The ebb and flow of characters from History Channel's Vikings moves like the ocean waves. They become larger, gaining power and motion only to cease to exist by the time they hit the shore. Many of the original cast on Vikings that made the show what it is today or no longer prominent figures in each episode, if at all.
While that isn't necessarily a bad thing as specific story arcs demand preferences on either newer or lesser characters, at least, for a specific time. However, going into its last season there are still a few characters that are coming to shore like a tsunami and others who broke apart halfway there. Let us see which Vikings character becomes stronger with time and others who faded away into obscurity.
Better: Bjorn
The oldest son of Ragnar comes into his own after the death of his father. In earlier seasons, the show tried to build him up as a massive character but it never really felt like he was as important as they were making him out to be.
However, as the show's run comes to an end, Bjorn has stepped up his game, taking the reins of a series that was desperately missing its original titular character, Ragnar. While many of the older characters have taken a backseat for the newer cast, Bjorn has continued to be a mainstay.
Worse: Torvi
Torvi started as a background character in the first few seasons, slowly rose to a main character, only to then return to her original state. When Bjorn and Torvi got together it looked like a special relationship, a relationship that could be compared to Ragnar and Lagertha.
However, a season later, Bjorn drops her for another and Torvi's character was placed on the back burner. She is now playing second fiddle to Ubbe for when he needs a shoulder to cry on. Which is a shame, since Torvi adds value to the overall plot.
Better: Ubbe
When Ubbe was first introduced, he was received as just another one of Ragnar's sons. Unlike Bjorn, It was hard for any of the newer sons to find their place within the main cast. Though, since then, Ubbe has become a fan favorite in the anti-Ivar faction.
Separating himself from his other brothers and slowly maturing to be Bjorn's equal. Now that Vikings is in its final season, Ubbe is set to play a vital role in the battles to come, allowing him to be the face of the show.
Worse: Athelstan
Athelstan was a complicated figure, playing a convoluted role in the overall arching storyline. During most of his time on the show, he was in a constant upward projection but then just as quickly as his rise, his fall was just as swift. His character stagnated, growing boring and unoriginal.
By the time of his death, the expiration date on his journey had long since expired. The relationships and odd obsessions Athelstan had accumulated with various other characters created a strange dynamic that made his character haunt the show long after his ing.
Better: Harald
Harald, King of Svealand, was a character that wanted to be King of Norway but even in his honest boasting of what he wanted to accomplish, Ragnar didn't take him as a serious threat. Yet, as the last season rolls around, Harald has proven himself a worthy adversary and a threat to Kattegat.
His rivalry and love for his brother were similar to that of Rollo and Ragnar's relationship. Though, unlike them, Harald was willing to kill his brother to free himself from the love that was holding him back.
Worse: Floki
Floki's religious zeal and friendship with Ragnar were so intertwined that after Ragnar's death, his character resembles a boat without a paddle. Forever drifting, without ever truly landing at its destination.
His quest to inhabit Iceland, while bold, is just boring. Partly because Floki's zealotry alone can't progress him forward on his journey. Becoming a cult leader made his story tedious and stale. He no longer feels like a prophet as he descends into suicidal madness. His mission is without heart as he has become nothing more than an empty shell of his former self.
Better: Lagertha
Lagertha might have been a woman scorned after Ragnar cheated on and left her for Aslaug but, in doing so, he helped her find her destiny, along with her place in the world.
Whether it was plundering Paris, acquiring an earldom or taking back her beloved Kattegat, Lagertha went from being a simple farmer to a warrior queen, before ending her life as a legend among her people. While other characters performed strongly in specific story arcs, Lagertha proved to be the only enduring figure that was constantly on a projection upward.
Worse: Aslaug
Like Lagertha, Aslaug also felt rejected by Ragnar. However, unlike, Lagertha, Aslaug never made strides as a character. She peaked in season 3 with her affair with the mysterious wanderer Harbard but, once that story arc was over, she became more of a side character than a main one.
The only defining aspect about her character was her love for her son, Ivar. Which was only touched on, but didn't receive much airtime. Although, her bad parenting off-screen did play a vital role in Ragnar's sons' relationship with each other but, by then, she was already deceased.
Better: Ivar
From the time Ivar was introduced it was obvious that there was going to be something unique and special about what he provided to the show. Unlike so many other past main characters on Vikings, Ivar never slowed down nor did he get caught up in bad plot decisions or overly complicated schemes.
His motivation was clear from the beginning and he never wavered from his goals. His character will remain at the forefront of the show's cast and will stay there until the show's final credits. Ivar didn't just acquire his role as main antagonist, he earned it.
Worse: Ragnar
When fans look back on Ragnar's journey, they will notice that it peaked in season 1, stayed afloat in season 2 and then crash-landed back to earth in season 3. The writers of Vikings never really knew what to do with his character once he achieved legendary status, nor did they explain his motivation for doing so. Power? Many Sons? Exploration?
The answer to this burning question was never explained. Add that with the season where he was a drug addict and many will find that their beloved Ragnar lacked the depth that fans were sure he had.