The second season of Vinland Saga.
After his father's death and the destruction of his village at the hands of English raiders, Einar
wishes for a peaceful life with his family on their newly rebuilt farms. However, fate has other
plans: his village is invaded once again. Einar watches helplessly as the marauding Danes burn his
lands and slaughter his family. The invaders capture Einar and take him back to Denmark as a slave.
Einar clings to his mother's final words to survive. He is purchased by Ketil, a kind slave owner and
landlord who promises that Einar can regain his freedom in return for working in the fields. Soon,
Einar encounters his new partner in farm cultivation—Thorfinn, a dejected and melancholic slave. As
Einar and Thorfinn work together toward their freedom, they are haunted by both sins of the past and
the ploys of the present. Yet they carry on, grasping for a glimmer of hope, redemption, and peace in
a world that is nothing but unjust and unforgiving.
(Source: MAL Rewrite)
__Vinland Saga__ is a historical, adventure-epic manga by Makoto Yukimura. The first 8 volumes were adapted into a 24-episode anime season by Wit Studio. Season 1 was one of the __best anime of 2019__, so the much-awaited 2nd season of Vinland Saga was one of the __most anticipated anime of 2023__. This season covers the “Slave Arc”, volumes 9-14 into 24 episodes by __studio MAPPA__. Despite the studio change, much of the original staff from season 1 have worked on season 2! ~~~img280(https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/bc3KmZN1UvpYu02-7XofAB1meFA=/1400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22703352/vinland_saga.jpg) img280(https://www.rightstufanime.com/images/productImages/9781612624242_manga-Vinland-Saga-Graphic-Novel-5-Hardcover.jpg?resizeid=3&resizeh=600&resizew=600)~~~ Set in 11th century Europe after the events of the 1st season, the young warrior __Thorfinn’s __main reasons to keep struggling and fighting for are gone now. Feeling empty he abandons his warrior self and is sold into slavery all the while being plagued by nightmares of his past actions. This season's core focus is the rehabilitation of the main character and to start moving the series to its end conclusion… reaching Vinland. If you are looking for an action-packed season with more dual knife-wielding, war fights, and Thorkell Hanma going on rampages you will be very disappointed. There is still lots of blood and heavy themes, and regarding themes they are even heavier here than in the first season. Vinland Saga Season 2 is criticized by some as slow. There is less action and more character drama. This arc is popularly called Farmland Saga, why? Almost all of season 2 takes place on a farm. Imagine the farmhouse in Walking Dead Season 2, but good... really fucking good. img650(https://inasianspaces.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/vinland-saga-s2-ep-7-thorfinn-touches-grass-1.png?w=1200) Despite there being far less action, this season is shockingly better and more amazing than the already amazing 1st season. Yes, it’s that good. I personally do not like using the term “Peak Fiction” in reviews, as it can be cringy or full of bias, but for Vinland Saga, it feels appropriate for the level of writing it has delivered. This is a season that will make you curious about what happens next in its plot, it will impress you with rich characterization of its characters, immerse you with its drama and tragedy, it even made me cry more than once. It also fills you with hope and lots of badassery... plus lots of farming! The direction is seriously incredible. The staff was able to create some fantastic scenes with the wonderful art and animation. Full of dedication and love, it especially shows in the anime original content that additionally fleshes out existing scenes. 1/3 of episode 17 is anime original and it’s universally accepted even by manga readers to be great. The nightmare scenes are visually stunning and the fight scenes that are included have amazing choreography. The sound design is great, everything sounds appropriate and the soundtrack is equally as good... especially the piano OSTs. The voice acting is S tier, the entire cast is amazing. Uemura Yuuto as Thorfinn and Saco Mayumi as Arnheid deliver performances that left me impressed. img650(https://animecorner.me/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/arnheid-and-gardar.jpg) It is very apparent that the staff really love and understand the source material. The dedication would make any author start crying from how fortunate they were if they received such an adaptation. Thorfinn has one of the best rehabilitation and transformations I’ve seen in media. His character progression and development throughout the two seasons are masterful. Seeing him abandoning his old warrior self to become a true warrior like his father. Einar is best boy, a contrast to Thorfinn in the way they grew up, but both are the same regarding the uncertainty of their futures. Their relationship is wonderful, genuine, and wholesome. Being the main source of help for Thorfinn's mental health and their first real friend. Canute returns with an amazing glow up. His role in the story is as interesting as ever, after becoming king it is very fascinating seeing how the crown has started affecting him and his end goals. ~!The “I have no enemies” scene is the best scene in the series thus far... It is the culmination of over 40 episodes worth of content for Thorfinn's character and it does not disappoint with its impact. As not only Thorfinn realizes the full meaning of those words, but so do you the viewer!~ img650(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ajC9Obe7oC0/maxresdefault.jpg) Vinland Saga is not just war and Vikings, the story is about trauma and showing the never-ending cycle of violence constructed by those believing they have enemies worth killing. Vinland Saga is an amazing, beautiful, epic story. ~~~__It was the best anime of 2019 and currently one of the best of 2023.__ ~~~
As a manga reader, I already knew how awesome this season was going to be. The only underlying worry with the change in studios was MAPPA giving it a proper adaptation. Needless to say, they have done a pretty decent job at it. What is it that first comes to our minds when we think of the Golden Age of the Vikings? Surely it is Norse Gods, bloody raids across Europe, pagan rituals, voyages in longships and so on. The daily lives of slaves and farmers or the effect of raids on the lives of the victims are hardly among those, since the former appears more appealing compared to the latter. But regardless of the entertainment value, both of them were integral parts of society then. If the first season explored the former, the second season explores the latter. Surely there is a shift in tone accompanied by this change, but rather than treating them as two completely different things, we should see them as the two sides of the same coin. The first season of Vinland Saga, although a wonderful season in terms of both narrative and technical aspects, lacked something huge. The portrayal of what should have been the very heart of the show, Thorfinn, left a large portion of the viewers annoyed, detached and not being able to like the character. But this was largely due to the constraints of adapting an anime from the source material, rather than being a flaw of the storyline itself. Regardless, everything changed for the better in this season as Thorfinn undergoes one of the greatest character developments to become the most lovable character of the show, perhaps even more than the show stealer Askeladd himself. The mass introduction of new characters is something that I'm not really a huge fan of. There are several shows that does this that has left a bad taste in my mouth. But sometimes the storyline demands it and it's very hard to pull off successfully. Needless to say, Yukimura has done a great job at introducing the new characters for they are all very likeable and interesting, even though some of them being absolute pieces of shit. There have also been several instances of anime original scenes in the show. Even the very first scene of this season was an original scene, but all of them have only enhanced the source material even more. However, two of the biggest drawbacks of this season seemed to be related to the animation quality and shift in tone compared to the first season. There certainly has been a slight dip in the animation quality compared to the first season. There are instances of choppy animation, not big enough to ruin your experience but enough to notice them. Instances where facial features are not completely visible upon viewing from afar and moments with juxtaposition of characters with backgrounds are also present. The lack of action compared to the first season might also be underwhelming for many fans who have been following this anime just because it's bloody aspects and cannot find the themes explored by this season interesting, adding salt to the wound, the slow pace of the storyline. In conclusion, as a huge fan of Vinland Saga, the Farmland Saga was everything I could have ever hoped for. Of course, there are certain aspects which could have been improved, but overall, it has been a satisfying journey. And don't forget, You Don't Have Any Enemies!
Vinland Saga, you’ve heard of it, it is this incredibly serious, mature and realistic series telling a tale of Vikings, rich in great characters, whose visuals are breathtaking and it has one of the greatest stories to ever be conceived in manga and anime… except, all of this is a lie. Vinland Saga as a narrative isn’t really enticing, and the realism dies on the very first minute of the first episode of the first season where a guy chops 4 men standing separately in a square-like formation and a mast in the center of them with a single axe swing, and it doesn’t get better from there. As a series, Vinland Saga is not even that bad, but when it is sold as this “serious, mature and realistic” series when it is actually closer to a typical shounen nekketsu series in execution, then it comes out as a pretty bad and you can blame it as a big part of why Vinland Saga bothers me so much. Whenever I hear people saying that this season is boring, it makes me feel confused, it’s not like Vinland Saga had been fun in the first place. The first season had an easy to follow plot, so you can understand why people were bothered by the change, however, the pacing of the first season was horrible, to the point even someone who hasn’t read the manga like me can notice it was dragged far more than it should’ve just so it wouldn’t get to the so called Farmland Saga arc to have the teenagers entertained by fights between Vikings so they wouldn’t pay attention to the ridiculous characters, so when the more grounded second season came, it seemed like a complete 180 degrees change from the first one, as it was more centered on the characters and opportunities to showcase the writing and the contemplation of its own themes because, if no one noticed until now, the first season was the prologue of the story, and this is what the first season was building up to, and I know it’s not the fault of anyone but the people at Wit studio who thought that making the first season 24 episodes long was a good idea. There was this episode that was mainly focused on Thorfinn and Einar doing work at the farm, it was entirely about moving trees and stuff, and I actually found it entertaining, it was easily better than most of the stuff from the previous season, since we are seeing how Thorfinn changed from this shell of a non-character into someone different, who has different reasons to live aside from revenge. And actually, that is what makes Thorfinn much more better this season, last season he was an empty husk searching for revenge as his only motive and not having character aside from that, even Sasuke from Naruto is far more interesting than this, however, after Askeladd died, now Thorfinn has no more reason to keep searching for revenge, not because he finally managed to get it, but because after years he got to have a reasons to live besides revenge. When you look at his evolution, this makes sense, after all, his father was a pacifist, and as much as I could complain that this Viking who was on a lot of battles changing into a pacifist after holding the hand of his daughter a lot, that is not the point of what I’m talking, he taught Thorfinn that he should try to not use violence, but then he had turned out as the exact opposite of what his father hoped back in the first season, it makes you see he has grown up as a person by this season, maturing into a man similar to his father. However, this is a double-edged sword, as you can see now Thorfinn is even more of a pacifist than his father to the point of receiving as many punches in the face without reacting, he went from Sasuke to Gandhi across the span of this season. When this scene where, after Thorfinn received 100 punches to the face, he was able to talk with Canute once again, and after talking for a while and being asked what he was going to do, he answers saying "I'll run away" and the wind makes his hair flow as this big super serious moment that I'm sure many will be gushing over it, I couldn't help but think of a Mexican telenovela watching it, it was very funny, it is understandable why Canute was laughing midway their conversation with how dumb that sounded and with the way it was framed. Worst thing of all, Canute accepts it as if he didn’t rightfully win the battle in the farm to make it his, and then he goes away, reduces his army and everything ends well. And I can’t help but think that I had thought the big amount of unrealistic moments stopped after the end of the first season, but it seems like I was wrong, this was like watching a shoune MC pull a talk-no-jutsu but on a supposedly serious series. This was always the problem with the supposed realism of Vinland Saga, you can see the autor tried to build this realistic world and then put characters with obviously superhuman abilities that don’t get any explanation because well, this is trying to be realistic, so any mention of obvious superhuman abilities will take away that, sadly, not mentioning them also takes the realism away since I’m not blind. And I don’t know how to feel about the rest of the characters, Vinland Saga’s cast was always a mixed bag, when you will receive really interesting characters such as Askeladd, who was definitely the biggest spark of the first season and probably of the entire series, no wonder he is the favorite character of most of the fans, to characters like Thorkell, who is extremely annoying and the bringer of some of the most unrealistic scenes of the first season and whom I’m happy basically isn’t present on this one. This season isn’t different on that aspect, we have Einar, a man living happily with his family until a bunch of Vikings invade his hometown and kill his mother and sister, so he is sold as a slave and he gets to the farm, he is an example of a character who doesn’t actually change, he is the same across the whole run of the series as he always had the opinion that slavery was bad and would prefer if it didn’t exist. Unlike last season, this one has some more naturally handled developments, such as Olmar’s, who went from this bratty, spoiled, stupid, bothersome person to a calmer man, he had to get through a lot of dumb decisions to get there, from asking Canute to be part of his army, to unintentionally making his father’s farm enter in a fight with Canute’s army, and after seeing the horrors of war, he definitely changed for the better. We also continue where we were left after the change with Canute in the previous season, he is looking to be the rightful king, but at the same time has his hallucinated father’s floating head telling him that he isn’t that much different from him, and this is his conflict during the season, which is definitely better handled than his absolutely unnatural sudden change of personality in the first season. And it seems like no matter the studio, Vinland Saga can’t get good animation, comparing the anime to the manga is like day and night, Wit did a terrible job in Vinland Saga, there wasn’t a single shot that wasn’t a close-up that looked actually good, every time the background characters were a little afar from the screen they were on clanky ugly looking CGI that burned my eyes, fighting scenes would be as minimalistic as possible as if this series was hundreds of episodes long instead of the 24 episode season where a clearly capable studio was working. However, this season looks even worse, that’s right, the already ugly looking Vinland Saga started looking worse and by no other hands than the people at MAPPA, it seems like every series they take from Wit immediately starts looking worse, just like what happened with Shingeki no Kyojin. Now, the character art from close didn’t look that bad, but when it was from afar? Well, they didn’t even have drawn faces, they unironically wouldn’t have mouth or eyes as if they were a hentai protagonist, if you cannot even bother drawing your characters then how I’m supposed to care about them? And not only that, they kept the ugly CGI walking soldiers from the previous season, just that since in this season less Vikings appear the CGI also appears less, sometimes it’s difficult to decide what is worse, trying and failing hard like Wit did or not trying at all like MAPPA did. I have come to the conclusion that Vinland Saga is just like Monster, a so-called “mature and serious” anime that, when you watch it, it’s devoid of everything something that actually deserves to be called that would have, ranging from realistic characters, to good animation, to good directing, and it is very high on it’s supposed ideas of matureness, but unlike Monster and its total inability to say anything of intellectual value, Vinland Saga has a thematic value even if it is as simple as that saying which goes “revenge is never good, it kills the soul and poisons it”. Thank you for reading.
