All good things must come to an end, and with the premiere of season 6B Vikings on our television screens on December 30, the end of the beloved History series is near.
The first 10 episodes of the season served as the perfect setting for the ending, killing several main characters – we haven’t quite recovered from Lagerthy’s (Katheryn Winnick) unceremonious stabbing – and launching an epic conclusion for Ragnar’s sons, now in production for seven years.
But before Vikings forever sailing out in Valhalla, we have a few lengthy questions we’d like to answer, especially considering the high school finale that left the fate of our central hero in balance.
Is Bjorn dead or alive after Ivar stabbed him?
(Photo by Jonathan Hession / History)
No wonder here: The biggest burning question that arises in this last part of the episode is whether Bjorn (Alexander Ludwig) actually died from Ivar’s sword, as shown in the surreal and disorienting battle at the end of 6A. Is he badly wounded? Was it all a dream? Or is this actually the last we’ll see of Ludwig’s terrifying warrior?
In an interview with Rotten Tomatoes, creator Michael Hirst has characteristically remained narrow-minded about what follows, but teased dead or alive, Bjorn will continue to be present this season. Just as Ragnar (Travis Fimmel) is still a name on everyone’s lips, his first son also casts a long shadow into life and death.
“These are the presences in the show until the end, the powerful presence, part of the pantheon and a kind of mythical figure in Vikings the world, “Hirst said.” So they’re still alive in many different ways. “
And what’s worth it, Ludwig, not betraying the fate of his character, told us that there’s no other way he’d rather the show end – what Hirst invented just should be.
“I’m really objective and I hate watching myself because I’m always very strict with myself, but I’ll say I love this show as a fan, really and as someone who is incredibly critical of everything I do. I believe this show ends just the way it should.” said Ludwig. “The fans will be really happy with the ending.”
Scanning the latest announcements for last season, it turned out that Ludwig’s Bjorn was bedridden and surrounded by loved ones and Viking leaders, which probably shatters all internet theories that the fighting sequence that ended with Ivar’s choice of brother is a surreal dream. So maybe he’s wounded and will live to fight another day? Bjorn is also seen riding a horse, and the season’s promotional poster itself features a gray Bjorn holding a sword, all indicating that we have yet to see the last of him in combat. (Thank the gods!) Less and less would leave us a little deceived, given the origins of the loss and hardship Bjorn overcame along the way, the recent death of Lagerthe, his unborn child, and Hali, son of Torvi, and the loss of the chosen crown.
What is Ivar’s ending with Oleg, Igor and Hvitserk?
(Photo by Bernard Walsh / History)
At this point we all know how much Ivar (Alex Høgh Andersen) really is a master strategist. And now that the Russian military seems to have wrapped up Season 6A with a clear superiority over Bjorn and King Harald (Peter Franzén), we have to wonder what will happen to his alliance with the young King Igor (Oran Glynn O’Donovan), the true heir of Kievan Russia and his manipulative, calculated uncle, Prince Oleg (Danila Kozlovski). Of course, Ivar has cast his eyes on the throne for years and is currently promised to inherit the crown as King of Norway. But what if Oleg makes that promise? The audience was familiar with the growing playing of Ivar who agrees against Oleg if the coup is deemed necessary, so we are eager to see how their relationship will develop in these last 10 episodes. Where Oleg’s wife Katia (Alicia Agneson) – whom Ivar believes his dead wife was resurrected – also fits into that scheme remains to be seen. But for now, as indicated in the finals earlier this year, the mood is cheerful, celebratory and drunk.
As for Hvitserk (Marco Ilsø), he and Ivar have always had, say, quarreling relationships. The fact that they were together in arms after Hvitserk accidentally killed Lagerth was spared executions and banished from the Kattegat on Bjorn’s orders – and, let’s not forget, after Ivar killed Thor (Eve Connolly) at the end of Season 5 – definitely stinks of trouble. Too much baggage, resentment, and the habit of fratricide sits between them and a happy, fraternal end. However, how does it all play out – will Hvitserk improve in his alleged fate to kill Ivar? – At this moment, anyone is guessing.
King Harald is considered dead on the battlefield – what will Norway become?
