Ragnar Lothbrok (Vikings)

Ragnar Lothbrok
Vikings character
Carbon drawing of Ragnar
First appearance
"Rites of Passage" (2013)
Last appearance
"All His Angels" (2016)
Created byMichael Hirst
Based onRagnar Lodbrok
Portrayed byTravis Fimmel
In-universe information
AliasKing of the Northmen
Titles
Occupation
  • Farmer
SpousesLagertha (divorced)
Aslaug
Children
Oldest to youngest:
  • Bjorn (son, with Lagertha)
  • Gyda (daughter, with Lagertha)
  • Ubbe (son, with Aslaug)
  • Hvitserk (son, with Aslaug)
  • Sigurd (son, with Aslaug)
  • Ivar (son, with Aslaug)
  • Magnus (son, with Princess Kwenthrith(debated)
Relatives
Closest to furthest:
  • Sigurd Hribg (father)
  • Alfhild Gandolfsdatte (mother)
  • Rollo (brother)
  • William (nephew)
  • Marcellus (nephew)
  • Celsa (niece)
ReligionNorse paganism
OriginKattegat, Norway

Ragnar "Lothbrok" Sigurdsson is a fictional character in the historical drama series Vikings, created by Canadian network History. He is portrayed by Travis Fimmel and is based on Ragnar Lodbrok, a 9th-century Viking farmer and warrior who raided Anglo-Saxon villages in England.

Throughout the first four seasons, Ragnar goes on a journey from being a farmer in his homeland jubilantly, to being a fierce Viking warrior in England and becoming an Earl, to being crowned King of Denmark after the death of King Horik. After his death, the series shifts focus onto his sons.

Development

When the shows creators were looking to cast Ragnar, there were difficulties finding the right actor for his role. The shows producers considered mostly Scandinavian and English actors for the part. In an interview for the series, series creator Michael Hirst said that his wife "wasn't sure about their choice for Ragnar, and convinced him to wait a little longer for the right actor to come along." A few days later, Travis Fimmel sent in his reel, and they decided to cast him for the part.[1]

During development of the series, series creator Michael Hirst originally wanted the series to be a one-off, with only one season airing. The series aimed to end with Ragnar dying after the first season. Hirst said: "When I was writing the show, Ragnar died at the end of season one, But actually when we were making it, I realised by the end of the season we were only on the start of Ragnar's journey."[2] Ragnar would eventually die during the fourth season. Hirst and Fimmel recalled having an argument about the delivery of Ragnar's last speech in "All His Angels". Fimmel initially felt uneasy about it, but he was convinced of its importance and impact on Ragnar's sons, saying: "me and Michael spoke about how the kids will find out what he said. It’s all for them, he doesn’t believe it".[3] Screen Rant commended Hirsts work on adapting Ragnar, saying: "Hirst did an incredible job creating a complex and vibrant character based closely on the historical and mythological stories of Ragnar."[4]

Reception

Ragnar's development throughout the series has received very positive reviews and is seen as the role that launched Travis Fimmel into international recognition.[5] USA Today described Fimmel's performance in Vikings as "engaging", while The Huffington Post called it his "breakout role".[6][7]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Vikings: 10 Things You Didn't Know About Ragnar". Screen Rant. 31 May 2021.
  2. ↑ Miller, Adam (28 July 2020). "Vikings creator reveals Ragnar's original death... In season one". Metro.
  3. ↑ Franich, Darren (December 28, 2016). "Vikings creator and star talk about the shocking 'All His Angels'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  4. ↑ Hughes, Lauren (May 31, 2021). "Vikings: 10 Things You Didn't Know About Ragnar". Screen Rant. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  5. ↑ "The Untold Truth of Travis Fimmel". 24 May 2021.
  6. ↑ Bianco, Robert Vikings takes the pillage, raises it to derring-do USA Today, 26 February 2013
  7. ↑ Callaghan, Greg (6 October 2016). "Vikings star Travis Fimmel: meet the Victorian farm boy dazzling Hollywood". The Sydney Morning Herald.
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