Normally I dont respond to this, but I feel like I have to here.

Look up America Ferrera, the voice of Astrid in the animated movie. Does she look caucasian to you? (Note: she is American, but her parents are from Honduras)

I do happen to agree that forcing it does not help; the fact that they feel the need to explain this means they are forcing the diversity. They are digging VERY deep into obscure history to find evidence that the Vikings were diverse, instead of acknowledging the fact that 95% (or more) of Vikings were of caucasian descent. They don't cite their sources for this information. They don't acknowledge that the Vikings were not as accepting as they want them to be. They are still forcing the narrative instead of just letting it be.

This is a fantasy world. They can change it to suit their desires. It will succeed or fail on its merits or flaws. Personally, I think the movie is too young for a "live-action" (quotes, because the dragons are still computer generated) remake. I think DreamWorks is trying to ride on Disney's coat tails and may encounter the same difficulty: people still love the original, and if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

I had read somewhere that Reacher was an American James Bond. Each new novel involved another woman.

So a new love interest in this season does not surprise me. Nor does it disappoint me. It's just part of the story. And she will be gone after this season, replaced by a new woman in the next.