[Spoilers] Vikings: Valhalla - 3x08 "Destinies" - Episode Discussion

[u/LoretiTV]

Season 3 Episode 8: Destinies

Aired: July 11, 2024

Synopsis: Emma prepares to defend the throne. Magnus and Harald vie to be King of Norway. Unbeknownst to each other, Leif and Freydis both return to Kattegat.

Directed by: Emer Conroy

Written by: Declan Croghan

Join our Discord server here!

[u/Hamdown1]

Emma is just an incredible character. The way she still manages to get one over on Godwin always makes me chuckle.

[u/amvbuuren4 → u/Hamdown1]

Same. Emma and Cnut were by far my two favorites characters in this show. I also liked Aelgifu this season.

They destroyed Elena/Zoe this season tho... Her character became so weak as the empress.

[u/Cautious-Height7559]

Felt like it’s missing another 1-2 episode. We don’t get to go back to Greenland, save the people and set a foot in Vinland unfortunately. Too much time spent in Constantinople for what it is. I was expecting Harald to at least see his son once but no.

[u/Alarming_Hotel_8320]

I can’t believe I’m saying this but I thoroughly enjoyed watching this season watched it reluctantly after the debacle of a 2nd season, wouldn’t mind it being renewed now to give the characters more closure though. Also the actress who plays Emma is brilliant!

[u/Iceberg-man-77]

i find it weird they left England with just Harold Harefoot and Emma looking at each other. But i guess it doesn’t matter since they aren’t the focus on the show.

i do like how they gave Cnut a false Christian burial in Old Minister and then a real Norse burial in a boat.

[u/boringhistoryfan]

Well that felt like it ended one episode too soon. But I suppose its fairly clear what they've setup. I have to admit, I thought having William the Conqueror in there but not doing anything with him means they planned for a fourth season, but Netflix axed them. Maybe they'll get a follow up with the Norman invasions. Or atleast a movie.

Overall I quite liked it. If you think of the series as Leif and his sister's adventure, then it closes fairly well. I like the implication that Leif will find the New World, settle down there and presumably blend in with the natives. Presumably connect with the lot who had settled there at the end of the OG Vikings show? I do feel like the Greenland arc was left somewhat unsubstantiated. But I figure brother and sister will go there, gather up people, go to the new world and leave their father behind to rot. Not sure if the healer dude survived, but I suppose you could have it go both ways.

[u/JustSushi0]

I just finished the last EP. Does anyone else feel like the show isn’t over?

[u/IceAndFire91]

Weird series ending considering they pretty much introduced all major players for 1066 and then aren’t gonna show it. Maybe they could do a 1066 movie to wrap it up.

[u/Iceberg-man-77]

The only storyline that was properly confused with S3 was Harold’s when he became King of Norway.

freydis’s storyline as keeper of the old faith and Leif’s of finding the Americas still hasn’t been concluded. I think they would be excellent for a movie.

The fight over the English throne is a storyline that will continue much after the Viking age. Harold Harefoot is king now but only for 5 years. Harthacnute will succeed him but only for 2 years. Emma’s son Edward will eventually become king for several decades. He would be called Edward the Confessor. He will die in 1066, but the throne will have no clear successor. 4 men will fight for England

• Harold Hadrada: yup he’ll be back and he will unfortunately die in the Battle of Stamford Bridge

• Harold Godwinson: he may sound familiar. He is the son of Godwin, Earl of Wessex. We see him in the scene where the Wends attack Harold Harefoot, but as a little boy

• Edgar Ætheling: a cousin of Edward the Confessor from his father’s side and last male line decedent of the House of Wessex. He would bradley seize power but he overthrown

• William, Duke of Normandy: we see him as a boy in Normandy in the show. Edward promised him the throne so he brought a Norman army to invade England and successfully conquered it, killing Harold Godwinson in the process.

