One of the most sought-after historical English drams, Vikings, was released in 2013. It started small but in no time became the talk of the town, to the extent that fans started comparing it with Game of Thrones. The series was ambitious, and it wouldn’t be wrong to say it pushed boundaries. After all, not many shows can kill off their protagonist in the middle of its run and expect it to grow bigger from thereon!
While Game of Thrones ended in 2019, Vikings didn’t. After showcasing six successful seasons, it returned in the form of a sequel, Vikings: Valhalla, on Netflix and took the entire television by storm.
So, what is Vikings all about, and how many seasons does it have? Here’s everything to know.
What is Vikings All About?
Vikings is a historical drama television series written and created by Michael Hirst. It was filmed in Ireland and premiered on the 3rd of March, 2013, on History channel. The series concluded on the 30th of December, 2020, when the second half of the sixth season was entirely released on Amazon Prime Video ahead of its broadcast on History channel in Canada. Afterward, Netflix released its sequel series, Vikings: Valhalla, on the 25th of February, 2022.
The series is inspired by the chronicles of Ragnar Lodbrok, a Viking, who is one of the best-known legendary Norse heroes and is notorious as the scourge of Anglo-Saxon England and West Francia. It portrays Ragnar, initially a farmer, rising from the Kattegat and earning fame by raiding England and eventually becoming a Scandinavian king with the support of his family and fellow warriors who fought for blood with him.
The later seasons depict the fortunes of Ragnar’s sons and their adventures in different parts of the world.
Main Cast of Vikings
- Travis Fimmel as Ragnar
- Katheryn Winnick as Lagertha
- Moe Dunford as Aethelwulf
- Josephine Asplund as Astrid
- Alexander Ludwig as Bjorn
- Lothaire Bluteau as Emperor Charles
- Gustaf Skarsgard as Floki
- Jasper Paakkonen as Halfdan the Black
- Marco Ilso as Hvitserk
- Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Bishop Headmund
- Ale Hogh Anderson as Ivar the Boneless
- Jennie Jacques as Judith
- Linus Roache as King Ecbert
- Peter Franzen as King Harald Finehair
- Morgane Polanski as Princess Gisla
- Alyssa Sutherland as Queen Aslaug
- Clive Standen as Rollo
- David Lindstrom as Sigurd Snake in the Eye
- Jordan Patrick Smith as Ubbe
- John Kavanagh as the Seer
Number of Seasons
Vikings Season 1
The first season revolves around the adventures of Ragnar Lothbrok, the greatest hero of his age. It depicts the sagas of his band of Vikings brothers and family as he rises to become the King of the Viking tribes. Besides being a fearless warrior, Ragnar embodies the Norse traditions of devotion to the Gods.
As per legends, he was a direct descendant of Odin, the god of war and warriors.
Vikings Season 2
The second season premiered on the 27th of February, 2014. It takes the story of season one ahead and follows the exploits of legendary Viking chieftain Ragnar Lothbrok, his crew, and his sons. The season is full of Ragnar’s struggles with the rival Vikings and how he rises from being an Earl to finally becoming a King.
The band raids farther into England, and for the first time, they are offered land for settlement. The season comprises ten episodes.
Vikings Season 3
Vikings Season 3 premiered on the 19th of February, 2015. Throughout this season, you will witness the development of Ragnar’s family. The Vikings have now become more entwined in English mingling affairs. There’s drama, war, and many other elements, perfect for a connoisseur of historical shows.
Like the previous season, this one also includes ten episodes.
Vikings Season 4
The makers decided to split the fourth season into two parts of ten episodes each. The first half premiered on the 18th of February, 2016, and concluded on the 21st of April, 2016. The next ten episodes premiered on the 30th of November, 2016, and concluded on the 1st of February, 2017.
Season four is full of battles between Ragnar and Rollo in Francia. It also shows Bjorn’s raid into the Mediterranean and the invasion of the Vikings in England. The reception of this season was massive worldwide.
Vikings Season 5
The fifth season of Vikings followed the same pattern as its previous season. It consisted of twenty episodes, split into two parts. The first installment premiered on the 29th of November, 2017, and concluded on the 24th of January, 2018, comprising ten episodes. The second half premiered on the 28th of November, 2018, and concluded on the 30th of January, 2019, comprising the next ten episodes.
The premise of the fifth season was different from its previous ones. It takes the story ahead after the departure of the protagonist Ragnar and now focuses more on the adventures of his living sons. The show introduced Jonathan Rhys Meyers as the main character.
