The Greenlanders – The setting is Europe in the 11^th century. The show begins at Danelaw, where the Vikings are celebrating Saint Brice’s Day. Sten interrupts the celebration to them alert of his brother, Prince Harald Sigurdsson’s (Leo Suter) departure to Norway. Sten believes Harald will be the King of Norway someday. The Vikings cheer. Sten tells Him to stay safe until he sees him again. Harald is surprised, Sten has other plans than accompanying him to the boat. Sten informs him they’ve been summoned by the King. He assures him he will find someone else better to accompany him.

A woman asks him when he returns to England. He doesn’t know, but maybe sooner with good reason. A man approaches to alert him the boat is waiting. He kisses her before leaving.

Royal Palace of King Aethelred II in London – Aethelred “The Unready” (Bosco Hogan) greets Sten and his men. Aethelred thanks them for leaving their family behind on Saint Brice’s Day to meet with him. Sten reminds him about the urgency of his message. Aethelred tells them about the Danelaw, which was established over 100 years ago to ensure everlasting peace between the English and the Vikings. Sten says some of his people hardly remember their own language because they’ve been there so long. Aethelred says many Vikings may feel like Saxons. Sten agrees. Aethelred calls their belief problematic before ordering the extermination of all Vikings residing in England. Aethelred’s order is immediately implemented. The Vikings’ settlements are raided, their churches burnt, and people killed. Injured Leif is murdered before he can reach Aethelred.

Rumors of the slaughter reached King Canute of Denmark. He called for all Vikings to meet in Kattegat, where they would build an army to avenge the deaths at the hands of King Aethelred II.

Revenge: The North Sea Near Kattegat – The Vikings trudge through the rough waters of the North Sea. Freydis Eriksdotter (Frida Gustavsson) alerts Leif of a fjord up ahead. Leif makes a brief assessment before ordering the boat to be reversed. He encourages Freydis to secure herself to the ship a large wave barrel down on them. She wraps a rope around her waist while the rowers pushed through the wave.

Two men pull a man’s body out of the water. Harald tells the men it’s not him. He lifts a tattered flag out of the water when he spots a ship heading toward the shore. A Viking woman admires the beauty of Kattegat. Freydis tosses the rope to a man on the dock. A man approaches to ask how they avoided the storm. Leif asks the man if any ships arrived last night from the west. He says two ships arrived before the storm. Leif orders Ulf (Sam Stafford) and Toke (Jack Mullarkey) to get fresh supplies. Freydis is unhappy when he tells her to speak with the captains at the harbor. A man tells Harald around 100 men lost their lives.

Leif Eriksson (Sam Corlett) orders Liv (Lujza Richter), Yrsa (Alfrun Laufeyjardottir), and Njall (Gavan O’Connor-Duffy) to search the markets while he goes to the Great Hall to see if they paid homage.

Harald approaches Freydis to ask about their journey. She tells him their trip from Greenland took about five weeks. He says I’m impressed before identifying himself. She is surprised that he is so easily impressed. He tries to entice her with a hot bath after such a long journey.

Leif enters the Great Hall, where he meets three men who ask about his journey through the storm. He notices crosses on one of the men’s outfits. They ask him about the Saint Brice’s Day slaughter, which he claims to know nothing about. He shows them a drawing of a cross. A man grabs his shoulder from behind, demanding to have his coat. The man offers him doubt what he paid for it. Pulling back his shirt to expose a scar, he says this is what the coat cost. The man identifies himself as Alfrun from Trundelike. Leif says, “No, Alfrun, go away” before turning away. As Alfrun raises his weapon, Leif turns just in time to grab the weapon. A woman interrupts the fight, asking if he knew he was on sacred ground. He apologizes and they walk away. The man from earlier asks Leif about the cross. He refuses to tell him anything. The man informs him the cross is English.

