Barbarians was a huge hit for Netflix when it was released in October 2020.
In the first four weeks of release, more than 37 million households watched the series.
A German historical war drama created by Andreas Heckmann, Arne Nolting and Jan Martin Scharf, Barbarians is a fictional account of events during the Roman Empire's occupation of Germania.
That resulted in a rebellion of the Germanic tribes led by Arminius, the son of a Barbarian Chief.
Having been taken from his family as a boy and raised in Rome his loyalties are split when he sees the atrocities inflicted by Roman soldiers on his former people.
The series was renewed for season 2 in November 2020 and was released on Netflix on October 21, 2022.
Barbarians Season 3 Release Date
So now the big questions is Barbarians Season 3 – when is it coming to Netflix?
You always know when Netflix is on to a winner as they renew the show very quickly. The problem we have here is that as of May 2023, Netflix haven't either renewed or cancelled Barbarians.
So we're now in limbo as to whether we will actually get Barbarians season 3.
What I can say is that in an Instagram post, Laurence Rupp (who plays Arminius) did respond to a fan when they asked “What will happen to Thusnelda in season 3?”
He said “I have to go to rome and free her of course:)”. So that does that mean there's another season on the way or was he just being nice to a fan?
We need answers and Netflix are being very cagey. So for now we have to wait for an official announcement one way of the other.
As soon as we know, we will, of course, update you all!
Barbarians Season 1 Recap
If you haven't seen Barbarians, the story goes like this…
Arminius (Laurence Rupp) is taken from his family home and brought to Rome as an insurance policy so the Germans don't rebel against their Roman masters.
Years later, when he is sent back to Germania, he sees that his own people are being brutally treated and decides to essentially defect from the Roman army.
Knowing how good the Romans are, along with friends Thusnelda (Jeanne Goursaud) and Folkwin (David Schütter), he starts uniting the various tribes under one banner.
That then culminates in a massive ambush of three Roman legions.
Barbarians Season 2 What Happens
We returned one year after the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest in Barbarians Season 2.
Reik Arminius is now a respected leader among the chieftains of Germania but soon learns that another war is on the horizon.
With the Romans under Tiberius and Germanicus' command proving too powerful to handle, Ari decides to reach out to Marbod, the Reik of the Marcomanni people. However, Ari's trust in Marbod is proven misplaced when Marbod delivers Ari to the Romans.
In her efforts to free Ari, Thusnelda, along with Folkwin and Dido, manage to sneak into the Roman camp and rescue him. As the season progresses, the tribes of Germania rally under Ari's command, launching an attack on the Romans in a desperate attempt to secure victory before Roman reinforcements arrive.
There are two huge plot twists, the first is the death of a major character and the second is the discovery that Folkwin is Thumelicus' father and not Ari.
When Thusnelda discovers that her child is missing and her parents have been killed by Tiberius, Thusnelda is captured by the Romans and that's where it ends…
Barbarians Season 3 – What Could Happen?
With the show not officially renewed, it's tricky to know exactly what will happen in Barbarians season 3 if we do get new episodes.
However, based on the historical events depicted in the series and the narrative threads left open at the end of Season 2, we've speculated on possible directions for a potential Season 3.
Thusnelda's Captivity
The end of Season 2 saw Thusnelda captured by the Romans. Historically, Thusnelda was paraded as a war prize during a triumphal parade dedicated to Germanicus.
This historical event could form the basis of Thusnelda's storyline in Season 3, potentially focusing on her life in captivity and her efforts to escape or survive.
Thumelicus' Fate
Thumelicus, the son of Thusnelda and Folkwin, was also taken captive by the Romans in history.
Season 3 could explore his upbringing under Roman control and his potential struggles with his dual identity as both a Roman captive and the son of Germanic heroes.
Ari's Leadership
With the death of Folkwin and the capture of Thusnelda, Ari could face significant challenges as a leader.
He might have to deal with potential unrest and dissent among the tribes, and perhaps even threats to his leadership. Additionally, his relationship with Gaius could evolve and become central to the story.
Continued Struggles Against Rome
The Germanic tribes' struggle against Roman control would likely continue to be a central theme in Barbarians Season 3.
The tribes might have to face new Roman tactics or leaders, and there could be more battles and political manoeuvring.
Historical Events
The series could continue to depict key historical events related to the Germanic tribes and the Roman Empire.
This could include specific battles, shifts in power, and important developments in the broader history of the region.
But, as I said, this is all just speculation. That said, it is fun to plot out the show as we cross our fingers and wait for official news!
