From a media release:
Season three of HISTORY’s hit scripted drama series Vikings returns on Thursday, February 19 at 10 pm ET/PT. In the new 10-episode season, Ragnar (Travis Fimmel), the former farmer, is now King and has great responsibility resting on his shoulders.
With the promise of new land from the English, Ragnar leads his people to an uncertain fate on the shores of Wessex. King Ecbert (Linus Roache) has made many promises and it remains to be seen if he will keep them. This season, the ever-ambitious Ragnar searches for something more – and he finds it in the mythical city of Paris. Rumoured to be impenetrable to outside forces, Ragnar and his band of Norsemen must come together to break down its walls and cement the Vikings legend in history.
The gripping family saga of Ragnar, Rollo (Clive Standen), Lagertha (Canadian Katheryn Winnick) and Bjorn (Canadian Alexander Ludwig) continues as alliances and loyal friendships are questioned, faith is catechized and relationships are strained. Vikings tells the extraordinary tales of the lives and epic adventures of these warriors and portrays life in the Dark Ages, a world ruled by raiders and explorers, through the eyes of Viking society.
New characters introduced this season include:
Harbard (Canadian Kevin Durand) – A wanderer who turns up unexpectedly in Kattegat when Ragnar and most of the men of the town are away raiding. Harbard has a profound effect on Queen Aslaug, Siggy and Helga, all of whom share the same dream, presaging his arrival.
Emperor Charles of France (Canadian Lothaire Bluteau) – A complex, troubled and powerful man who views battling the Vikings as spiritual destiny.
Kalf (Ben Robson) – Lagertha’s young, handsome second in command. She is fond of him and trusts him to look after her affairs while she is away, but is Kalf more ambitious and calculating than he appears?
Princess Gisla (Morgane Polanski) – The daughter of Emperor Charles and a beautiful, young woman of considerable courage and resolution.
Travis Fimmel continues to lead the stellar cast as the strategic Viking warrior Ragnar, along with Katheryn Winnick as Lagertha, an Earl and fierce shield maiden; Clive Standen as Rollo, Ragnar’s impulsive brother; Alexander Ludwig as Bjorn, the intelligent and bold warrior son of Ragnar; George Blagden as Athelstan, a former monk befriended by Ragnar; Jessalyn Gilsig as Siggy, beautiful wife of the late Earl Haraldson; Linus Roache as Ecbert, King of Wessex, a man of strength, knowledge and undisguised ambition; Gustaf Skarsgard as Floki, a genius ship builder and loyal yet sometimes dangerous friend of Ragnar’s; and Alyssa Sutherland as Queen Aslaug, Ragnar’s wife.
Vikings season one was the #1 specialty drama of 20131 and earned seven Canadian Screen Award nominations. Season two is currently the #1 Canadian specialty program2 among multiple key demos and is the #1 program on HISTORY3. Fans can catch up on the exciting first two seasons of Vikings on shomi.
All ten episodes of Vikings’ third season are directed by Canadians including Ken Girotti, Jeff Woolnough, Helen Shaver and Kelly Makin.
I’m excited for the return of Vikings. It’s a top 10 show for me for sure with captivating storylines and intriguing characters. A few years ago I read Heather Graham’s (the author not the actress) Vikings trilogy and ever since have been really interested in Viking history. When I heard History Channel was making a drama series based on the Vikings I was so excited and when it debuted I wasn’t left disappointed.
It really is a fantastic show. I had the opportunity to visit the set during filming of Season 2 and I’ll never forget it. Michael Hurst, the creator, writes all of the scripts himself, which is just shocking to me.
Maybe that’s what makes the series so great, that a single person writes the scripts. Sometimes too many writers make for a diluted or less-connected story. The actors were well-cast too. Gustav Skarsgard, in particular, deserves an award for the job he does playing Floki–so creepy yet likeable.