"Vikings" season 3 ended with the titular band led by Ragnar Lothbrok (Travis Fimmel) sacking Paris and according to a recent interview by IBTimes, their spoils include the mysterious new character Yidu (Dianne Doan). The report also reveals that she will be Ragnar's new love interest.
Back in July, series creator Michael Hirst revealed to Entertainment Weekly that Ragnar will indeed have a new love interest in season 4, saying, "It's very unexpected. When I first thought of it, I did check with a historical expert that this was a possible connection."
He reiterated this statement during an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.
"Who knew the world was small enough even then for people captured by pirates in the Red Sea might end up in Frankia, and then in Scandinavia?" he said. "But I checked with our historical consultant and he said it's all possible, it's all plausible, it almost certainly happened."
According to the IBTimes, Doan explained that Yidu was captured in the Red Sea and later sold as a slave in Paris. She remained in Paris until the Vikings ransacked the city and took her along with them. In season 4, she will be brought to Kattegat, where she will retain her status as a slave.
However, she attracts the people's attention because she is unlike anything or anyone they have ever seen before. Doan stated that part of her mystery is that she comes from a distant land. During the 2015 San Diego Comic-Con, it was confirmed that she is Chinese.
"The people of Kattegat have never seen someone like her, from her looks, to views on the world and beliefs," Doan told EW.
She also hinted that it may be this mystery surrounding her that brings in Ragnar's interest. She stated that the sickly king — who is rumored to die in season 4 — will be the one to uncover Yidu's past.
"Vikings" season 4 premieres in 2016.
