History's Vikings is wrought with complex sociopolitical happenings and many interesting characters, much like the society it emulates. Not only do you have the legendary Ragnar Lothbrok and the Viking-turned-Frank, Rollo, but you've also got a slew of their family members, lovers, and Vikings kinsmen to round out the dynamic cast.
Given this show's focus on major figures like Ragnar - and more recently his sons - along with Lagertha and various rulers, it's easy for characters to get lost in the shuffle. This is a shame, as there's no shortage of interesting, heroic personalities who, for whatever reason, never quite got their time to shine or are overlooked.
With this list, we'll explore the show's rich history of 6 seasons and nearly 80 episodes, and highlight the 10 most underrated heroes who engaged in acts of heroism and/or support.
Astrid
Lagertha's right-hand-woman tends to get somewhat overlooked for her part in the happenings of Kattegat and beyond. With Astrid's help, Lagertha is able to reclaim her homeland of Kattegat, providing council, military muscle, and general support in her hard-fought ascension to glory.
She later endures her share of hardships as she's forced into marriage by King Harald, warning Lagertha's faction of the dangers to come by Harald's army despite the harm this puts her in. This strong and cunning shieldmaiden definitely gets the short end of the stick both in the show and in terms of fan recognition.
Torstein
Alliances tend to shift about during the turbulent events of Vikings. Yet, this is a consistently loyal and brave warrior to Lothbrok, who unjustly seems to exist on the periphery. He's something of a pioneer, not just in his conquests with Lothbrok, but in being among the first to pledge his loyalty to Ragnar following the defeat of Earl Haraldson.
He even manages to survive an apparent poisoning by Floki as well as an arrow to the arm, only to resume fighting in various skirmishes. His bravery is scarcely matched, as he commands Floki to amputate his ailing arm and leads the charge against Mercian forces as a bold self-sacrifice.
Harbard
Sure, he might have ended his stint on Vikings revealing more maligned, manipulative motives after it's revealed he's slept with many women of Kattegat, including Aslaug. Still, this mysterious wanderer acts as a sort of temporary father figure for Ragnar's young children while he's out raiding. This is particularly the case with a troubled infant Ivar, whose pain he seemingly wills away.
There's definitely a cool aura of mysticism about this traveler, which nicely ties into Norse lore and parallels the mythology of the god Odin.
Tostig
This battle-hardened Viking tends to get overlooked, given his seasoning brought by age and experience - a rare trait amongst these warriors. It's pretty easy to forget him after he meets his end so quickly in the show's first season.
Similar to our previous entry, there's also an element of legend to this man as well. This stems from his claims that he's cursed to live in the world forever, on account of his many brushes with death and his many years on this earth. He thus brings military muscle as well as aged wisdom to Ragnar and company.
His last word, while falling during the Battle of the Tyne, is a simple, yet powerful "Valhalla," making for an epic, emblematic way to go out.
Halfdan
As he's usually found amidst many Vikings, and under his king brother's shadow, it's easy to overlook the significance and charm of this warrior. He somewhat represents a more humble version of his brother, especially after aligning himself with Lagertha and Bjorn against Ivar and Harald.
He's seen great victories in battle, and has certainly been around - fighting alongside Ragnar in Francia, joining Bjorn in the Mediterranean, and even venturing to Africa. While his initial character is brutish and even depraved at times, he seems to undergo a transformation that makes him more loyal and considerate as time goes on. His unshakable loyalty to Bjorn is cemented after he's saved by him in season 5.
Bishop Heahmund
Following the sad demise of Athelstan, there seemed to be a void in terms of honorable, empathetic characters on the Saxon side serving as a "mediator" of sorts. Bishop Heahmund slots into this role nicely, taking on some of the admirable traits of the fallen monk while also bringing more of a warrior spirit. He brings that Christian representation that had been lacking in Vikings - at least on the "protagonist" side.
He's also one of the few non-Vikings that proves to be a brave, practiced warrior on the battlefield. He puts himself directly in harm's way to fight for Bjorn and Lagertha. His allegiances, which drift from the Saxons to Ivar to Lagertha, allows him to see a lot of action and adds to his dynamic character.
Siggy
Poor Siggy seems to get tossed aside and discarded on multiple levels in Vikings. Even when she steps up, she tends to take a backseat to Lagertha and Aslaug. Once the loyal wife of Earl Haraldson, she eventually becomes the supportive lover of Rollo, helping to pull him out of his despair following his condemnation by his brother. She takes something of a motherly role to Ragnar's sons as well, filling in for Aslaug and even sacrificing her life to save two of Ragnar's young sons by saving them from a sea of cracking ice.
Siggy's tragic story and selfless nature bring somber, heartfelt moments to the show, reminding its viewers of the often harsh nature of Viking culture.
Helga
Floki's spouse is yet another character who meets a rather cruel end, being cut by her own orphaned daughter who the couple had decided to look after following a raid of Moorish Spain.
Before this harsh, somber ending to her journey, Helga made for a much-needed pillar of support for the reckless, often emotional Floki. She sticks with him through thick and thin, while also serving as a babysitter alongside Aslaug and Siggy. She even joins Floki in his Paris raid, and offers aid and moral support when the Viking is tied up for his slights against Ragnar.
Floki
This quirky Viking warrior tends to bring mixed reactions from the show's fanbase. Yet, while he has his questionable moments, he also shines as an amusing character and relevant player in this epic tale.
After all, it's the astute, innovative engineering of the boat-builder that allows Ragnar to sail the seas and become the conqueror that he grows to be. Not only this, but he also serves as a brave fighter in battle, and a staunch follower of Odin. He's a representation of wisdom and a reminder to Lothbrok and company of their Pagan allegiance. He even goes as far as to spearhead the establishment of a new civilization in Iceland.
Athelstan
There's no doubt that this Christian Monk had his time to shine in the show's first 3 seasons, serving as a diplomat and voice of wisdom to Ragnar, offering some new perspective. Yet, it's tough to deny that Athelstan met his end all too soon, and somewhat anticlimactically, at the hands of Floki. His ability to be a translator and sort of councilor to Lothbrok helped him establish a foothold in Wessex and mount an assault on Francia.
His pure and optimistic nature made for a rare beacon of light amongst this often dark, brutal Medieval society.