"Vikings" season 3 premiere episode airs today. The new season of the History Channel original drama series will see the lead characters explore more of Europe.
The new season will also tell the story of Bjorn Ironside (Alexander Ludwig) growing into a full pledged warrior and Katheryn Winnick's Lagertha becoming one of the best fighters in Ragnar Lothbrok's fleet.
While Ragnar's team continue their quest to conquer more land, he will face one major obstacle. Not on the territories they will set a foot on but from one man sitting right on their ship.
Athelstan (George Blagden), the Anglo-Saxon monk who Ragnar and his team taken as their hostage will face a major dilemma regarding his loyalty. Blagden started as a slave, but eventually developed a friendship with his captor Ragnar. This is something that will continue to confuse him as the new season goes along.
Ahead of the "Vikings" season 3 premiere episode, Blagden sat down with the Toronto Sun for an interview regarding his show.
"Yeah, like you say, it's a massive case of Stockholm syndrome," said Blagden when asked about Althestan's torn view of Ragnar. "And it goes the other way as well, with Athelstan and King Ecbert (Linus Roache)."
Blagden also teased that in "Vikings" season 3 premiere episode, Athelstan will meet the king he formerly served and that will not help him as many things in his way of living have changed.
"So we see Athelstan start season three finding Ecbert again in Wessex, and it takes all of 10 minutes for Ecbert to try and convince Athelstan to feel comfortable there again," Blagden said.
"(Ecbert) hands (Athelstan) a cross, and Athelstan is easily led, maybe. He's kind of aware of the men in this show who have allowed him to survive, meaning Ecbert and Ragnar."
Blagden also explained that the Ragnar and Ecbert are on a tug-of-war over Athelstan because they are aware that his character's intelligence will be a great asset for them in their respective quests.
"Ecbert and Ragnar are both curious about Athelstan because he's so complex," Blagden said. "He has a lot to offer them in terms of information and knowledge. He's kind of a bridge between these two worlds. It's a very unique position that he holds."
"Vikings" season 3 trailer:
