Some TV shows fade into the background after the credits roll. Vikings is not one of them.
Created by Michael Hirst, the series took viewers from quiet Scandinavian farms to the walls of Paris, the kingdoms of England and eventually the shores of North America. Along the way it mixed history, legend and outright spectacle into one of television’s most memorable historical dramas.
Whether you are watching for the first time, returning for another marathon, or simply trying to remember exactly when someone was betrayed, crowned or spectacularly killed, this guide covers every season, the biggest storylines and the episodes worth revisiting.
Vikings Series Overview
| Season | Episodes | Original Release | Main Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 9 | 2013 | Ragnar’s rise and the first raids on England |
| Season 2 | 10 | 2014 | Civil war, Wessex and growing ambitions |
| Season 3 | 10 | 2015 | Paris and Ragnar at his peak |
| Season 4 | 20 | 2016 to 2017 | Ragnar’s final journey and his sons’ rise |
| Season 5 | 20 | 2017 to 2019 | The Great Heathen Army and the struggle for Kattegat |
| Season 6 | 20 | 2019 to 2021 | The final chapters of the Viking Age saga |
Across six seasons, 89 episodes chart the rise and fall of Ragnar Lothbrok and the next generation of legendary Norse warriors.
Season 1, The Rise of Ragnar Lothbrok
The opening season remains one of the strongest because everything feels personal. Ragnar is not yet a king. He is an ambitious farmer convinced that treasure lies to the west while everyone else insists on sailing east.
The first raid on Lindisfarne changes everything. It also introduces one of the show’s best relationships, the unlikely friendship between Ragnar and the monk Athelstan.
Highlights
- Rites of Passage
- Dispossessed
- Sacrifice
- All Change
This season is surprisingly grounded. The battles are smaller, the politics are tighter and the characters have room to breathe. Looking back, it feels almost quaint before the series starts throwing entire kingdoms at the audience.
Season 2, War Comes Home
With Ragnar now established as a leader, the stakes grow considerably.
Season 2 explores shifting alliances, betrayals and the increasingly complicated politics between the Norse kingdoms and Wessex. It also gives Lagertha more opportunities to prove why she remains one of television’s greatest warrior characters.
The finale is often ranked among the very best episodes of the series by viewers.
Key Episodes
- Brother’s War
- Blood Eagle
- The Choice
- The Lord’s Prayer
Season 3, The Siege of Paris
If Season 1 is about discovery, Season 3 is about ambition without limits.
The assault on Paris provides some of the show’s most spectacular battle sequences, combining siege towers, river assaults and enough arrows to make every medieval reenactor feel nervous.
Ragnar also becomes increasingly unpredictable, setting up the emotional collapse that follows.
Standout Episodes
- Mercenary
- Paris
- Breaking Point
- The Dead
Season 4, Ragnar’s Greatest and Final Story
Season 4 is effectively two seasons combined into one twenty episode epic.
The first half follows Ragnar’s decline after defeat and addiction. The second delivers one of the most famous moments in the series, his confrontation with King Ælle and the aftermath that reshapes Britain forever.
It is emotional, messy and occasionally heartbreaking.
The episode All His Angels is widely regarded as one of the defining chapters of the entire series.
Essential Episodes
- Yol
- The Last Ship
- All His Angels
- Revenge
Season 5, The Sons of Ragnar
With Ragnar gone, the spotlight shifts to Bjorn, Ivar, Ubbe, Hvitserk and Sigurd.
This season becomes much more political, focusing on rival claims to Kattegat, civil wars and the growing reputation of Ivar the Boneless.
Some viewers felt the pacing slowed compared with earlier years, although it still delivers several excellent battles and memorable character moments. Community ratings generally place Season 5 below Seasons 2 and 3, although opinions remain divided.
Best Episodes
- The Revelation
- Hell
- Ragnarok
- What Happens in the Cave
Season 6, The End of an Era
Every saga eventually reaches its final page.
Season 6 ties together years of rivalries while expanding the story into Kievan Rus, Iceland and beyond. Ubbe’s westward voyage provides a fitting bookend to Ragnar’s original dream of exploration.
The ending does not try to outdo earlier battles. Instead, it focuses on legacy, family and what survives after legends become history.
For a series built on conquest, it is surprisingly reflective.
