The Vikings spread their influence across the world in the 11th century, and Vikings: Valhalla creator Jeb Stuart is ambitious in his globe-trotting, action-packed drama. The show’s scope has expanded in Season 2, in which the Scandinavian heroes find themselves continuing to fight for their faith, seek glory and look for romance. 

The first season features numerous interweaving, intrigue-heavy plots spanning multiple countries, so we’re offering a refresher on where all of the returning characters left off. You’ll also get an introduction to some of the new faces joining the cast and how they fit in to the plot.

 🤐 SPOILER ALERT 🤐

Returning characters

Bernard Walsh/Netflix

Leif Eriksson

Region of origin: Greenland

Leif ends Season 1 enraged and covered in blood. Leif’s good friend and fellow Greenlander Liv dies in his arms after being mortally wounded by Jarl Olaf Haraldsson when he attacks the pagan city of Kattegat. Liv had always helped Leif keep his emotions in check, and after watching her die, Leif brutally kills numerous followers of Olaf’s ally, Jarl Kåre. Leif’s father, Erik the Red, was exiled from Iceland because he couldn’t control his violent impulses, and Leif clearly has a similar darkness inside him. He’ll be forced to grapple with it this season as he continues to question his faith in his pagan traditions and consider the power of Christianity.

Freydis Screaming Her Head Off In 'Vikings: Valhalla' for 49 Seconds Straight

Freydís Eiríksdóttir

Region of origin: Greenland

The Greenlanders come to Kattegat seeking justice for Freydís, who was raped and scarred by one of Olaf’s followers. After Freydís kills the man responsible, her search for a new purpose sends her on a vision quest at the pagan temple of Uppsala. Kåre massacres the priests there shortly after Freydís returns to Kattegat to train as a shield-maiden, fulfilling a mysterious prophecy naming her the “Last Daughter of Uppsala.” Freydís kills Kåre during the Battle for Kattegat and flees the city with her lover, Prince Harald Sigurdsson.

Bernard Walsh/Netflix

Harald Sigurdsson

Region of origin: Norway

Harald works with Leif to deliver control of England to King Canute, who promises to make Harald king of Norway. However, Harald’s half brother, Olaf, also longs for that title. While Harald pretends to side with Olaf in the Battle for Kattegat, he gives secret information to Leif to help him better prepare. However, Olaf anticipates this treachery and hides his true plan. Harald is seriously wounded in the fight but is rescued by Freydís.

Olaf the Stout

Region of origin: Norway

Olaf hides the existence of his son, Magnus, from Harald as a way of concealing his own ambitions to rule Norway. The former advisor to King Aethelred II uses his army and knowledge of England to help Canute’s invasion, but then kidnaps Queen Emma’s children to try to persuade her to share the location of Aethelred’s treasure. A devoted Christian, Olaf teams up with the religious zealot Jarl Kåre to attack Kattegat with the goal of killing all of Norway’s pagans. However, he’s forced to flee the city after Kåre is killed and King Sweyn Forkbeard leads the Danish fleet to support Kattegat.

Bernard Walsh/Netflix

King Canute

Region of origin: Denmark

The king of Denmark leads a great Viking army to invade England, seeking vengeance for the St. Brice’s Day Massacre ordered by King Aethelred II. While Christian himself, Canute refuses to force his pagan followers to convert. After his successful conquest of England, Canute has to return home to defend Denmark from the invading Wends. Canute seeks to solidify his control of England by marrying Aethelred’s widow, Emma of Normandy, abandoning his current wife, Ælfgifu.

Bernard Walsh/Netflix

Laura Berlin as Emma of Normandy (center) in Vikings: Valhalla.

Emma of Normandy

Region of origin: Francia

The much younger second wife of King Aethelred II, Emma, arrives in England not knowing anyone in the country or even the language, but she quickly establishes herself as a capable queen. She impresses Canute with her beauty and cunning and sees him as a better ruler than her young stepson, Edmund. She also forges a good relationship with Canute’s father, King Sweyn Forkbeard, assuring him that she can maintain control of England without him.

Bernard Walsh/Netflix

David Oakes as Earl Godwin (left) in Vikings: Valhalla.

Godwin

Region of origin: Wessex

Godwin’s family loses all of its wealth due to his father’s crimes, but Godwin’s constantly scheming to gain more power and influence. He’s an advisor to King Aethelred II and serves the same role to King Canute. Godwin helps Canute rescue Emma’s children from Olaf’s custody and also kills Edmund to secure the Vikings’ control of Denmark. Forkbeard rewards Godwin for his loyalty by naming him the first jarl of Sussex. Godwin also helps Forkbeard and Emma thwart Ælfgifu’s plan to use Canute’s fleet to help Olaf conquer Kattegat.

Bernard Walsh/Netflix

Queen Ælfgifu

Region of origin: Mercia

Olaf persuades King Canute’s first wife to support his bid to become ruler of Norway, and she brings her husband’s fleet to England. While she expects to be treated as the country’s queen, Ælfgifu quickly comes into conflict with Emma. Forkbeard pretends to take Ælfgifu’s side and sends Emma back to Normandy, dispatching Ælfgifu to her homeland to try to maintain the peace between Mercia and England. However, that mission is just a distraction to buy Forkbeard time to locate the hidden fleet and take it to Kattegat to oppose Olaf.

11 Best Beards in Vikings: ValhallaFrom a forked beard to a Rapunzel-esque facial cascade, the beards in 'Vikings: Valhalla' are a whole mood.

Sweyn Forkbeard

Region of origin: Denmark

Canute’s father is worried that his son has taken on too much territory so comes to England to help him manage the growing kingdom. While he initially seems to dismiss Emma’s authority, he quickly comes to appreciate her and Godwin for their competence, leaving them to hold England when he sails to Kattegat along with his two grandsons in order to stop Olaf.

The Seer

Region of origin: Unknown

The mysterious eyeless figure appeared to Freydís in a vision, encouraging her to let go of her past and pursue a new path as a champion of the pagan faith. Kåre believes he’s captured the Seer, transporting him around in what everyone else sees as an empty cage.

New faces

Bernard Walsh/Netflix

Harekr

Region of origin: Pomerania

A skilled warrior, Harekr leads the Jomsvikings and gathers pagan refugees to bring to the stronghold of Jómsborg. He recruits Freydís to join his cause and become a spiritual leader, but they quickly come into conflict as Jomsviking traditions clash with Freydís’ belief in equal treatment for all.

Mariam

Region of origin: Syria

Inspired by the astrolabe maker Mariam al-Astrulabi, Mariam is a brilliant scholar who came to Novgorod in search of meteorites, which are easier to find in the snow. She’s become ill with a sickness that’s beyond her own significant skills as a physician and wants to journey to Constantinople to seek treatment.

Yaroslav the Wise

Region of origin: Kyivan Rus

The uncle of both Olaf and Harald doesn’t want to choose sides in the conflict between them. His position is especially precarious since his lucrative trade with Constantinople has been largely halted due to Pecheneg raiders.