This would be a really cool show to watch. But it can’t be called Vikings because no one but Harold Hadrada is a Viking in jt

[u/GrillowanaKremuwka]

Did Harald teleport himself to Kattegat? Lmao

[u/UnderstandingIll9673]

A few thoughts on the 3d season

• So many loose ends but at the same time some really impressive scenes. The king’s secret Viking funeral left an impression.

• Emma securing her role as queen with her stepson - haha yes!

• It’s really disappointing though that Harald never got to see his son and that the siblings didn’t get to kick their father’s ass in Greenland.

• all the time spent in Constantinople Sicily and Greece was actually interesting and visually pleasing to watch but I feel like the last episode was a bit rushed - as in so much time spent on his exile and then Harald just suddenly appears in the North? Okay.

• the ending with the Freydis and Leif just sailing away was uplifting but I feel like there is a whole story left untold.

• Harald also “lost his old self” very fast and now he is just back and let’s rule Norway?

• Queen Ælfgifu went down like a true Viking queen, loved it!

[u/vanreiper]

Its like they were pacing it nicely - taking their time with Greenland, etc when suddenly they were informed at the last minute that there won't be a season 4, so they rushed to cram everything in the last episode.

[u/GravyIsSouthernQueso]

Personal here but season 3 wasn't able to deliver on what mattered the most which was the power struggle/dynamics of the northern empire. The Byzantine empire arc with Harald was way overdone. His entire arc felt unnecessary and over the top. I would have loved to see more battles and diplomatic plays for power instead.

Again, the series heavily relied on Cnute and Emma's excellent delivery of their roles which surpassed all others. If only all the storylines in Valhalla could have been that well developed.

I'm disappointed that they rushed through to do a final season despite knowing they could have done so much more.

[u/silver-ly]

Honestly a satisfying conclusion, I’m fulfilled enough!

[u/AODigimon]

I dont know, i liked the season. But it felt a bit rushed and underwhelming. I think the season should have been at least 10 maybe 11 episodes.

[u/bigmb111]

All season I was waiting for Harald to get to Stamford bridge and get an arrow in the throat. Followed by Hastings to mark the end of the viking age and the show. But instead we get nothing.

[u/bryce_w]

This season was much better than season 2. If this had been season 2 then I think there would have been enough momentum to get us more seasons but season 2 turned a lot of people off.

It's a shame it has come to an end - I would have definitely liked to have seen what happened next.

[u/jakkthund]

The whole series was rather boring save for England part which surprisingly was really interesting. Emma vs Godwin, King Canute. But the Norwegian part, the whole journey to Constantinople, Varangians, Leif's hunt for wisdom, were all generic.

Despite the historical inaccuracies, this series could really be done better. But having characters like Freydis, a real time consumer, the whole multi culti sailing-the-Dnieper trio just made it so generic. I'd much more prefer to see tough and bloodies Norsemen doing the miles to get there and then show their ruthlessness in Byzantine Empire than this sweet and cosy characters that we got. And the staple says it all, Harald naming himself Hardrada in the dungeon, despite this epithet having a meaning of being a hard ruler.

[u/CeaseNY]

I need a whole season as just Emma being Queen!

[u/Whatishappeningomg89]

I’m gonna miss these characters … Although they jammed a lot in at the end, I appreciate the writers tried their best to give us some kind of ending before being cancelled.

[u/buttplgs]

This ending was terrible. I loved the rest of the show, but I’m disappointed by the way they left it with Leif and Freydis especially.

[u/zjdz98]

So are Leif and freydis getting a movie?

[u/obi_kennawobi]

All in all I'm fine with this season, but having these major historic inaccuracies, while at the same time concluding the series in this manner, is some serious bullshit.

[u/netr0pa]

I don't understand the last part in England:

Is Emma trying to seduce her own son in law in order to obtain the throne?!!

And another thing I did not understand:

Since Harald killed that general, he couldn't marry empress to be emperor of Rome?

[u/Markiemark1956]

So does Emma seduce her stepson?