ODIN’S WRATH UNLEASHED: RAGNAR, FLOKI, AND ATHELSTAN RETURN IN NETFLIX’S ‘THE RAVEN’S OATH’
By Freya Lindström | June 17, 2025
In a thunderous return that has reignited the flames of Norse mythology in modern television, Netflix has officially announced its newest high-budget epic: The Raven’s Oath. Set for a fall 2025 global release, the series marks the astonishing return of three legendary characters from the Vikings universe—Ragnar Lothbrok, Floki Vilgerðarson, and Athelstan of Lindisfarne.
Fans of the original Vikings series, which aired from 2013 to 2020, are reeling with excitement as this surprise sequel promises to blend myth, prophecy, and history into a brooding and action-packed odyssey never before seen on television.
The Return of Legends
For years, the deaths of Ragnar (played by Travis Fimmel), Floki (Gustaf Skarsgård), and Athelstan (George Blagden) were considered among the most iconic—and heartbreaking—moments in television drama. Their arcs defined the soul of Vikings, intertwining faith, identity, war, and destiny.
But in The Raven’s Oath, death is no longer the end.
The new series takes a supernatural twist: after centuries trapped in the underworld, Ragnar is resurrected by Odin to fulfill an ancient prophecy. The gods of Asgard are crumbling, their influence on Midgard (Earth) fading as mankind forgets them. Chaos spreads across the realms. Odin chooses Ragnar to reclaim the balance, setting off a chain of cosmic events.
Floki, lost in the caves of Iceland and presumed dead, emerges as a mad prophet—a man who has glimpsed the gods and returned bearing terrible visions. Athelstan, once torn between Christianity and Norse belief, is caught in a liminal space between the afterlife and Earth, now forced to walk both worlds as a divine envoy.
Together, they must navigate broken oaths, rising warlords, the wrath of forsaken gods, and a world teetering between myth and oblivion.
The Raven’s Oath: What We Know So Far
Netflix has confirmed that The Raven’s Oath will be a limited series with 8 hour-long episodes, produced by Jeb Stuart (creator of Vikings: Valhalla) and Michael Hirst, the original showrunner of Vikings. Filming wrapped in early May 2025 in Iceland and Norway, utilizing vast natural landscapes and cutting-edge CGI to bring Asgard and the Nine Realms to life.
The show is said to explore deeper mythological themes than its predecessor, integrating Norse cosmology, runic prophecies, and the complex relationships between gods and mortals. According to Netflix insiders, The Raven’s Oath is “grittier, darker, and more spiritual,” focusing on what happens when ancient gods re-enter a world that has forgotten them.
The first trailer, released online yesterday, features the chilling voice of Odin whispering:
“You have not been forgotten, Ragnar. You have only been sleeping. Wake… for the oath has been broken.”
In one sequence, Ragnar emerges from a blood-drenched fjord; in another, Floki carves runes into stone with bloodied hands, laughing as lightning crashes above. Athelstan walks barefoot across a burning battlefield, holding both a cross and Thor’s hammer.
Fan Reaction and Hype
Fans of the Vikings universe immediately took to social media after the announcement, with hashtags like #RagnarsReturn, #TheRavensOath, and #FlokiLives trending across platforms.
One fan tweeted:
“Just when I thought Ragnar’s story was over, Netflix pulls a resurrection from Odin himself. I’m not ready!”
Reddit exploded with theories about how Ragnar escaped Valhalla, whether Athelstan will become a bridge between Christianity and Norse myth, and what Floki’s true role might be as a prophet or pawn of the gods.
Critics and commentators also praised Netflix’s boldness in revisiting a completed saga with a fresh, mythological twist. “It’s not just fan service—it’s a reinvention,” said Norse historian Dr. Elin Strand in a BBC interview. “They’re weaving legend with philosophy, history with theology. It’s ambitious.”
A New Chapter in Norse Storytelling
The Raven’s Oath is more than a sequel. It’s a mythological resurrection—an invitation to dive into a world where the lines between gods and men blur, and destiny is as cold and sharp as a Viking sword.
With Netflix betting big on historical-fantasy drama following the success of The Witcher and Vikings: Valhalla, this new series could redefine Norse epics for the modern era. Early buzz suggests it may even surpass the original in scale, ambition, and emotional depth.
As Odin’s raven flies once more, fans everywhere prepare for the storm.
‘The Raven’s Oath’ premieres exclusively on Netflix in October 2025.
Valhalla waits…
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