Vikings: Valhalla Season 1 and 2 Summary

Season 1

King Ethelred II's Orders

• Ethelred II orders the deaths of all Danish settlers in England.

Assembling the Viking Army

• King Canute of Denmark calls for a meeting in Kattegat to form an army for revenge.
• Vikings gather in Kattegat, including:
  • Harald Sigurdsson mourning his brother Sten's death
  • Olaf Haraldsson, Harald's older brother and devout Christian
  • Gunner Magnusson, Olaf's follower
  • Leif Eriksson and Freydis Eriksdotter, Greenlander siblings (pagans)

Freydis's Personal Revenge

• Freydis seeks revenge on a Viking who assaulted her (Gunner) and kills him.
• Jarl Haakon spares Freydis's life in exchange for Greenlanders joining the Viking army.

Battle Against England

• King Edmund succeeds Ethelred after his death and forms alliances to fight Vikings.
• Canute leads the Vikings, eventually capturing London.
• Edric Streona betrays Edmund, leading to Viking victory.
• Canute becomes the first Norse King of England, taking Emma as his wife.

Internal Conflicts and Developments

• Leif questions his Pagan beliefs after the loss of his fellow Greenlanders.
• Back in Kattegat, Freydis is prophesied to have a significant future, becomes a shield-maiden, and romances Harald.
• Olaf and Jarl Kare form an alliance to eradicate pagans, targeting Kattegat.
• Harald acts as a double agent, warning Leif.

Battle of Kattegat

• Massive conflict with heavy casualties.
• Freydis kills Kare; Olaf mortally wounds Liv who dies in Leif's arms.
• Olaf initially wins but is forced to flee when Forkbeard arrives with Canute's fleet.
• Leif brutally murders Kare's followers, reaffirming his Pagan faith.

Season 2

Power Shifts and New Alliances

• Forkbeard installs his grandson Svein as the new King of Norway.
• Olaf becomes Svein's advisor and protector in exchange for his life.
• Harald and Freydis's relationship ends due to differing religious beliefs; Freydis is secretly pregnant.

Harald and Leif's Journey

• Harald seeks aid to reclaim the Danish throne with Leif's support.
• They undertake a journey to Constantinople for funds, forming a Viking crew.

Queen Emma's Struggles

• Emma suspects Godwin of an assassination attempt; Canute sides with Godwin.
• Godwin is betrothed to Canute's niece, but Emma remains suspicious and vigilant.

Freydis's Time in Jomsborg

• Freydis is taken to Jomsborg and given a holy position; becomes disillusioned by the leaders' cruelty.
• Leads a rebellion, unites pagans and refugees, and overthrows the current leadership.

Final Conflicts and Resolutions

• Olaf trains Svein to be a ruler while planning to capture Jomsborg under a Christian banner.
• Freydis's forces defeat Olaf’s army; she kills Olaf but Yer dies.
• Freydis delivers Svein to his mother in Kattegat, seeking peace between Christians and Pagans.

Journey to Constantinople

• Harald falls for Elena; Leif falls for terminally ill Mariam who teaches him about the world.
• They finally reach Constantinople, revealing Elena is betrothed to Emperor Romanos.