The 10 Best Characters In Vikings, According To Ranker
Fans of Vikings love the show for different reasons. Some enjoy the endless battle scenes while others simply enjoy following the smooth-flowing medieval tale. And among all the reasons, one thing most fans agree on is that the cast is brilliant. The historical drama has a long list of incredible characters, each of them leaving a permanent impression on viewers.
Since there are numerous individuals roaming around ancient Norway, Denmark, and England on the show, it might be harder to select the most formidable ones among the crowd. Luckily, the website, Ranker makes it easier to sieve the cream. Since the site uses upvotes and downvotes, the list can be considered an accurate representation of viewer opinion.
Torstein is introduced as Ragnar's bodyguard and close confidant. He accompanies him to many raids before he is eventually killed during the Hill Of The Ash battle.
The warrior endears himself to fans because of how devoted he is to Ragnar and his course. He is very caring too. When Ragnar gets badly wounded during the attack by Earl Haraldson's men, Torstein is one of few people to check on him at his hideout. Torstein also proves himself a great asset to Ragnar by helping him annihilate key foes such as Jarl Borg and King Horik. Even more remarkable is his high level of endurance. When his arm gets amputated, he brushes it off with the badass line, "I never liked my left arm anyway."
King Harald's younger brother grows tired of being in his ambitious brother's shadow so he decides to seek his own path under Bjorn. Unfortunately for him, life becomes even harder and he ultimately gets killed by his own brother during the Second Battle For Kattegat.
Halfdan can be described as the poster child for bad decisions. When he dumps his brother for Bjorn, he ends up encountering plenty of horrors in the Mediterranean. He'd still be alive too, and holding an even higher position too if he had stayed by Harald's side. Sadly, he gets a ticket to Valhalla, courtesy of his brother's sword.
Rollo starts off fighting by his brother's side but betrays him twice. His second betrayal yields saccharine fruits for him as he not only becomes the Duke of Normandy but also marries Princess Gisla.
Rollo underscores the notion that bad guys always win. He betrays his brother twice but never suffers any serious consequences. Instead, fate rewards him handsomely for his treachery. Bad traits aside, Rollo is depicted as a very skilled warrior and military strategist. He easily gets the better of Ragnar during the Second Battle For Paris, thus marking the end of the Viking incursion.
Intrigued by the Vikings and their ways, King Ecbert, one of the most likable Anglo-Saxons in Vikings, not only becomes friends with Ragnar but also dates Lagertha. Additionally, he becomes King of Kings by annexing the kingdoms of Wessex and Mercia.
Ecbert is sown to be extremely shrewd compared to his fellow rulers. He reads a lot and knows how to choose his friends. Furthermore, the Wessex king beams with ambition and that's why he betrays the weaker King Aelle and takes two kingdoms for himself. Some of Ecbert's life choices are shocking too but they add to his overall appeal as a character. His decision to take his daughter-in-law as his distress is indeed the most baffling one.
As a person with a disability, Ivar is subjected to ridicule from an early age but his father Ragnar constantly uplifts him and showers him with love. After Ragnar's death, Ivar's rise to power begins and he ends up as one of the most powerful rulers on the show.
Ivar is undoubtedly the alpha among the biggest villains in Vikings. His reign is more of a tyrannical one rather than a diplomatic one like that of his father. He brutally executes anyone who offends him and considers himself a god, even though he isn't one. Ivar's military prowess is unrivaled too. Consequently, he wins the most battles in the series.
The Anglo-Saxon monk is taken as a slave by Ragnar when the Northmen raid the Lindisfarne Monastery. He soon grows to be a close friend to both Ragnar and King Ecbert.
Athelstan's humility makes him a very likable character hence the reason both Ragnar and Ecbert keep wanting him by their side. His conflicted nature makes for a great story arc too. During his time in the series, Athelstan is never quite sure whether to stick to Christianity or start following the Norse pantheon.
Lagertha's fortunes rise quickly on the show. She gets to morph from a shieldmaiden to the Earl of Hedeby and eventually the Queen of Kattegat. Sadly, she suffers plenty of loss. All of Lagertha's lovers in Vikings eventually die.
An icon of female empowerment Lagertha is ever assertive and courageous. She doesn't simply dance to the wishes of her lovers, hence the reason she divorces Ragnar for trying to be polygamous and chooses to go on raids when Earl Sigvard insists she should be a housewife. Additionally, Lagertha helps magnify LGBTQ themes by having relations with women too.
The oldest of Ragnar's sons is as ambitious as his father. Like Ragnar, Bjorn gradually rises to the position of King of Kattegat before his death.
Among Ragnar's sons, Bjorn is the closest to him in terms of personality. Like Ragnar, he has the strong urge to explore new lands and that's why he sails to the Mediterranean. Bjorn doesn't just shine as a warrior and explorer but as a lothario too. He gets involved with 7 different women during his time on the series, thus being part of both the best and worst Vikings couples.
Floki starts off as a warrior and boat builder who holds Ragnar in high regard. Later in the series, he decides to settle in a new land but his plan goes terribly wrong.
Floki is a great character because he is multi-talented. No one else can build boats as well as he does. And on the battlefield, he is just as good as most of the top warriors. Furthermore, it's hinted that he can communicate with the gods. With all these layers, fans always find one thing to love about Floki even when they hate the other.
Always the curious warrior, Ragnar opens the doors to Wessex when he chooses to take raiders there against Earl Haraldson's wishes. He keeps raiding new lands but Paris turns out to be his Waterloo, thanks to Rollo's betrayal.
There are so many Rise & Fall tales in the movie and TV landscape but Ragnar's journey is a more interesting one because of the multiple arcs he is granted. Despite only lasting 4 seasons, no other Viking enjoys better character development than Ragnar. He isn't perfect either and the show never hesitated to explore his weaknesses.