The Best Episodes of Vikings
Every fan has a different list, but these chapters appear repeatedly in discussions of the series.
| Episode | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Rites of Passage | Introduces Ragnar and the central cast |
| Blood Eagle | One of the show’s most infamous scenes |
| Paris | Massive siege action |
| The Dead | Ragnar’s greatest tactical gamble |
| All His Angels | A defining emotional turning point |
| Revenge | The Great Heathen Army strikes back |
| Ragnarok | Civil war reaches its peak |
How Historically Accurate Is Vikings?
Not very, and that is perfectly fine.
The series blends legendary figures, real rulers and events that happened decades, or even centuries, apart. Ragnar himself exists somewhere between myth and history, while characters such as Alfred the Great, King Ecbert and Rollo were genuine historical figures, although their stories are heavily dramatised.
If you watch expecting a documentary, you may find yourself raising an eyebrow every few minutes.
If you watch expecting a historical adventure inspired by Norse sagas, it works remarkably well.
Why Vikings Still Holds Up
Historical dramas often struggle with scale. Either the battles are impressive and the characters feel thin, or the writing shines while the action disappoints.
Vikings usually manages both.
The performances from Travis Fimmel, Katheryn Winnick and Alex Høgh Andersen remain compelling years after the finale, while the music, cinematography and willingness to embrace Norse mythology give the series a distinctive identity.
Yes, some later storylines wander.
Yes, a few characters survive things that would make medieval surgeons quietly resign.
Even so, few historical television series have matched its combination of spectacle, memorable characters and genuine emotional weight.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes of Vikings are there?
There are 89 episodes spread across six seasons.
Who is the main character?
The first half centres on Ragnar Lothbrok. Later seasons shift towards Bjorn Ironside, Ivar the Boneless, Ubbe and the rest of Ragnar’s sons.
Is Vikings based on true events?
Partly. Many battles, rulers and locations are historical, but timelines, relationships and characters are heavily fictionalised.
Should you watch Vikings before Vikings: Valhalla?
Yes. Although Vikings: Valhalla takes place roughly a century later, watching the original series first provides valuable historical context and makes several references much more meaningful.
Season 1 (2013): The Rise of Ragnar Lothbrok
Episodes: 9 | Aired: March–April 2013
Themes: Ambition vs. tradition, discovery, and the clash of cultures.
| Episode | Title | Airdate | Key Events |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.01 | Rites of Passage | March 3, 2013 | Ragnar Lothbrok (Travis Fimmel) challenges Earl Haraldson’s authority, dreaming of westward exploration. Introduces Lagertha (Katheryn Winnick) and Floki (Gustaf Skarsgård). |
| 1.02 | Wrath of the Northmen | March 10, 2013 | Ragnar secretly builds a revolutionary longship. Tensions rise with Haraldson. |
| 1.03 | Dispossessed | March 17, 2013 | First raid on England’s Lindisfarne monastery. Athelstan (George Blagden) is captured. |
| 1.04 | Trial | March 24, 2013 | Ragnar faces trial by combat against Haraldson’s warrior. Lagertha’s prowess in battle is revealed. |
| 1.05 | Raid | March 31, 2013 | Haraldson’s betrayal leads to a raid on Ragnar’s farm. Rollo (Clive Standen) begins his conflicted loyalty arc. |
| 1.06 | Burial of the Dead | April 7, 2013 | Ragnar becomes Earl after defeating Haraldson. Athelstan struggles with Viking and Christian faiths. |
| 1.07 | A King’s Ransom | April 14, 2013 | Ragnar negotiates with King Ælle of Northumbria. Lagertha miscarries, straining her marriage. |
| 1.08 | Sacrifice | April 21, 2013 | Ragnar participates in a blood ritual at Uppsala. Athelstan faces a crisis of faith. |
| 1.09 | All Change | April 28, 2013 | Ragnar’s return to Kattegat sets the stage for future conflicts. Rollo’s jealousy festers. |
Season Arc: Ragnar ascends from farmer to earl, defying tradition and setting the stage for Viking expansion.
