Although Vikings: Valhalla ended with its third season, it set up a couple of storylines for a fourth season that won’t happen. After Vikings ended with its sixth season, Vikings: Valhalla arrived to explore the stories from the final years of the Viking Age. As such, it followed new characters from different backgrounds and with different goals, though all of them linked through their Viking heritage. Vikings: Valhalla introduced viewers to Leif Erikson (Sam Corlett), his sister Freydis (Frida Gustavsson), Harald Sigurdsson (Leo Suter), King Canute of Denmark (Bradley Freegard), and Emma of Normandy (Laura Berlin), brought together due to the St. Brice’s Day massacre.
After Vikings: Valhalla season 2 ended with Harald and Leif arriving at Constantinople, Freydis taking over Jomsborg, and Emma keeping a close eye on Godwin (David Oakes) after he planned her assassination attempt, season 3 caught up with all of them seven years later. Despite being the final season, Vikings: Valhalla season 3 introduced new characters and set up some of its main characters’ best storylines, but all these were left inconclusive. Although a fourth season won’t happen, Vikings: Valhalla’s final season had some plot details that could easily make way for another season.
Related
I’m So Mad Vikings Valhalla Season 4 Isn’t Happening
Vikings: Valhalla has ended with its third season, and as much as I enjoyed it, it made me mad that a fourth season isn’t happening.
5
9
Harald Hardrada’s Ruthless Reign
Harald Proclaimed Himself The Only King Of Norway
Since Vikings: Valhalla season 1, Harald made it clear that his goal was to become King of Norway, but his biggest obstacle at the time was his half-brother, Olaf Haraldsson (Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson). With Olaf out of the picture after Freydis killed him in season 2, Harald was free to carry on with his plan – he just needed the funds to form his army. After escaping from his execution in Constantinople and killing George Maniakes (Florian Munteanu), Harald formed his army and traveled to Kattegat to claim the throne.
By then, his nephew and Olaf’s son, Magnus (Set Sjöstrand), had killed Canute’s son and King of Norway, Svein (Jakob Femerling Andersen), and his mother, Queen Aelfgifu (Pollyanna McIntosh), and taken the throne. Harald and Magnus agreed to co-rule together, but after Leif saved Freydis from her execution, Harald turned the king’s guards against Magnus and imprisoned him. Harald proclaimed himself the only king of Norway as “Harald Hardrada”, marking the beginning of his ruthless reign.
The real Harald Hardrada earned that nickname – literally “hard ruler” or “stern counsel” – due to his reputation as a ruthless king, as he often acted with brutality towards his people, going as far as to maim and kill them as a warning to those who dared disobey him. Vikings: Valhalla made it clear that Harald’s imprisonment in Constantinople hardened him, and imprisoning his nephew was only the beginning of his ruthless reign.
8
Magnus Olafsson’s Future
Magnus Was Imprisoned By Harald
Magnus Olafsson had two missions in Vikings: Valhalla season 3: get his father’s body from Jomsborg for his canonization (which he didn’t get but still found a way for it to happen) and become King of Norway. As explained above, Magnus agreed to co-rule with Harald, but it didn’t last long. Harald had a couple of conditions for his co-ruling with Harald: that Olaf’s shrine was consecrated, that his uncle promised Norway would never go back to its old ways, and that he burned “the pagan witch” (Freydis). Magnus discovered Leif helped Freydis escape and confronted Harald, but that only led to his imprisonment.
The real Magnus Olafsson also co-ruled with Harald and didn’t last long, but because he died less than a year later. A fourth season of Vikings: Valhalla would have answered if Magnus found a way to escape or not or if he was killed so Harald could truly be the only King of Norway, but seeing how his character was in season 3, Magnus would surely have found some way to get revenge against his uncle.
7
Queen Emma & Harold Harefoot
Harefoot Arrived To Become The New King Of England
Vikings: Valhalla season 3 saw the death of King Canute, who summoned all his sons, Emma’s son, and their son Harthacanute to Kattegat to decide who would succeed him. Emma’s son, Edward (Cal O’Driscoll), fought Canute’s son, Harold Harefoot (Pyry Kähkönen), to prove who was physically stronger, but that didn’t grant either the throne of Norway. Canute decided Svein would remain as King of Norway, Harthacanute (despite being a child) would be King of Denmark with Harefoot as regent, Edward and his brother Alfred would return to Normandy, and Emma would rule England by herself.
However, after Canute’s death, and fearing the earls would turn against her, Godwin suggested to Emma that she bring Edward, but she had already called for him. Godwin didn’t let the message get to Edward and, instead, he brought Harefoot, who he had promised to guide so he could become king. What Godwin wasn’t counting on was Emma being too nice to Harefoot and the young prince falling for it, implying Emma and Harefoot will get together so she won’t lose her spot as queen.
The real Emma of Normandy was forced to flee England when Harefoot became regent of England and became more and more popular, officially being proclaimed king in 1037. Vikings: Valhalla season 4 would have shown if they truly got together and what their dynamic would have been, as well as if Harefoot’s popularity (or manipulation by Godwin) would lead to Emma fleeing.
Read More
What Happened To All Of King Canute’s Children In Real Life
Vikings: Valhalla season 3 saw King Canute deciding who would succeed him as King of England, and the show made big changes to his children’s fates.
6
Godwin’s Next Move
Godwin’s Plan Didn’t Go As He Wanted
Godwin showed his loyalty could easily fluctuate depending on his own interests, and this was seen as early as season 1 when he killed King Edmund. Godwin showed how far he could go in Vikings: Valhalla season 2 when he planned Emma’s assassination attempt so he could become part of the royal family, which he achieved when he married Canute’s niece, Gytha. With this in mind, and seeing how his plan didn’t work out exactly as he wanted at the end of Vikings: Valhalla season 3, he surely would have come up with another plan in a fourth season.
