If you are wondering whether you would enjoy watching the final season (3) of Vikings: Valhalla (available on Netflix) then perhaps this review might help you decide. Perhaps not. But what it can offer you (hopefully) is some insight into the series. It’s just three seasons so there isn’t much catching up to do.
The Vikings v. Vikings: Valhalla
If you haven’t watched the original The Vikings series, don’t worry. It’s not exactly related to Vikings: Valhalla– the characters in the former being their century-old ancestors. I daresay though that I find the characters in The Vikings more colourful and engaging than their Valhalla counterparts. It had the indefatigable Ragnar Lothbrok, ruthless Rollo, the eccentric Floki, pretty deadly Lagertha, Ivar the Boneless and so many other characters whose distinct personalities made you quite invested in their lives and story arc. With Valhalla though, while you don’t seem to get a similar high with the characters, the series is buoyed by an exciting storyline that builds steadily with every season to the anticipated climax.
So what is Valhalla about? While The Vikings series was about the beginning of the Viking age, starting with the sacking of the English monastery of Lindisfarne in the 8th century, Valhalla is about the age of Harald Hardrada (Leo Suter) which ends at the Battle of Stamford Bridge (no, not Chelsea FC’s stadium!) in the 11th century. Sadly, we won’t get to see that but we can see the progression towards the historic battles for the English crown and the Norman Conquest.
What’s the series about?
Valhalla also narrates the story of another Viking- Leif Erikson (Sam Corlett)- and his sister, Freydis Ericsdottir (Frida Gustavsson)- who the saga says were the first Europeans to set foot in (‘discover’) America 500 years before Columbus. There is archaeological evidence of an ancient Viking settlement in Newfoundland.
But before you think Vikings: Valhalla is just another historical record or documentary- no, it isn’t. It’s quite an engaging and intriguing series. You don’t need to know about the historical backdrop to enjoy this epic (but it would surely add to its flavour). Same goes for the original series. Both creators (Michael Hirst and Jeb Stuart) follow history quite all right but exercise some creative licence here and there, veering significantly from source to create drama and entertainment. This is a delicate balance that historical dramas have to strike as stated by Shaka Ilembe director, Zeno Petersen.
For example, Leif Erikson was never known to have met, let alone travelled with Harald Sigurdsson on his journey east to the Rus (Russia). Neither did he join the Varangian guards, nor did he invent ‘Greek fire’, as was shown. So the series’ writers reimagined these stories and fleshed them out to create an interesting weave of plots.
The Series’ setting
The Vikings series is set in the Dark Ages and shows us the battle between worshippers of the old Norse religion and the new one (Christianity) in a way never before seen. You seem to understand the anger and distrust on both sides and resent various personalities along the way. Ragnar somewhat reminds you of Okonkwo in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart as he fights to retain his people’s culture and beliefs.
The Vikings are more or less anti-heroes and you find yourself in a love-hate relationship with them. Valhalla brings us to an age where Christianity holds sway (late Middle Ages) and the Norse faith is almost extinct with Freydis being its last defender. The series doesn’t choose sides on faith (though sometimes disparaging) but rather introduces, perhaps prematurely, the Age of Reason through Leif Erikson. His thirst for knowledge and science brings another perspective to the equation. A trait the creators must have felt was appropriate for the discoverer of the New World.
Striking Characters
Valhalla has its fair share of interesting characters like the stellar Earl Godwin (David Oakes), King Canute’s advisor, with his devious schemes and calculated betrayals. The Earl has the basic ingredients of every good advisor on screen- like GOT‘s Littlefinger or Aladdin‘s Jaafar. He is an annoyingly devious fellow therefore quite entertaining to watch. He was, for me, Valhalla‘s response to King Ecbert in Vikings. I also think Oakes would make a perfect Loki if Tom Hiddleston was not available to reprise the role. Â
King Canute (Bradley Freegard) is the king of England, Denmark and Norway by the way. He is sometimes called Canute the Great as a result. His character reminds me of King Ragnar in Vikings. Both rash and ruthless in youth but grow calmer and wiser with age- though with a little of the storm still tucked in somewhere. Like Lothbrok too, his demise marks the start of a mad rush for his kingdoms by his sons- a game of thrones (Wars of the Roses?) so to speak.
Freydis is one of the most striking characters in the series. With the strength of character of Vikings‘ Lagertha (Katheryn Winnick) and the height of Gunnhild (Ragga Ragnar), she forms part of the trinity of main characters we follow throughout the series and stands head and shoulders (literally) above the others. Freydis is not afraid to show emotion but she can be ruthless when she needs to be.
Season 3 review
Created by Jeb Stuart, Season 3 of Valhalla takes us through Harald Sigurdsson’s sojourn to Constantinople, enlistment in the Varangian Guards, illicit affair with the Byzantine queen, and his escape/return to Norway to claim the throne as Harald Hardrada (‘hard ruler’). The series also prepares his ex, Freydis, and her brother, Leif, both children of the irascible Eric the Red, for their historic journey west to make the Great Discovery of a Golden Land (which Floki had earlier ‘discovered’ in the original Vikings series but never returned to tell the tale. Cute). Finally, it introduces us to many ambitious young princes who would vie for the throne of England had a Season 4 been planned, culminating in the Norman Conquest of 1066 AD.
Season 4 is not happening.
It’s a darn shame that Season 4 is not happening, or was never meant to happen as it were. Jeb Stuart explained that ‘it made sense for the story to conclude at this point’. I’m not quite sure about that, though. Why? Because the season ends with great promise. With an entertaining, new set of characters whom we encounter towards the season’s finale. The series ends at a point quite similar to when Bjorn Ironside and the Lothbrok boys took over the Vikings series from their father, Ragnar, and enthralled us for a few more seasons with their bitter battle for control of England, Kattegat, and the rest. Yes, as drastic as this curve was in the Vikings story arc and as skeptical as some of us were at the time, the series didn’t lose much steam after Ragnar’s death or with Rollo and Floki taking the back seat. So Season 4 could have worked- especially with Freydis, Leif and Harald still the main characters and with more to tell.
Vikings: 1066 AD anyone?
This is what we expect to happen if anyone ever took over the reins for a whole new Viking series. The Canute boys would come of age with tales of treachery, shaky alliances, and desperation over the kingship of England. The year 1066 AD would bring the Viking Age to an end and Rollo’s descendants, under William the Conqueror, will rule England. What better way to end this series trilogy but at the very end with the epic Battle of Hastings and the construction of castles?
Valhalla Season finale ends with a cliffhanger leaving it open for another producer to take the mantle like Jeb Stuart took over from Michael Hirst (Vikings).
Whoever dares to do so needs to be prepared to handle a series with a much larger budget than Valhalla: one that involves epic Viking clashes with Native Americans and epic battle scenes in England where three rulers vie for control- Harold Godwinson, Harald Hardrada and William of Normandy. Perhaps, therein lies the challenge for a Season 4: budgetary concerns? Hmm.
Starting a new Vikings: 1066 AD series would have the contractual challenge of re-engaging all key Valhalla actors for a whole new series or it wouldn’t feel right. But I believe it is quite possible.
Verdict
So anyway, if you are into epic series or movies then Valhalla’s for you. It has all the ingredients that make for a good one. I’d also advise you to watch The Vikings series (that’s a classic!) just to appreciate this unique society and its colourful, belligerent characters.
