Episode 3 (entitled “Mercy”) of season 4 of History Channel’s Vikings saw the surprising return of a character from the grave. It also saw Bjorn Ironside (Alexander Ludwig) fight a bear, Rollo (Clive Standen) struggle with life in Paris, and Ragnar Lothbrok (Travis Fimmel) make a decision about Floki (Gustaf Skarsgard). But just what is in store for these characters for the remainder of season 4, and, potentially, into season 5? Vikings creator Michael Hirst drops some major spoilers.
SPOILER ALERT: This article contains information about season 4 of History Channel’s Vikings . Please proceed with caution if you have not yet viewed all available episodes or wish to avoid spoilers.
Bjorn Ironside
Historically, Ragnar’s sons go onto bigger and better things, so Bjorn will likely step up and take a bigger role in Vikings at some stage. But, so far, poor Bjorn has spent most of his time living in the shadow of his famous parents, Ragnar and Lagertha (Katheryn Winnick). Every decision he makes has been belittled by his father and led to Bjorn taking to the wilderness in season 4 of Vikings in order to “find himself.” Episode 3 saw him finally fight the bear Entertainment Weekly had teased fans about before season 4 premiered. Hirst discusses the bear fight with Variety , insisting he knew nothing about Leonardo DiCaprio’s bear fight in his latest movie, The Revenant .
“Hand on heart, I didn’t know they were making a movie about someone fighting a bear. I remember talking at the end of season 3 to various people at the studio saying, ‘I need a test for Bjorn. I want to send him into the wilderness. What kind of trials could he possibly have in the Scandinavian wilderness?’ and the bear came up.”
But now that Bjorn has fought nature and won, how will the remainder of season 4 fare for him? According to Michael Hirst, Bjorn will go onto much greater things. In a major spoiler, Hirst announced that Bjorn would head for Spain. “This season Bjorn sets sail for the Mediterranean and goes to Spain,” he told Variety .
Athelstan
For many Vikings fans, season 3 was a heartbreaking one with the death of Athelstan (George Blagden), the monk Ragnar took prisoner back in season 1. Over the course of three seasons, the two had become very close friends, something Michael Hirst hadn’t anticipated as he elaborated on the relationship in a recent interview with Zap2It .
“What’s great for me is that Athelstan started out as just a kind of device. He wasn’t really a character. He was just a way of taking this story from Christian context into viking context, so the audience would see the vikings through a Christian’s point of view. He became more than a function, he became a character. Then, the more I thought about him and Ragnar’s spiritual issues and his curiosity about religion and Christianity, he became a real person.”
So bringing Athelstan back in season 4 after Floki had murdered him wasn’t such a big stretch. Having Athelstan appear from beyond the grave was always something Hirst planned for. But even if Athelstan never appears in season 4 of Vikings again, his imprint will still be felt. Hirst explains that Athelstan touched many people, and his story and how it affected the characters in Vikings will continue to appear until at least episode 20.
Ragnar Lothbrok
Ragnar will, once again, struggle with his identity as a viking leader. But season 4 will be different for him in that he no longer has anyone close to him to which he can confide. Athelstan is dead, Floki has betrayed him, Lagertha has her own earldom issues to deal with and he is married to a wife he no longer seems to love. This will bring Ragnar to a point in which he will be searching himself for the important matters in life: love, life, and death.
Rollo
Historically, Rollo goes on to become the first ruler of Normandy. Although, with archaeologists currently doing DNA testing on Rollo’s ancestors, there is the possibility the viking Rollo was not the one who ended up in Paris, but the Danish Rollo instead. However, History Channel has already placed the viking Rollo in Paris, so it can be assumed that the Rollo character Vikings fans know will go on to bigger and better things. But until he gets there, it is likely there will be more comedic moments for Rollo in season 4 of Vikings .
Season 5?
While filming is still continuing in Ireland for season 4 of Vikings , there has been no official confirmation from the network yet about season 5. Hirst did mentioned during his interview with Variety that they are currently battling the Irish weather in order to finish filming the last two episodes of season 4 of Vikings . However, he also said Bjorn will “get to Iceland and into the Mediterranean” in the following season, so perhaps that is the very first solid confirmation that season 5 of Vikings already has the go ahead?
Vikings returns to History Channel with episode 4, entitled “Yol” on Thursday, February 25, at 10 p.m. ET.
What are you enjoying most about season 4 of Vikings ? Do you think the show will continue on with season 5? Let us know your thoughts and theories by commenting below!
[Image via A&E Network]