2 Attachment(s)
Vikings: Why Lagertha's Hair Turned White In Season 5
Lagertha didn’t have an easy life, and at the end of season 5a of Vikings, her hair suddenly turned completely white – here’s why. Created by Michael Hirst, Vikings made its debut on History Channel in 2013, and though it was initially planned to be a miniseries, it was so well received it was renewed for a second season. Vikings is now on its sixth and final season, with fans waiting for the final batch of episodes to be released.
Vikings has gone through a lot of changes in six seasons. When the series began, its main focus was Ragnar Lothbrok (Travis Fimmel) and his travels and raids alongside his Viking brothers, but as it progressed, it shifted its focus to Ragnar’s sons and their own journeys. This change eventually made them the new protagonists, as Ragnar’s story came to an end in season 4. Many viewers feel the series’ quality began to decline after Ragnar’s death, but they had one big reason to keep watching: Lagertha (Katheryn Winnick).
The fierce shield-maiden was Queen of Kattegat and Ragnar’s first wife, with whom she had a son, Bjorn Ironside, and a daughter, Gyda. Lagertha was very loving and compassionate, but at the same time, she could be very impulsive and vengeful, especially when it came to defending those around her. Lagertha’s life was tough, and she fought a lot of battles – not only literal battles alongside the Vikings, but also inner ones. These took a toll on her at the end of season 5a, in the episode “Moments of Vision”, where her hair suddenly turned white, which had nothing to do with her aging all of sudden.
Lagertha’s hair went from blonde to white in the blink of an eye as a result of all the stress and the psychological impact the events of the first part of Vikings season 5 had on her. In it, King Harald was held prisoner by Lagertha in Kattegat. Harald tried to form an alliance with her through marriage, but she refused and raped him. Harald was later freed by his men and took Astrid (shield-maiden and Lagertha’s lover) with him. He offered Astrid the same deal, and after refusing a couple of times, she eventually agreed and they got married. Meanwhile, Lagertha and Ubbe formed an alliance against Ivar and Harald, and through a fisherman bribed by Astrid, she learned when they were planning to attack. Lagertha’s side won the first engagement against Ivar and Harald’s forces, but they were defeated after the intervention of Rollo and his troops. During the battle, Lagertha confronted Astrid, who told her she was pregnant. Astrid then forced Lagertha to kill her, and died in the arms of her former lover. After the battle, Bjorn found Lagertha broken and with her hair completely white.
What happened to Lagertha is known as Marie Antoinette syndrome, a condition in which the hair turns white as a result of high levels of emotional stress. While many fans believed Lagertha’s white hair was a way of showing the passing of time and how the character had aged (although physically she still looked the same), it was actually a result of all the traumatic events she went through: the battle against Ivar and Harald, their defeat, and Astrid’s death.
