Astrid, Vikings
Astrid (Josefin Asplund)
In the mid-season finale of Vikings season 4 there was a time jump of 10 years. Promo pics and trailers revealed regular character Lagertha had a new lover, Astrid. Katheryn Winnick, who plays Lagertha, revealed in an interview they had been together 6-7 years. On the show in the second half of season 4, the relationship was heavily downplayed.
Episode 4×11, the mid-season premiere, had a sex scene between Lagertha and Astrid that was cut from the version that aired in the US. The US version only showed the two of them kissing and then jumped over the sex scene. In contrast, none of the show’s heterosexual sex scenes were cut from the US version. Lagertha and Astrid’s relationship was limited to a few interactions, with Lagertha treating Astrid like any shieldmaiden. Lagertha took Torvi, her son Björn’s wife, as a second-in-command and Astrid as third-in-command.
In episode 4×18, Torvi became Lagertha and Astrid’s lover, as all three were shown in the same bed. The same episode, Astrid had sex with Björn, and it was implied it was not the first time, rather an on-going occurrence. Lagertha seemed to be aware of the affair, and when Astrid came to their bed after having sex with Björn she commented that hopefully it was enjoyable as otherwise it was not worth it.
Season 5
The show was renewed for season 5, to start airing fall 2017.
Female love interests:
- Lagertha (Katheryn Winnick, bisexual, regular)
Relationship story arc with a woman: Yes
Male love interests:
- Björn "Ironside" Ragnarsson (Alexander Ludwig, regular)
Relationship story arc with a man: Yes
Filter Relationship Arc:
Storyline during sweeps? No
[1] A relationship story arc is defined as explicit, developed on screen, and lasting more than 3 episodes. It is listed as questionable or subtext if romance is only implied, mentioned instead of shown on screen, part of a dream sequence, or otherwise not explicit for the viewer.
[2] Sweeps episodes air in February, May, July and November, the periods when advertising rates are set. A character is marked as "sweeps" when there is a very limited number of episodes that address their sexuality, all air during sweeps period, and the storyline is otherwise ignore/dropped.
Quotes
How did this relationship with Astrid come about? Lagertha didn’t just wake up one day and decide to be a lesbian, did she? Lagertha has been betrayed by so many men throughout her life. Obviously, Ragnar cheated on her and asked her to be a second wife. Her second husband was abusive. Then Kalf, who she groomed to be a leader, tried to usurp her own rule. She had to kill him on their wedding day. So her relationship with men [wasn’t great]. I’m not sure she will ever trust a man again. So it did make sense that she would find comfort in another human being and that that human being happened to be a woman. I don’t feel that Lagertha necessarily is a lesbian; I never played it that way. But she did find a love with Astrid that men have never been able to give her.
— Out, Katheryn Winnick, actress, Lagertha.
Katheryn Winnick
November 23, 2016
The time jump at the end of the first part of Season 4 was about 10 years. How long have they been together when we return for the new episodes? Their relationship has been more than six or seven years. Astrid is considerably different and brings a breath of fresh air to Lagertha’s life. Josefin has a lot of humor and wit and that’s evident in [the way she plays] her character. Her sense of style and…the way she deals with Lagertha is unique, and that was really a lot of fun to play [opposite Josefin]. I think you’re going to like that relationship. Lagertha definitely grooms her to be the warrior that she is. It was nice to see that it’s not, ‘Oh, here are two women who are in bed together.’ Their strong bond is not necessarily the sexual part of a relationship, but more of an emotional bond. It’s really beautiful to see.
— Out, Katheryn Winnick, actress, Lagertha.
Katheryn Winnick
November 23, 2016
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