Seven Years Later is the first episode in the third season of Vikings: Valhalla, and seventeenth episode overall. It aired on July 11, 2024.
Synopsis[]
Harald and Leif help Romanos lay siege at Syracuse. Canute travels to Rome to meet with the Pope. A new arrival in Jomsborg catches Freydis' eye.
Recap[]
It has been seven years and Freydis is leading Jomsborg. The community is thriving. Áki and his crew are back from a trading trip to Kattegat. Freydis asks him for any news about Harald or Leif. Áki tells her there are only rumors that they are fighting in Greece or Africa.
Harald, Leif, and their friends are in Sicily, at the Saracen fortress of Syracuse. For the past six months the Byzantine army has been laying siege to the city. Harald is fighting with the Byzantine army, led by General George Maniakes. Emperor Romanos has arrived at the siege camp to see how things are going, and he is not pleased. The emperor wants to end the siege, but Maniakes thinks they are close to victory. Harald tells Romanos his Varangians, the 700 Vikings and mercenaries he leads, can take Syracuse for him.
At the Varangian camp, Leif and Dorn are talking in Leif’s tent when Harald returns from Romanos’ tent. Harald tells them that they are going to take the fort. Leif shows him the tunnels they have been digging under the Saracen wall that will let them break into the fortress. There’s a secret tunnel that branches off from the main tunnel where explosives have been placed. Harald is confused as to how they can light the charges and get clear of the explosion. Leif tells Harald they won’t have to light them.
At Jombsborg, the guards surprise a traveling healer named Stigg. Freydis stops the guards from killing him. She’s impressed with his fighting style and techniques and insists he teach her. She grants him permission to stay in Jomsborg in exchange for helping the community. He quickly gets to work. He tells Freydis about his life. She then asks Stigg to teach her son Harald how to fight. Later, Freydis presides over the wedding of Hrefna and Kolr. All of Jomsborg celebrates with a feast. Freydis and Stigg spend the night together.
King Canute, Queen Emma, and Godwin have arrived in Rome to try and make a deal with Pope John XIX. Canute is unhappy and offended that he must go through the Cardinal instead of speaking directly to the Pope, and that he has to kiss the ring of the Pope. Canute offends the Pope and the Cardinal, and the deal is called off. Godwin goes to the Cardinal and bribes him to get the deal back on the table. Emma counsels Canute that they need the support of the Church so they must do what is necessary. Godwin arrives and tells them that he’s solved the problem. Emma doesn’t think a bribe is a long-term solution, but Godwin doesn’t listen to her.
Leif and Harald talk about what they will do after they sack Syracuse. Leif wants the contents of the library. He has been gathering maps, books, and any type of knowledge that he can. Harald wants gold so he can go back to Norway and claim his birthright as king.
Maniakes goes to Emperor Romanos to try and convince him not to support Harald and Leif’s plan, but Romanos won’t change his mind. Harald and Leif get the Varangians ready to attack the fortress. The Emir of the Syracuse waits, knowing the Byzantines have been tunneling under the city wall. The Saracen forces have also been digging from their side. They dump oil into the tunnel dug by the Varagians. Leif and Harald knew this was the Saracens’ plan. Harald gives an inspirational and rousing speech. When the Saracens light the oil on fire, the Varagians run for the main fortress wall. They take a path directly above the second tunnel where they have placed explosives. The oil pours into the second tunnel and sets off the explosives. A section of the main gate collapses, allowing the Varangians to stream into the citadel. Emperor Romanos’ army follows close behind the Varangians. The Emir is forced to retreat into the castle as fighting beings. Leif, Harald, and Dorn fight their way through armies and enter the castle to claim their prizes.
Cast[]
Starring[]
- Sam Corlett as Leif Eriksson
- Frida Gustavsson as Freydís Eiríksdóttir
- Leo Suter as Harald Sigurdsson
- Bradley Freegard as King Canute
- Laura Berlin as Queen Emma
- David Oakes as Earl Godwin
Guest Starring[]
- Nikolai Kinski as Emperor Romanos
- Eoghain Francis Kiernan as Áki
- Jade O'Connor as Gunn
- Christian Vit as The Emir
- Ciaran McMahon as Hamundr
- Paul Ward as Pope John XIX
- Cosimo Fusco as The Cardinal
- Sharon McCoy as Skögul
Additional Cast[]
- Florian Munteanu as George Maniakes
- Amalia Holm as Hrefna
- Leander Vyvey as Stigg
- Luke Harmon as Harald Haraldsson
- Patrick Loftus as Kolr
- Ahd Tamimi as Saracen General
- Konstantinos Kavakiotis as Advisor to Maniakes
- Eleanor McLynn as Dorn
- Taylor James as Batu
- Kayode Akineyemi as Kaysan
- Conor Hegarty as Jomsviking #1
- Christopher Rygh as Agnarr
- Federico Pedroni as Vatican Priest
- Aoibhinn McGinnity as Valgerda
- Deirdre Donnelly as Elder Leader
- Margarita Grillis as Bekkhild
- Laoise Sweeney as Hervör
Deaths[]
Trivia[]
- The episode is dedicated to Executive Producer James Flynn, who died February 11, 2023 due to an illness.
Gallery[]
