Ragnar Lothbrok wasn't supposed to be a hero. Honestly, if you look at the historical sagas or even the early scripts of the show, he was a vessel for chaos. But something shifted in Vikings TV series season 2. The scope exploded. We moved past the novelty of "hairy men in boats" and dove headfirst into a messy, sprawling political thriller that somehow maintained its grit. It’s the year of the Blood Eagle. It’s the year Jarl Borg becomes a cautionary tale.
Most shows suffer from a sophomore slump. They get a bigger budget and lose their soul. This show did the opposite. Michael Hirst, the creator, took the raiding mechanics of the first season and twisted them into a psychological chess match between Ragnar, King Horik, and the surprisingly cunning King Ecbert of Wessex.
The Wessex Problem and the Rise of King Ecbert
You can't talk about this season without mentioning Linus Roache. His portrayal of King Ecbert changed the DNA of the show. Suddenly, the Northmen weren't just fighting faceless Saxons; they were up against a man who studied Caesar and kept a secret Roman bathhouse. It was a clash of civilizations that felt earned.
Ragnar’s fascination with Athelstan—the monk turned slave turned advisor—reaches a breaking point here. Their chemistry is the heartbeat of the season. It’s weird, right? A Viking king and a Christian monk sharing a tub and discussing the nature of godhood while a war rages outside. That nuance is exactly why the Vikings TV series season 2 still holds up a decade later. It didn't treat the audience like they were stupid. It acknowledged that Ragnar was more interested in soil and farming than just mindless gold.
Lagertha’s Evolution Into Earl Ingstad
Let’s be real: the way Ragnar treated Lagertha at the start of the season was trash. Bringing a pregnant Princess Aslaug into their home and suggesting a "threesome" marriage arrangement was the ultimate low point for his character. But it gave us the greatest character arc in the series. Lagertha leaving. Just walking away with Bjorn.
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When she returns later in the season as Earl Ingstad, leading her own fleet to save Ragnar's hide, it’s one of those fist-pump moments that actually feels grounded in the character's struggle. She didn't just get a title; she took it. She endured an abusive second marriage to Earl Sigvard, bided her time, and then literally took his eye out in front of his own men. That’s peak Vikings.
The Brutality of the Blood Eagle
We have to talk about "Blood Eagle." It’s arguably the most famous episode of the entire run. If you’ve seen it, you know. If you haven't, prepare your stomach. The execution of Jarl Borg is filmed with a haunting, liturgical quality. There’s no screaming. No dialogue. Just the sound of the wind and the rhythmic thumping of the drums.
The historical accuracy of the Blood Eagle is actually a huge point of contention among scholars. Some, like Roberta Frank, argue it was a literary invention—a misunderstanding of skaldic poetry. Others think it might have actually happened to people like King Ælla. But in the context of the show, it served a narrative purpose. It showed that Ragnar was no longer just a curious explorer. He was a terrifying political force. He used the ritual to solidify his power and terrify his enemies. It worked.
Why the Alliances Kept Shifting
The middle of the season is a whirlwind of betrayals.
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- King Horik grows jealous of Ragnar’s fame.
- Siggy is playing a double (or triple) game to get Rollo back into power.
- Floki—bless his chaotic heart—starts acting like he’s turned his back on Ragnar.
Watching Floki during the finale is a masterclass in tension. Gustaf Skarsgård plays him with this twitchy, unpredictable energy that makes you genuinely believe he might kill Bjorn or Athelstan just to prove a point to the gods. The reveal that he was a double agent all along? Perfection. It’s the kind of writing that modern historical dramas often miss because they're too busy trying to set up a sequel.
The Sound and the Fury
The atmosphere of the Vikings TV series season 2 is heavily carried by Trevor Morris’s score and the inclusion of Wardruna. Using actual Norse instruments and throat singing gave the show an "otherworldly" feel. It didn't feel like a Hollywood production filmed in Ireland; it felt like a fever dream of the 9th century.
Specifically, the "Battle of the Eclipse" sequence. The lighting was moody, the mud was real, and the stakes felt massive despite the actual number of extras being relatively small compared to later seasons. It was intimate. You could see the sweat on Travis Fimmel’s face. You felt the weight of the shields.
The Legacy of the Season 2 Finale
The finale, "The Lord’s Prayer," is a brutal bookend. Ragnar sitting on the edge of a cliff, looking out over his kingdom while clutching the cross Athelstan gave him, is the defining image of the series. He is a man caught between two worlds. He’s achieved everything he wanted—he’s the King—but he’s lost his simplicity.
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If you're revisiting the show, pay attention to the way Ragnar's eyes change throughout these ten episodes. He starts with a twinkle of curiosity and ends with a cold, blue stare that sees right through people. It’s haunting.
Actionable Steps for Fans and Historians
If you want to dive deeper into the reality behind the show, your next move should be looking into the Great Heathen Army. While season 2 focuses on the smaller raids, it sets the stage for the massive invasion that happened in 865 AD.
- Read the Sagas: Pick up a copy of The Saga of Ragnar Lothbrok. You’ll find that the real "Aslaug" and "Lagertha" stories are even weirder than what’s on screen.
- Check out the "Viking Ship Museum" in Roskilde: They have reconstructions of the longships used in the era. You’ll realize just how terrifyingly small those boats were for crossing the North Sea.
- Re-watch Episode 7 (Blood Eagle) with the commentary: It explains the technical difficulty of filming that scene without it turning into a "slasher" movie.
The Vikings TV series season 2 isn't just a transition period. It's the moment the show realized it could be a grand epic about the clash of faiths, the burden of leadership, and the cost of ambition. It remains the gold standard for the series.