A sequel can do a lot of interesting things to the story it’s a part of. A great sequel can catapult an already good story into greatness. A bad sequel can squander whatever potential the first part was building up, or be so inconsequential that you can just pretend it doesn’t exist. But the hardest sequels to talk about are the ones that do an excellent job following up on what’s come before... yet still feel like a downgrade in ways so subtle you’re not quite sure if nostalgia is playing tricks on you or not. Did this series always have these flaws, you wonder, and you were just blind to them before? Or is something genuinely missing from this otherwise fantastic continuation that makes it feel less special than that initial entry? It’s a question I asked myself last year with the final season of Mob Psycho 100, a show that by any other metric would be a knockout success but couldn’t help but feel overshadowed by the seasons that came before. And now that same quandary presents itself to me with Vinland Saga, back after four years for another round of bloody historical viking combat and deep ruminations on the dangers of violence and hatred. To make my position clear from the outset: I fucking love the first season of VInland Saga. It’s one of the best written, most achingly mature works of storytelling in anime, a beautiful exploration of the humanity behind violence, the people who perpetuate it and suffer it alike, and the complexities of people in a world far too willing to sort everyone into ally or enemy. It was potent, it was sincere, and it was achingly beautiful (at least when the production wasn’t driving itself into a ditch). It also had Askellad, one of my single favorite anime characters of all time for how beautifully he blurs the line between monster and hero. So perhaps that’s the reason why I don’t like season 2 as much; Askellad dies at the end of season 1 and only shows up here for a couple brief visions. My sweet baby gone too soon from this sinful world, we shall never see his like again. I kid, I kid. Obviously, Askellad’s story ended exactly where it needed to, and any continuation to Vinland Saga- much like Thorfinn- would have to find a way forward without him. And that listless limbo of living between worlds is where we first meet Thorfinn as season 2 kicks off. Far from the ravenous warrior he was in season 1, Askellad’s death and the thwarting of his revenge has left him a shell of a man, barely able to function day by day. He’s ended up a slave on the farm of a seemingly kindly slavemaster named Ketil, his life reduced to following orders like an automaton as he wonders what the point of living even is now that his purpose has been taken away, leaving nothing but the memories of the countless lives he ripped apart in pursuit of it. But that begins to chance with the arrival of a new slave named Einar, a man who lost his home and family to Vikings much like the ones Thorfinn used to serve. As the two strike up an unlikely friendship, the shattered boy slowly begins to piece himself back together from nothing, facing the trauma he inflicted on others and himself and searching for new purpose unshackled from the bloodshed than once ruled his life. But it’s only a matter of time before bloodshed once again comes knocking at Thorfinn’s door, forcing him to come to terms with what kind of person he wants to be... and whether or not it’s possible to truly escape a world that seems to worship violence as the only true way. It’s a radically different direction for the story to take, but it’s really the only way it could have gone. From the first episode, Vinland Saga has always been an interrogation of violence and its effect on people, a cry for peace in a world where that might as well be a foreign concept. And is season 1 was a full dive into the heart of that violence itself, season 2 is all about the escape from it, what it takes for a person who’s lived their whole life bathed in blood to seek a better way forward. Appropriately, most of what’s been dubbed “Farmland Saga” is spent on conversations and quiet moments, characters working out their issues and finding peace beyond the reach of a sword or ax. And whenever violence _does_ show up, it’s always in short, brutal spurts of death where no one comes out happy, a far cry from the bombastic battles we used to have. And while that change no doubt rubs some fans the wrong way, it’s the only honest way Vinland Saga could continue to explore its themes. You can’t exactly tell a story of a man leaving violence behind and embracing peace if you’ve got limbs and heads flying at the same rate as season 1. Thorfinn’s growth from an emotionally stunted boy into a fully realized man, and the ways the rest of the inhabitants of Ketil’s farm react to the role of violence in their world, is Vinland Saga, and it’s still the same damn powerful story it was telling back when blood ran thicker and death same swifter. So no, the relative absence of violence is not the reason that season 2 feels somewhat lacking in comparison to season 1. But then... what IS the reason? The obvious culprit to point at would be the change in studio. And yes, I’m as sick to death of the endless Wit vs Mappa debates as you are. So many stupid takes on every side, all ignoring the fundamental issue that both of these studios are infamous for treating their workers like shit and sacrificing healthy production times for the sake of pumping out more content for their shareholders to make money off of. Seriously, all your animation issues with shows from both of these studios come from the same source of corporate greed favorite quick profits over artistry, bond over that and fight your mutual enemy instead of turning it into a fandom dick measuring contest. That said, it’s not every day that you get to see two different studios put their own touches on multiple different anime in such clear terms. And between Attack on Titan and Vinland Saga, I definitely think there’s a conversation to be had on how Wit and Mappa’s approaches to anime differ... and what effect that has on the finished product. To vastly, _vastly_ oversimplify what I’ve observed, I’d say that Mappa tends to focus more on detailed animation, while Wit prioritizes cinematic direction. Whenever Mappa flexes its “budget” (yes I know that’s not really what it is I’m oversimplifying for time bear with me), it tends to be with intricate shots of richly detailed characters, every crease and line in their skin shaded and expressive. A single image or quick action cut, when given the time it needs, can feel so weighty and expressive, like you can actually reach out and touch it. Wit, meanwhile, tends to put its best foot forward with the way its camera brings its stories to life, sweeping CG-assisted tracking shots or gorgeous tableaus spilling out across the screen. They may sacrifice the finer details sometimes (and let’s be clear, there are moments where Vinland’s first season looks like aaaaaaass), but the visual imagination behind how they frame and present their anime captures that elusive feeling of _cinema_ that few TV anime manage to achieve. Wit embraces anime not just as an animated medium, but a truly _visual_ medium, one where every choice is make to sweep you up in the beauty this art form is capable of. And that’s a level of imagination, sadly, that Mappa doesn’t always measure up to. In regards to Vinland specifically, the part of season 1 I always come back to is episode 14, which is framed almost entirely in claustrophobic, horrifying close-ups as we witness the slow-burn destruction our protagonists bring upon an innocent family. Everything is so close to your face, almost blotting out the frame, shoving your face in the horrors the story’s main characters are capable of committing and refusing to let you turn your gaze away. It’s one of the most gut-wrenching episodes of anime I’ve ever experienced, and it’s all thanks to how thoroughly Wit embraced the tools of this medium to drive home that horror. Moments like that are what made Vinland’s first season such a cinematic marvel, even when the production was clearly suffering from poor time management. By contrast, most of the big experimental moments from season 2- dreams, nightmares, near-death experiences, visions- are shot and framed rather conventionally. In fact, pretty much every scene in season 2 has the most basic “camerawork” imaginable. Mid shots and long shots and close-ups and detailed action cuts, all in their proper places, yes, but there are no moments like episode 14, no moments where the visual language rises to that same level of brilliance. It’s all individual moments of beautiful animation (and some rough patches as well because again, Mappa and Wit have the same problems with overwork affecting the final product) with nothing that truly takes flight and shows off the true power of the medium as an artistic form. Still achingly effective thanks to the strength of the writing, performances and soundtrack, but if anyone at Mappa has the same sense of cinematic joy and creativity as the folks at Wit, well, they were probably working on Chainsaw Man while Vinland season 2 was in production. But technical differences can only explain so much. Attack on Titan also had a rough start switching to Mappa, and it still managed to be pretty much as electrifying and incredible as always. Which means we need to dig a little deeper in the writing of season 2 and figure out what isn’t clicking quite as well this time around. And thankfully, the answer is actually pretty obvious, so I’m gonna come right out with it: the dialogue in season 2 kinda sucks. See, telling a slow-burn story that’s mostly conversation is a totally fine way to explore your themes, even if the actual plot remains fairly still for the sake of intricate character work. But there is an art to writing a slow burn without making audiences long for something faster-paced, and it is NOT an art that season 2 pulls off well. Almost every conversation boils down to characters talking explicitly about the show’s themes for minutes on end, repeated and re-repeating themselves as they endlessly ruminate on violence, peace, the nature of war, the nature of hatred, trauma, forgiveness, moving forward and choosing the hard way over the easy way until they all start bleeding together into the same indistinguishable soup. These conversations don’t feel like people engaging with heady ideas, they feel like the author was terrified of even a single audience member not getting the point. There are some _really_ powerful themes season 2 is working with, but they start to feel less special when every episode is full to bursting with characters doing nothing but talking about those themes for the hundredth time. And just to make sure, I re-watched an episode of season 1, and it didn’t have this problem! The dialogue in season 1 flows so much more naturally, characters seamlessly weaving between plot-relevant exposition and interpersonal relationship-building and interesting, quirky asides and heavy, climactic confrontations. Perhaps it helps that season 1 also has a lot more moving pieces, so it has countless ideas it can juggle throughout a single episode without getting bogged down in a single mode for too long. The occasional thematically explicit speech or monologue becomes a lot more powerful when used sparingly, interspersed with other story beats that advance the story and its themes through less direct methods. “Show, don’t tell” is a common piece of writing advice for a reason; most of us find stories’ ideas far more engaging when they’re revealed through characters actions rather than (or at least in addition to) their words. But with so few actions to “show” throughout season 2, pretty much all of its thematic weight relies on characters “telling” us what we should think about the experiences they’re going through. Thorfinn tells Einar about his trauma, Einar tells Thorfinn about his perspective on life, Canute tells his weird ghost dad head (which, I’m sorry, this thing just looks goofy) about his increasing moral rot and the weight of the king’s crown, and all of it really starts to drag when there’s nothing else to change things up. No wonder some fans grew tired and started to beg for a return to the bloody action. Which I seriously want to drive home: _Vinland Saga season 2 not being violent is not its problem._ This show has always been a plea for peace, so exploring the aftereffects of escaping a violent life in a mostly peaceful environment for Thorfinn to find himself again is exactly the direction it should have gone in. And in the moments where stuff actually _happens_ in season 2? Where the endless slow-burning conversations give way to _action,_ violent or otherwise, on part of its characters? It’s just as heartbreaking and awe-inspiring as anything in season 1. The only reason I’ve gone so hard on critiquing this season is because I know just how _fucking fantastic_ this show can be at its best, and when season 2 is at its best, it absolutely lives up to that high bar and more. Going peaceful isn’t the problem; the problem is that it just isn’t as good at being a peaceful story as it is a violent war story. Not bad at it, just not as good. Vinland Saga’s first season explored its themes so well by balancing so many different factors and making them all sing in harmony, delivering a propulsive tale of blood and swords that drove its ideas into you like knives while still being an entertaining story capable of effectively delivering those themes in the first place. Season 2, meanwhile, puts almost all of its eggs in a single basket, and suddenly it finds itself running into problems it can’t fix without betraying the core of its narrative. It’s like trying to build the same house twice but the second time you only have 10% of your toolbelt available; the fact it even ended up as great as it did is something of a minor miracle. And make no mistake: Vinland Saga season 2 is still _great._ For as much as I’ve complained about it, it’s every bit the change in direction this story needed to carry forward. And while the execution wasn’t perfect, it was still able to lay me out on the floor like few shows even come close to. Vinland Saga is a colossus. Vinland Saga matters. It’s so rare we get stories this mature, this thoughtful, and this widely beloved in this crazy medium we call home. And if Mappa’s planning to stick with this one until the end like Attack on Titan, I hope, much like that show, future installments are able to find their footing and push it back to the top of the heap where it belongs.
