How Long Would The Vikings: Valhalla Cast Last As Real-Life Vikings? (Spoiler: Not Long)
It wouldn't be inaccurate to say that most fans of "Vikings: Valhalla" tune in for the adventure and drama of the stories. The Netflix spin-off of History Channel's "Vikings" has gained respectable critical appraisal, and producers are no doubt aware of the balance necessary to pull off a historical drama of this size. After all, this is a series that covers the height of Viking power, reaching not just across Scandinavia but much of Europe and even into North America. Many of its characters, such as Leif Erikson (Sam Corlett) and King Canute (Bradley Freegard), were a key part of this age in history — however fast and loose the script of "Valhalla" ends up playing with the actual events they were involved in.
One aspect that seems to remain true, however, is just how hard and violent life could be during that era. This is the Middle Ages, after all, when conquests were practically an everyday occurrence. And while the cast of "Valhalla" convincingly plays the part of battle-ready Vikings, many convincing acting jobs don't necessarily translate into real life.
Most male cast members believe they would last 'a day or two'
Speaking with "Jake's Takes," most of the cast of "Vikings: Valhalla" seem pretty humbled by the idea of being suddenly dropped into the Middle Ages. "I wouldn't have lasted a day," said Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson, who plays Olaf Haraldson. Jóhannesson hails from Iceland, one of the countries most shaped by the Viking Age, and he is by no means a small man. So for him to say that says quite a bit.
Sam Corlett thinks he might have had a chance, but he qualifies his response by saying he would have survived only if he had found a decidedly non-warrior occupation. "Just going straight from where I am now, I wouldn't have survived long. Unless I kind of found a nook or a cranny being a blacksmith or something. Or a farmer or something." It seems that Corlett believes he would have a longer life relying on the dialogue rather than the action.
Bradley Freegard, meanwhile, is absolutely unequivocal. "No, I don't think anyone would last more than a day or two, to be honest." Freegard elaborated that, being socialized as actors in the 21st century, any kind of assuredness in surviving as a Viking warrior would be precisely what did them in.
So there we have it. Or do we? So far, we've only heard from the men. What do the women of "Vikings: Valhalla" have to say?
The women are a lot more confident
"For me, I realized there is an inner Viking inside me that I was so thankful to finally get to, you know, pull out," replied Frida Gustavsson, who plays Freydis Eriksdottir on the show. The Swedish Gustavsson cited her love of horseback riding, and of sports and physical movement. "And I think I look pretty kick ass in a suit of armor," she continued. "So I think I would survive."
Fellow Swede Caroline Henderson, who played Jarl Estrid Haakon in the first season, seems to be on the same wavelength as Gustavsson and insisted that there was more flexibility in terms of gender roles at that point in time. "If I didn't want to marry, I wouldn't marry, you know? Because of issues with childbirth, and being a woman, you know?" That said, Henderson does specify that she would have had to fight her way through to get to the point where she would be able to chart her own course.
As it turns out, there is at least one male cast member — Leo Suter, who plays Harald Sigurdson — who thinks he would survive, though even keeping his character's evolution in mind, he doesn't give a very convincing case. Meanwhile, David Oakes aka Earl Godwin, thinks he wouldn't survive long simply because others would view him as a threat. Color us unconvinced.