Vikings season 3: Difference between revisions

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Short description|Season of television series}}

| season_number = 3

| bgcolour = #C4CAC4

| image = Vikings Season 3.png

| caption = DVD cover art

| starring = {{Plainlist|

| network = [[History (Canadian TV network)|History]]

| first_aired = {{Start date|2015|2|19}}

| last_aired = {{End date|2015|4|23}}

| num_episodes = 10

| episode_list = List of Vikings episodes

The third season follows the development of Ragnar's family, and the Vikings as they become more entwined in English mingling affairs, and also begin to raid farther afield.

* [[Travis Fimmel]] as [[Ragnar Lothbrok (Vikings)|King Ragnar Lothbrok]], the head of the Viking earldom of [[Kattegat]] who became king after Horik's death

* Amy Bailey as Princess/Queen [[Cwenthryth|Kwenthrith of Mercia]]<ref name="credits" />

* Steve Wall as Einar, a relative of late Jarl Sigvard and an opponent of Lagertha in Hedeby<ref name="credits" />

* Cathal O'Hallin as Hvitserk, second son of Ragnar and Aslaug<ref name="credits" />

* Cormac Melia as [[Ubba#In popular culture|Ubbe]], eldest son of Ragnar and Aslaug<ref name="credits" />

* Aaron Monaghan as Prince [[Burgred of Mercia|Burgred]], the younger brother of Princess Kwenthrith<ref name="credits" />

* Greg Orvis as Earl [[Sigfred|Siegfried]], one of the Viking commanders in the siege of Paris<ref name="credits" />

* Frankie McCafferty as Sinric, a polyglot drifter<ref name="credits" />

* [[Owen Roe (actor)|Owen Roe]] as Count [[Odo of France|Odo of Paris]]<ref name="credits" />

* Huw Parmenter as Roland, Count Odo's first-in-command and Therese's brother<ref name="credits" />

* Eddie Drew as [[Odin]], appearing in Ragnar's visions<ref name="credits" />

* Carl Shaaban as [[Jesus]], appearing in Ragnar's visions<ref name="credits" />

* James Murphy as Ansgar, a monk who is trying to convert Vikings in Kattegat<ref name="credits" />

{{Episode list/sublist|Vikings season 3

| ShortSummary = Ragnar tells Björn that he never wanted to be king, but only to explore and farm. Ragnar wants to return to Wessex to claim the land promised by King Ecbert. Floki feels that his new family with Helga is too happy, while Rollo wishes to be away from Siggy. Þórunn desires to be a shield-maiden like Lagertha, much to Björn's displeasure; he believes her to be carrying his child. When Lagertha announces she intends to raid with Ragnar, Kalf, her right-hand man, offers to remain and take care of Hedeby. But he betrays her as soon as she is gone to usurp the earldom with the help of Einar. When Ragnar and Lagertha arrive in Wessex, King Ecbert brings a new conditiontogive his land. The Vikings must fight for Princess Kwenthrith to appease King Ecbert's nobles. Lagertha is unsure about joining, so King Ecbert offers her the job of leading the Viking settlers in Wessex. The settlers go to the land to farm, while the warriors defeat Kwenthrith's uncle's army.

{{Episode list/sublist|Vikings season 3

| ShortSummary = A celebration is held in honour of the victory. Kwenthrith asks for the head of her uncle, and Ragnar questions her hatred; she admits to having been sexually abused as a child by him and her oldest brother. Concerned about Þórunn's safety, Björn lectures and then proposes to marry her. In Kattegat, Helga, Siggy, and Aslaug share strange dreams about a hooded stranger walking in the mist, one hand bloody and the other holding steaming snow. In Hedeby, Kalf expresses his jealousy towards Ragnar, insinuating a wish to kill him. Prince Aethelwulf searches for the young brother of the princess and his army. He captures a soldier who tells him that they expect reinforcements. Torstein's left arm becomes gangrenous and he asks Floki to amputate it. King Ecbert, woos Lagertha and offers her a necklace. Princess Judith tells Athelstan during confession that she dreamt of sleeping with him, and they kiss. In Kattegat, Helga meets the stranger from her dreams who is wounded in the right hand.

