Summary
Vikings: Valhallahas now ended, and even though I enjoyed the final season, it only made me mad that a fourth season isn’t happening.Vikings: Valhallais the sequel series toVikings, but as it’s set over 100 years after the main series, it follows a new group of characters from the final years of the Viking Age. Although, just like inVikings, it wasn’t historically accurate,Vikings: Valhallabuilt engaging storylines with real-life characters, such as 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).
Vikings: Valhallaseason 2 endedwith Freydis taking over Jomsborg as its leader and priestess, Leif and Harald arriving at Constantinople, Emma letting Godwin (David Oakes) know she had discovered his plan, and King Canute returning to England.Vikings: Valhallaseason 3 had a time jump of seven years, which made many new storylines possible, but the show’s ending feels inconclusive, and as the plan was for it to end with season 3, the new characters did more harm than good to the show, and I’m so frustrated that there won’t be a fourth season.
Vikings Valhalla Season 3 Ending Explained: What Happens To Everyone?
Vikings: Valhalla ended with its third season, which was full of twists, turns, and shocking reveals for Leif, Harald, Freydis, and Queen Emma.
Vikings: Valhalla Season 3 Covered Too Much In Little Time
In addition to the stories of Leif, Freydis, Harald, Canute, and Emma (the latter two including Godwin),Vikings: Valhallaseason 3 put other characters in the spotlight as well, most of them previously introduced but not given prominent roles. Thanks to the time jump,Vikings: Valhallawas able to bring in Canute’s sonsSvein (Jakob Femerling Andersen) and Harefoot (Pyry Kähkönen) as the former continued to rule Norway alongside his mother, Queen Aelfgifu, and Harefoot wanted the throne of England after his father’s death.
While all of these storylines were exciting and interesting,Vikings: Valhallaonly had eight episodes to develop them.
Also linked to Canute and Emma was William, Duke of Normandy (Ely Solan), who only appeared briefly in two episodes. There was also Magnus, Olaf’s son, who wanted the throne of Norway and who was as ruthless as his father. On Freydis and Leif’s side,Vikings: Valhallaseason 3 finally introduced their father, Erik the Red(Goran Višnjić), as well as Stigr (Leander Vyvey), a healer and Freydis’ new partner. While all of these storylines were exciting and interesting (mostly those of Harefoot and Erik the Red, but that’s my opinion),Vikings: Valhallaonly had eight episodes to develop them while also continuing the stories of its main characters.
Vikings: Valhalla Left Its Three Main Stories Inconclusive
Vikings: Valhalla Left More Questions Than Answers
As a result of too many stories and too little time,Vikings: Valhallaleft most of its stories inconclusive, especially those of Leif, Freydis, and Harald.Vikings: Valhallaseason 3 saw King Canute’s death (which I wasn’t expecting to break my heart as much as it did) and Emma doing what she could to keep her place as Queen, implying she will get together with Harefoot. Leif and Freydis left Kattegat on the ship (and with the crew) provided for Leif by Canute after Leif rescued Freydis from her execution.
The siblings set out to find the “Golden Land”, butthere was one major Freydis loose end: her son. Freydis had a son with Harald, who she named after him, and when Jomsborg was destroyed by Magnus, she took Harald Jr., Stigr, and the surviving Jomsvikings to Greenland, where Erik lives. Unfortunately, her father showed his true colors and destroyed her ships, took Harald Jr. away, and locked Freydis away so she and her people wouldn’t leave.
Did Leif Erikson Discover North America? The Golden Land In Vikings Valhalla Explained
Vikings: Valhalla season 3 saw Leif and Freydis sailing away to find “the golden land”, which isn’t that different from their real-life story.
It’s unknown if Freydis returned for Harald before setting out to the Golden Land, after, or at all.
