After a time jump, what will the fallen king do next?
Vikingsreturns tonight at the dawn of a new era for Ragnar Lothbrok and his kin.
The midseason finale jumped forward in time several years.
Credit: Jonathan Hession/History
Ragnar has returned to Kattegat, an old man left behind by history.
His sons are grown men now, preparing to set off on their own legendary adventures.
Whats ahead for the Northmen?
We got on the phone withVikingscreator Michael Hirst to talk about what comes next.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Youve always said thatVikingsisnt just Ragnars story, but the saga of Ragnar and his sons.
Did you always envision the time jump occurring in the middle of the fourth season?
MICHAEL HIRST:Historically speaking, you make the cut between seasons, which I didnt want to do.
We didnt do it before when Bjorn grew up, we did it during the season.
Ive wanted to do that again, because it seemed to be bolder, and somehow not cheating.
And it was a perfect moment do to the cut.
But because Ragnar was so famous, that couldnt happen.
So hes kind of left a town in a vacuum, a throne in a vacuum.
He probably never intended to come back, because of the shame attached to him.
But he has two reasons to come back.
One is: We know he cared deeply about his sons.
And he has unfinished business in Wessex.
We saw in the midseason finale that Kattegat has grown in Ragnars absence.
How has Viking society changed when we return for the new episodes?
Obviously, you dont do that in fantasy, because everything stays the same.
Its a very volatile, very changeable world.
Weve come a long way from when we first saw Ragnar as a farmer.
Ragnar was a farmer.
He started with a very low position.
He had to fight his earls for some independence to get anything.
His sons are privileged members of a society that is growing in power.
His sons have grown up with a sense, in some ways, of privilege.
All this is up for grabs.
Theres been a step change from theVikingsworld weve known up to now.
These people are more powerful.
Theyve discovered some of their own power.
They talk as kings, not farmers.
We rana clip from the premierea couple weeks ago that showed Ragnar apparently trying to take his own life.
Whats going through his mind in that moment?
Given his troubled religious background, does he still believe that any afterlife is awaiting him?
I think this is one of the few occasions when pagan religion and Catholicism are as one.
Its very hard for him to recruit people to go with him.
Viking leaders have an aura about them, of success.
When he loses that, theres a big superstition about the gods having turned away from him.
Some of the most moving scenes [in the new season] are when hes with Lagertha and Floki.
And people, of course, have moved on.
Peoples lives have changed.
He cant just walk in and expect that everyone will just pick up the reins.
Theres a huge reverence still, I think, but he has the smell of defeat about him.
Is there a scene from the new season that was especially exciting to write?
No regrets, but every regret.
I felt that for him.
I could feel that on my own pulse.
Vikingsairs Wednesdays at 9 p.m.
