WARNING: This article contains spoilers for seasons 1-6 of Vikings.
Vikings, the epic Nordic saga, came to an end in season 6, but was unable to impress fans and critics in its final send-off. With the release of Vikings: Valhalla, it’s a good time to look back at the show and what critics had to say about every season.
The show first premiered on the History Channel in 2013 as a gritty historical drama with lots of political intrigue and bloodshed. It tells the story of Viking raider and farmer Ragnar Lothbrok (Travis Fimmel), during the Middle Ages era of Viking exploration in Europe. The series follows Ragnar’s rise to power as he and his warrior family explore and raid across countries and oceans. In this time they are faced with many challenges that come in the form of clashes against kings, brothers, cultures and religions.
Vikings: Season 1 – 73
Season 1 holds the lowest score, which is not to say that critics were overly negative. The first season introduces audiences to Ragnar Lothbrok (who was a real-world Viking) and the rest of his family. Ragnar dreams of exploration, and enlists the help of his friend Floki, who is able to design and build him a new boat so that he can travel West. Towards the end, Ragnar is able to arrive in England and set himself up in a position of power.
Apart from some points with regards to the pacing and what was said to be a “simplistic” plot, the season received mostly favorable reviews. This could be attributed to the show just beginning to establish its characters and settings. The season was not helped by critics comparing it with the fantasy giant Game Of Thrones.
Vikings: Season 6 – 77
The last season in the epic Viking saga received the second-lowest rating. This season mainly follows Bjorn and Harald as they vie for the throne, while Ubbe journeys to Iceland to find Floki and Ivar and Hvitserk return to raiding. This allowed the show to call back to Ragnar and his drive for exploration. However, the final season had mixed reviews from both fans and critics.
Critics commended the show for organically tying up character arcs, though they said it followed the same formula of battle and gore as seen many times before. They also pointed out how the choices made in the portrayal and focus of different characters resulted in the storyline appearing more scattered than in previous seasons.
Vikings: Season 5 – 79
From this point, the show began to falter and lose its way, which was reflected in the way that the season was ranked. At this stage in the story, the focus appears to be on Ragnar’s sons and how they continue to let themselves be pulled apart. There is a war in Kattegat during which Lagertha goes missing, Floki begins his journey, Ubbe and Hvitserk want to farm and settle down while Ivar goes missing.
Critics describe this season as more like a “soap opera,” with bland characters and poor writing. Fans at this point are also unhappy with how the show had progressed, especially after the death of Ragnar. While the season still delivered a gritty Viking drama, there was now something missing that had previously drawn in viewers.
Vikings: Season 2 – 81
Many agreed that the second season successfully expands upon and surpasses season 1. Season 2 sees Ragnar as the Earl of Kattegat as he seeks to expand and forge new alliances. At this time, Athelstan struggles with his faith, Rollo is forgiven and is now lieutenant to Ragnar and Lagertha leaves Ragnar instead of sharing him with Aslaug.
The show was praised for its growth in plot and characters, as the Viking tribe faced new challenges that came with Ragnar’s quest for power and exploration. It received plaudits for its gorgeous visuals, which were said to have set it apart from other shows at the time. Fan-favorites also emerged, especially Lagertha (Katheryn Winnick), as she artfully plays shield-maiden, wife and mother.
Vikings: Season 3 – 82
The Viking raiders find themselves between Scandinavia, England and France this season. The clash between the Nordic beliefs and Christianity is front and center, as Floki questions Ragnar’s decision making and later kills Athelstan. Lagertha is also back and in the heart of the battlefield, but she needs to contend with Kalf, after he usurped her earldom. At the end of the season, they sack Paris after Ragnar pulls a bait and switch in one of the show’s biggest plot twists.
Season 3 continued to build on the previous two seasons and is said to be one of the best seasons in the show’s history. At this point, the show knows what it is and isn’t afraid to give audiences exactly what they want. Reviews of this season were positive, with critics drinking in the new setting, cultural clashes and continued character development.
Vikings: Season 4 – 84
As the most-reviewed season of Vikings, this season was very still divisive amongst critics and fans. When Ragnar arrives home in Kattegat, he becomes incredibly isolated and closed off while falling into drug addiction. What follows is a season where Ragnar battles to keep his tribe’s faith in him and his drive to win it all back, which leads to his death. What made this season stand out from the others, however, was that it took on a different approach to Ragnar’s portrayal.
The show previously presented audiences with the rise of the warrior king, in this season he now has to face the consequences of the actions he brought upon himself. While the overall season may be bleak and audiences bid farewell to a favorite character, what critics chose to focus on was the overall performance given by Travis Fimmel. While the series may not have ended in the way that many hoped, audiences can still get a taste of the world in Vikings: Valhalla.
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