Season 2 of Vikings premiered on February 27, 2014 on History in Canada and in the United States and concluded on May 1, 2014, consisting of 10 episodes.
Plot
The hit scripted drama series centers on Ragnar Lothbrok, a restless young warrior and family man who longs to find and conquer new lands across the sea and claim the spoils as his own. Now he is an Earl, allied with King Horik. With more power than ever before, his desire to sail west and explore new kingdoms remains unquenchable.
Yet there's a heavy price to pay for Ragnar's ascent to greatness. Season two brings crises of faith, of power, of relationships. Brothers rise up against one another. Loyalties shift from friend to foe, and unlikely alliances are formed in the name of supremacy. Ragnar's indiscretions threaten his marriage to Lagertha, tearing him and his beloved son apart. Plots are hatched, scores are settled, blood is spilled... all under the watchful eyes of the gods.
Norse Analogy
This season draws comparisons and analogies between the characters and the Norse gods[1]. Take note that the details listed below reflect only the events known in the early part of the season and has changed since:
Ragnar Lothbrok is still as pursuant of knowledge as ever, and is seemingly willing to sacrifice what he must for glory, much like Odin, who sacrificed his eye. Both will invite any pain to achieve the fame and wisdom they so desperately desire, in Ragnar's case, even taking on a brother in battle. And just as "Odin feared that his ravens will one day abandon him in time of need, Ragnar fears that in his quest to rise above the rest, he will lose all connection with who he once was."
Two aspects of Freyja are distributed to two women: Lagertha, who welcomes her warrior aspect, and Aslaug, who receives her fertility. Lagertha decides to surrender her femininity after she is struck by constant pain and loss, while Aslaug loves and bears the children of a man whose fate she fears. Lagertha is also associated with Frigg, who had only one son, Baldr, with Odin, but has several step-children, through Odin's several encounters. Lagertha is also seen weaving often, likely an allusion to Frigg being the sky goddess responsible for weaving fates, among other things.
Ragnar chooses to stand firm with King Horik, the ruler who has yet to prove that he is an ally and whose intentions are still unclear. Apparently sort of like red rooster Fjalar, which alerted the gods to the start of Ragnarök, Horik might fuel the fire between Ragnar and Rollo. The scales of a snake hidden underneath his skin, Horik is possibly the shape-shifter Loki, the father of the Midgard Serpent Jörmungandr, who not only seeks out trouble but dares accelerate the conflict.
King Ecbert, a new foe to Ragnar, is compared to Fenrir the wolf that comes, eyes aglow, to tear the Vikings apart and shake their faith. In his presence is a deer, symbolic of Dain, one of four harts, that gnaw at Yggdrasil, who signals Death.
Meanwhile, Rollo, wilder and more envious of his brother as ever, is paralleled also to the wolf Fenrir, now too wild to chain. While Fenrir was destined to kill Odin at Ragnarök, Rollo bides his time and circles his brother.
Floki, although often compared to Loki the trickster, is, in this season, Heimdallr. Much like Heimdallr, who was the first to foresee Ragnarök, Floki must bear the weight of a vision so dark it threatens to ruin Ragnar. He alone sees Rollo for what he is capable of and the danger he embodies. Floki drowns his fears for his friend in drinking, hiding his thoughts behind bright smiles (Floki had gold teeth in promos, just like Heimdallr). As destruction looms, Floki seeks solace in the dark corners of his mind.
Siggy is Sigyn, her loyalties as fluid as the poison from the bowl Sigyn almost spilled onto her husband Loki's face. However, unlike Sigyn, who collected the snake's venom before it could drip onto Loki's face, Siggy drops the bowl, betraying those closest to her. She may play the devoted wife; but she is above all a ruthless survivor.
Bjorn Ironside is associated, by King Horik and Floki, to Odin's favorite son, Baldr, who was made invincible by the gods. Much like Baldr, Bjorn is formidable, "untouched" by his enemies in battle.
Production
After the success of the first season's ratings and the critical response, the show was renewed. It was officially announced on April 5, 2013, halfway through the first season's run.