The story that I have chosen to review is that was told in Vinland Saga Season 2. Following the prologue that was season 1 of Vinland Saga, which it was and will be the most action-heavy part of the series, season 2 begins an arc in which it is the very opposite to that of Season 1. If you expect it to be action-heavy and the same as that of the prologue, then I suggest you drop those expectations and come into this season with the mindset, that it will be much more akin to that of a historical drama, one in which the characters of old and new will go on an emotional journey where the destination is one of improvement of oneself, of one's ideology, in which there will be a clash of ideologies from various parties. One of the most impressive aspects of Vinland Saga Season 2 is its unwavering commitment to character growth. The complex and multi-dimensional characters we came to know and love in the previous season are further explored, revealing new layers and motivations that keep us engaged throughout. The interactions between Thorfinn, Canute, Einar, and the rest of the cast are nothing short of riveting, drawing us deeper into their individual struggles and collective journey. We see ghosts of the past appear and move forward with the stories of the characters that we have grown to love, such as Thorfinn and Askeladd and Thors, or Canute and King Swyen. Many story plots and or beats that were introduced in Season 1 finally get touched upon in Season 2 and that is something that many people may not realize when watching Season 2 the first time. Moments like that of the famous line of "You have no enemies" is a theme that overarches throughout the season and the exploration of that phrase that Thors once uttered is executed beautifully. Any parent will know how important it is to teach their child the ideologies and lessons that they themselves learned. And Thors even in death succeeds in finally getting his son to learn the meaning of that lesson, it may have taken long but it's finally learned and has carved its way into the being of Thorfinn moving forward and that is beautiful. The narrative itself is a masterclass in storytelling, skillfully blending historical elements, political intrigue, and personal vendettas. Each episode unravels with precision, meticulously balancing intense action sequences with poignant moments of introspection. The pacing is near perfect, allowing both the plot and the characters to breathe, resulting in an immersive experience that keeps viewers eagerly anticipating each new episode. Vinland Saga Season 2's visuals are still a feast for the eyes. The magnificent animation and meticulous attention to detail bring the majestic and realistic world of the Vikings to life. The visual presentation is constantly excellent, further immersing us in this prehistoric age of upheaval and conquest through painstakingly recreated war scenes and stunning scenery. Another noteworthy aspect of the series is the soundtrack. The eerie melodies and potent compositions not only enhance the intense and emotional episodes but also give the overall narrative resonance and depth. An immersive environment is produced by combining gorgeous images with an engrossing soundtrack, and it lasts long after each episode is finished. The second season of the Vinland Saga surpasses all expectations, and it is a great triumph. This season firmly establishes Vinland Saga as a genuine anime masterpiece with its captivating plot, interesting characters, magnificent visuals, and an unforgettable music soundtrack. Fans of historical dramas, thrilling adventures, and emotionally moving narratives must see it. Moving forward if there are more seasons of Vinland Saga, I feel will only go up from here. On one final note, I recommend full-heartedly this season and Vinland Saga as a whole whether it be the anime and or the Manga; it is truly magnificent. And where many adaptations of Seinen Manga are done half-heartedly and or poorly I can confidently say the adaptation of Vinland Saga is anything but that. It is clear that the passion and full-heartedness of the cast and crew have contributed to the great lengths the animators and writers have gone through to do the story justice and to adapt it to the liking of Yukimura Sensei and the story he created in the Manga. But if you can't handle slow, character-driven arcs without violence and or fights maybe it isn't for you, but that is for you to decide.
Every once in a while a piece of media comes along, be it a song, a film or a TV show, that is so earth-shattering that you can only stop and stare at it, endlessly, mesmerised by its beauty. That's Vinland Saga and the metamorphosis it has undergone in its second season. Season one was already one of the best anime to come out at the time, establishing itself as a flawed masterpiece while still being a must-see. A compelling narrative with a strong emphasis on showing how cruel, violent and merciless the world really is, stunning visuals that featured incredible and well choreographed fights, and one of the most beautiful soundtracks of the year. However, the pacing was off at times, combined with a constant barrage of new characters being introduced at an excruciating pace, without being all that useful or meaningful to begin with, and a slightly annoying protagonist. I'm not saying that Thorfinn was a bad character, mind you. In a way, he *had* to be annoying. But he goes through one of the best character developments I've ever seen. Not just him, but the whole mood and genre changed completely. Season 1 walked so Season 2 could run. Vinland Saga changed from a historical action drama to a slower and more methodical historical drama. From the first few minutes of the first episode, the viewer can tell that this is the Vinland Saga they have seen before. There was almost no action at all, apart from certain points in the story where the fighting itself was used as a real plot device rather than to entertain the viewer. Almost all of the characters had meaningful and satisfying character development arcs, each with a different message over the course of the 24 episodes. What is a "true warrior"? What is redemption? Can you really prevent conflict using only your wits, without spilling blood? When all these ideals collide, chaos ensues, and it is up to each of us to decide how it will end. All of this culminates in some of the best episodes in anime history. The raw emotion on screen is unlike anything I've ever seen, not by relying on cheap melodrama, but by depicting the most unhappy and sad stories on screen. On the more technical side, the animation was beautiful, although it had less "sakuga" than the previous season and more "limited" movement and still frames. But damn, those frames were beautiful. When most TV anime is delayed or released half-baked, Vinland Saga stands out for its (mostly) polished look. Also worth mentioning was the stunning background art, one of the things carried over from S1. The soundtrack was also impressive, taking some already emotional scenes to even greater heights (and even more tears). Both the openings and the endings were exceptional and fitting for each part of the season. Vinland Saga S2 is definitely the best anime I've seen this year and, quite frankly, one of the best pieces of media I've seen in a long time. A beautiful journey told at an impeccable pace, with very good visuals and direction. I couldn't have asked for a better adaptation of an already masterpiece of a story about facing the ghosts of the past and facing the consequences while finding the true meaning of life and redemption. Nothing less than a life-changing experience. I'm going to miss watching this show every week. "You don't have enemies. Nobody has enemies. There's no one you can hurt. I rely on a sword like this because I am not yet a master.
__THIS REVIEW CONTAINS MILD SPOILERS FOR VINLAND SAGA S1 AND 2__ Vinland Saga S2 is, to say the least, a pretty controversial season. It almost feels like a different anime compared to S1. While S1 was based around lots of fighting, gore, death, and action, S2 just disregards all of it. The pacing has been slowed down tremendously and has now turned into a slice-of-life farming simulator. Even Makoto Yukimura, the mangaka of this series himself, stated that he thought he would lose fans when he began this arc. However, I do not feel any negative about this change. It changes how this show is now perceived. S1 makes Vinland Saga look like a shounen-y anime while S2 redefines the importance of the series. It becomes more philosophical, helping to develop Thorfinn's character, and how he sees other people around him. The very prominent fighting scenes in S1 are now reduced, but whenever I see a sliver of what could be an action scene, that scene immediately sends shivers down my spine. This isn't supposed to fit inside S2 AT ALL. We can see this by how Thorfinn's personality, just entirely changes after failing to duel Askeladd after his death. We see him start as an edgy, badass character, who doesn't care about how bad murder is and responds to everything with a scoff. Now we see him as a washed-up, ugly man. He doesn't care about himself anymore, and he knows that. With all of that, he gives himself to work as a slave on a farm to gain his freedom. It might seem like it's all over for Thorfinn until another person like him ends up in the same situation: Einar. Einar has basically gone through the same thing that Thorfinn has gone through to be in slavery. However, Einar is more open-minded and optimistic, always trying to get Thorfinn to do and feel the same thing that he feels. Just by how Thorfinn acts, we can tell that he sees Einar as a weird one, and trying not to be involved with him whatsoever, but eventually gives in, which starts his character development. I also like how the two interact with each other. Einar was made for Thorfinn. Arnheid is also a major factor, contributing to both Thorfinn and Einar's development. She is a kind woman who cares a lot about both of them and treats them both nicely. I don't really have that much to say about her but that. On the side, we see Canute, whose character has changed as much as Thorfinn's did. In S1, we saw him as a shy, quiet, femboy. Now he's a king who's not afraid to tell his men to decapitate a man and show that head on display. However, his kindness is still intact, which is important at the end of S2. We also get a new antagonist, Ketil. At the beginning of S2, we all think that he's a caring person. He's scared of scolding children and is not like the other people on the farm. He promises Thorfinn and Einar freedom under a saccharine smile. However, we must remember that he is a slave master, and even though they can look like a good person, they actually aren't. This creates a phenomenal and complex antagonist, who we don't even know is the antagonist until we see him do something genuinely disgusting later on in the series. With the story and the characters out of the way, I would also like to discuss the soundtrack. I absolutely love it. The placement of music in this series in incredible, as well as the audiovisual experience of it. The OP and EDs were also quite good except for the 2nd OP. That OP sounded like a generic shonen OP. The animation has also not changed a bit. In S1, Wit Studios also had the same problem with the ugly CGI, but for S2 there has been a studio change. With a studio like MAPPA, you would think that the animation would be amazing like with the bullet animation in JJK or their famous running scenes, but there are some parts where MAPPA lacks a lot in. There are very yucky still frames of the camera at a distance showing the characters. The animation is alright, but the still frames urk me a lot. All in all, I believe that this was an actual masterpiece of a season. It is over 100x better than S1, and sets up even more hype for the next season after we were left off with a tearjerking, heartwarming welcome for Thorfinn finally returning home. 2023 started off with an anime that I can already call AOTY, and nothing else can combat this. __S1 score: 84/100 S2 score: 96/100__
~~~SPOILER FREE~~~ __I want to preface this review by saying this is all opinion based. I'm not saying these are facts but just my own thoughts and views on the show. I'm not here to give an objective critical review and I ain't qualifed for that lmao__ ~~~img(https://i.imgur.com/8pqW4Ne.png)~~~ I actually rewatched season 1 a month or so before this season started airing and let me tell you, I was HYPED. Now, 24 episodes later the season has concluded. Did it meet my expectations? No, it didn't. It FAR surpassed them. I'm a sucker for anime with strong moral lessons and boy did this season scratch that itch for me. __~~~_Let's break things down a bit:_~~~__ __Animation/Art:__ ~~~img(https://i.imgur.com/yNaCFXC.png)~~~ This season the studio changed from the infamous WIT studio to the arguably more infamous MAPPA. While initially, I had my worries based on what happened with Attack on Titan I was instantly reassured upon watching the first episode. The style is still there, the feel is the same and hot DAMN this show has some BEAUTIFUL shots/sequences. There was also very little use of CGI in this season which is always appreciated. Overall the quality stayed the same if not improved in my opinion. __Soundtrack/Voice Acting:__ ~~~img(https://i.imgur.com/vYSpOKd.png)~~~ The soundtrack for season 1 was a high bar to beat and whilst I won't say this season accomplished that, it certainly maintained the level of quality. The music here is great. There's no room for argument there. The track/scene pairing was very good except for one fairly important scene, but I can overlook that. Thorfinn's voice is the same as the previous season which is both good and bad. It works well because I strongly associate the voice with his character, and now the season is done I feel this even stronger. But, he does have a slightly younger-sounding voice than you'd expect from him which can be a little jarring at times, especially once he gets his beard. Other than this though I have no complaints. All characters sounded amazing and unique, absolutely perfect casting here. __Story/Setting:__ ~~~img(https://i.imgur.com/S9sAZXd.png)~~~ We take quite a drastic jump from last season. Juxtaposing the violent, bloody battlefield with a peaceful, bountiful farm. I know a lot of people hated this change in tone but I personally loved it. It was the perfect setting to explore and develop Thorfinn's character. This leads me to the story. We initially view things from Einar's point of view, with his story taking up the entire first episode of the season, only introducing Thorfinn at the end. This season revolves around these two and their life on the farm. It focuses on their inner struggles and how their relationship grows and changes throughout their time there. I loved this angle. It felt like we were learning about the farm and exploring it alongside them, which from an immersion point of view is great. I like this especially because it directly contrasts the approach from season 1 where we feel disconnected from Thorfinn's thought process and experiences after jumping around different battlefields. I could explore the specific events but I can't be bothered and I don't wanna spoil anything. Overall the story/setting was amazing to me and I loved all the developments it brought on. __Characters:__ ~~~img(https://i.imgur.com/T9EMWRO.png)~~~ Thorfinn's character is handled really well in my opinion. We are able to see all the slight changes he undergoes and his thought process which goes alongside that. This lets the viewer feel connected to his character and also gets us invested in what happens to him. I love the message that is being conveyed through his character and I genuinely find it really inspiring. I won't go into details or anything but I love this kind of message and how the series explores it. The side characters here are all (for the most part) really, really well done. Einar being a new addition and also playing a massive role in the series made me sceptical initially but he's great, a big contrast to Thorfinn in mentality and in the life he's led. The weakest character for me here was probably Arnheid. She's fine don't get me wrong but I wasn't as invested in her character as the series wanted me to be. __Summary:__ ~~~img(https://i.imgur.com/dCkYX0I.png)~~~ I love this series. I've had such a great time watching it over the last five months and I can't explain how much I'm gonna miss this. It's got the music, the visuals, the story, the characters, and a great message. Can't recommend this enough. Thanks for reading :D
