Historical fiction adventure series Vikings: Valhalla debuts Feb. 25 on Netflix, bringing the stories of some of the most famous Vikings to the screen. While the series is a follow-up to the History Channel hit Vikings, this is a brand new show perfectly suited for new and old viewers alike. You don't need to know anything about these fearsome warriors in order to watch the drama, but you might have some questions about what to expect. Read on for a primer on Vikings: Valhalla, including who the series follows and what Valhalla even is, anyway.

A New Era Featurette | Vikings: Valhalla

Do you need to have watched the original Vikings series to understand Vikings: Valhalla? This is an easy no. Not at all! Vikings: Valhalla is a new series, not a sequel, with a fresh storyline different than the History Channel series. While the show includes references to powerful Vikings past — Ragnar Lothbrok, former leader of Kattegat, and his first wife Lagertha, both of whom were major figures in Vikings — you get all the context you need from the new show itself. As one character notes in an early episode, "We are humbled and inspired by their legacy, but now is time to make our own history."

When and where does Valhalla take place?  Our story begins more than a thousand years ago, in the early 11th century, when tension between the Vikings and the English has reached a boiling point. Bloodshed is imminent, but which group will prevail? There's also internal conflict among the Vikings over pagan and Christian beliefs. The series documents these warriors on battlefields from the (fictional) Danish settlement Kattegat to England and beyond.

Which characters do we follow? Our heroes are Leif Eriksson (Sam Corlett), the most famous Viking explorer in history; his strong-willed sister, Freydís Eiríksdóttir (Frida Gustavsson), who has her own mythology and backstory; and Harald Sigurdsson (Leo Suter), the ambitious prince of Norway. 

PATRICK REDMOND/NETFLIX

Are they based on real people?  Absolutely — but some characters are composites of several real people, and some have been moved around in time. Others, like Kattegat ruler Jarl Estrid Haakon (Caroline Henderson), are invented for the series. (Though that character’s husband, Haakon Sigurdsson, is a real person.) Remember… this is historical fiction, people. That means some plotlines and characters have been altered to make for a great show, but much of it is based in fact, including the minute details of costumes, sets and weapons. The Vikings didn’t have a written language, so much of their world is up for interpretation. But many of the events and characters in the series are real, including those that seem to be made up, like the aptly named Forkbeard.  

What is Valhalla?  In Norse mythology, Valhalla is the place where slain soldiers are sent. Literally "hall of the slain" in Old Norse, it's located in the god's realm of Asgard — there, the soldiers help Odin during Ragnarök, the catastrophic event that leads to the world's rebirth.

Where is Vikings: Valhalla filmed? Like the first series, Valhalla was filmed in beautiful Ireland.

BERNARD WALSH/NETFLIX

Who is Leif Eriksson? Leif and his sister Freydís were both the children of Erik the Red, who founded the first European settlement in Greenland. Leif was supposedly the first European explorer to reach North America, landing on the eastern coast of Canada.

Want to learn more about Vikings and the cast who brought them to life? Check out all of Tudum’s Vikings: Valhalla coverage:

How ‘Vikings: Valhalla’ Star Caroline Henderson Saw Herself in a Warrior Queen

Where Do You Pee on a Viking Ship? An Archaeologist Answers Your Boat Questions

‘Vikings: Valhalla’ Creator Jeb Stuart Reveals the Nordic Raiders’ Real History

Sam Corlett on Scrunchies, Surfing and Spirituality in ‘Vikings: Valhalla’

How ‘Vikings: Valhalla’ Star Leo Suter Transformed into a Warrior 

Why We Can’t Stop Thinking about the Hair in ‘Vikings: Valhalla’

Frida Gustavsson Has a 1,000-Year-Old Viking Spirit Living Inside Her

Were Women Really Viking Warriors?

Meet the Historic Monarchs and Warriors of ‘Vikings: Valhalla’

How Historically Accurate are the Battles in ‘Vikings: Valhalla’?

Who Were the Tripped-Out, Nearly Naked Berserkers?

‘Vikings: Valhalla’ Creator Jeb Stuart Reveals the Nordic Raiders’ Real History

Everything You Need to Know About ‘Vikings: Valhalla’

Try a ‘Vikings: Valhalla’-Inspired Everything Bagel Smoked Fish Spread 

Freydis Screaming for 49 Seconds Straight

11 Best Beards in Vikings: Valhalla