The idea of the Viking shieldmaiden has always been a potent symbol in both legend and modern reinterpretation. In the Vikings series and its sequel Vikings: Valhalla, this archetype is brought to life in strikingly different ways. Each show presents a version of the shieldmaiden rooted in distinct dramatic and cultural contexts. While both narratives draw from the same mythic tradition, their approaches to character, tone, and historical framing diverge significantly.
Shieldmaidens in Vikings
Vikings, created by Michael Hirst, leans heavily into the mythologised and mystical aspects of Norse culture. Lagertha, played by Katheryn Winnick, is the series’ defining shieldmaiden. She is presented as both warrior and leader, whose prowess in battle is matched by her political acumen. Her story arc spans from humble beginnings as a farmer’s wife to becoming Earl of Hedeby and later Queen of Kattegat.
Lagertha’s character blends historical allusion with dramatic invention. While the real existence of shieldmaidens is debated among historians, the show commits fully to the idea, portraying Lagertha as not only accepted but respected by male warriors. The combat choreography and her personal struggle are emotionally anchored in themes of betrayal, ambition, and legacy.
Supporting characters such as Torvi and Astrid add depth to the show’s portrayal of female warriors. They are not treated as novelties but as integral parts of the Norse world. There is a strong sense of character development, agency, and complexity. The show often frames shieldmaidens within the spiritual and mythic fabric of Viking society, frequently invoking the gods, fate, and sacrifice.
Shieldmaidens in Vikings: Valhalla
In Vikings: Valhalla, the tone shifts. Set over a century later, the series focuses on the Christianisation of Scandinavia and the fading of the old gods. The shieldmaiden archetype, while still present, carries a different weight. Freydís Eiríksdóttir, portrayed by Frida Gustavsson, takes on the role of spiritual successor to Lagertha. She is fierce, driven, and physically commanding, but the context around her has changed.
Freydís stands not just as a warrior, but as a defender of the old ways in a world increasingly consumed by Christian ideology. Her battles are as much cultural as they are physical. Valhalla moves faster, and its storytelling is more direct. There is less time for the slow-burn development seen in Vikings, which can occasionally flatten its characters into symbols rather than fully realised figures.
Unlike Lagertha, Freydís operates in a world where belief is more fractured, and the role of women in combat is more isolated from broader political power. Her warrior status is framed as exceptional rather than integrated into a broader societal structure. There is a deliberate emphasis on legacy and prophecy, particularly as it relates to the pagan resistance.
Differences in Tone and Representation
The most striking difference lies in how each series chooses to frame their shieldmaidens within the world around them.
In Vikings, Lagertha emerges organically from within a relatively stable cultural structure where women in battle, while not the norm, are respected. Her ascent to power is shown through a mix of strategy, bravery, and personal resilience. The show gives her space to reflect, fail, and grow.
Valhalla, on the other hand, presents Freydís in a much more turbulent religious and political landscape. Her identity is bound up in resistance and preservation. While compelling, her arc is more reactionary. The spiritual and cultural isolation she experiences places her at odds with the world more often than at the centre of it.
The stylistic choices also reflect this divergence. Vikings is slower, more atmospheric, and anchored in poetic dialogue and ritual. Valhalla opts for immediacy, more straightforward emotional beats, and a cleaner visual palette. This affects how the viewer connects with its shieldmaidens. The mythic is traded for the dramatic.
The Seven Swords Takeaway
Both Vikings and Vikings: Valhalla elevate the shieldmaiden as a central dramatic figure, but they do so in markedly different ways. Lagertha is steeped in tradition, myth, and long-form narrative complexity. Freydís is a symbol of survival, navigating a collapsing spiritual world.
One is a tale of rising power within the old ways. The other is about fighting to keep those ways alive. Neither portrayal is necessarily more authentic, but they reflect the shifting narrative priorities of their respective series. Together, they chart the evolution of a powerful archetype from myth to modern screen.