Freydis and Harald have sex. He informs her Harald Finehair is his great grandfather. She admits to not having heard of Finehair. He questions why she came to Kattegat. She removes her shirt to expose a brand of a cross on her back. She says I am looking for a Christian Viking. He asks her to tell him what happened. She tells him about being raped, beaten, and branded in her home while her family was away. He asks for her name, so he can possibly help find him when Leif slams open the door. He alerts her of an incoming ship. Harald looks at them strangely before Leif turns to leave.

A ship, carrying Olaf Haraldsson (Johannes Haukur Johannesson) and Magnus Gunnarsson “Gunnar” (Leifur Siguraarson) pulls into the port. Yrsa, Liv, Freydis, Njall, and Leif watch from the shore.  Freydis alerts Leif it is the man who raped her. Harold greets Olaf as his brother when he gets off the ship. Leif asks her if Harald is the man she just slept with. Snarky, she acknowledges it is him. He stops her as she starts in their direction. Olaf, Gunnar, and Harald are followed by a group of soldiers. Leif, Freydis, and their followers trail behind them. Leif tells them to follow him into the woods to an army camp.

Harald, Gunnar, and Olaf meet with King Canute (Bradley Freegard). Olaf tells Canute that he and Harald have the same mother. They discuss the planned attack on King Aethelred. Olaf informs him about how they built the English defenses for Aethelred. Harald explains how their plan is to travel up the Thames. Gunnar warns him about how the Thames is fortified. Canute asks them to provide him with their strategy. Before Gunnar can speak, Olaf warns him of the Pagan tribes taking part in the revenge. Canute assures him they are there for the same reason. Gunnar doesn’t class the Pagan and Christian Vikings together. He refuses to fight alongside the Pagans, suggesting a mass conversion.

Harald asks if he is insane. Olaf believes his idea is brilliant because all the Pagan tribe leaders are together. Harald says your plan would start a civil war. Canute refuses his offer to help. Olaf is not happy.

Njall returns to their temporary camp to say they have not emerged from the tent. One of the Vikings believes the army changes their plans. Freydis assures him they are all Vikings. He refuses to take part in the plan. Leif reminds him of his promise to his father. Njall doesn’t believe the Norse are their people. Leif joins Freydis who suggests they should have killed Olaf when he pulled into the harbor. She refuses to stop until she avenges her rape. Leif pleads with her to trust him.

Harald meets Olaf who is sharpening his weapon. Olaf asks if Canute changed his mind about his offer. Harald says they need to talk about their brother, Sten. Olaf reminds him of Sten only being his half-brother like himself. Olaf is the godfather of Sten’s children who were slaughtered by Aethelred. Agitated, Olaf walks toward him before he admits praying for Seth and his children every night. Harald believes Olaf knows more about the English and their defenses than he is willing to tell. Harald pleads with him to look at the broader picture. After he leaves, Gunnar assures Olaf Harald knows him very well.

As Leif walks through the army camp, a man approaches him to ask what he is doing there. He demands Leif go with him before the Viking Christians catch him. The man gives him supplies and orders him to follow. Leif continues looking for Olaf as he walks through the camp. He gives the man his stuff before walking to the front, where he sees Canute and Harald standing on a knoll. Canute tells them about Ragnar Lothbrok whose death was avenged by his people. The Vikings were sent to Danelaw to work and live. King Aethelred slaughtered their people a year ago. It was not a war between men, but an attack on children and women. They were summoned to Kattegat to avenge the death of their people. The people cheer when he tells them they are Vikings.

Jarl Gorm (Julian Seager) emerges from the crowd to alert Canute they refuse to fight alongside the Christian Vikings. Gorm accuses the Christians of murdering his family. He calls them their enemies. Jarl Nori steps forward to tell the Pagans, they are their enemies as well. He accuses them of worshipping the devil and idols. Gorm attacks him, and a fight ensues. Harald runs off the hill to put a stop to the fight. He reminds Gorm of how he spent the summers with him and his family. He demands to know if he doesn’t love him like his own son. Turning to Nori, he tells him about seeing his sister before the massacre. He demands to know what she would think of his refusal to fight alongside his brothers. He questions if she would call him a coward. He wipes blood off his arm and tells the people it is Viking blood.  A man emerges from the crowd to tell Harald they are with him. The Vikings cheer.