Season 2 (2014): Brothers at War
Episodes: 10 | Aired: February–April 2014
Themes: Betrayal, brotherhood, and the cost of power.
| Episode | Title | Airdate | Key Events |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.01 | Brother’s War | February 27, 2014 | Rollo allies with Jarl Borg (Thorbjørn Harr) against Ragnar. Lagertha leaves Ragnar after his infidelity. |
| 2.02 | Invasion | March 6, 2014 | Ragnar raids Wessex, meeting King Ecbert (Linus Roache). Bjorn (Alexander Ludwig) begins warrior training. |
| 2.03 | Treachery | March 13, 2014 | Borg betrays Rollo, seizing Kattegat. Lagertha returns to aid Ragnar. |
| 2.04 | Eye for an Eye | March 20, 2014 | Ecbert executes a Viking hostage. Ragnar retaliates, capturing Ecbert’s son Æthelwulf. |
| 2.05 | Answers in Blood | March 27, 2014 | Lagertha and Ragnar reclaim Kattegat. Floki’s distrust of Athelstan deepens. |
| 2.06 | Unforgiven | April 3, 2014 | Ragnar spares Borg, angering Floki. Aslaug (Alyssa Sutherland) arrives, pregnant with Ragnar’s child. |
| 2.07 | Blood Eagle | April 10, 2014 | Ragnar executes Borg via the brutal blood eagle ritual. Rollo is exiled. |
| 2.08 | Boneless | April 17, 2014 | Aslaug gives birth to Ivar (Alex Høgh Andersen), who is born with brittle bone disease. |
| 2.09 | The Choice | April 24, 2014 | Lagertha battles Kalf (Ben Robson) for her earldom. Ragnar plans to raid Paris. |
| 2.10 | The Lord’s Prayer | May 1, 2014 | The Vikings sail for Paris. Athelstan’s visions of the Christian God haunt him. |
Season Arc: Ragnar’s fractured relationships and the seeds of his sons’ legacies.
Season 3 (2015): The Siege of Paris
Episodes: 10 | Aired: February–April 2015
Themes: Ambition, faith, and the limits of power.
| Episode | Title | Airdate | Key Events |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.01 | Mercenary | February 19, 2015 | Ragnar allies with Ecbert to raid Mercia. Lagertha marries Einar for political gain. |
| 3.02 | The Wanderer | February 26, 2015 | Harbard (Kevin Durand), a mysterious wanderer, seduces Aslaug and claims to be a god. |
| 3.03 | Warrior’s Fate | March 5, 2015 | Kalf betrays Lagertha. Ragnar’s forces clash with French troops outside Paris. |
| 3.04 | Scarred | March 12, 2015 | Rollo’s heroism in battle earns him favor. Princess Gisla (Morgane Polanski) emerges as a key French leader. |
| 3.05 | The Usurper | March 19, 2015 | Ecbert schemes to control Mercia. Floki murders Athelstan, devastating Ragnar. |
| 3.06 | Born Again | March 26, 2015 | Ragnar converts to Christianity to infiltrate Paris. Bjorn leads a covert attack. |
| 3.07 | Paris | April 2, 2015 | The Vikings’ first assault on Paris fails. Rollo is gravely wounded. |
| 3.08 | To the Gates! | April 9, 2015 | Ragnar fakes his death to breach Paris’s walls. Lagertha miscarries Kalf’s child. |
| 3.09 | Breaking Point | April 16, 2015 | The Vikings sack Paris but face disease. Rollo remains behind, marrying Gisla. |
| 3.10 | The Dead | April 23, 2015 | Ragnar returns to Kattegat, broken and addicted. Ecbert betrays him, seizing English lands. |
Season Arc: Ragnar’s hubris peaks, leading to physical and spiritual collapse.
Season 4 (2016–2017): The Twilight of Ragnar
Episodes: 20 (Split into Parts A and B) | Aired: February 2016 – February 2017
Themes: Legacy, redemption, and the rise of Ragnar’s sons.