(Photo by Jonathan Hession / History)
If there was ever a moment to prove that he deserved to be crowned King of Norway, the battle with the Russians at the end of 6A was that. Unfortunately, King Harald was not very old. (Are we all so surprised?) When news arrives of the approaching Russian army, Harald is unable to assemble the Norwegian kingdoms for battle and eventually remains shorthand and unprepared. Put together the fact that he raped Bjorn’s wife Ingrid before that battle, we can’t say we were so sad when we saw him bleeding on the field. But never speak too soon: we never got confirmation that he died after Eric Red (Eric Johnson) left him for him and took his crown, so his future in the series is still unclear. And speaking of Erik, we can’t help but wonder what he’s going to do with the crown, leaving Harald dead, and knowing Bjorn is badly injured, it seems like Norway might need to find a new head to rest its power on.
Will Torvi and Ubbe finally reach the Golden Land?
(Photo by Jonathan Hession / History)
We also expect that these last episodes will conclude the long-standing setting of how the Vikings will break through from Iceland to the so-called Golden Land – which was hoped to be North America. In that search across Iceland are Torvi (Georgia Hirst) and Ubbe (Jordan Patrick Smith), and at the end of Season 6A they called for the help of Othere (Ray Stevenson), a mysterious wanderer who is said to have enlisted in the western seas and his travels have led to of this “golden land.” Shortly after his appearance in Iceland, it is learned that he is actually a converted Anglo-Saxon monk named Athelstan and a bunch of violent past. After killing a Viking and taking his name, he left his missionary life and is now drawn into the efforts of Torvi and Ubbe on the journey. As it is now, his intention is not clear, and given his history, we are not immediately on board to trust him. But if it can take our heroes to the Golden Land, then it may be worth keeping it nearby. Besides, if anyone has the answers behind Floki’s true destiny, it could be Othere.
Another interesting fact: Let’s go back to Erik the Red. In the history of real-world Vikings, Leif Erikson was the first Viking to set foot in North America and continue to inhabit Newfoundland. Eric Red, as it happens, is the father of Leif Erickson. And Hirst had to hold fast to the factual history of things (which, of course, is not always the case in Vikings), we can also see how Eric somehow gets involved in the Icelandic camp’s journey west.
Of which characters Vikings‘Will the past come back before the finals?
(Photo by Jonathan Hession / History)
Speaking of Floki (Gustaf Skarsgård), wouldn’t it be nice to get some definitive closure of our favorite shipbuilder before Vikings is the end coming? It also makes us think about who else can show up from now until the series finale. The first half of season 6 was mostly at zero in Iceland, Scandinavia and Russia; is the trip back to Wessex and our friend King Alfred (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo) in storage? Rollo (Clive Standen) is already known for an unannounced big comeback in the series; should we hold our breath for him? And as Hirst himself says, those characters never actually die. Could Ragnar and Lagertha appear in flashes or dreams? Is there room for a complete gathering of actors on screen? We hope!
Whoever comes back to this last round of action, Ludwig assures us it’s happening: “Some of the fan favorites may come back or not, and I’m really looking forward to the response,” he said. “I don’t think there’s a better way that could have ended.”
And about that ending, Hirst said we should prepare for a farewell from the bigger players, rather than just from Lagerthe: “I had to kill some of the characters I loved the most, and that was never easy,” he said.
But he promises that every shocking turn in the rest of this trip pays off and everyone feeds the broader story he had planned for a long time.
“What I can say is that these episodes are literally full of surprises and unexpected visits or appearances, and what is expected is unexpected,” he said. “I will not go into details, but the show is complete in many aspects and I hope in a very satisfactory way. That’s what I was supposed to do. ”
In the end, what if you are not happy with the result? Well, Hirst rests easily knowing he’s the only one to blame.
“You know there are certain shows and you could probably name them – very good shows with very bad endings,” he teased. “And I guess it was because a certain number of people were involved in deciding how they should end up and how they should be written, and people wouldn’t agree. But in this case it was just me, and the only person I could argue with was me. So I thought that if I could conclude these different stories – there are three different story lines in these 10 episodes – if I could conclude them in a satisfying and fair way, then I was pretty sure the audience would find the ending as satisfying, because those are the characters who I love, these are the characters I’ve lived with for seven years. So I didn’t want to fool anyone and I tried very hard not to do it. “
Vikings‘ final episodes of the premiere on December 30, 2020 on Amazon Prime Video.
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