Warning: potential spoilers for Vikings: Valhalla season 3.
Summary
Vikings: Valhallais coming to an end with its upcoming third season, and if it decides to be historically accurate, here’s what will happen to its three main characters: Leif Erikson (Sam Corlett), Freydís Eiríksdóttir (Frida Gustavsson), and Harald Sigurdsson (Leo Suter). The success of Michael Hirst’sVikingsTV show led to its expansion with a sequel TV series titledVikings: Valhalla, created by Jeb Stuart.Set over 100 years after the events ofVikingsseason 6,Vikings: Valhallafollows new characters, of which some are linked to those in the main series, but their stories are completely separate.
As such,Vikings: Valhallafollows the tensions between pagan and Christian Vikings, with its main focus being Leif, Freydis, and Harald. In addition to them,Vikings: Valhallaalso follows the Vikings’ relations with the English, and it does so through King Canute (Bradley Freegard) and Queen Emma of Normandy (Laura Berlin). Just likeVikings,Vikings: Valhallahasn’t been entirely historically accurate (for starters,Leif and Harald never met each other), but if it chooses to follow history in its final season, its three main characters are about to go through some interesting stories.
Vikings: Valhalla Season 3 Wishlist - 8 Things We Want To See Before The Ending
With Vikings: Valhalla ending with its upcoming third season, there are a couple of stories and moments that would be great to see in these episodes.
Leif Will Arrive In North America
Leif Erikson’s Most Important Journey Has Been Teased In Vikings: Valhalla Season 3
The real Leif Erikson has an important role in history as he was the first European to set foot on continental America, around half a millennium before Christopher Columbus arrived.
Perhaps the character who was changed the most from his real-life version is Leif Erikson. InVikings: Valhalla, Leif arrived in Kattegat with his sister, Freydis, as they were looking for the Christian Viking who abused Freydis and left her with a scar in the shape of a cross all over her back. By then,Leif was already known as a leader and explorer, but the show changed various details about him.
At theend ofVikings: Valhallaseason 1, Leif was about to go through a major change as he unleashed his inner berserker, but season 2 didn’t carry on with this. Instead, season 2 saw Leif once more following Harald around and accompanying him on his journey to Constantinople, where he met and fell in love with astronomer Mariam. Atthe end ofVikings: Valhallaseason 2, Leif inherited Mariam’s books and house, preparing him for the biggest journey of his real-life counterpart, and which has now been teased in thefirst teaser trailer forVikings: Valhallaseason 3.
The real Leif Erikson has an important role in history as he was the first European to set foot on continental America, around half a millennium before Christopher Columbus arrived.Leif Erikson was the son of Erik the Redand brother of Thorvald, Thorstein, and Freydis, and he was an explorer. Depending on which of the sagasVikings: Valhallaseason 3 is based on, Leif’s journey to America can go in two ways. In theSaga of Erik the Red, Leif was on his way to Greenland to introduce Christianity there when he was blown off course and ended up in Vinalnd, now coastal North America.
Erik the Red will be introduced inVikings: Valhallaseason 3, played by Goran Višnjić.
In theSaga of the Greenlanders, Bjarni Herjólfsson was the first European to arrive at Vinland, but he didn’t disembark. 15 years later, Leif set up an expedition towards the land Bjarni had described and explored Vinland. However, in both accounts,Leif never returned to America after that first trip. AsVikingsestablished that Floki was the first Viking in America,Vikings: Valhallacould adapt theSaga of the Greenlanderswith a couple of changes, but the point is to finally have Leif in America.
Vikings: Valhalla Season 3 Is Covering Leif’s Most Important Story, But There’s Still 1 Big Problem
The first trailer for Vikings: Valhalla season 3 confirms it will cover Leif Erikson’s most important story, but it’s facing a big problem.
Harald Will Become King of Norway
Harald’s Pursue Of The Throne Is His Main Storyline
Harald took over Norway – however, he also declared himself king of Denmark.
