"I hope that someday, our gods can become friends," Ragnar told Athelstan after he confessed to seeing Jesus in the gentle drops of rain and Thor in the roar of thunder. He was a conflicted man that was no longer sure about which faith to subscribe to. His problems with faith didn't affect Athelstan's treatment of people though.
He was the long-awaited bridge between Vikings and Saxons whom both sides loved and respected. Both Ragnar and Ecbert loved Athelstan, but neither of them got to keep him. Hate overwhelmed love in the end, and Floki killed the innocent monk who still went down as one of the most lovable characters in Vikings. So what made Athelstan so special?
Best: Sociable
Making friends is the one thing Athelstan never stopped doing throughout the show. He managed to make friends wherever he went. Athelstan begged for Ragnar to spare his life as the Danes attacked the Lindisfarne monastery, only to drunkenly tell him the location of the other Christian towns he could raid moments later.
When he came to Kattegat, Athelstan created a bond with Gyda and Bjorn and became the parent they needed while their father and mother raided England. He also managed to change both Ecbert and Ragnar's feelings towards him and even made friends with both of them, becoming the guy everyone went to when they needed to understand themselves.
Worst: Unrealistic
Floki killed Athelstan for being a Christian, but who is to blame for that? Athelstan was loved on both sides of the divide because he enjoyed being a Christian and being a Dane at the same time. Now, this was impossible in Vikings with all that hate flying around. At one point, he would have had to choose a side and stick with it if he was to survive.
While in Wessex, he started a romance with Judith, which he knew could result in death if anyone discovered it. Then while aware of the hatred that Rollo and Floki had for him, decided to come back to Kattegat with Ragnar. He never accepted the reality of the situation, which was that he had to choose a side if he was to survive.
Best: Loyal
The only people Athelstan betrayed throughout his time on the show are the deities on both sides of the divide. While he was Ragnar's slave, he considered him family and was even willing to deny Jesus to be sacrificed for the sake of Ragnar.
It is not clear how he came to love Ragnar so much, but he remained loyal to him even when he was back in England. He even saved Rollo, one of the Vikings that never liked him personally. Then when Ecbert took him into his service, he remained equally loyal and was committed to establishing a peaceful existence between the two distant families he now had.
Worst: Too Tolerant
Athelstan's patience is the one characteristic that allowed him to survive in Kattegat. He stood by while everyone mocked him and his faith. However, as a person, Athelstan also withstood too much mistreatment which may have contributed to his death.
He never fought back when Floki, Rollo, and the other Vikings bashed him, even after he had saved Ragnar's family. Athelstan had the option of requesting more protection from Ragnar and fighting for himself, but he always took it in. His enemies realized that they could do anything to him without facing any resistance.
Best: Resourceful
Athelstan wasn't the best of fighters, but he was very smart and always found a way to save his life even when his options seemed limited. When Ragnar attacked the monastery, most of the monks were killed, but Athelstan didn't want to die, so he begged for his life in Ragnar's mother tongue.
His quick thinking saved his life, as Ragnar realized that he would be useful to him in future raids. When Ragnar's home was attacked and Ragnar fell in the water, Athelstan was quick to swim and save him. Athelstan also knew how to speak and write Latin, which was allegedly so important to king Ecbert that it saved his life one more time.
Worst: Too Sentimental
It was impossible to predict what Athelstan wanted with his life because he could never let go of his past. All his decisions were directed by his emotions, which made him an unpredictable ally for everyone involved. He was in a position of strength at Ragnar's side and later in King Ecbert's court but each time, his emotions got the better of him.
He also developed feelings for Judith and was happy with his stay in England. He would have been safe and help keep the peace between Ecbert and Ragnar if he stayed in Wessex, but he chose to go back to Kattegat where he had more enemies than friends.
Best: Adaptable
Athelstan was a priest but when required to drink, he drank like any other Viking. When needed to take confessions, Athelstan was still a perfect priest, and when needed to fight, he could still do it. Multilingualism saved Athelstan's life twice, but it all came down to his curiosity and ability to adapt to new environments.
When the Vikings kidnapped him, he didn't take much offense in it. He chose to accept his new life and start learning all over again, and by the time Ragnar came back to Wessex, Athelstan was all Viking. Back in England, Athelstan still fit into King Ecbert's court as a priest and even managed to find love, although it was forbidden.
Worst: Self-Loathing
The monk never got over the trauma of watching his brothers killed at the monastery in Lindisfarne. He had survivor's guilt all his life, and it affected his ability to move on. It is the reason why he was never able to give up his Christian faith.
He then hated himself for betraying Ragnar when he finally started a new life in Wessex, and hoped he would have a better life with him in Kattegat than he had in Wessex. The truth was that he was blaming and hating himself for things that were out of his control and all he had to do was seek his own happiness amid the confusion.
Best: Honest
Honesty was a two-edged sword that saved but later killed Athelstan. He just couldn't get himself to become a good liar, a trait he really needed if he was to survive in Kattegat. He was honest to Ragnar about his conflicted beliefs but openly expressed his love and respect for Ragnar's family.
Ecbert also noticed Athelstan's honesty and entrusted him with his sacred project of translating Roman texts that he needed to protect Wessex. His inability to pretend, however, proved deadly in the end, as Floki killed him for his faith which he continued to practice in Daneland.
Worst: Short-Sighted
Athelstan never cared about his future, only what was happening to him at the moment. When Ragnar made him a free man, he had the opportunity of making a life and name for himself. He, instead, never prepared himself for his future as a Viking and continued to practice Christianity in a place where it was very dangerous to do so.
His short-lived affair with Judith was also a dangerous thing that nearly got her killed. Then came his return to Kattegat, which was ill-advised because many people in Ragnar's camp considered him a traitor. He had a brighter future in Wessex, but he chose to follow the unpredictable Vikings instead.