How Bjorn Fulfills The Seer's Prophecy In Vikings Season 6, Part 2

Since it began in 2013, History's Norse epic Vikings has done excellent job of intertwining true historical accounts with a fictional story to create some truly gripping television. Evidently, their unique approach paid off, as Vikings managed to dominate the airwaves for seven years across six seasons and over 89 episodes dramatic pagan slaughter. However, all good things must come to an end, and on December 30, 2020, the show finally bid farewell to its legions of devoted fans when its final 10 installments dropped on Amazon Prime Video.

The bulk of Vikings' run followed the exploits of Ragnar Lothbrok (Travis Fimmel), but his death via innumerable snake bites in season 4 left some big shoes to fill for the home stretch. As a result, his son, Bjorn Ironside (Alexander Ludwig), took the spotlight and immediately proved himself a worthy replacement for his late father. While his character is questionable at best and oftentimes repugnant at worst, it's indisputable that Bjorn's reign over Kattegat was highly effective, on the whole. In fact, his many positive strides as king turned out to prove the deformed Seer's (John Kavanagh) cryptic prophecy correct.

In the second episode of Vikings' second season, "Invasion," Ragnar consults the Seer about the fate of his three sons once they grow into adulthood. When it comes to Bjorn's future, the old soothsayer explains to Ragnar that he'd "be spoken of as long as men have tongues to speak" and that Bjorn would surpass the status of his father without question. For years, fans had to sit and ponder that proposition, wondering if it would come true and how, until season 6 — and Bjorn's life — drew to a close. It's evident in retrospect that he deserved more lasting praise than Ragnar for his impressive accomplishments.

Once Bjorn matured and sat on the throne of Kattegat, he wasted little time asserting himself as an effective leader. He expanded trade in the region, built up the kingdom's defenses, and never turned away from his people in their hour of need. He made it clear that he wanted to leave his mark as a strong ruler, unlike his father, who often drifted from his kingly duties and left the masses to fend for themselves in his absence. At the end of the day, Ragnar considered himself a farmer, and he proved a successful raider, but wasn't cut out to actually perform the mundane duties of rule. Bjorn surpassed him in that arena by a mile, becoming the king Kattegat deserved a generation earlier and earning his spot as someone future generations will recognize and revere, just as the Seer proclaimed.