REVIEW – The final chapter of the Viking saga sprints towards its conclusion but loses the magic that once captivated viewers. With tangled storylines and unfinished character arcs, the rushed ending leaves a bitter taste. The visuals and action remain impressive, but the narrative quickly runs out of steam.

After more than a decade, the world of Vikings finally comes to a close. Michael Hirst and Jeb Stuart have spent over 11 years chronicling the Vikings’ history and raids across England and Europe, showcasing how they became explorers, conquerors, kings, and warriors not only on this continent but also in Asia, Africa, and even North America. The latest installment, Vikings: Valhalla, aimed to depict the Vikings’ decline, highlighting their conversion to Christianity and how it forever changed Scandinavia.

However, the third and final season rushes towards the finale, compressing storylines into forced conclusions. As a result, several character arcs remain unresolved, their fates left hanging. Nonetheless, there are moments that echo the most memorable scenes from the original Vikings series, reminding us why we loved this saga.

Racing through time like an unchained viking

The new season leaps forward seven years, yet the main characters, Leif Erikson (Sam Corlett), Freydís Eiríksdóttir (Frida Gustavsson), and Harald Sigurdsson (Leo Suter), show little physical change – at least in the original Vikings series, characters occasionally changed hairstyles or received makeup adjustments. While the original series gradually built its story, expanding as the saga grew and the characters spread out, it’s clear from the first episode of Season 3 that Valhalla has too many plotlines and not enough time to properly explore them.

Beyond the main trio, these eight episodes waste valuable minutes on King Knut’s (Bradley Freegard) management of his North Sea Empire, Magnus’s (Set Sjöstrand) quest for vengeance for his father’s death at Freydís’s hands, Earl Godwin’s (David Oakes) endless political schemes, and Harald Harefoot’s (Ruben Lawless) ambitions. Only Knut and Harald’s stories receive proper arcs and resolutions, although Harald’s journey often meanders and becomes predictable due to his constant delays returning from Constantinople and rivalry with a fellow commander.

The folly of faith and politics: an everlasting battle

One of the final season’s most compelling aspects is its portrayal of religious conflicts. This theme has always been central to the franchise; Season 3 focuses entirely on illustrating how hateful, violent, and senseless these clashes of faith can be. This is best seen through Knut’s efforts to legitimize his empire in the eyes of the Pope and the Catholic Church.

He’s mocked as a savage who built his empire on blood – ironic, considering that every other European kingdom arose in much the same way, or that half the season focuses on the atrocities committed by the Byzantine Christian Empire against Muslim-ruled Syracuse. Indeed, if there is a silver lining to Valhalla’s unfinished stories, it is that they highlight the destructive and endless nature of these conflicts and religious ideologies.

Clash of titans: stunning visuals and intense battles

The final season’s battle scenes are truly satisfying, especially the depiction of the Siege of Syracuse. These scenes are epic in scale, featuring numerous moving parts, dozens of actors, and impressive stunts, followed by numerous individual combat scenes with dynamic camera movements and energetic choreography.

Yet, it’s hard to overlook the fact that characters like Freydís and Leif, along with other supporting players, are left hanging before their stories can be concluded. Leif, for instance, is a far more intriguing character than either Knut or Harald Harefoot, and Sam Corlett delivers a captivating performance as the famous explorer, world traveler, and keeper of knowledge.

The final viking battle…

Vikings: Valhalla’s third season brings the saga to its end, but with a hurried conclusion that leaves several character arcs unfinished. This is not surprising, given the time dedicated to events beyond Leif Erikson, Freydís Eiríksdóttir, and Harald Sigurdsson. Although the final season offers enough action and political intrigue to remain entertaining, it’s a disappointing end to a story that began over a decade ago with the original Vikings series.

-Gergely Herpai “BadSector”-