Vikings
Season 3 Episode 1: “Mercenary”
Directed by Ken Girotti
Written and created by Michael Hirst
Starring Travis Fimmel, Clive Standen, Katheryn Winnick, Jessalyn Gilsig, George Blagden, and Gustaf Skarsgard.
The History Channel
Air Date: Thursday, February 19, 2015, 10:00pm

It’s finally here! After teasing us for weeks with a sick trailer and evocative webisodes, and after we gave you 10 reasons to binge-watch the previous seasons while drinking a Vikings Amber Ale, the day has come. The Season 3 premiere is upon us!

Vikings Season 3 (spoilers ahead)!

We left our favorite heathens in Vikings Season 2, with Ragnar Lothbrok (Travis Fimmel) now a king, having killed King Horik (Donal Logue) for his plot to murder Ragnar and his family. Loyalty is thicker than hatred, and Siggy (Jessalyn Gilsig) and Floki (Gustaf Skarsgard) turned the traitorous tables. Seasons 1 and 2 had everything television connoisseur could ask for — excellent acting, sex, shocks, violence, blood, and gore … love, loyalty, struggle, a crucifixion, sweeping landscape, sacrifices to the old gods. Are you all caught up yet?

Season 3 already delivers.

Vikings 3.1 “Mercenary” opens ominously with Lagertha (Katheryn Winnick) and the Seer (John Kavanagh), who does not have happy news for our favorite Earl/Shieldmaiden. Ragnar and Bjorn (Alexander Ludwig) seem a little at loving odds-Ragnar wants his son to be wise, and he really doesn’t like his girl, Porunn (Gaia Weiss). Bjorn can’t really get her to listen to anything he says, so maybe Dad is right. Bjorn is not trying to oppress her, just worried for her safety.

We get a close look at Ivar the Boneless as a baby with twisted legs that his parents worry over. Don’t worry Ragnar and Princess Aslaug (Alyssa Sutherland), real history has said that Ivar the Boneless becomes a fierce warrior, despite his disability.

Floki feels “trapped by this happiness” with his new family.

There are a few new players. Kalf (Ben Robson) is Lagertha’s right-hand man, and she trusts him completely (can anyone be trusted here?). He seems too pretty without the gruffness to be a Viking, but remember Athelstan’s (George Blagden) transformation and maybe there’s more to him than meets the eye. We get a glimpse of a hooded man in Kattegat. We already know that that is Kevin Durand from my other obsession (The Strain-don’t worry, I checked IMDB-he’s in both shows for now).

They set sail for Wessex to claim their promised lands from King Ecbert (Linus Roache), who to no one’s surprise is being a bit shady about it. What is a little surprising since we know he and his people look down on the vikings as barbarians, he is sporting himself a huge Lagertha crush. Aren’t we all?

Of course there is a giant battle scene, complete with hacking. It just wouldn’t be Vikings without one. Who lives? Who dies? You gotta watch!

The more important question is: Which pic in the gallery below should I choose as my cover photo? Let me know and it shall be done.

Image Gallery

Video

Vikings Season 3 promo: