Vikings: Valhalla is a sequel to Vikings. Although it’s on Netflix instead of History, it still chronicles the continuing exploits of the Normans as they expand their reach in Europe and beyond. Since this is a follow up, it makes sense to have some callback requests.
Indeed, Walhalla has many references to the original Vikings. These are often direct references to characters from the past, but some are more obscure and have to do with familiar ideas or locations. As such, they can fly right over the heads of most viewers. Only eagle-eyed fans can find all these Easter eggs.
7 uppsala
To find her target, Freydis travels to Uppsala on the advice of Jarl Haakon. This is the spiritual center for the Normans, a place where they can celebrate and be closer to the gods. However, it is not the first time viewers have come here.
Ragnar Lothbrok and his family travel to Uppsala in the first season of the previous series. The goal is to make a sacrifice. In this case, the sacrifice is a Christian priest named Athelstan. The characters explain that it is a semi-regular ritual for them, but the audience never sees Uppsala again.
Admittedly, Kattegat is also in both series, but it is the main hub of the franchise. So it would clearly be a recurring presence. On the other hand, Uppsala hasn’t shown up for years, so bring it back for Walhalla is a deep cut.
6 the seer
This is easily the most blatant recall to the original Vikings. The deformed fortune teller makes a cameo from beyond the grave when Freydis comes to Uppsala. She has a vision, but he is strangely dismissive. His only advice is to carry on despite her fear. To be fair, he wasn’t much help in the previous series either.
Tons of characters in Vikings come to him looking for answers. In any case, he responds with vague riddles and prophecies, many of which are self-fulfilling. In addition, they rarely leave the characters satisfied. In that context, the Seer’s attitude in Walhalla is just part of the course.
5 Harald Finehair
Early on, Leif and Freydis meet Harald Sigurdsson. He pursues a romance with the latter and boasts that he is descended from King Harald Finehair. Freydis grins and says she doesn’t know who that is. While this line is clearly here to explain Sigurdsson’s ancestors, it could also be an intentional dig.
Finehair is a prominent character in the first Vikings. He constantly switches sides in his quest to become the King of Norway. He eventually succeeds, but it doesn’t bring him much luck. In his own words, he has ‘no luck with women’. Those he loves are either interested in someone else or have been killed prematurely. When Freydis laughs at his name, it turns out that his rotten happiness will remain with him long after his death.
4 Emma of Normandy
Here’s another descendant of the Norse, but no Viking. Emma is a figurehead of Wessex, but is actually from Normandy. In particular, she is part of Rollo’s family line. He was a Viking warrior who took part in a siege of Paris. Thereafter, the Emperor granted him land and title if he defended France against future incursions. The Scandinavian settlers who prospered here formed the region of Normandy.
Viewers see a lot of this in the original show. Rollo’s conflict with his native people is a big part of the drama. As Emma acknowledges her kinship to the Normans (and even marries one), fans will be curious to see if she’ll go through the same identity crisis.
3 name drops
King Canute certainly makes a powerful first impression. After the massacre of Danish settlers in England, he delivers a rousing speech to his Viking army, encouraging retribution for this insult. He stresses that the great Viking heroes wouldn’t have let it go unpunished, and they shouldn’t.
Here he refers to various figures in the sagas. Ragnar Lothbrok, Bjorn Ironside and Ivar the Boneless are all mentioned here. These guys are the protagonists of the previous show. Their ambition and exploits steer the story at various points, transforming the Viking world in the process. Therefore, their names clearly carry weight. It’s no wonder Canute harks back to them before embarking on his own grand destiny.
2 The gold standard for shield maidens
Part of Freydis’ journey includes her training as shield maidens: the elite warrior women who serve under Jarl Haakon. Although they were not as numerous as male Vikings, they did exist in certain capacities. In fact, they are some of the most famous figures in the Viking sagas.
The main one in the first show is Lagertha. Starting out as Ragnar’s first wife, she soon branched out as her own ruler, commanding vast armies as the Queen of Kattegat. As strong as she is, she only wants peace for her family and her people. That is largely the reason she is so loved and respected. That’s why she comes into conversation with Walhalla‘s shield maidens. Lagertha’s legacy gives them something to aspire to.
1 A miracle
When Leif goes through countless battles and defies impossible odds, he begins to marvel at his fortune. Harald, a converted Christian, tells the hero that God watches over him. He attributes it to a miracle: an inexplicable event caused by divine intervention. That word choice should strike a chord with fans.
Miracles are a recurring topic in Vikings when discussing differences between Norse beliefs and Christianity. Athelstan explains the phenomenon to Ragnar. The Viking king later jokes that supposedly conceiving a son with Mercia’s queen Kwenthrith was such an event, because they never slept together. Ivar later questions the concept during a conversation with Bishop Heahmund as he recounts the story of Jesus’ birth through the Virgin Mary. The Norman asks how that is possible, and the Bishop states that it was a miracle. Ivar smiles in agreement.
Suffice it to say that Leif is a little more receptive to the idea. The public will have to wait and see how that will change him in the future. Be that as it may, it probably won’t be the last they’ll hear about miracles in this series.
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