{{Episode list/sublist|Vikings season 3

| ShortSummary = Helga, Siggy, and Aslaug help Harbard with his hand. He explains that he is a wanderer, offering to share stories about his travels, and the gods, in return for lodging. In England, Floki resents Ragnar's fighting for the Christians. The Vikings begin climbing the mountain to fight Kwenthrith's brother and his army. She asks Ragnar to spare her brother. Torstein volunteers to go first and dies valiantly. While Ragnar and his men fight their way up the hill, Aethelwulf's archers surround Kwenthrith's brother, killing many and forcing him to surrender. Þórunn is severely injured. Ragnar finds out that Þórunn is pregnant and chastises his son for allowing her to fight. In England, King Ecbert shows Lagertha his Roman bathhouse and invites his guests to join him in the bath. Later, Athelstan finds Ecbert and Lagertha having sex. In Kattegat, a fisherman catches two drowned young boys in his nets. Siggy visits the Seer to discuss Harbard and her dreams.

{{Episode list/sublist|Vikings season 3

| ShortSummary = Aethelwulf attempts to befriend Rollo and Floki; Floki is unhappy about fighting for Christians. Athelstan sleeps with Judith and they both express their love for each other. Kwenthrith urinates on Ragnar's wounds. King Ecbert and Lagertha have a sexual relationship, but she tells him that "he only cares for himself". In Kattegat, Aslaug sleeps with Harbard. Harbard seems to be able to ease Ivar's pain simply by touching and talking to him. Kalf invites Erlendur to the village to help fight against Lagertha's return. Erlendur accepts and comes with his wife Torvi, who recently gave birth to Jarl Borg's heir. Aslaug's sons run out of their home and Siggy finds them walking across a frozen pond, where they fall through the thin ice. Siggy dives in, and Harbard pulls them out as Siggy drowns. In England, Princess Kwenthrith poisons her brother Burgred. She then proposes a toast to herself as the sole ruler of Mercia to which all in the room acknowledge and then pour out their wine onto the floor. Before Harbard leaves Kattegat, he tells Aslaug that Ivar's pain will now be less.

{{Episode list/sublist|Vikings season 3

| ShortSummary = The Vikings return to Kattegat, and the women learn of Torstein's death as the men learn of Siggy's. Ragnar is suspicious about why Aslaug was not watching the children. Floki becomes more outspoken about his hatred for Christians, and Athelstan. Helga tells Floki about Harbard, and he claims that Harbard is a god. Aethelwulf learns that Judith is pregnant with Athelstan's child, and he is sent to the settlement. A messenger arrives to tell Lagertha that her earldom has been usurped by Kalf; she asks Ragnar to help win it back. Ragnar tells the men that they will raid Paris in the spring. Ragnar returns with Lagertha to speak with Kalf, although he decides not to help fight for Lagertha, and instead asks him to join the raid on Paris. Aethelwulf leads his soldiers to the settlement and kills all the settlers. Floki tells Ragnar that Aslaug slept with Harbard and that Harbard is another name for Odin. King Ecbert finds out about the settlers' fate; he chides his nobles, then in private reveals that it was his plan all along.

{{Episode list/sublist|Vikings season 3

| ShortSummary = Þórunn gives birth to a girl that Bjorn names Siggy. A farmer returns from Wessex and tells Ragnar about Aethelwulf's massacre. Athelstan has a sign from God and tells Ragnar that he has been born again as a Christian. In Wessex, Judith gives birth to a son but is then sentenced to having her ears and nose cut off for adultery. After one ear is removed, she reveals that Athelstan is the father. King Ecbert says the child is sent from God and will be christened [[Alfred the Great|Alfred]]. Earl Kalf leads a fleet to Kattegat to join the [[Siege of Paris (845)|raid on Paris]], along with Erlendur and Torvi. During a party, Erlendur publicly cheats on his wife, who then decide to sleep with Bjorn. Rollo reveals that Athelstan no longer wears his armband. Floki receives a sign that "blood must be spilled", and kills Athelstan while he is praying. Ragnar, heartbroken by Athelstan's death, carries his body up the side of the mountain for burial and asks Athelstan to forgive his upcoming actions.

{{Episode list/sublist|Vikings season 3

| ShortSummary = Ragnar's Viking fleet, also reinforced by Earl Siegfried, arrives in Francia and prepares for battle. Emperor Charles is asked by count Odo to evacuate Paris, but after privately consulting his daughter Gisla, he refuses. Ragnar shocks them when he decides to leave Floki in charge of the attack. Both Vikings and Franks prepare for the siege as the Christians pray for protection from the pagans. In England, Queen Kwenthrith has killed the Wessex nobles and has broken her ties with King Ecbert. The king sends his son, Aethelwulf, to Mercia to force her back into submission. She informs Aethelwulf that her son, Magnus, was fathered by Ragnar. She eventually submits once Aethelwulf tells her about the massacre of the Viking settlement.

