9 TV Shows That Survived Death Of The Main Character

9. Vikings - Ragnar

Ragnar Vikings Death
History

History's Vikings may have a large cast of characters and a broad scope, but for its first four seasons it was all related to the adventures of one man: Ragnar Lothbrok, a legendary Norse hero played here by Travis Fimmel.

Ragnar may have been legendary, but he wasn't immortal, and all the ravaging had to catch up with him eventually. That moment finally came in the Season 4 finale, with Ragnar killed by Aelle, King of Northumbria, much like he supposedly was in real life too. The cause of death was suitably unpleasant, with Ragnar being dropped into a pit of snakes.

Far from being the end point, though, it's a transitional moment, with the torch passing to Ragnar's sons and an exploration of the consequences of their father's death. The show has continued to receive strong reviews and has only suffered a slight dip in the ratings too, with Season 6 already confirmed to be on its way. Ragnar may be gone, but his legacy lives on.

Advertisement
In this post: 
Homeland
 
First Posted On: 
Contributor
Contributor

NCTJ-qualified journalist. Most definitely not a racing driver. Drink too much tea; eat too much peanut butter; watch too much TV. Sadly only the latter paying off so far. A mix of wise-old man in a young man's body with a child-like wonder about him and a great otherworldly sensibility.