Page - 110 - in JRFM - Journal Religion Film Media, Volume 06/01

at the monastery of Lindesfarne, in Northumbria (S1:E2).21 Ragnar and his men raid the monastery and sail back home with a monk named Athelstan (George Blagden) as a slave. Athelstan becomes a central character in the course of the following ep- isodes, and an exchange between pagan and Christian religions begins. On their ar- rival home, the conflict with Earl Haraldson escalates (S1:E4). Tensions with the earl grown, and soon, having been badly wounded in battle, Ragnar challenges him to a one-on-one fight. Ragnar kills Haraldson and becomes the next Earl of Kattegat (S1:E6). Between the major scenes, we encounter Athelstan, whose growing knowl- edge of pagan religion comes at the cost of his Christian faith. His initial aversion to pagan religion and its rituals and symbols gradually reverses. In the following epi- sodes, the narrative takes a turn as the viewer is drawn deeper into the rituals of the Viking religion. The Vikings travel to Uppsala, bringing sacrifices. The dark depiction of these sacrificial practices involves an attempt to sacrifice Athelstan as well. Local and regional battles prevail next as Ragnar and King Horik (Donal Logue) wage war with Earl Borg (Thorbjørn Harr). Ragnar’s brother Rollo (Clive Standen) opposes Ragnar (S2:E1), but is defeated; although Rollo is brought to justice, he is then set free and in the meantime, Ragnar imperils his relationship with his wife Lagertha (Katheryn Winnick) by sleeping with Aslaug (Alyssa Sutherland), hoping that by having two wives he will increase his chances of having another son. La- gertha divorces Ragnar and leaves him, along with their son Björn (Alexander Lud- wig). Ragnar continues his raids in England until he is stopped by King Ecbert (Linus Roche) of Wessex, who forges an alliance with King Ælle against Ragnar (S2:E7), Ragnar is defeated, barely escapes the coalition forces and must return to Kattegat, taking Athelstan with him. Ragnar and Athelstan’s friendship is deepening as Ath- elstan increasingly adapts to the context in which he is now living. The second sea- son ends violently, with King Horik killed and his kingdom taken over by Ragnar (S2:E10). Once more Ragnar sets off for Wessex, and while the Viking group develop their settlement there, looking for land to inhabit, a strange visitor confuses Aslaug about the situation and others and seduces her. Athelstan is able to awaken Ragnar’s interest in a raid on Paris, although Floki hates Athelstan and his Christian faith. Lagertha loses her earldom, and as Ragnar 21 A historical account of Lindisfarne is found in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. Cf. Ford 2005. The text recounts (55) the Viking invasion: “This year came dreadful fore-warnings over the land of the Northumbrians, terrifying the people most woefully: these were immense sheets of light rushing through the air, and whirlwinds, and fiery, dragons flying across the firmament. These tremendous tokens were soon followed by a great famine: and not long after, on the sixth day before the ides of January in the same year, the harrowing inroads of heathen men made lamentable have in the church of God in Holy island [Lindesfarne, sic E], by rapine and slaughter. Siga died on the eight day before the calends of March”. Generally, the “Viking age” is defined by historians as starting with the attack on the monastery of Lindisfarne in 793 CE and ending with the battle at Stamford Bridge in 1066 CE (see for further background Andersson 2016). “Someday Our Gods Will be Friends” | 109www.jrfm.eu 2020, 6/1, 103–126