The Vikings extended trailer that was shown at Comic-Con this week has been the highlight of the conference so far, giving us a taste of things to come as we salivate for the coming war.
Despite the sci-fi and comic book elements that reign supreme at San Diego Comic-Con International 2018, the excitement was palpable today as this exclusive trailer from the mid-season five premiere was shown to thousands of fans during the Vikings cast panel held in Ballroom 20 on Friday, July 20.
Time has passed. Brother at arms pitted against each other is the overriding theme of the trailer as the eldest son of Ragnar, Bjorn (Alexander Ludwig), will face the youngest, Ivar, (Alex Høgh Andersen) in a bloody battle.
Brothers Ubbe (Jordan Patrick Smith) and Hvitserk (Marco Ilsø) appear to be solidly behind a now grey-haired Lagertha (Katheryn Winnick) and their half-brother Bjorn.
Add to that that, we see an emerging England with King Alfred (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo) in the throne trying to manage the Nordic carnage and gain fealty from the Northmen who have laid waste to so many Saxons and Celts in the region.
Bishop Heahmund (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) will also factor heavily into the meeting of Bjorn, Lagertha, Ubbe, and Torvi as they go on the run from Ivar, who has overtaken Kattegat.
If you remember, Alfred was Athelstan’s son with Judith, who was also King Ecbert’s mistress as well as Æthelwulf’s wife.
Floki’s (Gustaf Skarsgård) sojourn to Iceland will continue to be a loose thread that should be tied up this run, as the Seer (John Cavanaugh) appears to be at death’s door in Kattegat, based on the clip reveal.
History’s Vikings is a remarkable ride that showrunner Michael Hirst (The Tudors) has woven from real historical events and embellished with characters so memorable they have catapulted this drama as one of peak TV’s finest efforts.
History really hangs its hat on this visceral and vivid storytelling. Adding to that is Hirst’s two talented daughters, Georgia Hirst (Torvi) and Maude Hirst (Helga) who killed it in their respective roles.
Ivar the Boneless is hell-bent on destroying Lagertha and her son Bjorn. Will this Viking shieldmaiden legend regain her Queendom or become a footnote in Nordic history?
More analysis to come as television critics Ernie Estrella and April Neale comb over the panel commentary and speculate on what’s to come in the following weeks.
Vikings returns on Wednesday, November 28 at 9 PM ET/PT on HISTORY.