Where to even begin talking about a show like this man. 4 years ago I remember being visited by my middle brother during summer. I was living in the northern part of my country, really far away from the capital and as such far from most of my family members. But everyone got together for holidays, christmas, you know the stuff. And I remember that we watched some shows, I mainly vividly remember a lot about both the first season of Dr Stone as well as the first season of Vinland Saga. I remember knowing absolutely nothing about Vinland at all; the only thing I knew was that a guy named “Thors” was my brother’s favorite character, since he told me as much. We began watching, and it was so beautifully animated and directed. Something about the landscapes, the peace that the village from the beginning conveyed and the warmth that was shown in the form of our protagonist’s family; and the little interactions between them, just hit a chord in me. It made me think back to my childhood and times living in what was pretty much the country-side where we grew up. Even from the very beginning it felt so emotionally charged, and also so different from most media I’ve consumed through anime up until that point. Vinland is, to my mind, the kind of anime that you can pretty much recommend to anyone, even to people who aren’t really into anime. Shows like Monster, Death Note, Attack on titan, you know the stuff. And nowadays the availability of Vinland through mainstream streaming services makes it even easier to watch for people outside the anime sphere. Something about the way in which it portrays its characters, setting and how it sets the tone feels very different to the kind of treatment that most anime get. I think the best direction I can point to so that I can get my point across is in how women are represented and written here. There is an awful tendency in anime and media in general to make female characters the “female characters”; ones that only serve to be pinkish, cutesy, dumb and overly emotional, most of the time getting in the way of others and serving as a distractor of sorts that gets in the middle of narrative developments or serves as a plot device. But here, women are actually written like actual human beings instead of being walking fantasies of the author’s desires like it is in many shows, and I want to make it clear that I don’t just mean in anime, but in media in general. Now, I also need to be really careful here, since we are talking about a show based on the viking age and you can probably tell by logic alone that this wasn’t exactly the most exciting period of time in human history to be anything but a bulky, big bearded man with an axe. And even then, it was still pretty awful. This show does a great job at portraying most of what we know about that time and age (and most of it is either really interpretative or straight up interpretative, since even to this day we still have plenty of questions and theories about what happened at the time. It isn’t really an era we know enough about and that is still being studied to this day), and as we know it was a time full of unfairness, wars, bloodshed, pillages, slavery, etc. And I firmly believe that the show does a pretty tasteful representation of how all of this went down and what it could’ve meant/been like for the people living in that era. There is no romantization or fetishization around any of these topics, and there is a great deal of respect put into making sure that, for example, the whole deal with pillages, abuses, rapes and slavery gets represented exactly as it should; as something disgusting, awful and absolutely detestable. But I do feel like maybe they went a bit overboard with some of the battle scenes in the first season. Which to be fair, I’m not really sure if it’s really a valid criticism since from another point of view, I feel like the first season might have purposely overly done its violence so that we could later reflect on all that bloodshed and come to terms with what it might have meant, during the second season; as Thorfinn learns to accept and faces up to all of the harm that he caused to others during his time with the vikings, and how lost he was in his own revenge and emotions to the point that he didn’t even think much of it at the time. Also, at that time we were following a Thorfinn which was an edgy teenager deeply traumatized by war and everyone around him. So maybe the scenes were also done in a way in which we could see, visually represented and through a bit of dramatization so that it would be entertaining, how he saw all of the killings and massacres. He might have thought it was cool and awesome at the time, or straight up have fun while doing it; and some scenes where he fights soldiers before Thorkell in season one certainly got that feeling across for me. One of my favorite characters of the whole show is one of the more tragic ones, which is Arnheid. Something about how her voice actress Mayumi Saco delivered her lines made me realize that; “oh wait, I’m watching a female character that feels like an actual woman and not just another moe moe kyun kyun anime girl”. And hey, I’m not saying I hate the moe approach or that I don’t like those kinds of anime, I’m a love live fan after all; but I think there is a moment and place for everything. And it does get on my nerves every time I’m watching an anime with a plot that is trying its hardest for me to take it really seriously and out of nowhere comes a character talking as if she was, for example, a cat. Which was an actual thing that would happen pretty often in Steins;Gate 0 with the character of Faris. So I really loved the fact that we got a proper treatment and respect for these characters, and I think that Arnheid is one of the very best written female characters we have gotten in recent years due to how she feels like an actual human being. It hurt so, so damn much to see her go through such a heartbreaking and tragic development and arc. And I wouldn’t have felt this way if it wasn’t for the incredible writing and the outstanding performance of Mayumi Saco in every single scene. Vinland feels like a really mature and profound story, which doesn’t really show its true array of colors at the beginning by the way. You can trick someone into watching this by selling it as a “simple” viking era based, action anime or something like that and you wouldn’t really be lying and they would fucking love it either way. But, by the time that person reaches the second season they would see a shift in tone and even identity for the show, and they would start reflecting on every single element of the first season together with the protagonist in a really philosophical and stimulating way. Many came in for the swords and left not wanting to see the protagonist ever pick up one ever again, and for a show to do that you need to be able to pull off some real magic man. What this series has accomplished so far with only 2 seasons is absolutely mind-blowing, and I love how the show manages to develop its characters in ways that make you feel like you are constantly getting really valuable life lessons. Also, this is a tricky thing but I feel like Vinland Saga does a great job at painting its characters in a gray light for the most part. Most characters feel authentically human and you can most times see through their faults, mistakes and even straight up crimes to find some sense of the person that used to be and their humanity. Such was the case with Gardar, Arnheid’s husband for example. Which you might be terrified and confused by at the beginning or even by the end, but I would be lying if I said that he didn’t get me really emotional by the end. And even if I think he did horrifying things, I was still able to get a sense of the man that he once was and it was such a shame to see that he couldn’t become who he would’ve loved to be in the end. Both for him and his family alike. Talking about that, you can see how a lot of thought was put into what kind of ideas and values around family the series conveys at all times. And the author of the manga has been really clear about how he feels the most confident writing father-son relationships, and it shows. Thorfinn himself has plenty of father figures that help him become who he is (in better or worse ways) through the series, even putting Thors aside. Askeladd is one that obviously comes to mind, but there are also characters like old man Sverkell from season 2. And to me, this is really important; since my relationship with my father has been complicated to say the least, and I don’t think he was ever where I needed him to be, or is, even now. But, I’ve been lucky enough to meet people who have helped me out and have unknowingly acted like father figures of sorts, people from whom I know I’ve learned and taken a lot of traits at a personality level, morals, values, etc. I bring this up because at its core I genuinely believe that Vinland has a great deal of messages about what it means to be a parent, what it means to be a son, a brother, what it means to care for someone and want to protect them, what it means to want to be better for someone else; a lot of ideas around father-son relationships that, if properly understood, can be quite enriching and meaningful. I feel like this show staying power on me for the past few years has been incredible, and through it I think I’ve learned to better appreciate others around me, mainly family members. Not too long ago me and my brother convinced our father to try and watch all of Vinland with us, and I’m honestly hoping that not only him but all of us can come out of it with a better understanding of each other and who we would like to be. 4 episodes of the first season in already, and I’m really excited to get to that second season and see what our father thinks about it all. Ultimately I hope he can understand that despite it all, I’ve always loved the guy and I just want to see him be a better man than the one he can be sometimes. We can spend hundreds of hours talking about how incredible the main cast is, mainly Thorfinn, Thors and Askeladd are three of the most beautifully written and compelling characters I’ve ever seen in any medium. But instead of talking about them I preferred to talk about how, even if you take them out of the picture, Vinland Saga still has so much to offer in its story, setting, characters and overall world. Even the side characters get their spotlight, development and time to shine. And it's hard enough trying to develop your main cast alone you know, so the fact that the author of the manga could come up with so many compelling elements that allow this story to be so much more than the main characters is just absolutely remarkable. And for the anime adaptations to be such perfect alternatives to the original work that even manage to elevate the manga in some aspects, this is just one hell of a time to be alive, what can I tell you; I would love for Berserk to get this kind of treatment as well and I’m so glad that at least one of the pillars of modern manga has been getting a proper treatment. The sound design, the music, the voice actors, animators, directors, everyone came together to make a masterful work of art that goes far beyond anything I could have anticipated when I first started watching this show with my brother so many years ago. The show just doesn’t waste any time in making sure that you will get a premium experience with its fantastic usage of color and skillful ways of setting and maintaining a tone that allows each and every single moment to shine. Because sure, there is a lot of drama, thoughtful and really philosophical moments in here but there is also plenty of fun and even some laughs to be had. And only a master can craft a story that allows me to navigate so many human emotions in such an entertaining and meaningful way. __DISCLAIMER: The final rating isn’t representative of anything, the only reason why i’m even giving it a rating is because anilist won't allow me to post a review without assigning it a number that ranges from 0 to 100. If it were for me, I would post all of my reviews without ratings as I feel that trying to encapsulate a work of art on a numerical scale is completely nonsensical.__
