I have to be honest: I don’t immediately warm into the new series Vikings Netflix: Valhalla. Do not take it wrong. I am all about pulpy, propulsifs see the life of medieval legends such as Leif Eriksson (Sam Cortlett) and Harald Hardrada (Leo Suter). I like to see a handsome actor to go berserk and longships navigate Monstrous Squall. But what gave me a break was the fact that Viking: Valhalla introduced his ferocious tin, freydis Eriksdotter (Frida Gustavsson), as a victim of sexual violence. VIKING: Valhalla suggested that Greenlander and his brother went to Kattegat to track Christian Vikings who raped and tortured him and that was the way they crossed the road with other Viking legends.
I was frustrated that Viking: Valhalla will lean on a tired trop to explain the motivation of a woman solely through sexual violence. Freydis has a personality to be released in Sagas Viking without bringing sexual violence into it. I worry this is considered how Viking: Valhalla will treat the character of women and their sexuality in episodes to come – as victims and objects.
Vikings: Valhalla doesn’t just bite part of Freydis’s story from the start (by letting him kill the rapist, girlboss, kill) but also allows the female character to take control. Roman who developed in Viking: Valhalla was built with mutual respect, which made it hot. VIKING: Valhalla understands that there is nothing more sexy than two strong characters who love and respect the dirt with each other and that is why the sex scene is very steamy.
VIKING: Valhalla is located about a century after the Viking event. This was opened at the Massacre of St. Brice, an event 1003 where English kills Vikings live peacefully on their land. Harald Sigurdsson narrowly escaped from this terrible fate and had taken revenge on English. But when Viking Norwegian and Denmark prepared an English invasion, Greenlander Brother Wreydis and Erik arrived at Kattegate to track Freydis rapists. Literally immediately after Freydis came ashore, he crossed the road with Harald Handsome and two hooks.
Honestly refreshing to see two young blood-blooded vikings cut into pursuit. Instead of being tortured, prolonged “Will they don’t?”, Vikings: Valhalla let two adults agree to have fun, relaxed sex. He was stuck on a small boat for centuries and he was very giving up losing his girlfriend in the massacre. Cabin fever and sadness are two modes that can be helped by a simple sexy romp. VIKING: Valhalla understands this. I enjoy the simplicity!
But Viking: Valhalla also understands romance. (Spoiler for the second half of Vikings: Valhalla Season 1!) Two of my favorite stories in Viking: Valhalla Season 1 is not shy, romance seriously. The first is between Harald and Freydis mentioned above. When they finally reunited later in the series, Harald was clearly amazed by Freydis women in the absence. Freydis, it seems, fascinated by Harald’s optimism in the world where infidels and Christians can be friends. Heat watching casual throws develop into true love.
Just as it was refreshing to see two VIKING connected without drama, it was attractive to watch two strong characters appreciate that they would become stronger together. Emma / Canutut’s relationship is sweet. He used his strength to save his children and he used it cunning to defeat him, eh, another wife to save his fleet. (This is a viking culture. Marriage of Kawal with his first wife was only done well so he could divorce him.)
VIKING: Valhalla can lean into a darker drive, paint viking sexuality images based on rape and looting. Instead, it multiplied on one of the things that made the original Viking very pleasant: a loving depiction of strong-willed women and the people who were both ambitious who loved them. Sex is progressive. Roman built respectfully. Ergo Vikings: Valhalla hot.