Along with Freydis Eriksdotter (Frida Gustavsson) and Harald Sigurdsson (Leo Suter), Leif Eriksson (Sam Corlett) is one of the main characters in “Vikings: Valhalla,” the Netflix sequel to History Channel’s “Vikings.” The story takes place 100 years after the original series – at the twilight of the Viking Age. Leif Eriksson is based on famous Norse historical explorer Leif Erikson, who is said to be the first person of European descent to reach North America. The sagas of the Icelanders state that Leif created a Norse colony on the North American coast or Vinland. If you’re wondering if he survives the first season of “Vikings: Valhalla,” here’s what you need to know. FRONT SPOILERS.
Does Leif Eriksson die?
No, Leif Eriksson does not die in the first season of “Vikings: Valhalla”. Fate has been a strong motif in both the original series and the sequel. And Leif Eriksson has a great destiny, even if several people reached Vinland 100 years before him in the ‘Vikings’ universe. “Vikings” depicts Ubbe Ragnarsson finding his way to North America and discovering that Floki got there long before he and his companions. It will be interesting to see how ‘Vikings: Valhalla’ addresses this while depicting Leif’s journey.
In Episode 1, Leif arrives in Kattegat from Greenland with his sister Freydis and several companions. After Freydis kills the Christian who raped and branded her, Leif agrees to join King Canute’s invasion of England to protect her sister. He and Freydis are the children of the legendary Erik the Red. As the series progresses, it becomes increasingly apparent that Leif hates his father because of the latter’s almost callous cruelty. And yet, Leif desperately wants to surpass his father’s legacy. In England, he achieves this precisely by playing a central role in the fall of London.
During this campaign, Leif also begins to turn to Christianity after a mystical incident. As he died after an ambush, a young girl appeared before him and placed a cross in his hand, which he says saved his life. After securing his sister’s freedom, Leif returns to Kattegat, only to find himself in the middle of another war. While fighting in England, Freydis became a shield girl for Jarl Haakon (Caroline Henderson) of Kattegat. And now the city faces an imminent attack from the ambitious Olaf Haraldsson and fanatic Jarl Kåre.
In England, Leif knew he was fighting for his sister’s life. However, he struggles to find a purpose for him to be involved in the Kattegat War. His sister and her lover Liv fight for the survival of their faith. But Leif no longer feels any connection to pagan religion. Despite this, he stands by his loved ones. Liv dies in his arms, asking him to promise that he will join her in Valhalla. For Leif, the season ends in cliffhanger.
Shortly after Olaf takes control of Kattegat, he is forced to flee following the arrival of Sweyn Forkbeard. Svein and Harold Harefoot, Forkbeard’s grandchildren and Canute’s children, accompany their grandfather. In the final moments of the season, Svein finds Leif in a shed. The heartbreak brought out the crazy nature that Leif inherited from his father. Leif yells at the boy, terrifying him just before the credits start rolling.
Read more: Vikings: Valhalla Season 1 Ending, Explained