Preface: I will be using a lot of references based on the manga and some on the anime but you can still get the jist of what I am trying to convey. Still going to publish this under Vinland Saga S2 and not the manga itself due to only focusing mainly on the Farmland arc (besides a brief recap of Prologue). I just want to precede this review by saying that I am an enormous fan of Vinland Saga and a big fan of its author, Makoto Yukimura (also the creator of the manga/anime Planetes). Through his different works, he has created many characters that are relatable to our own lives and show a great representation of the daily struggles of life such as Thorfinn and Einar from Vinland Saga (there are many more but these are just off the top of my head from S2) and Yuri from Planetes. In this review, I want to detail how well Yukimura implants into his readers why life is so important and the desire to keep living. To recap the events of Season 1, when Thors, father of our protagonist Thorfinn, is killed at the hands of the devious Viking Askeladd, it is Thorfinn's one and only goal to seek revenge for his late father and kill Askeladd. After more than a decade of suffering and continuously trying to take the life of Askeladd, he is slain by the new king Canute shortly after Sweyn is beheaded by Askeladd. Thorfinn’s main and only goal since the age of 6 was out of vengeance; All of his will to live fades away during this scene with Askeladd in his final moments asking Thorfinn “Haven’t you given a single thought to what you're going to live for after I’m dead” He tells Thorfinn to fight the “true battle” and become a true warrior like Thors was. At the moment, the definition of what it means to be a true warrior was not fully clear to Thorfinn. All he knew about being a warrior was killing and that his true battle was to get revenge. What follows is Thorfinn lashing out at the newly deemed king and being taken away and turned into a slave on a farm owned by Ketil. It is a powerful climax to an already perfect arc and is followed by an even better arc than this one. We start Season 2 with the introduction of our secondary protagonist this time around, Einar. He is one of my favorite characters in this arc due to how his backstory parallels Thorfinns such as both of them suffering through grief at a young age with their fathers both being killed. Einar is sent to Ketil’s farm as well and shortly after is introduced to the now-gloomy Thorfinn. Their personalities seem drastically apart from one another at first whereas Einar acts outspoken while Thorfinn is more quiet and introverted from his past. The bond between these two “brothers” grows exponentially as we dive deeper into this season and is one of the best aspects of it in my opinion. A very first heart-to-heart interaction takes place during episode 2 (Chapter 57 of the manga) where Einar speaks about his past telling Thorfinn that all “men who wage war are all beasts” and those that wage war are fools. As Thorfinn tries to sleep, he is reminded of all the trauma and revenge he sought out for all these years; was he really a fool for doing what was right in his eyes? The after-effects of all of his actions would not come back to him until much later on through various nightmares showing many corpses of the unnamed people he had murdered. Once morning hits, Einar and Thorfinn are approached by a mercenary on the farm, Fox. They are set up by more of his comrades and was summoned so that the son of Ketil, Olmar, could kill both of them. Einar acts out against Olmar so that Thorfinn could go signal their owner about what was occurring but instead tells them to cut him down instead and let Einar get back to work. Fox explains to Thorfinn how everyone fears the concept of death and shows that a warrior's only way of living is earned by continuously killing others. Not once does Thorfinn flinch after multiple swings from Olmar due to pondering the purpose of being afraid of death stating in one of the most powerful panels/frames of this arc “In all the days I’ve lived… Not one good thing has happened.” His response hits deep and poses a good question to the reader or watcher: “Does something good come of living?” Why is it that we want to live? Life is often difficult for all of us due to various circumstances and we often want to give up on our struggles but we need to live life to the fullest. All of this racket awakens the head of the band of mercenaries on the farm, Snake. He is a character who I believe to be very underrated but that is beside the point. Without hesitation, Snake swings out at Thorfinn (even comparing his speeds to the likes of Askeladd) but is instantly blocked by a kick from Thorfinn; his body had the will to live after all to protect a potentially devastating hit. It dawns on Thorfinn hard that maybe after all of the dread, he would want to live, but for what purpose exactly? Getting back to working on the farm once more, Einar asks Thorfinn about going to war and how many people he has killed which very much displeases Einar as you can see his facial expression gets angrier as Thorfinn asks if he despises him. During the middle of that night Einar gets up to walk over to Thorfinn while acting very angrily but in the end, residing his anger due to the fact that he was not the sole reason that his family was killed. He awakens Thorfinn from another nightmare because of one simple reason he states: “Because you… And I… Are Friends..” Even after despising warriors and those who killed others such as Thorfinn, he found it in his heart to still befriend Thorfinn on the farm. He can understand the past that Thorfinn had to endure and what that can do to a child at such a young age. They begin bonding even more through working on the farm together and a couple of chapters/episodes later he considers Thorfinn to be a nice guy, just the quiet type. Going forward a couple of chapters (around chapter 68) Thorfinn continues to have these recurring dreams about how he was seemingly falling off of a cliff where Einar remarks him screaming out for both Askeladd and his father. I believe that this dream signifies the descent of his character after Canute killed Askeladd. It represents the bottomless emptiness that his character is feeling at this point in time. Thorfinn believes himself to be a “man without substance” due to not knowing simple things within the world such as fixing a leaky roof. I have not mentioned the character of Sverkel (the old man) until now due to him only being of aide to Thorfinn and Einar’s progress within the farm but in this part, he provides a very good message while the three are all catching fish: “Just keep learning as you do it. One thing after another… Being empty means anything can fit inside you. If you want to be reborn, empty’s the best way to be.” This message makes Thorfinn reconsider his life and wonders if people are able to change for the better even in the worst of cases. Einar adds to his idea and says that people CAN change for the best and that Thorfinn was “already in the process of changing for the better.” The very next chapter shows us that the wheat field Thorfinn and Einar had been building up for the past couple of months had been mostly tarnished. Due to this, we see Einar’s anger get the best of him to go from a straightforward guy who was against all kinds of war into a man who was ready to kill whoever did this (he sort of acts like how S1 Thorfinn would). Thorfinn tries to calm down his rage by saying one of the most iconic lines from this arc: “First, be calm. Nothing good comes from revenge.” It comes full circle and shows the evolution of Thorfinns character and how to deal with a vengeance. This is aided by what comes next where the two stumble upon the group who had a hand in destroying their wheat farm. One of them throws out a snarky remark about slaves being too filthy to eat anyway which causes Einar to throw out a punch. Before it was able to connect, Thorfinn budges in front of Einar to punch them instead, which is to add to preventing Einar to not commit any vengeance on this guy. For the first time since the Prologue, Thorfinn is pissed; However, this was due to not being in the right mind space, and shortly gains himself back to realize what he had done. The two are outnumbered and Thorfinn quickly falls unconscious. He wakes up in a dream to see his father, asking him why he would kill others instead of only using his swords to protect himself. It also shows many corpses dragging Thorfinn down to hell with him which we can also see the same case for Thors. The message of “You have no enemies” that Thors tried to implant onto Thorfinn at such a young age was vital as killing more people would drag you farther down a path that you had no idea you could go to and slowly lose yourself. We find out in the end that the cliff he had several nightmares about was the hell that contained the multitude of those deceased by none other than Askeladd. Thorfinn believes that the bottom of this cliff was Valhalla due to the surplus of corpses fighting. Throughout multiple times in the series and in the real world, Valhalla is depicted as a place of worth where people worthy enough would be sent to after death. I won’t get too much more into the details but simply put, it represents the afterlife of notable fighters. It is not as simple as that: this hell that Thorfinn has fallen down represents the real world; “The ultimate state of warfare” as Askeladd puts it. A constant fight in which there are no winners or losers and “Everyone is an Enemy”, the opposite philosophy that Thors had. It is only because Thorfinn’s anger and vengeance were tarnished at the end of the Prologue that he was barely able to escape from this place. Askeladd deems him lucky from being able to escape this place once and advises him to open his eyes: he sees a stack of corpses climbing closer and closer to him. These are not just any random of the deceased, but every person that he had killed trying to curse him for all eternity. This sight devastates Thorfinn as he is not able to recall who these people were, realizing that most were innocent and only wanted to live. He cries out for forgiveness understanding all of his hatred has done to others. Askeladd then attacks the corpses and yells up to Thorfinn to keep pushing forward so as to not fall back down. “Then let them hang off of you… and Climb! That is your battle!” is also expressed by Askeladd during this same exchange. This quote is very impactful as it basically means for Thorfinn to keep climbing higher and higher even if the impact of his actions still dawns upon him, to strive to become a better person and change what you have done in the past. His speech is very impactful to Thorfinn, giving him the motivation and hope to keep pushing forward even after all he has done. This will be Thorfinn’s true battle; to take those he has killed with him and become a true warrior. He is finally able to escape this nightmare and wakes up to Einar telling him that they had won the battle. Thorfinn confesses to Einar how regretful he is for taking the lives of so many innocent people who had no quarrel with him. Never again would Thorfinn harm another person; He is now through with violence. The true battle ahead of him was making amends for what he had done and being reborn as a true warrior. This chapter closes with Thorfinn and Einar working harder on the farm, with their goals of becoming free while also being reborn to promote peace instead of violence. GOD I LOVE THIS CHAPTER. There is so much to take away from it and shows the resolve that Thorfinn gained, from a person not caring if he was killed and feeling he had no purpose to a man who wants to live and make amends for all of the wrongs he has done. We jump to September 1018 where at last Thorfinn and Einar were clearing the land they were appointed. The bond between the both of them has grown fast ever since the big fight as they speak about future plans after being freed. While they speak about what they might accomplish later, Thorfinn prompts Einar with a question: “What would you say about trying to eliminate warfare and slavery from the world?” to an unsure response from Einar. This concept will be elaborated on more shortly, just thought it would be nice to acknowledge this exchange here. I forgot to mention until now the importance of the character Arnheid due to only having a select few pop-ups early in the arc. She is Ketil’s maid and Einar takes on a heavy affection toward her. Einar, Thorfinn, and her all share a bond and try to make the best life while being slaves. While the two are striving to become free, Arnheid has a lesser chance of being let go due to her status working for Ketil. At this point in the story, her husband and runaway slave, Gardar, returns to Ketil’s farm and is promptly attacked by Snake. Einar is quick to react as he was ready to use an axe so that he and Arnheid would be able to escape. However, Thorfinn stops and asks him if he is capable of taking this man's life to which Einar has no idea of what else he can do to prevent them from clashing. Gardar is taken away by Snake and his comrades. As Thorfinn and Einar try to negotiate with him, Snake touches upon how he has previously killed others including intent to kill the master but also states “You can’t let a man like that go free”. You can apply this same idea to Thorfinn about how a man who has slain possibly thousands of bystanders should not be allowed to be free yet should be able to carry on that burden and strive to become something greater. That line was just something that caught my attention while looking back on this review that I thought was neat. Anyways, cut to nighttime when Arnheid first opens up about her past with Gardar and their child, Hjalti. To summarize, their home was struck by the enemy when all the men were out, and in the process, Arnheid’s child was taken away from her. We also hear news about how Arnheid is now pregnant with Ketil’s child which will play a large part soon enough. She meets back up with Gardar that same night once it is believed everyone else is asleep. We cut to Einar pondering about what to do when Thorfinn “wakes up” and has another talk. They speak about how most innocent people are fated to suffer and how Thorfinn’s past would not be known by Arnheid. Einar brings up their conversation earlier about getting rid of all violence within the world and questions how someone could do such an impossible feat. Through any means necessary in Thorfinn’s mind, he must make it up to “them”, the dead who constantly try to curse him, to take them to a place of rest finally. Getting rid of all war and raising a place (even a single village) where peace is preached is his main goal now to compensate for his wrongdoings. “A place that has no need for swords” and “A place where even the Vikings couldn’t find you” rings in Thorfinn’s head as he gets