Every Season Of "Vikings," Ranked

Though it may not have held as much cultural significance of Breaking Bad or Game of Thrones within the “Golden Age of Television,” Vikings traded historical accuracy for engaging and unpredictable storylines, shocking violence, and compelling performances that kept viewers returning again and again between 2013 and 2020.

Originally a centerpiece of History’s scripted programming before concluding its run on Amazon Prime Video, Vikings follows the highly fictionalized life and legacy of Ragnar Lothbrok (real name Lodbrok), a legendary Norse viking who became the scourge of both England and France during the 9th century.

MGM Television

The series also features a number of beloved supporting characters within Ragnar’s conquests, including Lagertha, Ragnar’s wife and shieldmaiden; Rollo, Ragnar’s jealous brother; Floki, Ragnar’s eccentric shipbuilder; and Björn, Ragnar’s temperamental son.

Created by Michael Hirst, who previously masterminded Showtime’s acclaimed historical drama The Tudors and wrote both of Shekhar Kapur’s Elizabeth films, Vikings premiered to 6 million viewers back in 2013, and maintained an impressive viewership throughout its 89-episode broadcast history.

MGM Television

The series has also been a critic’s favorite over the years, with 14 Emmy Award nominations, an Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Visual Effects and over 30 additional accolades, including a Satellite Award for Best Drama Television Series in 2018.

Another great aspect of Vikings is that the show remained relatively strong throughout its entire run, with each season bringing forth a unique attitude and plenty of memorable moments.

MGM Television

In fact, Vikings fans often clash about which season was the best, with almost every season having a solid argument for the crown. With that in mind, I’ve decided to revisit Vikings and assemble the definitive ranking to see which season is truly the stuff of legend.

Oh, and in case you’ve yet to venture into the world of Vikings for yourself, beware of spoilers down below.

MGM Television

6.Season 5

MGM Television

After the shocking death of Ragnar (Travis Fimmel) in the latter half of Vikings’ fourth season, the fifth season knew that it would have to set the table for a new era of Vikings that could remain as exciting and bold as previous chapters while forging ahead without its beloved star. In doing so, Vikings decided to double down on its impressive supporting cast, with Katheryn Winnick’s Lagertha, Alexander Ludwig’s Björn, and Gustaf Skarsgård’s Floki holding down the fort as co-leads. The series also shook things up with some high-profile stunt casting, including Hirst’s former Tudors star Jonathan Rhys Meyers as a warrior priest as well as professional wrestler Adam “Edge” Copeland, who played legendary Icelandic warrior Kjetill Flatnose.

Despite their best efforts, Vikings’ fifth season was also their most uneven, as it took some time for the narrative to find its footing and pacing while juggling the various storylines of the new central characters.

MGM Television

Furthermore, some critics took exception with just how far into fantasy the series falls in Season 5 and that some of the newer characters didn’t quite gel with the existing cast. That said, even at its worst, Vikings remained a well-produced spectacle, and it’s particular brand of melodrama was still effective at every turn, especially when the brutal battle sequences took center stage.

5.Season 6

MGM Television

The second and final season in which Ragnar’s absence is felt, Vikings’ sixth outing is largely a showcase for Alexander Ludwig, who is understandably front-and-center in the proceedings alongside Alex Høgh Andersen, Marco Ilsø, and Jordan Patrick Smith, all of whom play Ragnar’s sons vying for power and infamy in their exploits. With Winnick and Skarsgård appearing in a more limited capacity and the addition of Ray Stevenson to the supporting cast, Season 6 of Vikings definitely feels like the end of the road for the series while impressively handling the material with the same weight and emotional maturity as the preceding seasons.

While some may have criticized the slow-burn pace of the series’ final episodes, Vikings' scale throughout the sixth season and stylistic visual choices made this season an improvement over its predecessor.

4.Season 1

MGM Television

In its inaugural season, Vikings set the thrilling template for the historical fiction series, serving as a proper introduction to the cast and environment of the Viking Age. With the always-great Gabriel Byrne cast as Vikings’ first major villain, the nine-episode debut of Vikings helped put most of its up-and-coming performers on the map but also helped redefine the image of History as a cable channel that can produce prestige television with the best of them.

Of course, Vikings’ first season had the Herculean task of setting up the lore and visual aesthetic of the series, and much like Game of Thrones, the series’ exhaustive number of characters all take some time to become familiar to the audience.

MGM Television

But Vikings certainly cemented both its style and substance in its debut chapter and helped transform Travis Fimmel and Katheryn Winnick into stars-to-watch as a result.

3.Season 2

MGM Television

If the first season of Vikings was the series learning to walk, Season 2 was a full-on sprint, as Ragnar’s ascent into political prominence and violent glory ramped up the tension and violence. With a cast feeling more comfortable in their shoes and firing on all cylinders, Vikings further benefited from Michael Hirst’s cinematic voice as the show’s sole screenwriter, as the singular vision for the series helped maintain a tonal continuity enabling each episode’s director to indulge in the visuals of the established universe.

Furthermore, Vikings’ second season was bolstered by the superb supporting cast, including Linus Roache, Donal Logue, and Alyssa Sutherland, and the badass breakout of Katheryn Winnick from surprising standout to fan favorite.

2.Season 4

MGM Television

Fans of Vikings remain divided about the controversial “Ragnar’s Addiction” storyline that ran throughout Season 4, but there’s no denying that some of the best written and most engaging episodes from throughout the entirety of the series came about in this season. Taking a page out of The Walking Dead’s book with split season archetypes that established this season as the longest yet, Vikings' fourth season is among its most visually and narratively ambitious while injecting thought-provoking intrigue in the midst of the dynamic drama.

Of course, Vikings’ fourth season is also a major turning point for the historical drama, as defined by the gradual downfall of Ragnar Lothbrok culminating in arguably the best and most shocking episode of the series, “All His Angels.”

1.Season 3

MGM Television

With some of the series’ best action, writing, and performances, the third season of Vikings stands out as the best that the show has to offer. Anchored by the jaw-dropping siege of Paris in Episode 8, Vikings is consistently exciting from top to bottom in its third chapter, with the ensemble cast playing off one another in a way that feels kinetic and dramatically rich.

From the shocking murder of Athelstan, the maturity of Björn, the affair between King Ecbert and Lagertha, the tragic death of Siggy, and the mystery surrounding Harbard, Vikings keeps its audience on the edge of their seat throughout this season while playing with the preconceived notions of Ragnar’s legend thus far.

Watch Once Upon A Time In Londongrad from BuzzFeed Studios, a new true crime docuseries based on the explosive BuzzFeed News investigation, now streaming on Peacock.