SinceVikings: Valhallaseason 1, Harald’s biggest enemy was his half-brother Olaf (Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson), whose plan was to unite Norway under the “banner of Christ”, for which he wanted to take Kattegat.Harald also wanted the throne of Norway, and his travel to Constantinople in season 2 was part of his plan to take it, as he needed an army to go against Olaf. After his uncle Yaroslav refused to help him, Harald and Leif traveled to Constantinople to sell fur and, with that money, form an army to claim the throne.
The real Harald Sigurdssonwas also the half-brother of Olaf, and the latter also wanted to claim the Norwegian throne. Luckily forVikings: Valhalla’s Harald,the real one became king of Norway, but he ruled alongside Olaf’s son, Magnus. It didn’t take long for Harald to rule by himself, as less than a year later, Magnus died without an heir, leaving Harald to take over Norway – however, he also declared himself king of Denmark, despite Magnus deciding Harald would inherit Norway and Sweyn would keep Denmark.
This marked the beginning of a war and more ambitions from Harald that led to him earning the name of “hard ruler”, but it’s unlikelyVikings: Valhallaseason 3 will cover all of them as it’s the show’s final season. If season 3 follows history, Harald will become king of Norway (more so now that Olaf is dead), buthis plans to take over the Danish and later the English throne might not be covered.
Freydis Will Betray Leif & Their People
The Real Freydis Wasn’t As Loyal As The One In Vikings: Valhalla
In theSaga of the Greenlanders, Freydis traveled to Vinland with brothers Helgi and Finnbogi, but she betrayed them.
The most surprising outcome ifVikings: Valhallaseason 3 chooses to be historically accurate will be that of Freydis. So far,Freydis has been portrayed as a strong leader and shieldmaiden, as well as the “last daughter of Uppsala” and “the guardian of faith”. At the end ofVikings: Valhallaseason 2, Freydis opened the temple of Jomsborg to all residents after killing their oppressive leader, Harekr, and took over the town. Freydis also returned to Kattegat with her baby son and with Svein, the son of Canute and Queen Aelfgifu, who was traveling with Olaf, and made a peace treaty with Queen Aelfgifu.
Vikings: Valhalla - What Freydis Being “The Last” Really Means
Vikings: Valhalla introduced Freydís Eiríksdóttir, who through a pagan ritual learned that she’s “The Last” – but what does this mean?
Just like the story of her brother, Leif, Freydis’ changes depending on the source. In theSaga of the Greenlanders, Freydis traveled to Vinland with brothers Helgi and Finnbogi, agreeing that they would share all profits 50/50. However, once there, Freydis didn’t honor their deals and the brothers set their own settlement. After making peace,Freyis betrayed them by claiming to her husband that the brothers had beaten herand demanded he exact revenge on her behalf. Her husband killed the brothers while they slept, andshe massacred the women in their camp.
Freydis threatened death to those who dared tell Leif about her treachery, and even though she lied to him, Leif eventually learned the truth. However,Leif refused to punish Freydis even though she deserved it, but accurately foresaw that her descendants wouldn’t prosper. In theSaga of Erik the Red, Freydis’ expedition was attacked by Vinland’s natives, who she fought after most of her men panicked.
Freydis betraying Leif and their people would be shocking, but ifVikings: Valhalladecides to follow history, it might make adjustments to the context of the betrayal and, instead of being about a journey to Vinland, it could be linked to Freydis’ fight against Christianity. However, it seems more likely thatVikings: Valhallawould adapt Freydis' story from theSaga of Erik the Red, making her a feared and respected warrior.
Vikings: Valhalla
Set over a thousand years ago in the early 11th century, Vikings: Valhalla chronicles the heroic adventures of some of the most famous Vikings ever chronicled. As tensions between the Vikings and the English royals reach a bloody breaking point and as the Vikings themselves clash over their conflicting Christian and pagan beliefs, these three Vikings begin an epic journey that will take them across oceans and through battlefields, from Kattegat to England and beyond, as they fight for survival and glory.
