Ivar "The Boneless" Ragnarsson has a fascinating story arc in Vikings, taking him from a pitiable child to a powerful tyrant, in and out of positions of power and struggling to find his place among his famous brothers. He is cunning, malicious, ruthless, complicated, and at times, still incredibly empathetic, and his personality easily makes him one of TV's best villains of the last decade.
Ivar's list of sins tends to mask his good traits too. It often feels like he is totally detestable but that's hardly the case. There are things worth liking about the way Ivar conducts himself. He is a Son of Ragnar after all, and has some of his father's good traits, as well as some of his worst.
Best: Resilience
Being born with the inability to walk unassisted doesn't prevent Ivar from seeking greatness. As an adult, he finds innovative ways to enable him move around quickly and fight with ease. He gets custom-made crutches as well as a leg brace. He also has a comfortable chariot that enables him to maneuver the battlefield.
That isn't the only hurdle Ivar has had to overcome. His resilience is seen again right after he gets overthrown as the ruler of Kattegat. Having witnessed all his power and influence slip away, he doesn't lose hope. He makes his way from Norway to Russia where he forms important alliances and becomes involved in key battles.
Worst: God Complex
It's understandable for a ruler with many conquests to get carried away by their glory, but Ivar takes it several steps too far. He believes that is actually a god. Ivar's sense of self-importance starts when he is a child, but when he becomes king and invades England, he begins to lose touch with reality when it comes to his place in the world.
Ivar declares himself a deity while his wife Freydis plays the perfect sycophant by fueling the narrative. The Oracle of Kattegart lets him know that he is not a god but he refuses to believe it. It's his overinflated belief in his own abilities that eventually leads to his downfall.
Best: Tactical Genius
Perhaps Ivar's best trait is his prowess on the battlefield. He never attacks blindly. A perfect example is how he chooses York because of its strategic positioning. Knowing his physical limitations, Ivar also refrains from putting himself in rough terrain during battles.
During the attack on York, he hides in the sewers so as to trap the enemy forces before leaping out and slaughtering them all. His future attacks also involve plenty of traps and hidden spikes that make the work easier for his men and ensure early victories.
Worst: Brutality
Ivar's brutality makes him a perfect villain but his acts of viciousness are often unnecessary. Did he really have to pour molten gold inside a priest's mouth? Ivar's bloodthirsty attitude often seems to be a natural-born anger. Even as a boy, he takes the life of a fellow child using a hatchet after being denied the chance to play a game.
Other notable murders include killing his own brother Sigurd after an argument and landing an axe on the seer's head for telling him what he didn't want to hear. He even laughs when he learns about Siggy's death and shows no remorse for the slain settlers of Wessex.
Best: Love For Parents
Ragnar's multiple misdemeanors don't prevent Ivar from adoring him. While the other sons (except Bjorn) interact with Ragnar fairly sparingly, Ivar bonds with his father far more intensely. After Ragnar's death, Ivar even spearheads the revenge campaign. He points out the location where Ragnar lost his life and assures King Aelle that gold won't be enough to earn him forgiveness for Ragnar's death.
After Aslaug dies at the hands of Lagertha, Ivar also seeks to avenge her death. He bravely challenges Lagertha to a duel and only opts against it after listening to Bjorn. The love he has for his parents is admirable.
Worst: Disagreeable
Ivar's lack of agreeableness causes endless feuds between him and his siblings. He lets an axe fly towards the head of Sigurd as the brothers argue on whether to invade England. And despite initially being on good terms with Ubbe, the two fall out and become sworn enemies.
For most of the series, Ivar and Bjorn can't stand each other. Bjorn goes as far as to evict everyone who was associated with Ivar from the kingdom when he takes over as ruler. Not to forget how Ivar's lack of agreeableness makes him fall out with his own wife Freydis who conspires with his brothers to overthrow him during the second assault on Kattegat.
Best: A Conscience
Ivar's brutality hasn't prevented him from having a conscience. At Sigurd's funeral, he sheds a tear, meaning he regrets killing his own brother. In addition to that, he regrets the way he treated Margrethe, letting her know that being Ragnar's son is weighing down on him and saying that's why he makes reckless decisions.
Later in the series, Ivar becomes something of a father figure to Prince Igor who is involved in a power struggle. It's only until he is sure that Igor is safe in the hands of Princess Katia that he makes the decision to leave the Rus Vikings behind.
Worst: Desperation
Ivar is fierce on the outside but desperate on the inside. His desire to sleep with the enslaved woman Margrethe can be seen as desperate, knowing that his brothers are also involved with her. When Margrethe acquiesces, he becomes angry when he fails to be physically able to have sex, and threatens to kill her so she won't tell anyone about his impotence. He does this because he is desperate to be seen as an equal man to his brothers.
Ivar is also desperate in his love for Freydis. He loves her so much that he becomes blind to her manipulative ways. He believes her when she tells him she is pregnant, despite them never having sex. Some of his worst moments come from desperation, and denial that comes from that.
Best: No Grudges
Ivar has clashes with many people but he rarely holds lasting grudges. When Hvistserk gets banished by Bjorn for accidentally killing Lagertha, Ivar gladly teams up with him and enlists him in Oleg's army. He does this despite the fact that Hvitserk was part of the group that conspired to overthrow him.
Oleg once instructs Ivar to kill Hvitserk, something he should gladly do when their past is put into consideration but he opts to save him. And when the brothers go to England, Ivar notices that Hvitserk is weak and orders him to stand down after his injury, thus saving him from getting killed.
Worst: Lack Of Honor
Betrayal isn't uncommon in the series but that doesn't make it appealing. Characters such as Rollo and Ecbert have perfected the art of betrayal but Ivar is also a strong contender for the show's resident Judas.
He persuades Harald to help him conquer Kattegat with the false promise that he will eventually become his heir. Soon after becoming ruler, Ivar gets married and tries to get a young heir that he considers more deserving. As expected, the move angers Harald, who makes the decision to team up with Bjorn. Ivar's lack of loyalty proves detrimental to him as Bjorn and Harald come up with a mega plan to overthrow him.