Disgusted, Freydis stares out at the cheering army. When she wakes the next morning, she stares out at the army. She places a voodoo doll in the hot embers of her fire. Jarl Estrid Haakon (Caroline Henderson) approaches to ask her name. Freydis identifies herself. Haakon promises she was a friend of her father. Freydis admits to being on a mission. She heads back to the others to tell them the army is moving. Liv asks if they should wait for Leif to return. Freydis assures them Leif wants them to return to Kattegat.

Leif walks through the camp when he catches a glimpse of Olaf. Two men approach to ask him about his father, Erik Thorvaldson “Erik the Red.” The men claim Erik murdered their brother, Sven. The men surround him, calling his father a killer. Leif warns them about making a mistake. He takes down several men, but more continue to come. When he defeats the men, a man gets up from the ground on his knees. He calls him a “heathen bastard like his father.” Leif hits him with his sword, “If I was like my father, you would all be dead.”

He washes his weapon and face in the creek when Harald approaches. Harald asks if his father is Erik Thorvaldson who was banished from Norway for murder. Leif acknowledges he is right. Harald comments on his fighting skills. Leif compliments his speaking skills. Harald offers him “great glory” if he joins their army. Leif questions his comment about glory. He reminds him the Vikings always reach for glory. Leif promises to think about his offer. Harald tells him he wants to learn more about Freydis. Leif reminds him of his religion.

Canute meets Haakon to request her approval to permit his army camp outside her fort and utilize the harbor to depart for England. He promises to heed her laws. She invites them to utilize the Great Hall of Ragnar Lothbrok. Leif looks around while a snake handler entertains the Vikings. Njall and Liv are not permitted to enter the great hall. Canute stands up to thank Haakon for her hospitality. He assures them they are one people, despite their differences. Harald points to one of his men to keep an eye on Leif. Harald approaches Leif to warn him to not act on his thoughts. He threatens to kill him. Leif tells him he shouldn’t be worried about him. Freydis approaches Gunnar and stabs him in the checks. Olaf orders the man to stop her.

Olaf raises his weapon, but Haakon blocks it with her shield. Raising her voice, Haakon reminds him the great hall does not belong to him. He demands justice. Freydis who is apprehended by several men demands justice as well. She accuses him of raping her. He threatens to burn the great hall to the ground if Freydis is not punished for murdering Gunnar. Haakon asks him to repeat what she must do. Harald stands up to defend Freydis, saying I believe her. He pleads with her to show them her scar. She pulls up her shirt, exposing the cross on her back. Haakon promises to render judgment on the killing in the morning. Canute orders the men to remove Freydis and Leif as the episode comes to an end.

 

Vikings: Valhalla Review

There is only one word to describe this Vikings TV series, which is woke. There is no doubt, diversity in the movie industry is important, but it is difficult to ignore when the film is a period drama. The premise of Freydis and Leif traveling to Kattegat to find a rapist is ridiculous. Evidence shows England didn’t classify rape as a capital punishment until 1285, the 12th century. The show is set in the 11th century. The Vikings most likely didn’t view rape as a crime even then.

On the subject of rape, Freydis has sex with a stranger upon reaching the harbor in Kattegat. It is questionable if a rape victim would be a willing participate of promiscuous sexual relations in the 11th century.

There is little to no evidence of wars between Viking pagans and Viking Christians. The Viking attacks on religious establishments weren’t related to Christianity. I believe this tidbit was embedded into the content to relate to religious who feel their faiths are under attack.

Some of the characters were miscast. The episode deserves a 6. Get more Vikings: Valhalla recaps here. Support ReelMockery by clicking the link to learn more.