Susan Granger’s review of “Vikings Valhalla” (Netflix)
Looking for a new historical/action series to watch? Netflix’s “Vikings Valhalla” begins in the early 11th century with the adventures of legendary Norse figures like explorer Leif Erikson (Sam Corlett), his feisty sister Freydis Eriksdotter (Frida Gustavsson), and ambitious Prince Harald Sigurdsson (Leo Suter).
Set 100 years after “Vikings,” which aired on the History Channel, the semi-spinoff’s first season, introduces Leif Erikson, son of the notorious Erik the Red, who forged the first European foothold in North America, 500 years before Christopher Columbus,
When Leif and Freydis, who sailed from Greenland, arrive in the Viking metropolis of Kattegat, they learn that King Aethelred II (Bosco Hogan) has slaughtered all the Danish settlers in England in what became known as the St. Brice’s Day Massacre.
Determined to wreak revenge, Leif joins Harald and King Canute (Bradley Freegard) as the clever Vikings, literally, bring down London Bridge. Meanwhile, Freydis journeys to find her destiny as Keeper of the Faith in Uppsala.
Bigger, bolder season two immediately follows the aftermath of the Battle for Kattegat as those who continue to practice their Pagan beliefs, hiding in in Jomsborg – their secret stronghold on the Baltic Sea – are hunted and slaughtered by Christian zealot Jarl Olaf Haraldsson (Johannes Haukur Johannesson), who himself is on the run from King Forkbeard (Soren Pilmark).
In her idyllic new home, Freydis becomes a sort of mythic figure, incurring the wrath of Harekr (Bradley James), who is determined to maintain the purity of his followers.
Creator/showrunner Jeb Stuart describes the second season as ‘a road movie’ – filled with gore and glory, augmented by intriguing new storylines and characters.
Guiding Leif and now-fugitive would-be King Harald – as they make their way eastward to Novgorod in the northern part of the Rus and, eventually, Constantinople – is a blinded Pecheneg prisoner, Kurya (Tolga Safer), who not only knows the territory but has a score to settle.
And Leif is smitten by lovely Mariam (Hayat Kamile), a Muslim astronomer who introduces him to science, teaching him to read Latin & Arabic and use an astrolabe to navigate his ship down the Neva River.
On the Granger Gauge of 1 to 10, “Vikings Valhalla” is an immersive 7, streaming on Netflix. The third season is set to premiere in 2024.
