells]
- [clattering] - [yelling]
[breathing heavily]
[soldier] Greetings.
Greetings, Dominus.
One of your men survived.
Has he said anything?
No, he's in the infirmary.
[thunder rumbling]
Fetch a doctor. I'll stay with him.
[breathing heavily]
[man groaning]
[neck snaps]
[in English] Talio.
What are you doing here?
My back is infected.
From the whipping.
[soldier in Latin] The doctor!
Bury him with full honors.
[boy yelling]
[crowd clamoring]
- [boy screaming] - [executioner roars]
[Kunolf in English] I see you brought reinforcements.
[chuckling]
- I'll bet you're here to seek revenge. - [Folkwin] Yes.
Yes, but not on you.
- On the Romans? - Yes.
What's in it for me?
Why shouldn't I just take your weapons from you?
And the horses, and the armor…
along with the bounty on your head, Folkwin?
Kunolf.
We have much more to offer you than just the bounty on my head.
Just as we seized these weapons from them, we can seize so much more.
We'll overwhelm their patrols. As a team, we will take our tribute back!
[thunder cracking]
Rome kidnapped your leader and murdered him.
- Your reik. - [grunts]
Why do you want my head and not the head of Varus?
[chuckling]
Varus is far away.
[chuckling]
And you're here.
Stop! I wouldn't do that if I were you!
[thunder rumbling]
You don't want to incur the wrath of the gods, do you?
Who might you be, anyway?
- I am Thusnelda. - [all murmuring]
- [Thusnelda] From the Cherusci. - [man 1] She's a seer.
She can talk to the gods.
- [man 2] She can talk to the gods. - [woman] She has the gift.
[man 3] She has powers!
So, you say you have the gift.
All I see is a wench…
who's pretending to be something she isn't!
What do you see?
Where have your gods gone to now? When will Donar come to help you?
[yelling]
[grunting]
- Stop! - [Golmad yells]
Folkwin saved you all.
This man…
brought the wrath of the gods onto your people.
Listen to her!
You betrayed your brothers…
your Cheruscan brothers, for Kunolf.
And you murdered Berulf.
[grunts]
[flesh squelches]
Your family.
And your guest.
[tearing flesh]
For that, Donar demands a sacrifice.
[all murmuring]
Where death is…
life will come.
Where blood flows…
wisdom also flows.
I have seen you all.
In my dreams.
You.
You bore the sign of Donar.
I've seen you all.
You.
And you.
You bore the sign of Donar, also.
[Folkwin] What you did…
it was as if Donar really had sent a dream to you.
I almost believed it myself.
Thusnelda?
You care about the gods now?
I thought you only believed in your sword.
That was when I still had a family.
[in Latin] You wanted to speak with me, Dominus?
[in English] Feeling better?
Have you spoken to anybody?
Speaking of things I don't understand isn't my way.
Nobody would believe you.
And I would kill you.
Then it's wise to say nothing.
Once again, wisdom pays off.
Then why aren't I a rich man?
- Well, we can change that. - [indistinct chatter]
[in Latin] Father.
You're dressed like a barbarian.
If I'm to be leader of my tribe, then I should look like I'm one of them.
I'm glad you've warmed to the idea.
[in English] Our tribe needs a reik.
[suspenseful music playing]
I mean, I will win over their hearts.
Of course you will.
You miss our children, I know.
Don't you wonder why Segimer went into the bog?
[scoffs]
I think he gave up a long time ago.
What do you think it's worth to Varus…
if I tell him that's not Folkwin's head in front of his tent?
You really are wise, Talio.
- And poor as ever. - What do you want?
A plot of land and a year's salary for me and my men.
What is the matter?
You do the same work as a Roman legionary but get a third of his wage.
And yet?
You ask for a pittance.
Do you have a family?
[sighs] Six children.
Then it's them you should be thinking about…
instead of slaving for the empire and being whipped by people like me.
What are you trying to say, Dominus?
[man laughing in distance]
You and your men.