deja-va from what Einar is repeating; He has heard of something like this in his past. Thorfinn remembers that when he was little, he was told countless stories about this legendary place, Vinland, by one of the closest friends to his father, Leif. It would be a massive undertaking but in the end, be worth it for all of those shunned by society to populate by not having any more wars in the world. Now comes Snake’s band searching for Gardar all over the find and later, after talking to Arnheid, has set him free. Einar tells her that since she set him free, her fate is ultimately tied to his with both he and Thorfinn being willing to help them be successful. Einar auspiciously baits out the mercenaries so that Thorfinn is able to help treat Gardar and set him free alongside Arnheid. All goes downhill once Snake catches wind of this fluke and threatens to kill Thorfinn if he disagrees. A vision of Askeladd appears to Thorfinn, telling him that there is a proper justification for using his fists in this scenario. I find it quite fitting that the manga earlier on compares Snake to Askeladd in terms of speed and then, later on, appears once more during this confrontation. Askeladd prompts him with how he will go about this situation while also sticking on the path of being a true warrior: Does he hold his promise of peace or will he succumb to battle in order to save Gardar? Thorfinn is able to evade most swipes from Snake (besides the large scar on his face he is left with permanently throughout the rest of the series). Snake asks Thorfinn why after killing five of his men should he have the right to live. The only resort left for atonement is by taking Gardar’s life fair and square. Snake stabs Gardar that then causes him to wake up and try to choke Snake to death. Thorfinn breaks it off the prevent either from dying but he is not successful because of his immense strength. Arnheid encourages Garder to come with her so that they can finally “go back home” in a literal sense. He dies shortly after in Arnheid’s lap due to the damage left by Snake. I’m sorry if these past two sections have been a little summary heavy but I feel like it was only needed. The story between Arnheid and Gardar is very sad to me and the ending of it in both the manga and anime got me emotional. Now to continue onto the final stretch (this is the last volume for the arc) The tension raises high as we see King Canute coming over to Ketil’s Farm (I did not talk about it earlier due to it not correlating to other content but the short version is that Canute set sail in order to take over his farm because of how massive it is. Ketil, Thorgil, and Olmar originally went to where Canute was but have now returned at this point of the story, accompanied by Leif) Meanwhile, Thorfinn and Einar are tied up from trying to help a traitor escape as Thorfinn is upset with himself for breaking his peace vow once again. Einar reassures him that it was for the sake of helping others and that there are specific points at which fighting must be necessary under certain circumstances. He reflects on how his actions cause Gardar to die and regrets not saying anything to Snake so that no one had to be hurt. Violence was Thorfinn’s last resort in this desperate time; He wanted to be able to take that first resort so that violence would not get the best of him because “No one, anywhere, ever deserves to be hurt” It connects well with Gardar, even after all he has done, he should have that option to live and try to change as a person. What if he had a similar resolve to Thorfinn and changed his ways? There should be an option for one to improve and repent of their past. In the meantime, a depressed Ketil finds out that Arnheid had tried to escape while he was gone, causing him to lash out at her. He hits her with a pole right through her belly which only cause Ketil more stress from only just now finding out she was pregnant. Ketil’s antics are stopped by Snake, leaving a badly beaten Arnheid desperately clinging to her life. Thorfinn and Einar are freed to see what Ketil has done to Arnheid, alongside the now arrival of Leif and Pater, one of the farmhands, who was trying to help her. In this part of the story I was originally disappointed in the lack of a scene featuring the reunion of Thorfinn and Leif after so long but Yukimura stated that it was not included due to not wanting to move away from the tone that Arnheid being near death set for this time of the story. The battle between Canute and Ketil forces takes place as the squad tries to move Arnheid to a safer place. Within the hour of desperation, a miracle happens: Arnheid wakes up from hearing the sound of the battle. Einar tries to lighten the situation by telling her that they will be leaving the farm forever. She questions two things: If there will be slaves there and if war will be present (Leif replies that war is a part of human nature) She would rather return “home”, to the home that Gardar and her child had gone to instead of living in this hell of a world. Einar pleads for Arnheid to keep living as Thorfinn tries to say something and make that first resort, even calling upon his Dad to give him advice on what to say to help her live. Arnheid says something very similar to what Thorfinn talked about earlier in this arc: “Everyone I care about.. What will I gain.. By living? Why.. do I have to live? It’s nothing but Pain…” They try everything they can to bring her back but alas, it has failed: Arnheid has died. The two are distraught but Thorfinn knew exactly how to respond to her hatred of living. In an impactful speech, he recalls what his father had taught him all of those years ago: “Far to the west… Across the great sea.. There is a place.. called Vinland. It is warm and fertile… Far from the slave trade and the fires of war. There, you will be able to live without pain. Go there with us, Arnheid. We’ll create a country of peace in Vinland.” Arnheid’s death is a very emotional scene in the manga that is only elevated in the anime. It was sad to see her go and I wish she could have gone on sailing with them to Vinland to finally be at peace once and for all. As one of the mercenaries of the battle approaches them asking why they were still there, Einar loses it and breaks into a fury of rage, his last resort in a time of desperation if you may. He is stopped by Thorfinn so that a continuous cycle of vengeance would not be vanquished. No amount of anger will disappear even after killing Ketil, it will only rise more death and anger to continue for who knows how long. Thorfinn begs Einar to not fall into the same hell that he had to endure for his whole life. They bury her and Thorfinn and Einar become true brothers, promising one another to forge a country within Vinland that houses no war. All will be done “For Arnheid”. Many have been killed during this battle of the ages; They are preparing to leave before the going gets tough but Thorfinn has other ideas. Before departing, he wants to speak with Canute personally and is shortly stopped by Drott, a guard of the King. Thorfinn and Drott make a bet that if he is able to withstand 100 of his fierce punches. Five punches. Six Punches. Seven. Eight. Sixteen. Seventeen. Eighteen. Nineteen. Twenty. His resolve is as high as ever and takes all of these punches head-on, his first resolve as Einar wonders if this is what he meant by that term. Thorfinn’s vow to keep taking all of the pain and turmoil will be the way his life continues from now on. At last, all one hundred punches are dished out, with Thorfinn standing victorious to the utter shock of Canute's army. Drott apologizes for doubting such a weak-looking man in his eyes and bestows upon him the grand title of “True Warrior” One of Canute’s personal guards, Wulf, asks Thorfinn why he never had the audacity to return any of the blows that were thrown at him, even referencing the fact that he previously was a guard for Canute way back when. He responds by asking why should they have to beat each other up even while not knowing one another or bearing any grudges. Pointless violence is not needed as there already was enough bloodshed from the quarrel between Canute and Ketil, and Thorfinn did not want to cause any more. He has no enemies. A man that is now righteous of being dubbed “Son of Thors” following in what his Father stood and lived for. Now he and Einar proudly walk toward the King, the man who started this war. Thorfinn and Canute meet face to face for the first time in four years. He requests the king to leave this farm alone at once (since it was barely able to keep itself sustainable in this state) but he refuses in order to create a paradise of his own, something he told Thorfinn about many a time ago. These two are very obvious parallels of one another, men who want to promote a country of peace, but both go about it in different ways: Thorfinn’s way will be without any force while Canute would not hesitate to use force in order to attain his goal. Canute is under the belief that humanity will not thrive following alongside the rules under God. Humanity is prone to lose their way due to sin and it is his job to lead those astray into his own kingdom. In Canutes eyes, he would not be able to build a paradise if he was not able to save those who have been abandoned by God. To unify the strength of his nation means to build a stronger foundation for his ideal earth in order to fight back against the higher power of nature. Einar finds this to be a joke as what he is doing is the same exact reason why his family was killed and his village left in shambles. Canute does not seek his forgiveness and asks Thorfinn what he shall do if he has no plan on leaving anytime soon: he would run as his first resort; run to a place where his might could not reach. Canute bursts out into laughter due to expecting Thorfinn to have something up his sleeve. In the end, the King is in utter shock at how a man like this was born from a Viking. Thorfinn explains what he will do to Canute, claiming that he will venture to a place he can not reach in order to build a home of peace for those not wanting to live under a world within the grasps of the King’s hands. He leaves the farm at last as to not make Thorfinn’s job any harder. Canute looks upon Thorfinn and Einar from a distance, calling them “companions who seek the same goal through different means.” War is over and it is finally time for the crew to set sail back to Iceland. Thorfinn is now looked upon as a real man with both strong and kind personalities. Something I would like to note before the ending is that Snake reveals to Thorfinn and Einar that his real name is Roald and also the Son of Grim. I always him blurting this out very similar to how at the end of the Prologue, Askeladd reveals his true name to King Sweyn. It makes his comparison to Askeladd brought up earlier more relevant and something I wanted to say since initially reading the manga back in 2021. After arriving in Iceland, Thorfinn is finally reunited once again with his sister and mother after not seeing them for such a long time. The final episode of the anime was very emotional for me as I did not want this chain of peak to end but alas, all good things must come to an end. From here, there is only an opportunity to look forward. Thorfinn has come a long way from the Prologue to now, becoming an entirely different person from originally wanting to die to show that life is worth living! Wow, this was an undertaking lol. If you’re reading this, then thank you very much for putting up with what I had to say about this season! It holds a very special place in my heart and will always be in my top favorite anime of all time. The whole idea for this review/summary/retrospective was from an interview by Gigguk to Yukimura which he stated that for Vinland Saga, he wanted to create a series that mainly revolved around love, life and death, in which I fully believe this arc encapsulates those three perfectly. I’m sure that I messed up on a couple of details but I am pretty proud of my first large review like this. I also enjoy a lot of other shows so follow me if you want! I'll probably follow back.
~~~img(https://starcrossedanime.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Vinland-Saga-S2-Banner.png)~~~
The last time a seasonal anime impressed me, *affected me*, this much was 2018's *Run With the Wind*. Not because of any
surface level similarities, one is about kids in college running track and this is about Vikings and
farming. Rather it's because of their similar themes of finding oneself, of accepting who you were and
resolving to be better, of just *taking that next step* regardless of how hard it seems. Upon hearing
that it should then, for those that know me or have looked at my previous reviews, come as no surprise
that I absolutely loved this season of *Vinland Saga*. Directed once again by Shuuhei Yabuta, his 2nd ever directorial
credit, and this time animated by Studio MAPPA,
*Vinland Saga* returns to once again dominate its season. But this time it does so with plows, not
swords, sweat rather than blood, and wheat instead of arrows.
**Be warned, this review contains minor unmarked spoilers for *Vinland Saga* Seasons 1 and 2. It also
contains major spoilers in some sections however these will be heavily marked to avoid accidents**.
~~~img(https://starcrossedanime.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Vinland-Saga-S2-22.4.jpg)~~~
#~~~__Visuals__~~~
As usual the best place to start with an *anime* is with its *animation*. As I said above, this season
was animated by Studio MAPPA. However the previous season was done was by studio Wit, though with the
same director. That puts *Vinland Saga* in a position very similar to another popular and well loved
series, *Attack on Titan*. However where that one had a rather contentious reception surrounding CGI
titans, I feel that *Vinland Saga* only benefited from this change, a pleasant surprise considering
how inconsistent MAPPA can occasionally be. Part of this comes from the shift in focus for the series.
Season 1 was all about combat and action, a lot of episodes had a fight. Most of those fights looked
pretty good to! But Season 2 of *Vinland Saga* couldn't be any different, as it actively *avoids*
fights. This leads to a less actiony, more picturesque series.
This means that if you were coming to *Vinland Saga* looking for more Viking action, you'll probably
be disappointed. *Vinland Saga* is not a sakuga fest this season, it is not an action power house.
Instead it's become a quiet, introspective show about farming that *occasionally* has some action.
