Torvi has a fascinating journey in Vikings - literally and metaphorically. From the wife of Jarl Borg in season 2, to the steadfast companion of Lagertha and Bjorn in the mid-seasons, to the explorer of North America with Ubbe in the final episodes, Torvi has been villain, hero, and everything in between.
For many, her story arc has made her a fan favorite, as she doesn't just go from villain to hero. In addition, she learns how to become fully herself, going from a relatively meek wife to someone who is a powerful and vicious fighter, and finally to a woman who is capable of balancing both her loving and her violent sides.
Best: Bravery
Throughout the series, Torvi is shown to be brave - no matter whose side she is on. She comes to Kattegat while the wife of Jarl Borg, even though this puts her (and her unborn child) in danger. Later, she goes raiding when she could easily have stayed back in Kattegat, and she leaves Erlendur to go with Bjorn, trusting that the gamble would pay off. Even in the end, she goes to strike out and explore new shores with Ubbe, searching for lands that may not even exist.
Worst: Suspicious
This certainly isn't a terrible trait for a Viking to have, and many have even been too trusting (and had it lead to their downfall). However, Torvi is particularly suspicious, and early on it doesn't do her any favors. After Jarl Borg's death, she does have reason to mistrust Ragnar, but rather than truly considering why he did what he did, she chooses to simply set herself up against him, even when that means marrying a man who is abusive.
Best: Strength
Even for a Viking, Torvi has gone through a lot. Her first husband was blood-eagled in front of her, while she was pregnant. Her second husband threatened her child's life, and she killed him to protect her family. Her third husband left her. Almost every one of her children was killed, and two of them died at a tragically young age. yet through it all, Torvi stays strong, and keeps pushing forward - which is incredibly impressive.
Worst: Takes Too Much On Herself
One of Torvi's most wonderful traits is that she has incredible kindness, love, and comion - but sometimes, this combined with her inner strength and resistance means that she simply takes too much on herself.
She struggles to ask for help, and at times, it seems as though this might be too much for her to handle (especially after her daughter is swept overboard in a storm).
Best: Adaptability
Of all the characters in the series, Torvi is one of the most adaptable. She consistently proves that she can handle whatever her complex life throws at her, whether it is changing relationships and marriages, deaths, or being driven out of her home with Bjorn, Lagertha, and Ubbe to seek refuge in England. She is even able to be adaptable with her faith - or at least, with the outward appearance of it - depending on what will help her and her loved ones survive.
Best: Observant
Torvi is someone who is always paying attention, and whose observations have sometimes made all the difference - especially when she was one of the women in charge of defending Kattegat with Lagertha. She is always one of the first to spot something that is just a little bit off, whether it is a strange ship or a strange mood.
Best: Loyalty
When Torvi feels that someone has earned her loyalty, she will defend them to the death. However, if someone has done something to lose her , she is capable of anything, even murder (as Erlendur learned).
Her relationship with Lagertha is one of the most heartwarming on the series, and once she and Lagertha learned to trust each other, they had the other's back for the rest of their lives.
Best: Protective
Torvi is a woman who loves fiercely, and is deeply protective of those that she loves. Whether it is her children, her lover, or her friends, Torvi will quite literally go to war to keep them safe. When Erlendur threatens Bjorn and her son, Torvi shoots him with a crossbow. Whenever Kattegat (and Lagertha) are threatened, Torvi is at the heart of the battle - even when it means taking serious injuries.
Best: Comion
Along with her loving and protective nature, Torvi has great comion for the people that she loves. When she sees that Bjorn has lost interest in her, and fallen for someone else, she doesn't fight to keep him - instead, she sets him free with love and respect, and then grieves in private. It's a move that shows incredible comion and strength of character, even at a loss to herself.
Worst: Self-Betrayal
Of course, that desire to be protective and comionate toward everyone she loves has a downside. Torvi is often willing to take the hit herself for the sake of those she loves - whether that hit is physical or emotional. In the example of the end of her relationship with Bjorn, it's obvious that her heart is breaking, yet she asks nothing of him to help spare her own feelings.
At another point in time, when she is speaking to Astrid and Lagertha, she suggests that sometimes, women have to do things that they would not like to (referring to marriage, in this case). It's not entirely inaccurate, as shown in the series, but it's also a clear marker of her character. While Astrid refuses to marry (at the time of this conversation) or shrink herself in any way, Torvi is often all too ready to betray her own wants for the sake of others.