‘Vikings’ Season 4: Ragnar Will Be Captivated By An Oriental Slave

In History Channel’s Vikings, Ragnar Lothbrok (played by Travis Fimmel) has had his share of complicated women. First, in Season 1 of Vikings, there was Lagertha (Katheryn Winnick), who is as stubborn as Ragnar and can wield a sword just as well as the king of the vikings. Then followed Princess Aslaug (Alyssa Sutherland), his latest wife who has bore him the many sons he yearned for yet gave him none of the passion his first wife could. Finally, in Season 3, Vikings fans saw Ragnar have a tryst with the English (and slightly unhinged) Princess Kwenthrith (Amy Bailey). Yet, with Season 4 of Vikings, it looks like there will be another woman to woo the viking.

For all his past romantic encounters in Vikings, Ragnar has always been involved with women in power. This time around, however, the ailing king of the vikings will come into contact with a slave called Yidu (Dianne Doan) who will intrigue him.

Caught in the Red Sea then brought to Paris as a slave, Yidu remained there until Season 3 of Vikings saw Ragnar’s group overrun the city. Yidu will then be claimed by the vikings and return to Kattegat with them in Season 4. It will be here that Ragnar’s interest in her will start. As we know from previous seasons of Vikings, Ragnar has a very broad viewpoint of the world around him and is always wanting to learn and explore his boundaries. As Dianne Doan points out to the International Business Times, “The people of Kattegat have never seen someone like her, from her looks, to views on the world and beliefs.” She also hints at some “dark topics and circumstances” that will come to the surface as Ragnar delves into Yidu’s past in Season 4 of Vikings.

While it is unexpected to find a person of Asian descent turn up in a show like Vikings, show creator, Michael Hirst points out to The Hollywood Reporter that this new story arc is based in historical evidence.

“Who knew the world was small enough even then for people captured by pirates in the red sea might to end up in Frankia, and then in Scandinavia? But I checked with our historical consultant and he said it’s all possible, it’s all plausible, it almost certainly happened.”

He also hints at another possible encounter that would seem strange in the historical world of Vikings.

“I can’t really go into details, but I think we can top it. It will be a different kind of encounter, something we haven’t seen before. Something that’s historically accurate but that we simply haven’t featured on the show so far. People can expect to be amazed at what takes shape when Ragnar returns to Paris.”

While this statement may also relate to Yidu’s story line, Hirst did not directly link the two statements, so Vikings fans will have to tune into Season 4 to find out.

This will not be the first time Ragnar Lothbrok is intrigued by a slave in Vikings. Ragnar became close friends with Athelstan (George Blagden), a priest who was captured in Season 1 of Vikings.

Season 4 of Vikings will premiere on the History Channel in 2016. As reported earlier, Vikings will run for an extended season.

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[Image credit: History Channel, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc.]