Personally, I think this is to it's benefit. Rather then focusing on flashy animation and clean
movements, *Vinland Saga* has become a very still but stunningly beautiful show, with some fantastic
direction. One example of this I absolutely love is Shuuhei's obsession with the characters hands, and
the stories they tell. Their calluses, scars and rough textures. Whether a hand is presented as soft
and caring or hard and powerful. *Vinland Saga* seeks to tell you who these characters are and what
they have been through via their bodies and designs as much as their words.
This sort of care applies to the backgrounds as well. While it often resorts to simple colors and
clear blue skies or monotone backgrounds for a funny scene, when *Vinland Saga* wants to it has some
of the best landscapes in the season. Just look at some of the ones I have supplied below, don't worry
there are no spoilers in there. *Vinland Saga* isn't afraid to bring some color into its forests and
trees. Whether it be autumn leaves or a setting sun, it looks great.
~!
!~
The only issue with the series is that occasionally *Vinland Saga* gets... Lazy. Sometimes a
characters face will disappear from their body in a medium shot to save on detail, other times
something will slide across the screen or the lighting will become like a bloom filter. It's all cost
cutting measures, which I get. That doesn't change that you *will* notice it and it *will* take you
out of the moment. Luckily, it never happens during the *big* moments. Those get all the attention
they deserve and then some, becoming some of the most visually beautiful scenes in the entire show (As
they should). No, this only happens between the big moments, during smaller buildup segments. I'm
talking Thorfinn walking down a road and not having a face, or another character just statically
standing in the background as they talk, their mouth not moving. Nothing *huge*, but noticeable.
All in all while this season of *Vinland Saga* isn't the most particularly animated, especially not
from MAPPA or even this season, and it won't show up on any Sakuga Blog lists, I don't really think it
*needs* to be. This isn't a story that requires flashy action animation or clean, flowing character
movements. Would those be nice to have? Would I object to that? No, of course not. But this isn't
*Kimetsu no Yaiba*. It doesn't live and die on the hype of its combat. It can get away with still
shots and wide shots and and "Shot reverse shot" conversations. And it does so because Shuuhei and his
team put in the work to make the characters and world *in* those shots interesting to look at, with
different and interesting or meaningful angles and compositions to keep your attention. Long story
short? Show looks nice, doesn't move much. And that's fine.
~~~img(https://starcrossedanime.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Vinland-Saga-S2-23.5.jpg)~~~
#~~~__Narrative__~~~
This shift in focus from action and movement to peace and picturesque applies to the narrative too! In
fact I would go so far as to say the narrative is what informed how they produced it. Where Season 1
of *Vinland Saga* danced with its condemnation of violence, showing us both its seeming necessity and
terrible cost, Season 2 progresses to a full-on rejection of it in all its forms. There is no
glorification of combat here. Warriors are not depicted as these awesome badasses you should aspire to
be. Death comes with all the gore and pain it entails, with characters generally in some state of
shock, pain or fear. Slavery is shown as the terrible thing that it is, clearly unacceptable with no
ground given even to the common idea of "The Kind Slaver Owner". Simply put, *Vinland Saga* condemns
everything usually glorified by this era in films.
This isn't to say warriors, or characters that idolize and extol the virtues of war, don't exist. They
do! *Vinland Saga* takes place in Viking culture after all. Generally however these characters are
portrayed negatively, either as bloodthirsty monsters with no care for those around them or arrogant
fops who believe carrying a sword gives them the right to push others around. None them are what you
would call "heroes". In fact one of the central arcs of the entire show is one of these characters
rebelling against their culture and deciding violence really isn't all the productive. The only
characters depicted *positively* are those who actively choose to *avoid* combat, even at their own
personal loss. This of course includes Thorfinn, who routinely over the course of the show belittles
and denigrates himself for his past actions. The message is clear: Violence is never the appropriate
answer.
What makes *Vinland Saga* stand out the most though is how... *consumable* the material is. None of
these topics are particularly new in anime. Plenty like to have kind MC's that hate violence or
attempt to condemn slavery. Most of the time however those shows falter and give in. Their MC starts
to clamor for the villain's head, or they buy a slave of their own, assuring the audience that they
are "One of the good ones". And they do this because it's easy. Because *saying* your character is a
bastion of moral greatness is easier then *showing* it. Which is what makes *Vinland Saga's*
presentation of it so incredible. It doesn't walk back or attempt to apologize for a characters
actions. When they screw up, and they do because no one is perfect, they own it. And they hate
themselves for it.
Yet *Vinland Saga* is able to communicate all of this, all of their self-loathing and internal
struggles, their quest for peace in a land determined to deny them it, their successes and failures,
in an easily consumable package. *Vinland Saga* isn't some doctoral thesis on the morality of
violence. You don't need to read Immanuel Kant or Henry David Thoreau to understand what is going on
in these characters heads or what *Vinland Saga* is trying to say. And anyone who tells you otherwise,
who attempts to gatekeep this show, need to step back and go outside. This doesn't mean it's surface
level or shallow. Just that *Vinland Saga* introduces these ideas in an easily digestible manner. It
works you through them along side the characters so that, by the end, you can start asking *your own*
questions. And it does so without losing what makes them important and impactful.
To me, *that's* why *Vinland Saga* is great. Not because of the ideas it tackles, but the way it does
so, making them so accessible to everyone without watering them down or diluting them. As for how it
accomplishes that? Well for that we need to move on to the characters and their individual stories
that make up this larger narrative.
~~~img(https://starcrossedanime.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Vinland-Saga-12.3.jpg)~~~
#~~~__Characters__~~~
That's right, for as praiseworthy as *Vinland Saga's* narrative is, all of the above is just the broad
thematic strokes. The true meat, the *emotional* core of the show, comes from the characters. Their
individual stories on this farm, and how each one either feeds into or works to deny the violence
inherent in their culture. Take Olmar for instance, a brash young man who grew up with tales of his
father and brothers glorious deeds. For most of his life he wanted to be just like them, to become
this Viking Ideal that his culture values so highly. It's not dissimilar to how we did, or in some
cases still do, view soldiers. And over the course of the season we see him face the bloody reality of
what it's really like, of what it really means *to hurt people*.
And Olmar isn't unique in this. Every character has some sort of meaningful interaction with the topic
of violence. Whether it be being able to look past it and see that one man is not guilty for the sins
of his people or embracing it because their pride was more important than peoples lives. Not all of
these are happy stories either. While every character is a victim of violence in one way or another,
either because it's seen as a necessary part of the culture or because they themselves are to weak to
stop others enacting it on them, many succumb to the violence and end the season in a darker place
then they began. *Vinland Saga* makes it very clear how difficult a conversation this is, seeking more
to raise up those able to deny it rather then condemn those who can't.
Just look at our lead, Thorfinn, for an example of that. Back in Season 1, Thorfinn was this angry and
static child, forever locked in that moment after his fathers death, never able to truly move on. It
was only after Askeladd's death, after his revenge was taken from him and his purpose lost, that he
finally started being able to move forward again. And it's these first tentative steps into a life
post-revenge, where he looks back on all he's done and asks if his father would be proud of him, that
we see in *Vinland Saga's* first few episodes. The difference taking from others and building it up
with your own hands. A young man's story of personal redemption, starting from his cultures ideal,
finding the strength to reject it, and to then forge his own path.
I'm being vague here, and that's on purpose. Nothing I've said so far isn't anything you wouldn't see
in the first few episodes. And that's because I don't want to spoil, accidentally or otherwise, the
profound journeys of these characters. Each one is a different road with different views and
experiences, but they all lead to the same place: A firm condemnation of violence in all of it's
forms. To some, looking for the action packed stories of season 1, this will be a disappointment. But
this season of *Vinland Saga* isn't about that. Characters actively seek to *avoid* conflict. Instead
it's a natural progression of the themes and stories present back in Season 1. We saw where violence
and war got Thorfinn. And it wasn't a happy place. Now we get to see where a peaceful life on a farm
takes him.
~~~img(https://starcrossedanime.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Vinland-Saga-S2-4.1.jpg)~~~
#~~~__OST__~~~
Finally we come to the music. Once again composed by Yutaka Yamada, *Vinland Saga* maintains
much the same level of quality as it did in the 1st season. That is to say, it is neither obtrusive
nor spectacular. The best thing I can say to *Vinland Saga's* score is that while it is inextricably
tied to the show. It is not an OST that you would ever feel compelled to listen to on its own,
independent of the scenes the music are tied to. You're never going to hear a piece of a song and
remember a specific scene or moment, it just doesn't have that kind of memorability. It is, at it's
core, a rather subdued OST all things considered. Still, that doesn't mean it's a *bad* OST. It's just
not a great one.
What do I mean by that? Well simply put, while *Vinland Saga's* OST is never particularly memorable,
it also never takes away from any scene over which it plays. It never overpowers the narrative or
dialogue, ruining a moment as a singer belts something out at the top of their lungs. For a show like
*Vinland Saga*, I think that's a pretty good thing. This isn't an action shounen, the focus *should*
be on the story. And while it's often forgettable after the fact, in the moment the OST often enhances
what is happening on screen. That is to say, if it were attached to a weaker show it would feel much
worse as what it is trying to enhance was never good to begin with. But with *Vinland Saga* it manages
to support and augment something that is already great, leaving me with a generally positive
impression.
Long story short, *Vinland Saga's* OST is nothing particularly great or memorable. But when you're
attached to a narrative as well constructed and thought provoking as this, you really don't need to be
to get the job done. So long as you don't take away from what is happening on screen then you're doing
fine. And in this case, Yutaka Yamada's score occasionally does even more then that. Just don't expect
to see anyone going out and buying CDs or Vinyls for the score, it's just not going to happen. You
aren't going to get a "KO-TO-WA-RI" or "Blumenkranz" out of this.
~~~img(https://starcrossedanime.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Vinland-Saga-S2-6.7.jpg)~~~
#~~~__With This, Vinland Saga Feels Complete__~~~
With that we come to the end of this review. The only thing left is what I call the "Personal
Section". It's where I try to give you a bit of a glimpse into my experience watching a show, what it
means, and provide a bit of context towards everything I just said. If that isn't your deal, if that's
not what you want and you're just looking for a score, then skip it. However if you want to try and
get to know me a bit, this is the place. Oh and be warned: This is extreme spoiler territory, no holds
barred. So if you haven't seen the show... probably skip this.
~!Now when you read the title of this section you may be mislead into believing I don't want more
*Vinland Saga*, or that I think what comes next doesn't deserve to be animated. Neither of those are
the case. I love *Vinland Saga*, I've been a long time reader of it, and I think Yukimura-sensei has
so much more to say. Rather what I mean is that with the conclusion of Farmland Saga, Thorfinn's
journey feels as if its come full circle. It's satisfying in a way where, if we never got another
episode of *Vinland Saga*, I wouldn't feel like there was anything missing. The man left home, lost
his father, lost himself in war, lost *another* father figure, lost his purpose in life, and then
slowly started to rebuild himself with the simple joys of creating with his own hands rather then
taking from others. He found purpose.
And of course Thorfinn didn't do this alone, he had others like Einar and Arnheid. 2 people that, in
his previous life, he would never have given a 2nd glance. People who are all to similar to those he
has killed in the past, mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, daughters and sons. Through them he
was given back a life he never even knew he had lost, as he wasn't old enough to really appreciate it
back when he was living with Helga and Thors. Einar grants him the forgiveness he never thought he
deserved, even teaching him how to build something up for the first time in his life. Similarly,
through Arnheid he is shown how fulfilling a simple life at home with those you care for can be, as
well as exactly what its like to have that suddenly ripped away from you.
As someone raised in a traditionally masculine fashion, "Guys don't cry" and everything that goes
along with that, Thorfinn's journey hit really hard. Of course his experiences outstrip mine, being
much more extreme both in their effects and consequences, but as far as tackling toxic masculinity and
promoting health alternatives without tearing down or disparaging who he was before, I think *Vinland
Saga* does it beautifully. The series doesn't act like it's impossible to be saved, or like only
Thorfinn could change. It makes it clear that *everyone* can, from people like Einar almost succumbing
to the same violent urges Thorfinn had to the random soldiers in Canute's army, they can all improve
so long as they actively work on it.
