The main characters in Vikings have simple priorities. They aim to live lives that please the gods and eventually go to Valhalla when they die. During their time on Earth, they focus on love and war. For a few, power is of utmost importance too. But it's through love that family emerges, and the characters place much value on that too.
Though there have been ugly incidents like Rollo betraying his brother Ragnar for power in foreign lands or Judith poisoning one son so that the other can remain king, most family moments have been characterized by decency. Whether it's in good or bad times, family members have been there for each other in more ways than one.
Ragnar Reunites With Lagertha & A Grown Bjorn
Polygamy was typical in the Viking Age but Lagertha couldn't tolerate the idea of Ragnar taking Aslaug as a second wife. She left him but found herself with one of the most hated Vikings supporting characters, Earl Sigvard. When she learned that Kattegat had been taken by Jarl Borg, she and Bjorn took off to help Ragnar reclaim it. When Ragnar saw Bjorn, he was overwhelmed with joy.
Ragnar and Lagertha''s divorce was bad for them both since none of them ever found true happiness. However, they always cared for each other and this moment proved that. By helping Ragnar, Lagertha was going against the wishes of her husband but she didn't care. The most important things in her life would always be Ragnar, Bjorn, and Kattegat.
Ivar, Bjorn, Ubbe, & Sigurd Declare War On The Saxons
Ragnar's death wasn't taken lightly by his sons and someone had to pay. In a moment of unity, the brothers came together and formed the Great Heathen Army, with viewers also getting served one of Ivar's best ever quotes in the process. The brothers proceeded to obliterate the forces of Northumbria before giving King Aele the brutal "blood eagle" treatment.
The egos of Ragnar's sons could have caused each of them to seek vengeance their own way but they were sensible enough to unite for a common goal and the results were impressive. The actions of the brothers also helped steered the series in a new direction since the frustration over Ragnar's death was still looming over the show's fans. With revenge served, it was time to move on.
Princess Gisla & Emperor Charles Enter The Cathedral Before The Viking Attack
There was royal glamour on the night before the first Viking attack as Princess Gisla, and Emperor Charles graced the cathedral. Donning royal masks, Charles prayed while Gisla encouraged the citizens that Frankia will be victorious.
Motivating the public was one of Gisla's key strengths. Her reassuring words did well to calm the citizens since they knew the fierce reputation of the Viking raiders hence they were worried. The grand cathedral entrance also showed just how different a ruler Charles was. While other kings relied on their own judgment, Charles included his daughter in decision making and as a result, his kingdom was very stable.
Rollo, Lagertha, & Ragnar Avoid Punishment For Knut's Murder
Earl Haraldson was always keen on getting rid of Ragnar. When Lagertha killed Knut, the perfected opportunity presented itself. Ragnar and Lagertha couldn't agree on who would take the fall so Haraldson urged Rollo to testify against his brother. Rollo refused, resulting in Ragnar being freed.
Rollo's decision was a slight deviation from his character since he was known to be envious of Ragnar. There was the assumption that he would be more than glad to see his brother fall but 'blood' was indeed thicker. It was admirable to see Lagertha and Ragnar tussling to take the fall as it was clear none of them was willing to see the other get harmed.
Ubbe & Bjorn Stop Hvitserk's Execution
Killing Lagertha was one of the worst things Hvitserk ever did and the general consensus was that he deserved the death sentence for his actions. The process began but as he was being led to the pyre, Bjorn gave a signal to Ubbe who showed up and saved him.
Hvitserk had plenty of flaws but that didn't stop his brothers from loving him. Bjorn's decision to spare Hvitserk's life even though he had killed his mother emphasized his value for human life. A man like Ivar would have relished the sight of Hvitserk being burned to death. More importantly, was the realization by Bjorn and Ubbe that another death in the family was meaningless. They were already low on numbers and needed to hold on to what they had.
Bjorn, Gyda, & Lagertha Help Ragnar Escape From Haraldson's Men
Seeing no other way to get rid of his Ragnar headache, Earl Haraldson launched an attack on his farm. Just as it seemed Haraldson's men were about to kill Ragnar, he dived into the water. Lagertha, Bjorn, and Gyda spotted him and quickly pulled him onto their boat.
Ragnar's dedication to family meant he was ready to sacrifice himself to make sure Lagertha, Bjorn, and Gyda escaped. The trio demonstrated their loyalty by waiting to see if Ragnar would show up. It was a good decision since Ragnar would either have been shot with an arrow or died in the water if they weren't around to save him.
Lagertha Agrees To Take Care Of Guthrum So That Torvi Can Be With Bjorn
In what was perhaps the greatest alpha move of them all, Bjorn showed up at Erlendur's home and demanded to take his wife Torvi with him. Torvi was torn in a dilemma on whether to go or stay as she wasn't sure about leaving her son behind but Lagertha promised to take care of the boy.
As a mother, Lagertha was keen on doing everything possible to make sure her son was happy. She was also aware that Torvi had all the qualities of a good wife so she was more than glad to play her part and make sure the two ended up together. Though the relationship was short-lived, it was fun (and chaotic) while it lasted.
Bjorn Tells His Family His Plans For Kattegat
Soon after becoming the new King of Kattegat, Bjorn sat his family down and laid out his plans. His wish was for Lagertha to be his advisor but she instead reminded him of the importance of being his own man.
Ivar was known for being secretive about his plans but Bjorn's preference was on transparency. The transparency helped since Bjorn had doubted his ability to lead on his own but Lagertha was there to give him some much-needed reassurance. He didn't turn out to be the best ruler but he was a big improvement from Ivar.
Rollo & Ragnar Take Bjorn To Get His Arm Ring
Early in the first season, Rollo and Ragnar took Bjorn the Earl to get his arm ring. This meant that he was now officially recognized as a man. They made sure to teach him how to drink too.
The beauty of the scene was the randomness of it all. Though father and uncle praising Bjorn and allowing him to engage in some debauchery wasn't critical to the plot, it showed the fun side of the adults. Prior to that, they had been all about raiding and fighting. Not to forget Rollo spending his time being jealous of Ragnar.
Ragnar's Last Words To Ivar
Before Ragnar was subjected to one of the most brutal deaths in Vikings, Ivar insisted on dying with him but Ragnar dissuaded him from doing so. Instead, he advised him to stay strong and let him know that his enemies will always underestimate him but he should use that to his advantage.
Ragnar's last words to Ivar served as his driving force for the remainder of the series. He would not only mold himself to be one of the greatest military strategists of all time but also become a brutal ruler. The father-son moment marked the end of an era for one and the beginning of an era for another, highlighting the fact that life does go on.