HISTORY Releases First Look at Vikings Season 4 

WARNING: Mild Vikings spoilers and speculation

Happy Holidays Vikings fans — the new season may be a couple months away but HISTORY’s doing its part to make this home stretch a LITTLE less painful (or more painful, depending on your perspective). The channel has gifted us with Season 4 key art plus it announced some great news.

The fourth season of the hit drama will include an additional four episodes, meaning it will now consist of 20 episodes. The first ten kick off in February while the remaining get saved for later in the year. Usually a Vikings season numbers nine or ten episodes in total. So, basically, HISTORY is doubling the order, which is huge.

Let’s talk about this key art. Notice how Ragnar’s in the center, on a throne, as it should be considering he’s the king. However, so many of the others are looking away from him as if he’s inconsequential or he’s gone. However, Bjorn is looking straight at him with purpose. Floki’s also looking towards Ragnar’s vicinity as well. HISTORY released a little Season 4 intel that might help you interpret what’s going on in the image:

Season 3 culminated with the extraordinary battle in Paris, where Ragnar seized victory from the jaws of defeat – but still returns to Kattegat dangerously ill. Thoughts of his death galvanize the forces who seek to succeed him as king, including his wife Queen Aslaug and his oldest son, Bjorn. Meanwhile, Lagertha continues power struggles with her calculating, former second in command, Kalf; Rollo betrays his Vikings heritage by remaining in Frankia and Floki is seized for his brutal actions to the Christian priest Athelstan.

So Ragnar’s not going to have an easy time of things when Vikings returns. After the way Season 3 ended, we’re not expecting anything less. Will he be supportive of his son’s ambitions? Who will have his back? Athelstan is no longer there to be that someone. The big question is: will the king make it through the fourth season alive? Will Floki? He killed Athelstan. For Ragnar, that’s unforgivable. It’ll also be interesting to see how Lagertha deals with Kalf and how Rollo will flourish or fail in France. He’s always wanted to be out of the shadow of his brother. This is his chance.

Of course, a new slew of characters will be introduced into the action. Here’s a little info on that front:

Joining the stellar cast this season is Peter Franzén as King Harold Finehair, a complex character who seeks to be King of Norway and a potential threat to Ragnar; Jasper Pääkkönen as Halfdan The Black, King Harold’s violent younger brother; and Dianne Doan as Yidu, a completely different character within the world of the Vikings who fascinates Ragnar.

Vikings Season 4 premieres Thursday, February 18 at 10/9c on HISTORY.