Part A (Episodes 1–10)
| Episode | Title | Airdate | Key Events |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.01 | A Good Treason | February 18, 2016 | Ragnar returns to Kattegat, disgraced. Bjorn plans a Mediterranean voyage. |
| 4.02 | Kill the Queen | February 25, 2016 | Aslaug’s neglect drives Ubbe (Jordan Patrick Smith) and Sigurd (David Lindström) to rebellion. |
| 4.03 | Mercy | March 3, 2016 | Lagertha kills Aslaug and seizes Kattegat. Ivar vows vengeance. |
| 4.04 | Yol | March 10, 2016 | The Great Heathen Army forms. Floki’s religious fanaticism grows. |
| 4.05 | Promised | March 17, 2016 | Ragnar reconciles with Ecbert. Ivar murders Sigurd. |
| 4.06 | What Might Have Been | March 24, 2016 | Bjorn’s Mediterranean journey begins. Lagertha faces unrest in Kattegat. |
| 4.07 | The Profit and the Loss | March 31, 2016 | The Vikings raid York. Bishop Heahmund (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) is introduced. |
| 4.08 | Portage | April 7, 2016 | Ivar devises a portage strategy to attack York. |
| 4.09 | Death All ‘Round | April 14, 2016 | Ecbert sacrifices himself to save Alfred. Ragnar is captured by Ælle. |
| 4.10 | The Last Ship | April 21, 2016 | Ragnar’s sons avenge him via blood eagle on Ælle. The Great Heathen Army unites. |
Part B (Episodes 11–20)
| Episode | Title | Airdate | Key Events |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.11 | The Outsider | November 30, 2016 | Lagertha battles Ivar. Bjorn returns with Mediterranean knowledge. |
| 4.12 | The Vision | December 7, 2016 | Ivar’s tactical genius emerges at the Battle of Repton. |
| 4.13 | Two Journeys | December 14, 2016 | Floki discovers Iceland. Ubbe and Hvitserk (Marco Ilsø) clash with Ivar. |
| 4.14 | In the Uncertain Hour Before the Morning | December 21, 2016 | Lagertha and Heahmund begin a romance. Ivar crowns himself king. |
| 4.15 | All His Angels | December 28, 2016 | The Battle of York: Ivar uses psychological warfare. Lagertha flees. |
| 4.16 | Crossings | January 4, 2017 | Bjorn leads a raid on the Mediterranean. Floki’s settlement faces strife. |
| 4.17 | The Great Army | January 11, 2017 | Ivar and Alfred clash at the Battle of Marton. |
| 4.18 | Revenge | January 18, 2017 | Lagertha kills Kalf. Ubbe converts to Christianity. |
| 4.19 | On the Eve | January 25, 2017 | Bjorn negotiates with the Rus. Ivar’s tyranny alienates allies. |
| 4.20 | The Reckoning | February 1, 2017 | The brothers unite to defeat Ivar. Lagertha retires to farm life. |
Season Arc: Ragnar’s death catalyzes his sons’ rivalries, reshaping Viking politics.
Season 5 – Part B (Episodes 11–20)
| Episode | Title | Airdate | Key Events |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.11 | The Revelation | November 28, 2018 | Lagertha suffers PTSD after the battle. Ivar’s paranoia grows. Ubbe allies with King Alfred (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo) in Wessex. |
| 5.12 | Murder Most Foul | December 5, 2018 | Bjorn marries Princess Snaefrid. Ivar murders Freydis (Alicia Agneson), his pregnant wife, after she betrays him. |
| 5.13 | A New God | December 12, 2018 | Floki’s settlers turn on him, blaming him for their suffering in Iceland. Ubbe clashes with Alfred over Christian values. |
| 5.14 | The Lost Moment | December 19, 2018 | Bjorn and Harald form an uneasy alliance against Ivar. Lagertha retires to a farm, haunted by visions. |
| 5.15 | Hell | December 26, 2018 | Ivar flees Kattegat after a revolt. Bjorn is crowned King. The Rus, led by Prince Oleg (Danila Kozlovsky), invade Scandinavia. |
| 5.16 | The Buddha | January 2, 2019 | Ivar becomes a slave in Kievan Rus. Ubbe and Torvi sail west, inspired by tales of a “Golden Land.” |
| 5.17 | The Most Terrible Thing | January 9, 2019 | Lagertha is attacked by bandits but survives. Oleg manipulates Ivar, using him as a pawn. |
| 5.18 | Baldur | January 16, 2019 | Bjorn and Harald prepare for war against the Rus. Floki is entombed in the Icelandic cave. |
| 5.19 | What Happens in the Cave | January 23, 2019 | The Rus army attacks Norway. Lagertha joins the defense. Ivar betrays Oleg to save his brother Hvitserk (Marco Ilsø). |
| 5.20 | Ragnarok | January 30, 2019 | The Battle of Hafrsfjord: Bjorn leads a united Viking army against the Rus. Lagertha dies peacefully in her sleep after the battle. |
Season 6 (2019–2020): The End of an Era
Episodes: 20 (Split into Part 1 and Part 2) | Aired: December 2019 – December 2020
Themes: Redemption, exploration, and the cost of legacy.