Cast
Starring Cast
- Travis Fimmel as Earl Ragnar Lothbrok (10 episodes)
- Katheryn Winnick as Lagertha/Earl Ingstad (9 episodes)
- Clive Standen as Rollo (10 episodes)
- Jessalyn Gilsig as Siggy (10 episodes)
- Gustaf Skarsgård as Floki (10 episodes)
- George Blagden as Athelstan (10 episodes)
- Alexander Ludwig as Bjorn (8 episodes)
- Alyssa Sutherland as Princess Aslaug (10 episodes)
- Donal Logue as King Horik (10 episodes)
- Linus Roache as King Ecbert (8 episodes)
Supporting Cast
- Jefferson Hall as Torstein (10 episodes)
- Maude Hirst as Helga (8 episodes)
- Edvin Endre as Erlendur (8 episodes)
- Cormac Melia as Ubbe (8 episodes)
- Cathal O'Hallin as Hvitserk (8 episodes)
- Thorbjørn Harr as Jarl Borg (7 episodes)
- Moe Dunford as Prince Aethelwulf (7 episodes)
- John Kavanagh as the Seer (6 episodes)
- Philip O'Sullivan as Bishop Edmund (6 episodes)
- Gaia Weiss as Þórunn (5 episodes)
- Georgia Hirst as Torvi (5 episodes)
- Morten Sasse Suurballe as Earl Sigvard (3 episodes)
- Sarah Green as Princess Judith (3 episodes)
- Carrie Crowley as Elisef (3 episodes)
- Morgan C. Jones as The Law Giver (3 episodes)
- Ivan Kaye as King Aelle (2 episodes)
- Amy Bailey as Princess Kwenthrith (2 episodes)
- Steve Wall as Einar (2 episodes)
- Duncan Lacroix as Ealdorman Werferth (2 episodes)
- Richard Ashton as Thorvard (2 episodes)
- Nathan O'Toole as Bjorn ("Brother's War")
- Tadhg Murphy as Arne ("Brother's War")
- Cathy White as Queen Ealhswith ("Blood Eagle")
- Carl Shaaban as Jesus ("The Lord's Prayer")
Guest Cast
- Edmund Kente as Bishop Swithern ("Treachery")
- Elizabeth Moynihan as Queen Gunnhild ("The Lord's Prayer")
- Alan Devine as Ealdorman Eadric ("Treachery")
Crew
Producers
- Morgan O'Sullivan: executive producer.
- Sheila Hockin: executive producer.
- Sherry Marsh: executive producer.
- Alan Gasmer: executive producer.
- James Flynn: executive producer.
- John Weber: executive producer.
- Michael Hirst: creator/writer/executive producer.
- Keith Thompson: producer.
- Steve Wakefield: producer.
- Bill Goddard: co-producer.
- Séamus McInerney: co-producer.
- Pj Dillon: director of photography.
- Tom Conroy: production designer.
- Mark Geraghty: production designer.
- Aaron Marshall: editor.
- Don Cassidy: editor.
- Trevor Morris: composer.
- Julian Parry: visual effects supervisor.
- Dominic Remane: visual effects supervisor.
- Joan Bergin: costume designer.
- Frank Moiselle: casting director.
- Nuala Moiselle: casting director.
Directors
- Ciarán Donnelly: episodes 1 and 2.
- Ken Girotti: episodes 3, 4, 9 and 10.
- Jeff Woolnough: episodes 5 and 6.
- Kari Skogland: episodes 7 and 8.
Episode Guide
- See also: Episodes
| Episode | Image | Title | Airdate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.01 | 10 | 
|
Brother's War | February 27, 2014 |
| The battle begins between Ragnar and King Horik's forces against Jarl Borg; Princess Aslaug makes her way to Kattegat. | ||||
| 2.02 | 11 | 
|
Invasion | March 6, 2014 |
| Ragnar leads a new series of raids on England. | ||||
| 2.03 | 12 | 
|
Treachery | March 13, 2014 |
| The Wessex Viking raid is in full swing; King Ecbert finds himself facing a new kind of foe; Ragnar races to dominate in the west; Jarl Borg has his own plans in store for the future of Kattegat. | ||||
| 2.04 | 13 | 
|
Eye For an Eye | March 20, 2014 |
| A meeting between Ragnar and Ecbert may pave the way for future compromise; Jarl Borg rules Kattegat with an iron fist; Rollo must now become the leader his people need in Ragnar's absence. | ||||
| 2.05 | 14 | 
|
Answers in Blood | March 27, 2014 |
| Lagertha and Ragnar unite once again; Aslaug must face the truth of her prophecies; Athelstan struggles to define his faith; Bjorn must once again make a choice. | ||||
| 2.06 | 15 | 
|
Unforgiven | April 3, 2014 |
| King Horik returns to Kattegat with a surprising proposition for Ragnar; Lagertha runs into a less than enthusiastic homecoming from her new husband; Athelstan becomes confidant to King Ecbert. | ||||
| 2.07 | 16 | 
|
Blood Eagle | April 10, 2014 |
| Ragnar and King Horik clash over how to dispense justice to Jarl Borg; King Aelle in Wessex; Ecbert has an eye on a new alliance. | ||||
| 2.08 | 17 | 
|
Boneless | April 17, 2014 |
| Princess Aslaug's latest prophecy comes to fruition as she readies to give birth once more; Ragnar and Horik have very different ideas about the true purpose of their trip to Wessex. | ||||
| 2.09 | 18 | 
|
The Choice | April 24, 2014 |
| Ragnar's warriors march on to King Ecbert's villa and are met with a surprisingly vicious welcome party. | ||||
| 2.10 | 19 | 
|
The Lord's Prayer | May 1, 2014 |
| Ragnar and King Horik return to Kattegat; Ragnar places his trust in those who have stood by him. | ||||
Gallery
Images
- See Promo Pictures for more images.
