The end is nigh for Vikings: Valhalla but the show isn’t going out without a fight. Seven years after the events of season 2, Constantinople is a thundering success and the Vikings are welcomed by Emperor Romanos (Nikolai Kinski). However, those close to him have their own designs on the Byzantine Empire, including the ruthless General Maniakes (Florian Munteanu) who will stop at nothing to come out on top.
Harald (Leo Suter) is quick to win their trust, but Leif (Sam Corlett) is on a search for something more. He’s realizing knowledge is power—and when it falls into the wrong hands, it can be catastrophic.
Elsewhere, Freydis (Frida Gustavsson) has built a flourishing home in Jomsborg while raising her son Harald, where the peace and merriment are the calm before the storm. King Canute (Bradley Freegard) is going up against the Church, which history should tell us never ends well. And Godwin (David Oakes) is still trying to pull the strings in his favor but how far will Emma (Laura Berlin) let him go?
Vikings: Valhalla wastes no time in reeling you back in, showing how triumphant our heroes have been since we last met them, while setting up the board ready for another round of betrayals, revenge, and blood. The fight choreography is breakneck and gritty, making you feel each brutal swing and blow. By the time the quickening drums steal the breath from you with the first battle of the season, you’ll be all in.
Each new decision and power play comes with fierce effect but it’s the quiet moments that form the heartbeat of each episode. Season 3 asks, is it enough? Will the ambition of men ever be satiated? As empires and power grow, it is so easy to lose sight of what’s important—and the season holds up a mirror to each character. They must reckon with themselves and what they have done in order to build a new future.
The final season moves quickly across oceans and land, weaving a complex tapestry of past storylines and new adventures. Just when you think it will run out the clock, it pulls the main threads together for a tense and epic showdown. Does the show continue to play fast and loose with history? Yes. Are there parts of the story that needed more time? Yes. Is it a roaring good time anyway? Also yes. Vikings: Valhalla goes out on a victorious high, leaving a strong legacy in its wake.
Watch Vikings: Valhalla on Netflix.
