Gearing up for #VIKINGS! Character Discussion: #BJORN to be Wild

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The Shieldmaidens of History (Protecting the Innocent from Anachronisms) welcome you back to our series on the History Channel show Vikings. 

Historical fiction author Sandi Layne is with me again to discuss the historical aspects of the show. Sandi has written her own series on Vikings, both well-written and carefully researched. (You can read my review of the third book in the trilogy, Éire's Devil King, here.)

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Heillir! We—Lissa Bryan and Sandi Layne—are two historical fiction authors with a serious thing for Vikings. And for VIKINGS, the amazing series that is going to begin its fourth season on HISTORY CHANNEL.

Follow us on twitter, #ShieldGeeks, at 8pm Eastern for the next seventeen days as we talk about the main characters of the show, including special features for Thorsdays, er, Thursdays, as well as We Ship It day on the 14th and even a Favorite Dead Character feature.

Then, on February 18th, VIKINGS, Season Four will begin and Sandi and I will be live-tweeting during each episode, as has been our custom since Season One. We’ll follow up with a more detailed discussion on our websites the following day.

We are SO excited! So, Warriors and Shieldmaidens all, get your weapons and armor ready, because it’s going to be an amazing season!

BJÖRN IRONSIDES

Only son of Ragnar Lo∂brok and his wife Lagertha, Björn has grown from an opinionated traditionalist of a boy in the first season of VIKINGS into a man who took an unconventional wife and has met great battles in foreign lands. Played in his adult years by the imposing Alexander Ludwig, he’s a splendid mix of his parents.

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Ludwig has a flare of social networking during the season as well, and clearly gets along well with his onscreen family. He brings attitude as well as dignity to his role, here.

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An accomplished warrior, at this time, Björn is still facing issues that could be distracting. He is bound to be torn in this upcoming season over his loyalties to his parents. He's Lagertha's only heir for her earldom.

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Ragnar has sons with his new wife, Aslaug, to inherit his crown. But would he rather have Björn by his side?

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Björn acquitted himself marvelously in the battle for Paris.

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Björn has been left, too, though he doesn't know it yet. His slave-turned-freedwoman-turned-wife Þórunn was unable to cope with the scars she sustained in battle and the trauma it had caused her. We last see her standing on a ridge, looking back at Kattegat as she leaves - presumably for good.

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How will he direct his steps in the coming season? His father was gravely wounded when we last saw him, but he seemed to lean on Björn at the invasion of Paris.

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Will Björn return to the more traditional views of his own childhood or venture further into new thoughts and ideas?

It will be interesting to follow him as this season of VIKINGS progresses.

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What are your thoughts? Join Sandi and me, Lissa Bryan, tonight as we chat at 8PM EST on Twitter about Björn and what the series might have in store for him. Use the hashtag #ShieldGeeks to join in the fun!