Stigr set out to find Harald Jr. and he did, butit’s unclear if Stigr survivedbeing stabbed long enough to bring Harald Jr. to safety, and it’s unknown if Freydis returned for Harald before setting out to the Golden Land, after, or at all – and, in addition to that, it’s unknown if she could bring the Jomsvikings to the Golden Land.
As for Harald, he got the throne of Norway after agreeing to co-rule with his nephew, Magnus, who he later imprisoned, and soHarald proclaimed himself the true King of Norway. However,the real Harald Hardradawas a ruthless king, so it’s unknown what his reign inVikings: Valhallawould have been like and if Magnus would have been able to escape and return for revenge against him.
Vikings: Valhalla Avoided Its Biggest Vikings Question
Vikings Made A Huge Change To History In Its Final Season
In real life, Leif Erikson was the first European to set foot on continental America, but in the world ofVikings: Valhalla, he wouldn’t have been the first.
Vikings: Valhallaseason 3 set up Leif’s arrival in Vinland (North America), the Golden Land he spoke of, but it never showed him actually getting there. It’s up to the audience to imagine his and Freydis’ arrival in Vinland, which is whatthe real Leif Eriksondid, but by not showing this and just setting up his trip,Vikings: Valhallacompletely avoided its biggestVikingsquestion/plot hole.In real life, Leif Erikson was the first European to set foot on continental America, but in the world ofVikings: Valhalla, he wouldn’t have been the first.
InVikings, Ragnar Lothbrok (Travis Fimmel) dreamed of exploring new lands but never got to do it – but his friend Floki (Gustaf Skarsgård) did.Vikingsseason 6 revealed Floki successfully made it to America, where he was found by Ragnar’s son, Ubbe (Jordan Patrick Smith). In the world ofVikingsandVikings: Valhalla, then,Floki was the first European/Viking in America, so it’s unknown if Leif and Freydis would have found a settlement there or would have learned that Floki and Ubbe got there first many, many years before.
Vikings: Valhalla Didn’t Go All The Way With The Final Years Of The Viking Age
I would have loved to see what else Godwin would do and how Emma would handle it in one or more seasons.
With too many storylines in its final season and inconclusive storylines for its main characters,Vikings: Valhallaclearly had many more stories to tell. One of my favorite parts ofVikings: Valhallawas the tension between Queen Emma and Godwin after the latter planned the former’s assassination attempt so he could become part of the royal family. Godwin tried to mess with Emma by bringing Harefoot instead of Edward, but Emma, once more, outsmarted him. Because of this, I would have loved to see what else Godwin would do and how Emma would handle it in one or more seasons.
I would have loved to see how Freydis defended her people from Erik once she arrived in Greenland with a new ship, a new crew, and Leif.
Of course,there was a lot more to explore in Leif and Freydis’ journey, as well as Freydis’ promise to her people and her reunion with Stigr and Harald Jr. In addition to that, Freydis’ story with her father was also left inconclusive, and I would have loved to see how she defended her people from Erik once she arrived in Greenland with a new ship, a new crew, and Leif (who surely had some unfinished business with Erik, as well). And then there’s Harald, who had the most complete story out of the main characters but there was still more to cover.
One storyline that, to me, made no sense to have in season 3, was that of William, Duke of Normandy.
As mentioned above, Harald became known for being a ruthless and hard ruler (hence the name “Hardrada”), and it would have been great to see that part of his story inVikings: Valhalla. One storyline that, to me, made no sense to have in season 3, was that of William, Duke of Normandy.William appeared twice, briefly, and had no impact on the show, so much so that cutting his scenes out would make no difference. William’s real-life story is actually quite interesting, and it deserved to be explored inVikings: Valhallain a future season.
With no season 4 happening forVikings: Valhalla, it’s up to the audience to decide what happened to every character, and, in most cases, history can fill in the gaps. However, that doesn’t make it any less frustrating thatVikings: Valhallaended with its third season and thatit feels like the writers didn’t give much thought to how the stories of the main characters would end.
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.