- Planning a mutiny? - What?
No.
[firmly] No.
What makes you say that?
As a soldier…
who's out there in front?
And who do you kill?
Your own blood.
And you're not planning a mutiny?
The Romans pretend to be our friends.
Domination's the only aim, though.
Let's be honest…
how often have you been drinking with your men
and thinking about what it'd be like to slit each of their throats?
The tribunes, the governors…
the prefects?
To me, it sounds like you're suggesting mutiny.
[Segestes] Segimer was always a strong leader.
He gave his sons to preserve peace.
He gave his life to preserve peace.
But I'm afraid he received little for all that he sacrificed.
As your reik…
I will make sure your stomachs are full, your drinking horns will overflow,
and there will always be a meal waiting for you over your fire.
[man] How will that work?
With all the tributes?
[all murmuring]
Varus considers me his friend. You all know that.
I speak his language.
I can negotiate with him.
I will get the best for you all!
As a friend of the Romans…
and as Reik of the Cherusci.
[indistinct chatter]
[Segestes] To peaceful times!
Drink with me, my friends.
[indistinct chatter]
[Segestes] Yes!
Drink!
- To peaceful times! - [crowd] To peaceful times!
Ah.
- Hmm. - So, my reik…
- Ah! - …how does it feel?
- [dramatic music playing] - [men shouting]
[Hadgan] My warriors have surrounded the village.
I'll stay till I get what belongs to me.
- I owe you nothing, Hadgan. - You lie like a Roman whore.
Shall I show you what I do to them?
For every day that passes, if I don't receive my bride,
I will kill one of your women.
And we will begin, Reik Segestes, with Irmina. [whistles]
- [man] Romans! - [woman] Romans!
- [man] Romans! - [Irmina struggling]
[men grunting]
[exhales deeply]
The village is under my protection. Take your men and leave.
This is a matter between us and the Cherusci.
Rome guarantees peace for all those who pay tribute, Hadgan.
You want Rome for an enemy?
[spits]
Just as I thought.
Thank you, Arminius.
[Segestes] Your father gave you up for peace.
Now you've brought peace home.
Gather the villagers.
[Segestes] This is the proof.
Rome shows us its might and its friendship.
It was clearly the right choice to side with Varus.
Thank you for your kind words, Segestes.
Cherusci!
I have come to protect you.
From the enemies we have just driven away, and from those who are yet to come.
I am the son of Segimer…
and the rightful successor of my father.
I will be your new reik now.
[dramatic music playing]
Have you thought about what I said?
You and your men.
Are you on my side?
I need to know more about your plans for that.
I'll let you in on everything.
But first, you must find someone for me.
[Folkwin] If we attack the castrum from all four sides, simultaneously,
then we'll manage not only to overpower them,
but also to cease their supplies, their armor and their weapons.
That is the only possibility.
How many men do we need?
[Thusnelda] How many men can you get?
If we gather warriors from all the Bructeri villages, a few hundred.
A messenger of the Cherusci wants to speak with you.
[dramatic music playing]
I thought you wanted to go to Rome, but now you're reik of the Cherusci?
We determine who's reik, not Varus.
I'm finally ready to stand by you both.
As you asked me to.
A lot has happened.
Your enemies are my enemies.
Do you trust him at all?
Well, I've seen how he's willing to fight his own men for me.
And a Roman doesn't kill Romans.
But for us to be allies, you must prove yourself.
Help us ambush the outpost.
[Arminius] We're not hunting hares anymore.
This time, we'll go straight for the wolf.
We'll destroy all the Romans.
Three legions. To the last man.
And for that, the tribes must unite as one strong host.
[Folkwin] That's impossible.
The tribes are fighting each other.
And… no one knows you.
Even if they do, they're pretty distrustful.
[Thusnelda] They see you as a Roman.
What reason would anyone have to follow you?
I've heard they follow you, Thusnelda.
A chief's daughter.
A heroine.
A seer.
So you must…
be my wife.
[adventurous music playing]