The Netflix series also includes portions of the history that inspired the famous sagas, laying more than enough groundwork to cover the two additional seasons of Vikings: Valhalla that has been ordered. Given a projected run for at least three seasons, Vikings: Valhalla attempts to establish quite a bit of ground, covering the past and setting stones for what’s to come in the future. Considering what Vikings pulled off in six seasons, what Vikings: Valhalla accomplishes in one is astonishing.
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Although different from its predecessor in Vikings, Vikings: Valhalla certainly feels familiar. Whether the characters in Vikings: Valhalla are biological descendants of anyone who was previously introduced in Vikings, many of their attitudes and ambitions can be traced back to those notorious figures. Freydís is strong-willed and minded, much like Lagertha. Emma rules with confident regality that is similar to Aslaug. The animosity between Harald and Olaf mirrors that of Ragnar and Rollo, and even Ragnar’s sons in the later seasons of Vikings.
Despite a few subtle similarities, Vikings: Valhalla lives up to its promise to introduce the next group of famous Viking figures. Despite a century having passed between the conclusion of Vikings and the start of Vikings: Valhalla, the legacies of Lagertha, Ragnar Lothbrok, and the sons of Ragnar still loom large. To highlight this change within the Vikings, there are several details of the creation of Vikings: Valhalla that shouldn’t be overlooked. The division of the Vikings because of their faiths is spotted within the type of armor they choose to arm themselves with, their move set, and of course, the emblems they carry with them.
One of the most significant symbols is the cross Leif receives early on. The cross and its apparent power begin to haunt Leif, and he begins to question his faith in the Norse Gods. Unlike her brother Leif, Freydís is firm in her beliefs of the Old Gods. Her allegiance to them is solidified in her dislike and distrust of the Christians, partially rooted in a traumatic event from several years ago that left a cross etched across her back. Her attraction to Harald, an open-minded Christian, doesn’t change her mind, and instead, gives her ample reason to fight for her beliefs and honor those that support her.
Of its eight episodes, there are a few episodes of Vikings: Valhalla that stands out. “The Bridge,” (episode 4), uses a narrative structure that was utilized well throughout Vikings. It begins with a short clip of King Canute and King Edmund in battle, before taking viewers back in time to show the events that led these warriors there. Perhaps the other heavy-hitter episode is Vikings: Valhalla’s first: “The Greenlanders.” Its debut episode thrusts viewers into the historical landscape by beginning with the St. Brice’s Day Massacre, carried out by Aethelred II. While not everything in Vikings: Valhalla is historically accurate, the elements that have been altered are done purposefully.
The stars tasked with bringing the sagas of these historic figures to life, deliver. Laura Berlin plays Emma of Normandy with the utmost regality and poise, and it’s impossible to root (or move) against her. She is powerful and stern, while also managing to appear delicate to the right crowd. Bradley Freegard’s King Canute compliments her well, appearing somewhat subtle in his intense leadership. Canute does leave in a bit of a lurch partway through the season, creating an intense desire to see Freegard return to the role in season 2, especially given the turmoil that awaits him in England and Norway.
David Oakes also deserves the praise as Earl Godwin, a Lord Baelish level deceiver who quite literally, takes the fate of England and its history into his own hands. He is wonderfully conniving and ambitious, which cements him as one of the most dangerous characters in Vikings: Valhalla. Of course, if Game of Thrones’ Baelish is any indication of what his fate may contain, Godwin may want to tread lightly. Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson and Asbjørn Krogh Nissen also deserve their props for the intimidating figures they play.
The relationships between Freydís and Harald, Emma and Canute, and Leif and Liv are all spotlighted this season, but Vikings: Valhalla’s best relationship is the bond between Leif and Harald. Leo Suter is perfectly charming and a definite scene-stealer as Harald Sigurdsson. Harald’s handsomeness gives him the right amount of confidence to mask the debates he has with himself, and the duality of his motives. Sam Corlett gives viewers the perfect hero to root for as the origin of Leif begins to take form. Together, Suter and Corlett deliver several memorable scenes that feel warm, honest, and heroic. It is in one of these heartfelt scenes that Harald delivers a line that simplifies the entirety of Vikings: Valhalla: “miracles, like deals with the devil, always have strings attached.”
As a spin-off series, there are plenty of things that could have gone wrong with Vikings: Valhalla, but there are very few that did. It manages to encompass the history, action, drama, and love, that helped make Vikings such a beloved show. With the ending Vikings: Valhalla concludes with and its willingness to bend history to fit its narrative, there are plenty of questions that remain on what will come next. Because of this, Vikings: Valhalla certainly has the ability to go even bigger with its story and the battles that will accompany it, but it doesn’t need to in order to succeed.
Leif spends the entirety of the season attempting to escape his father’s reputation. He achieves that rather quickly after his triumph in London. By the end of season 1, Leif has taken a few steps back, putting him closer to his father’s reputation than he may wish. Because he and Freydís have both remarked that their father is still in Greenland, whether Erik the Red will make an appearance in Vikings: Valhalla remains to be seen. Given the significance of Leif’s success and the name Freydís is building for herself, an eventual appearance from Erik the Red might not be entirely out of the question.
Vikings: Valhalla is now streaming on Netflix.
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