Vikings: Valhallaexplores a new group of Viking legends 100 years after the conclusion of History’sVikingsseries. The series brings several influential historical figures back to life, including King Canute, Emma of Normandy, Olaf Haraldsson, Freydís Eiríksdóttir, and Harald Sigurdsson. Perhaps most notably among the list of characters is Leif Eriksson.
Leif is a Viking most notoriously known for his expeditions, including the discovery of Vinland. Despite his notoriety, Leif doesn’t have a ton of screen time inVikings: Valhalla’sdebut season, but that is bound to change in season 2. In his time on screen, season 1 did lay tons of groundwork for Leif and what may wait for him in season 2.
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Leif is introduced toVikings: Valhallaen route to Kattegat with his sister, Freydís, and several of their fellow Greenlanders. At first, it seems that Leifand the other Greenlandershave arrived in Kattegat to join the army King Canute is putting together to avenge the St. Brice’s Day Massacre. It is quickly learned that Leif, Freydís, and the other Greenlanders have arrived with a mission of their own: to hunt down the man that assaulted Freydís several years prior. Leif has embarked on this trip not only to help his sister but to escape the suffocating reputation of his father.
Both Leif and Freydís are the children of Erik the Red, a Viking who earned aformidable reputation after being bannedfrom Norway for murder. As his son, Erik’s crimes and reputation loom heavily over Leif during his time in Kattegat, though some admire Leif’s bravery in entering Kattegat despite the fact that his father was banished from Norway and Iceland. Freydís doesn’t hesitate to kill and assert herself, no matter the repercussions. Unlike Freydís and their father, Leif carries himself in a far more relaxed manner, which doesn’t go over well with many of the soldiers in Canute’s army.
Leif does his best to keep his head down, but many people pick fights with him because of his father’s crimes.Even in small fights, Leif demonstrates that he isn’t Erik. He strikes his opponents with the blunt ends of his weapons, limiting the severity of their injuries. Leif’s desire to escape his father’s reputation carries him throughout season 1, and Canute recognizes this in him. After Leif successfully helps Canute destroy the bridge in London, he remarks that Leif will no longer be remembered as someone else’s son. Thosefamiliar with Leif’s historical backgroundknow that Canute’s words are true, as Leif is one of the most well-known and annually celebrated Vikings.
Aside from the struggle Leif experiences because of his father’s reputation, Leif endures another within himself. After Leif is given a cross, he notices small miracles begin to take place around him, leading him to question his Pagan faith. The cross is symbolic for Leif andwhere he is headed in the series. The real Leif Eriksson did convert to Christianity andVikings: Valhallahas done a great job at planting those seeds early on, especially in his growing brotherhood with Harald. Harald explains miracles to Leif and warns him that, “miracles, like deals with the devil, always have strings attached.” By the end of season 1, God’s price appears to have finally been collected.
The success Leif finds in escaping hisfather’s name is short-lived. During Olaf’s invasion of Kattegat, Liv (a fellow Greenlander and Leif’s confidant) is killed. As the only remaining Greenlander (aside from Leif and Freydís) and closeness to Leif, Liv’s death is a price that drives Leif over the edge. When a group of men enters the hut chasing after another woman, Leif snaps and murders them. The act is done out of grief and anger for not only Liv’s death, but of what happened to Freydís many years ago that led them to Kattegat in the first place.The frightening final imageof Leif standing in the hut with blood covering his chest and face suggests that Leif may finally be living up to Erik’s reputation, which he spent the entire season avoiding.
Sweyn Forkbeard’s arrival in Kattegat in the final moments of season 1 may also guarantee a massive shift in Leif in season 2. Leif has demonstrated his usefulness to Sweyn’s son, Canute, meaning Sweyn will likely find the same promise in Leif. The only thing that may interfere with Sweyn’s acceptance of Leif is Erik’s reputation, andin theVikingsuniverse, there could be history between Erik and Sweyn that won’t bode well for Leif. Now that Leif has tapped into a far more violent side of himself, what Sweyn might be able to convince him to do will only drag Leif further down the wrong path.
The ongoing struggles with Leif’s faith, the guilt he feels over the lost lives of his friends, and his newfound violent streak, set up plenty of roads for Leif to take. Now isolated and alone,who he will align himself withmay make all the difference in which path he heads down. Sweyn’s presence in Kattegat likely means Leif’s violent streak is just getting started. His frustration with himself, his faith, and the world, means there will be a new side of Leif in season 2.
