Gearing up for #VIKINGS ! Character Discussion: #HELGA

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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!

HELGA

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Played by the beautiful Maude Hirst, Helga is  a woman with a possible prophetic bent as well as a deep connection to the old traditions of her people.

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When we met her in the first season, she seemed to be nine parts flower child, one part seer.

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Her devotion to Floki was absolute; her trust total.

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They lived out of the village proper, up in a mountain hideaway, it seemed, and Helga made it beautiful.

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Future seasons showed her growing more involved with the villagers and even Princess Aslaug. Eventually, Helga and Floki had a charming wedding made notable by the profusion of flower garlands and the absence of Ragnar.

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Now a wife and mother, Helga has had to confront the fact that her beloved Floki has gone too far when he killed Athelstan.

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As last season ended, it seemed that Helga and Floki were not simpatico. Indeed, she’d walked away from him more than once as he tried in vain to justify his actions.

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Where will Season Four take Helga? Though seeming fragile initially, she is quite strong and capable of standing on her own. Will she have to?

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