Godwin promised to guide Harefoot on his journey to the throne of England, and whether he married Emma or not, Godwin would have continued by his side. Godwin also knew how intelligent Emma was, though he didn’t see her extreme kindness towards Harefoot coming. Godwin still wanted his son to be king of England one day, so his shady plans wouldn’t have ended there.
Read More
Full Explanation Of Godwin’s Plan In Vikings Valhalla Season 2
Vikings: Valhalla season 2 brought a major twist in Emma and Godwin’s story, with the latter coming up with a complex but brilliant plan.
5
William, Duke Of Normandy’s Future
William’s Future Will Be Important
One character who only appeared twice in Vikings: Valhalla season 3 but who has a very important future is William, Duke of Normandy (Ely Solan). William was introduced when Canute and Emma arrived in Normandy to visit her brother and her sons, Edward and Alfred, who had been living there for seven years. In a flashback, it was revealed that William was an orphan and there were disputes among his relatives about who would look after him, as he was set to succeed his father as Duke of Normandy.
William was under his uncle’s mentorship, who made all the decisions for him. However, William was about to turn 15, after which he could take full control of his role as Duke of Normandy, but his ambitious uncle might have had other plans. The last time William was seen in Vikings: Valhalla, he made a promise with Edward and Alfred that they would all take what’s theirs, setting up an interesting future for the young duke.
4
Stigr & Harald Jr.’s Return To Greenland
Stigr Found Harald Jr. Far From Greenland
Vikings: Valhalla introduced Stigr (Leander Vyvey), a healer who arrived at Jomsborg and became Freydis’ new sentimental partner. When Freydis, Harald Jr., Stigr, and the Jomsvikings arrived in Greenland, her father, Erik the Red (Goran Višnjić), went to lengths to ensure they wouldn’t leave Greenland. Erik gave Harald Jr. to some people he knew, who took him far away from Greenland and locked Freydis up, but her mother freed her. Freydis traveled to Kattegat to get a new ship and crew, while Stigr promised to find Harald.
Stigr found a cave but was stabbed by one of its inhabitants, but he was right in thinking that was where Harald Jr. was taken. Harald Jr. found Stigr on the floor of the cave, and though he woke up when the young boy arrived, he was visibly weak. Vikings: Valhalla season 4 would have seen either Stigr’s recovery or death, but supposing he survived (the wound and the harsh winter), it would have also seen him return with Harald Jr. to Greenland to wait for Freydis, though that would have also meant confronting Erik.
3
Leif & Freydis’ Arrival In Vinland
Leif & Freydis Set Out To Find The Golden Land
Vikings: Valhalla finally gave Leif a purpose and saw him prepare for his most important journey. Leif spoke of a land he had seen many years before while traveling with his father, which he referred to as the “Golden Land”. Leif arrived at Kattegat looking for a ship for this adventure, which was provided for him by Canute along with a crew. After rescuing Freydis from her execution, Leif and Freydis left Kattegat together on his ship, as Freydis also wanted to travel to the Golden Land in hopes that it could be the Jomsvikings’ new home.
The real Leif Erikson was the first European to set foot on continental America, which he called “Vinland”, and established a Norse settlement there. Vikings: Valhalla season 4 would have seen Leif and Freydis’ arrival at Vinland, and through that, it would have also addressed a big Vikings problem, as the main series established that Floki (Gustaf Skarsgård) was the first European in America.
Related
I Can’t Believe How Vikings: Valhalla Failed Its Best Character
Vikings: Valhalla has come to an end, but looking at it, I’m disappointed at how much the show constantly failed its best character.
1
2
Freydis’ Rescue Of Harald Jr. (& The Jomsvikings)
Freydis Promised A New Home To The Jomsvikings
Vikings: Valhalla season 2 revealed Freydis was pregnant with Harald’s child, and she gave birth to their son in Jomsborg. Season 3 saw Stigr training Harald Jr. in combat and the young boy bonding with his grandfather, which is why he didn’t oppose when he took him out of his home and left him with other people. Freydis promised Stigr she would return for him, Harald Jr., and the Jomsvikings, but the ending of Vikings: Valhalla implies she left Kattegat to go straight to the Golden Land with her brother.
Vikings: Valhalla season 4 would have revealed whether Freydis made a stop at Greenland first to get her son and her partner before setting out to the Golden Land or if she did so on the way back from Vinland. It’s unlikely Freydis would have forgotten about them and the Jomsvikings, especially as she knew they weren’t safe in Greenland under her father’s leadership.
1
Erik the Red & The Greenlanders’ Future
Erik The Red Didn’t Let The Greenlanders & Jomsvikings Leave
Throughout Vikings: Valhalla, Erik the Red’s bad reputation was mentioned a couple of times, with Leif saying there was some darkness in him. This was confirmed in season 3 after he sabotaged his own daughter, who he even fought and almost killed, and though he convinced the Jomsvikings that they were safe in Greenland, Freydis, her mother, and Stigr knew that wasn’t true. Freydis has unfinished business with Erik after what he did, and Vikings: Valhalla season 4 would surely have addressed that.
In addition to Freydis’ personal revenge, Vikings: Valhalla season 4 would have to address whether the Jomsvikings and Greenlanders learn about what Erik did and if they would still side with them after that. Freydis offered spots on her ship to any Greenlanders who wanted to join her, and that would have surely still been her plan in a fourth season.
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.
- Cast
-
Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson
, Bradley Freegard
, David Oakes
, Leo Suter
, Laura Berlin
, Frida Gustavsson
, Caroline Henderson
, Sam Corlett - Release Date
-
February 25, 2022
- Streaming Service(s)
-
Netflix
- Showrunner
-
Jeb Stuart