{{Episode list/sublist|Vikings season 3

| ShortSummary = The Vikings [[Siege of Paris (845)|attack Paris]]. Lagertha, Kalf, and Erlendur lead an attack on the city gate; meanwhile, Floki, Ragnar, Bjorn, and Rollo try to breach the walls from boats on the river. Princess Gisla manages to restore faith in the Frank troops by revealing the [[Oriflamme]], the holy banner of their patron, [[Saint Denis of Paris|Saint Denis]]. Eventually, the defense holds, repelling the Vikings with the use of oil, fire, and crossbows. While the Franks celebrate their victory, at the Viking camp the warriors have to deal with their wounded, including a badly wounded Bjorn, and Ragnar who has been thrown down from the walls. Floki is consumed by his guilt, having trusted in the good omens of their gods. Helga, disgusted by his selfishness, leaves him.

{{Episode list/sublist|Vikings season 3

| ShortSummary = With the Vikings still recovering, Ragnar orders another attack. Led by Rollo, Lagertha, and Kalf, they manage to pass the bridge, but they are once again pushed back. Siegfried is captured and executed on Gisla's insistence. Although the Franks have managed to defend the city, a plague has spread in Paris and citizens are dying. Count Odo begs the Emperor to come to terms with their enemy. Ragnar's wounds won't heal, leaving him weak. Trying to restore his leadership, he secretly meets the Franks; although offered gold and silver, Ragnar doesn't accept. Knowing his end is drawing near, he asks to be baptized and to be buried inside the city. Meanwhile, Aslaug rules in Kattegat and deals with the Christian missionary Ansgar. Ansgar tries to carry a hot piece of metal to prove the might of the Christian god. When he fails, Aslaug has him killed. In England, King Ecbert and Judith start up an affair.

{{Episode list/sublist|Vikings season 3

| ShortSummary = The Franks pay gold and silver to the Vikings, but they show no sign of leaving. Many people are still shocked at Ragnar's christening, and when the badly wounded leader dies, Bjorn is in charge. The warriors place Ragnar into a wooden coffin and escort it to the gates of Paris, where they meet the Bishop. The coffin is brought inside the Cathedral to be blessed, but Ragnar suddenly jumps out of the coffin alive. He takes Princess Gisla as a hostage and forces the guards to open the gates, allowing the Vikings to enter the city. Most of the Vikings then set sail for home, but a small party, led by Rollo, remain camped outside the city to maintain a presence for next year's raid. Emperor Charles is determined to gain his favour, offering Rollo land and titles, and his daughter in marriage in exchange for his pledge to defend Paris against future Viking attacks. While sailing home Ragnar tells Floki that he knows he is Athelstan's killer.

| italic_title = no

The soundtrack album was released on May 15, 2015 by [[Sony Classical Records]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-vikings-iii-music-from-the-tv-series/991786407|title=The Vikings III (Music from the TV Series)|publisher=[[iTunes]]|access-date=December 29, 2017}}</ref> Two additional pieces not included in the album are Selvik's original songs "Voluspá"—featured in "Born Again" and briefly incorporated in the score track "Floki Appears to Kill Athelstan"—and "Heljarlokk", written by Selvik and [[Lindy-Fay Hella]] and featured in "The Dead".<ref name="credits" />『Voluspá』was released as a single by Wardruna on November 9, 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://distortedsoundmag.com/wardruna-release-new-music-video-for-voluspa-skaldic-version/|title=Wardruna release new music video for 'Voluspá (skaldic version)'|last=Weaver|first=James|publisher=Distorted Sound Magazine|date=November 9, 2018|access-date=November 16, 2018}}</ref>

The review aggregator website [[Rotten Tomatoes]] reported a 100% approval rating, with an average rating of 8/10 based on 11 reviews. The critical consensus reads: "Vikings continues its onslaught of engrossing action, intrigue, and characters, led by [[Michael Hirst (writer)|Michael Hirst]]'s strong vision of Norse legend."<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/vikings-2013/s03/ | title=VIKINGS: SEASON 3 | publisher=[[Flixster]]| work=Rotten Tomatoes |access-date=February 20, 2015}}</ref> On [[Metacritic]], which uses a weighted average, it scored 81 out of 100, based on seven reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.metacritic.com/tv/vikings/season-3 | title=Vikings: Season 3 | work=Metacritic |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] | access-date=February 20, 2015}}</ref>

[[Category:Vikings (TV series)|03]]