Vikings Season 6
The sixth and final season of Vikings premiered on the 4th of December, 2019, on History in Canada. The second half was released in its entirety on the 30th of December, 2020, this time on Amazon Prime Video in Ireland, The United States of America, The United Kingdom, Germany, and Austria, ahead of its broadcast on History in Canada in 2021.
The season’s focus was on Bjorn’s reign over Kattegat, Ivar’s adventures in Rus’ and Wessex, and Ubbe’s expeditions to Iceland and North America.
Why Did Vikings Get Cancelled After Season 6?
Many fans admit the fact that they did not find the show engaging after Ragnar died. But this was not the reason why the makers canceled the seventh season. According to the showrunner, canceling the seventh installment was a creative decision. As per him,
“I always knew where I wanted the show to go and more or less where it would end if I was given the opportunity. What I was trying to do was write the saga of Rangar Lothbrok and his sons. After six seasons and 89 episodes, that’s what I felt – finally – I’d done. We stopped shooting the final episode in November last year, and I felt that I’d said all I needed to say about Ragnar and his sons. I told my saga.”
By the end of the sixth season, only one character remained, and his arc had reached a natural conclusion. Although there were ways in which the show could have continued to follow Ragnar’s surviving sons, Vikings was running out of stories to share. The series was brought full circle with the last raid on Wessex by Ivar and Hvitserk, while Ubbe’s adventures in the west fulfilled Ragnar’s dream of exploring the world.
Vikings Valhalla: The Return of Vikings
Despite the success and popularity of the first six seasons, fans were in doubt when it was announced that their favorite show would be returning to Netflix as a sequel series. But the reception was phenomenal. Vikings: Valhalla continued the legacy of its predecessor, offering a good dose of drama, entertainment, and historical insight to the viewers.
The series is created by Jeb Stuart and has been filmed in County Wicklow, Ireland.
Here’s everything to know about Vikings Valhalla.
Main Cast of Vikings: Valhalla
- Sam Corlett as Leif Eriksson
- Leo Suter as Harald Hardrada
- Bradley Freegard as King Canute
- Frida Gustavsson as Freydis Eiriksdottir
- Johannes Haukur Johannesson as Olaf the Holy Haraldsson
- David Oakes as Earl Godwin
- Laura Berlin as Emma of Normandy
- Bradley James as Lord Harekr
- John Kavanagh as the Seer
Number of Seasons
Vikings: Valhalla Season 1
Vikings: Valhalla is set one hundred years after the events of its previous season (Season 6). It showcases the beginning of the end of the Viking Age, marked by the Battle of Stamford Bridge in 1066. The first episode of the season premiered on the 25th of February, 2022, with 24 seasons.
The makers announced its renewal into the second and third seasons in March 2022.
Vikings: Valhalla Season 2
Premiered on the 12th of January, 2023, the second seasons find the heroes shortly after the tragic fall of Kattegat. This event shattered their dreams and altered their destiny overnight. They find themselves suddenly fugitives in Scandinavia and are forced to test their ambitions and courage in worlds beyond the fjords. The fight for survival and finding their faith continues. The season comprises eight episodes.
The second season picked up the story of the three warriors a month after the audience saw them escaping the gory war of Kattegat. Regarded as outlaws following the battle, they head off on different adventures. Freydis decides to travel alone to the Viking stronghold of Jomsborg, known as a haven for those who still follow the faith of the Norse gods and believe in Viking ways.
Freydis secretly becomes pregnant with Harald’s child. But on the other hand, Harald and Leif take an eventful road trip together toward Constantinople as part of his plan to raise an army and become the King of Norway.
By the finale, Harald takes to throwing punches in a fighting pit to rose money, and Leif growls about revenge whenever the chance shows up. Freydis has given birth to Harald’s son, taking over the leadership of Jomsborg.
Things are not as smooth as they appear because Olaf, Harald’s half-brother, plots to destroy any Viking outposts he comes across. Godwin, an English royal advisor, too, decides to plot against everyone.
The question is – Would these three heroes make it to the end of the season alive?
Will Vikings: Valhalla have Season 3?
Yes. The creators have already confirmed that Vikings: Valhalla will return for the next season. But the fans may have to wait a year because it will be released in 2024. Netflix released a clip teasing the next part of the journey of the heroes, which made fans go berserk.
The upcoming season is expected to pick up the ends which have been let loose ends in the second season. It will chronicle the adventures of some brave Vikings who have graced the land of Earth, including Leif, Freydis, and Harald, and the Norman King, William, the Conqueror. The plot will primarily provide more details into the lives of these heroes from the second season’s final episode.
Like the previous two seasons, the third season is expected to have eight episodes.
Stay tuned for more updates.