Vikings’ Rollo Is Returning To Kattegatt For Unexpected Reasons

Of course, his real reason for going back to Kattegatt is very different and personal and private. And it is to do with unfinished business as he sees it in his relationship with Lagertha, So the two things come together, obviously.

That’s right, his relationship with his former sister-in-law is one of Rollo’s true motives. What makes Michael Hirst’s Vikings reveal to TV Guide all the more compelling is that it teases something below the surface. He talks of “unfinished business” between Rollo and Lagertha. What could that possibly entail?

If it is romantic, Rollo and Lagertha have both appeared to move on. Rollo had seemed to pine for Lagertha when she was and was not his brother’s wife. However, that ship seemed to sail long ago. Rollo married Princess Gisla, and Lagertha has found a serious new relationship. The latter romance will apparently be key in Season 5B.

If it is not to renew their relationship, it could be to resolve their past one. We know that Lagertha ended up choosing Ragnar over Rollo before the series began. It is a backstory of a romantic triangle that brought added turbulence to the rivalry between the brothers. What we do not know for certain is how far their relationship went before Lagertha chose Ragnar. It is an aspect that has led to speculation regarding Bjorn’s paternity.

Is that the “unfinished business” Rollo wants to deal with? It would make sense. It would be very different from his public goal of political inroads. Rollo inquiring about Bjorn’s paternity would be as personal and private an issue as Vikings‘ creator hints that Rollo’s is.

There has always been room for this speculation. Besides the timeline, Bjorn and his uncle share their temperaments in common. Lagertha’s son has always possessed an underlying warmth that Rollo has similarly exhibited. Whereas, Ragnar’s disposition always belied a certain coldness and practicality.

Elsewhere in the story, Michael Hirst is quoted as saying that Lagertha will have to face “hard truths” regarding Rollo and her ambition. Did her aspirations to be the wife of a man, as obviously destined for power in Kattegatt as Ragnar, come at Rollo’s expense? As in denying him his biological son?

All of the puzzle pieces seem to line up with this storyline coming into play in Season 5B. Whether the show actually does, will be interesting to learn. So, while we have a big piece of the puzzle, Rollo’s full motivation remains a mystery for now.

It seems like Vikings has been building towards this storyline for a while. After five-and-a-half seasons, one can only hope the connection between Rollo, Lagertha, and Bjorn will finally be addressed.

The second half of Vikings‘ fifth season also known as Season 5B will premiere Wednesday, November 28 at 9 p.m. ET on History. The historical drama is among many shows returning with new seasons this fall and the midseason.