Season 6 – Part 1 (Episodes 1–10)
| Episode | Title | Airdate | Key Events |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6.01 | New Beginnings | December 4, 2019 | Ubbe and Torvi reach Iceland, finding Floki’s settlement in ruins. Ivar and Hvitserk join Oleg’s Rus army. |
| 6.02 | The Prophet | December 11, 2019 | Oleg murders his brother to seize Kiev’s throne. Ubbe meets Kjetill Flatnose (Adam Copeland), who admits to slaughtering Floki’s settlers. |
| 6.03 | Ghosts, Gods, and Running Dogs | December 18, 2019 | Bjorn struggles to rule Kattegat. Ivar mentors Oleg’s heir, Prince Igor (Oran Glynn O’Donovan). |
| 6.04 | All the Prisoners | December 25, 2019 | Oleg launches a brutal raid on Scandinavia. Ubbe and Torvi set sail for the “Golden Land” (North America). |
| 6.05 | The Key | January 1, 2020 | Ivar helps Igor escape Oleg’s tyranny. Bjorn discovers Gunnhild (Ragga Ragnars) is pregnant. |
| 6.06 | Death and the Serpent | January 8, 2020 | The Rus attack Kattegat. Bjorn stages a fake death to rally troops. |
| 6.07 | The Ice Maiden | January 15, 2020 | Ubbe arrives in Greenland, encountering Norse settlers. Ivar and Hvitserk return to Kattegat to aid Bjorn. |
| 6.08 | Valhalla Can Wait | January 22, 2020 | The Battle of Kattegat: Bjorn is mortally wounded defending the city. Ivar kills Oleg in single combat. |
| 6.09 | Resurrection | January 29, 2020 | Bjorn dies, hailed as “Bjorn Ironside.” Ubbe reaches North America, meeting indigenous tribes. |
| 6.10 | The Best Laid Plans | December 30, 2020 | Ivar and Hvitserk reconcile. Ubbe negotiates peace with the Native Americans, inspired by Ragnar’s dream of farming. |
Season 6 – Part 2 (Episodes 11–20)
| Episode | Title | Airdate | Key Events |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6.11 | King of Kings | December 30, 2020 | Harald claims the throne of Norway. Ivar confesses his fear of being forgotten. |
| 6.12 | All Change | December 30, 2020 | Ubbe establishes a settlement in Vinland. Harald marries Ingrid (Lucy Martin), Lagertha’s former ally. |
| 6.13 | The Signal | December 30, 2020 | Ivar and Hvitserk join Harald’s campaign to unite Norway. Ubbe faces tensions with the indigenous people. |
| 6.14 | Lost Souls | December 30, 2020 | Ingrid betrays Harald, seizing Kattegat. Ivar falls in love with a Rus shieldmaiden. |
| 6.15 | All at Sea | December 30, 2020 | Ubbe’s wife, Torvi, dies in a skirmish. Ivar is diagnosed with brittle bone disease worsening. |
| 6.16 | The Final Straw | December 30, 2020 | Harald defeats Ingrid, reclaiming Kattegat. Ubbe negotiates a truce with the Native Americans. |
| 6.17 | The Raft of Medusa | December 30, 2020 | Ivar and Hvitserk sail west to aid Ubbe. Harald is crowned King of Norway. |
| 6.18 | It’s Only Magic | December 30, 2020 | Ubbe integrates Norse and indigenous traditions. Ivar dies peacefully in battle, hailed as a legend. |
| 6.19 | The Lord Giveth… | December 30, 2020 | Harald rules a united Norway. Ubbe’s settlement thrives in Vinland. |
| 6.20 | The Last Act | December 30, 2020 | Series Finale: A montage shows the fates of all characters. An elderly Ubbe gazes at the ocean, fulfilling Ragnar’s dream. |
Where to Watch
All seasons of Vikings are available on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video in the UK.
