It is the third and final season of eight episodes of Vikings: Valhalla on Netflix, creator Jeb Stuart Vikings The Vikings: Valhalla spinoff picks up in the 11th century, 100 years after the events of the original series. When last we saw them, Viking Age heroes Leif Erikson (Sam Corlett) and Harald Sigurdsson (Leo Suter) were traveling down the Dnieper toward Constantinople, and Leif’s plucky sister Freydís (Frida Gustavsson) was consolidating her hold on the pagan coastal enclave of Jomsborg by staking out evil Christian convert Olaf Haraldsson (Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson). The struggles over rule and who believes in what higher power continue in Vikings: Valhalla season 3, which also stars Goran Vią¡njić as legendary Viking explorer Erik the Red and Florian Munteanu, aka Ivan Drago’s hulking boxing son in Creed II.
VIKINGS VALHALLA – SEASON 3STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?
Opening shot: FreydÃs Eiríksdóttir’s watchful leadership of Jomsborg makes the place bustling with life, and the settlement prepares for a wedding feast. But the ever-watchful blacksmith also makes sure that young Harald Haraldsson (Luke Harmon) brings his mother a brand new sword, fresh from the forge.
The essence: It’s been seven years since Vikings: Valhalla Season 2, and while Freydís is proud of the generous enclave she’s built with Jomsborg, she keeps asking if there’s any news about what happened to Leif and his former lover Harald. When everyone parted ways after the great battle in Kattegat, it was with assurances that they would see each other again. But this is the 11th century. Nothing is easy, travel is arduous, and conflict is everywhere, whether with the Christians whose lands border the stronghold of the old gods at Jomsborg, or in the south, where Harald and Leif are now fighting with the Byzantine Emperor Romanos III’s (Nikolai Kinski) personal guard of 700 Varangians. We see Harald and Leif again in the midst of battle, as the Emperor’s forces lay siege to the Saracen stronghold in Sicily.
This is a religious war between Christians and Muslims. But while Harald enjoys the Romans’ favour, he is really out for plunder: with the riches gained from victory, he can finally return to Norway as its rightful king. Leif, on the other hand, seeks knowledge. He is a philosopher, scientist and warrior who builds explosive charges to turn the siege in his favour, while yearning to explore the libraries beyond the Saracen walls.
For Canute (Bradley Freegard), the current King of Norway, Denmark and England, a diplomatic visit to the Pope’s palace in Rome only raises the hairs on the back of his neck. and Bend the knee? Godwin (David Oakes), Canute’s master of whispers and bribery, has to calm him down. Godwin also remains at odds with Queen Emma (Laura Berlin), who last season objected to his attempts to influence Canute and his court. “You are naive if you think your bribery will encourage them to change their perception,” Emma tells Godwin of the Catholic establishment. The Pope and his cardinals like Canute’s money. But they refer to him as a savage.
Things are looking up in Jomsborg when a mysterious wandering man appears in the woods. StÃgr (Leander Vyvey) carries with him healing knowledge acquired on his travels, and FreydÃs is definitely intrigued by what lies beneath his robes.
What shows will it remind you of? The last kingdom It has a very similar feel to Vikings: Valhallaalthough it is set a few centuries earlier. (Also, please don’t forget this) Seven kings must diethe film The last kingdom spin-off packed with incredible battle sequences). And while the exploits of Freydís, Leif and Harald are not on the scale of House of the Dragonas part of the historical fiction diaspora that game of Thrones inspired, Vikings: Valhalla It has proven to be quite resilient.
Our opinion: Last season in Vikings: ValhallaWhen Freydís finally defeated the aggressive, would-be Christian Viking conqueror Olaf with a strategic blow to his entire vanguard (it was Olaf’s arrogance that led to his fleet falling to her torch), this brought a fight that had been brewing forever to an eminently satisfying conclusion. (For Freydís and Olaf, a well-rounded villainous character who deserved and received a major on-screen deathblow.) While it has a trio of compelling performances at its center in the portrayals of Leif, Freydís, and Harald from Sam Corlett, Frida Gustavsson, and Leo Suter—and they’re always better when they’re together—it’s in fights like Freydís’ stand against Olaf, or here in Season 3 with Leif and Harald’s service to the Byzantine Emperor, that Valhalla It can expand its historical coverage. It can tap into legendary stories from across the ages. But it also loves to go into full adventure mode, and it knows how to balance fact with fantasy. In other words, this is full-throated storytelling for the small screen that understands the limitations of its scope and budget, plays to it with real chemistry between its leads, and never loses its sense of humor, even with all the seriousness of the succession disputes and the persistence of one particular question: “Are you a pagan or a Christian?” We can’t wait to see what challenges FreydÃs will face at Jomsborg, or find out if Harald’s plan to take the throne of Norway will come to fruition. Best of all, we don’t have to, as Netflix is releasing Season 3 of Vikings: Valhalla All at once. This thing is a marathon-worthy thing.
Sex and skin: Let’s just say that Freydís knows what he wants, and he’s a friendly stranger with reddish blond hair who looks like a windsurfer from the High Middle Ages.
Parting shot: With tactical genius, rousing war horns, and righteous battle cries, Harald and Leif lead the Varangian Guard in what appears to be the final battle for control of the Saracen stronghold at Syracuse.
Sleeping Star: They are not alone in this fight, since Vikings: Valhalla has always had a knack for quietly highlighting its supporting characters. Warriors Batu (Taylor James) and Kaysan (Kayode Akinyemi) return in season two, joined on the battlefield by Eleanor McLynn as Dorn, a fierce Varangian fighter.
Pilot’s most typical phrase: “When we set out for Constantinople seven years ago, I promised that I would return to Norway and take back what is mine. This victory will ensure that I have enough treasures to do so.”
Our calling: You must stream it. Vikings: Valhalla It’s a solidly made adventure series, with an eye toward historical drama, a great sense of chemistry between its characters, and satisfying touches of mischief and sword-and-shield gore accompanying their quests for power and battles for succession.
Johnny Loftus (@glennganges) is a freelance writer and editor based in Chicago. His work has appeared in The Village Voice, All Music Guide, Pitchfork Media, and Nicki Swift.
