The series introduces us to the brutal and mysterious world of Ragnar Lothbrok, a Viking warrior and farmer who yearns to explore—and raid—the distant shores of the ocean. His ambition puts him at odds with the local chieftain, Earl Haraldson, who insists on sending his raiders to the impoverished East rather than the unknown West. When Ragnar teams up with his shipwright friend Floki to create a new generation of intrepid ships capable of conquering the stormy northern seas, the stage is set for conflict.

But for all its war and bloodshed, Vikings is also a story of family and brotherhood, capturing the love and affection between Ragnar and his wife Lagertha, a fierce warrior. This is the story of Ragnar's brother Rollo, a fierce fighter who seethes with jealousy; about Earl Haraldson's wife Ziggy, a dutiful beauty who may not be very faithful; and about the monk Athelstan, whose Christian morals are at odds with the pagan Viking society. As ambition and innovation rock civilization, these characters will be tested—and their way of life will never be the same.