Season 1 of Vikings left many unresolved issues and cliffhangers—would Rollo really fight against his brother Ragnar? What will result from Ragnar’s night of passion with Princess Aslaug? Can his marriage to Lagertha survive both his infidelity and the death of their daughter Gyda? In Season 2, these issues are resolved in dramatic and often unexpected ways.

At its heart, Vikings remains a family saga, following the fortunes of Ragnar, his extended family and the people he represents now that he is an earl. Ragnar’s own desire to sail west, to explore new kingdoms, in alliance with King Horik, leads to a storm-tossed landing on the coast of Wessex, an important Saxon kingdom ruled by a king not unlike Ragnar.

Season 2 is all about crises: of faith, of power and of relationships. Kingdoms are at stake. Lives are at stake. Love is at stake. And all under the watchful eyes of the gods.