Vikings Preview: “Mercenary” [INTERVIEWS] 

WARNING: Vikings Spoilers

Here we are again. On the verge of another epic season of HISTORY’s Vikings. Can you feel the excitement? This is the reign of King Ragnar and from everything we’ve heard and seen, season three is going to be bigger than ever before.

George Blagden: Each season has built on the success of the last one and season three has done exactly that. The things that we achieve in season three, we’re all very proud of. The scale that we get to and the story that Michael (Hirst) has created, I think it’ll be very, very exciting for fans of the show to watch.

We’re talking mystery, jealousy, ambition, betrayal, manipulation, backstabbing (literally and figuratively), and of course, our favorite word when describing this show, brutality. An extended preview:

Synopsis for “Mercenary”: Ragnar and Lagertha’s fleets depart Kattegat once more for Wessex and this time they bring a group to colonize there. King Ecbert hosts the Norsemen and proposes a deal. Despite the misgivings of some of the other leaders, Ragnar leads his forces into battle once more, but this time as allies of Wessex.

There’s already a battle at the end of tonight’s premiere as Ragnar and his fellow raiders return to Wessex where King Ecbert rules. Here’s a clip of the action. On our brutal scale of 1 to 10, we think this one gets a 4 (so far). Which means things will only get bloodier from here.

Season 3 Teases/Thoughts

-Some teases/thoughts on a few of the characters in season three.

King Ragnar: He sets the tone for the Vikings agenda. In the beginning of this season, it’s Wessex. Later in the season, it’s France. Will everyone be on board with his agenda? Will his reign go smoothly?

Lagertha (Earl Ingstad): We predict a very busy and a very tumultuous year for Lagertha. Season three is going to be big for her. Just wait until you see the very first scene in the premiere.

Also, get ready to meet a new character who plays a role in Lagertha’s life:

Kalf (Ben Robson) – Lagertha’s young, handsome second in command. She is fond of him and trusts him to look after her affairs while she is away, but it is possible that Kalf is more ambitious and calculating than he appears.

Let’s just say that Lagertha may not want to stay away from her village for too long.

Athelstan: Athelstan had a particularly tragic second season — crucifixion, anyone? We exclusively talked to star George Blagden about a more confident, comfortable, relaxed time for his character:

George: This season is going to be very exciting for Athelstan. He makes some adventurous choices and he’s quite brave and quite bold. You’ll see Athelstan in a way that you’ve not seen him before…making some kind of mischievous decisions. He becomes quite confident and comfortable with himself.

The actor feels this confidence has to do with his character’s spiritual side.

George: At the end of season two, we see Athelstan coming to terms with this turmoil that he’s been in and he’s been able to find some comfort in between the two religions. And so at the start of season three you see him becoming more comfortable because of this. And he’s no longer the man who has to kind of watch his back and try to survive in this foreign landscape. He’s adapting to it and becoming more comfortable.

Blagden couldn’t pick a specific episode to watch out for when it comes to his character. He says you need to see all of them. Great news, right? But he did manage to narrow it down a little bit.

George: Season three is this amazing arc for Athelstan. In the middle of the season, there’s an event that’s quite…big for him. So I’d say mid-season.

Bjorn: In season three, Bjorn’s stepping up even more as a warrior. In a press call with Alexander Ludwig, the actor talked about what’s ahead…

Alexander Ludwig: I am very excited for fans to see this season definitely more so than the second season. Obviously I loved the second season and just being a part of it. But now you’re going to see Bjorn as I always intended him to be. He’s not a boy anymore. He’s really become a man. You start to see his father seek out his help as opposed to the opposite way. You’ll start to see him take charge in his own right and be very much a part of the team as opposed to the new rookie. It’s really just been a phenomenal experience.

The character’s also dealing with the fact that his girl, Porunn, is a shield maiden, who wants to be right there fighting alongside Bjorn and the rest of the Vikings. But there’s some turbulence ahead for the couple.

Alexander: Things take a turn for the worse and something very, very severe happens. And you’re going to realize how deep their relationship really goes because a very big obstacle is put between them. And I think it’s going to be very interesting for fans to see how much they are willing to overcome it.

Ludwig is excited for what’s going to happen on the show down the road.

Alexander: The end of this season is just insane. I can’t wait to see everybody’s reaction.

Rollo: When we took part in a press call with Clive Standen, he sounded so excited for season three, much like Blagden and Ludwig did. In the premiere, things between Rollo and Siggy are icy. Standen feels Rollo is kind of a lost soul this season. He’s stuck in a rut. But at some point, that’s all going to change.

Clive Standen: Something happens in season three, maybe mid-season, where it certainly makes him realize who he really is and the part of his destiny, and until he starts embracing himself rather than trying to people please, he’s not going to achieve greatness.  So I think that’s midway through season three, maybe Rollo might surprise you and you’ll see a complete transformation, almost a phoenix in the flames.

We wonder if Rollo finally getting some quality time with The Seer (John Kavanagh) will have anything to do with this complete transformation.

Clive: There will be a scene between The Seer and Rollo, and for the first time, I think Rollo actually – so this man that trusts innately in what the gods have in store for him — it’s very interesting for him to get to a place where he is questioning everything and feels like he’s completely lost sight of who he really is. I could go as far as to say he’s almost close to taking his own life; and The Seer changes all of that in only the way that The Seer can, [Laughter] in his riddles and his mysticism and his cackling laugh. He kind of puts Rollo in his place and I think it’s a really important scene for my character and sets him on a completely different course for the future.

Are you guys as excited to watch the new season as I am? Vikings returns with new episodes tonight at 10/9c on HISTORY.