The best part of course being that *Vinland Saga* even has it work! It doesn't solve all the worlds
problems. Thorfinn refusing to fight, instead talking others down, doesn't instantly stop all violence
or make up for those who have died. Rather he is leading by example. He shows others they maybe there
*is* another way, and inspires them to give a try themselves. And when Canute does try it? When he
pulls his armies out and starts approaching people as a King rather then a Conquerer? He finds a new,
more peaceful road towards the future he desires. It's a small taste, a demonstration, of how the best
way to change your surroundings is to start with changing yourself and using that to inspire others to
do so as well.
So yeah, you could say I was personally really affected by *Vinland Saga*. Just a little bit.!~
~~~img(https://starcrossedanime.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Vinland-Saga-S2-10.1.jpg)~~~
#~~~__Conclusion__~~~
All in all I view *Vinland Saga* as one of the rare complete experiences in modern anime. Despite the
fact that there is more to the story, should *Vinland Saga* never get another episode ever again you
won't end feeling cheated or like you should go read the manga. Instead you'll leave knowing that
Thorfinn has grown into a man worthy of respect, that he has made peace with himself and what has
happened to his father, that he is finally *whole* again for the first time in over a decade. Is it
perfect? No, if only because nothing ever truly is. However it is a deeply thematic, emotional work
that I believe will linger with you for a long time to come. It certainly has with me, even back when
it was a manga and not this great adaptation. Suffice to say: Watch *Vinland Saga*. Because it just
landed in my top 10.
Thanks for reading! If you want to leave a comment, positive or negative, you can leave it
[here](https://anilist.co/activity/570391970).
~~~img220(https://www.spieltimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Vinland-Saga-S2-Part-2_-New-trailer-reveals-Opening-and-Ending-songs.jpg?ezimgfmt=ng:webp/ngcb1)~~~ ~~~Vinland Saga season 2 undoubtedly one of the anime with expectations of being anime of the year. For those who have not watched season 1 I strongly encourage you to watch (Yes, it is that good). With season 2 the anime takes an entirely different approach; with such a risky gamble let's see what I rate Season 2 of Vinland Saga. ~~~ ~~~__Synopsis __ ~~~ ~~~So, let us get into what the story is about. For those who have not seen season 1 no need to read this review, it is heavy with spoiler content. Thorfinn as we know chased after Askeladd for very well good reason in season 1, Ultimately did not receive the revenge story we all thought would happen. After being enslaved as punishment Season 2 focuses on Thorfinn transition from being a Viking to now being a slave. ~~~ __~~~Story ~~~ __ ~~~The story of the entire series receives a 10/10, even just based off the 2nd season I would say it is a 10. We see Thorfinn’s journey on transitioning to a true warrior, seeking to talk things out instead of constant fighting and killing. Within this story we see Thorfinn gain a valuable friend as in Einar and we see him come to terms with what he has actually done as a Viking. Personally, I love the moment where he sees all the dead bodies hanging on to him, this is a sign of growth when he realizes he has taken the life of brothers, sisters, and parents such as what has happened to his friend Einar. Another sign of growth is Thorfinn realizing that he sees Askeladd as a bit of a father figure within the anime. The ending was even a beautiful moment where Thorfinn returns to his hometown and tells his story to his mother, sister (who does not recognize him lol), and childhood friends. ~~~ ~~~__Animation and Music __~~~ ~~~Was there ever doubt that the animation wouldn’t be beautiful? Another wonderful thing regarding Vinland Saga is the beauty of the landscape within the anime, even the fights scenes with the weapons and gore are perfectly executed, I will drop some images below. With music there is no issue at all, I honestly do not care too much for the opening song, but it is not bad enough for me to deduct points for the review and the ending credit song is good as well. ~~~ ~~~img220(https://sportshub.cbsistatic.com/i/2023/04/27/f5ff0b16-21b5-4152-a9d8-c08816adee96/vinland-saga.jpg?auto=webp&width=1210&height=642&crop=1.885:1,smart) ~~~ ~~~img220(https://twinfinite.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Vinland-Saga-1.jpg?w=1200) ~~~ ~~~__Characters __~~~ This season was weird because there was no main antagonist to hate. This is another nod to the story line of this anime season; we have our main character Thorfinn and his friend Einar. We later meet Snake and his gang who are like the farm protecters. They do attempt to hurt Einar and Thorfinn due to the owner of the farm son, but with this interaction later we see a great battle between Thorfinn and Snake. King Canute is supposedly looked at as the villain, but I cannot honestly call him a villain doing things that all kings have done as history shows. Each character within the show has a vital role in making this anime as good as it is. __~~~Conclusion ~~~ __ To conclude, even though I said a bunch of positive things in the review there are some negative things to include as well. First the timing of the anime, I honestly felt that they did not need 24 episodes to complete season 2. Some of the episodes were hard to complete due to the slow pace of the anime, we basically watched slaves be slaves. There was almost no action included in this season which is why I can see others dubbing the nickname “Midland Saga.” But even then, it was still a beautifully told story. I recommend this anime with a - __You should watch.__ ___For those who don’t know scores of 80+ get a “you should watch recommendation"___
webm(https://files.catbox.moe/s65s7w.mov) #~~~" Ｉ ｈａｖｅ ｎｏ ｅｎｅｍｉｅｓ "~~~ ##TL;DR That time the Internet lost its mind finding out that farming is based and war is cringe ______ Sentiments of pacifism and anti-war media has existed long before Vinland Saga; Hideo Kojima’s Metal Gear Solid series for video games, All Quiet on the Western Front and the millions of its ilk in Hollywood, even anime tries to tackle the questionable morality of war with the most prominent one besides Vinland right now being… Attack on Titan- which ermm that certainly tackles the issue! My point is, Vinland Saga isn’t great because of a message that only it is preaching but how that message is relayed to the audience and how it tackles subjects in a more interesting way than I could find elsewhere. I’m not a fan of historical fiction and that extends to fantasy set in the early 10th centuries- the setting is just not one of my favourites and I’ve never really been invested in a lot of them because it feels like they’re very constricted by either the mindsets of their time or prone to getting a little too whimsical or dark for my tastes. Of course, I have exceptions to this, Dragon Age, The Witcher and a handful of other stories and worlds have transcended this general distaste for the setting by crafting such compelling characters and narratives that the setting is at the complete back of my mind. When I first heard about Vinland Saga when a casual acquaintance told me to watch it probably a year or two ago now, I thought it sounded… interesting. WIT was the name that sold me on even giving it a shot but hearing the word ‘Viking’ immediately put me off and made me just nervous chuckle and make the empty promise I’d check it out. We all have our preferences, but I think it’s equally important to broaden our horizons and check out stuff that normally we’d dislike purely from prejudice. It’s something I’ve learned with media can produce some of your most memorable experiences where something in a genre you typically dislike can pleasantly surprise you or something in a genre you love can disappoint you. Vinland Saga is a show I should have gotten too as soon as that person told me, it’s a gripping story that is rightfully called a ‘saga’ with its dynamic characters, world and themes. I think it’s brilliant, I think the things it does is brilliant, I think the impact it’s managed to muster as a reaction from some of the people I’ve seen is brilliant. When I finished Season 1 I mentioned how I felt a way about Vinland Saga that was on the precipice of loving it, that I understood it was a quality show but it never quite surpassed the threshold of becoming special or a personal favourite. I think Season 2 has served to reinforce that even more- Vinland Saga is good; it’s great even but I think it’s far from perfect and at some times the flaws and issues I take with it do make it impossible for me to feel the same way as some people do about this series. Which of course is okay, media subjectivity is important. That’s why even it’s a little soul-crushing to see reviews claiming the show ‘fell off’ because it’s no longer action oriented are equal parts despair-inducing and hilarious, I understand why those people felt like that. Vinland Saga Season 1 doesn’t glorify war. However, it does make it a spectacle. There are moments in that Season where the horrific nature of war is put on display, most notably for me the episode that’s mostly from the perspective of the only surviving daughter of the family whose village is raided and the villagers executed by Thorfinn, Askeladd and their band of merry Danes. It’s an episode that is downright haunting and its ending with her sanity all but breaking is a moment that I remember being very surprised by. Up to this point, much of the killing is of enemy soldiers, whilst you’re told Vikings are barbarians, you’re only really shown it occasionally and so it’s easy to forget until the show literally shows you them murdering people who are completely innocent, not just warriors but entire families. This is how typically Vikings have been presented in media and these violent brutish behemoths wrecking the order of 11th century Britain is something extremely longstanding. I never found Vikings all too interesting but there’s a real sentiment of dislike toward them here especially, bearing in mind it’s been literally 1000 years. Villainisation of entire subsects is sadly common in media and the wider world but I really don’t want to dive into that here, not only is it irrelevant but it also feels a little vain and insensitive to mention when talking about anime. Point is, Vikings have been shown constantly in this fashion and Vinland Saga initially reinforces this longstanding trope before subverting it really wonderfully in Season 2 and of course at its onset with Thors. It’s almost impossible to believe that there wouldn’t be people who wished for a purpose greater than War and that all Vikings were as the Jomsvikings are portrayed in Vinland Saga; killing machines who took pleasure from acts of twisted evil and killing. People who defined themselves entirely on principles of warfare, bloodshed and cruelty. These are things at the time and as demonstrated in Vinland Saga particularly in the dynamic between Olmar and Thorgill are seen as staples of being a ‘Nordic man’ that for them that’s their path to becoming a ‘true warrior’ to borrow the lexicon of the show. For them, the very idea of being a ‘man’ revolves around being these monstrous individuals. ‘Masculinity’ then becomes something I kind of have to talk about, especially how it is deconstructed and presented in a much more positive light through this arc of the story as a whole. Traditional masculine qualities and values don’t entirely align with the Vikings depicted in Vinland Saga, but they do share a lot of similarities. The idea of concealing emotion under strength and stoicism, the idea that being stronger than your peers is laudable and gives you value. This construct has been shaped around society as its developed and I don’t think it’s the bravest of takes to think there’s a lot more nuance to the discussion surrounding it that makes it difficult to define and more importantly in the context of the show, to redefine. Masculinity isn’t an inherently bad thing but there is a reason that ‘toxic masculinity’ is something that you’ve probably heard echoed somewhere. The bottling of emotions, the violent competition and many other aspects the Vikings demonstrate here are negative aspects of a traditional societal view of masculinity. Thorfinn and Thors on the other hand serve to be more positive depictions of masculinity, strong physically but kind, caring and strong of heart. Thorfinn starts as this murder hungry beast fuelled only by a lust for revenge, killing any that get in his way- quickly becoming a valuable asset on the battlefield, for all of Season 1 he’s an unstoppable hurricane of destruction ending lives of people who’s faces he doesn’t care to remember. He hardly mourns his Father and is instead spurred solely by the desire to murder his killer and prove he’s *stronger*. Askeladd rightly wins everytime, it isn’t just that Thorfinn is physically weaker than he is it’s that he can never match Thors until he follows his path and example. It’s a wonderful thematic demonstration and is doubly so when Thorfinn outlives Askeladd, someone consumed by conflict their whole life and who’s journey somewhat mirrored Thorfinn’s own. Only that he was never able to follow Thors’ path. That’s why we see Askeladd down in the twisted depiction of Valhalla, an endless warring hellscape providing this season with one of if not its best backdrops. It’s haunting and chilling and yet enlightening too and seeing Thorfinn manage to scramble out of it and toward a better path is incredibly cathartic. I said during Season 1 that I predicted that Thorfinn would grow a lot and that’s why I was fine with disliking him; of course, I didn’t know to what extent but the story pulled this off wonderfully. Thorfinn’s ideals of pacifism and his very famous in meme culture “I have no enemies” as aforementioned aren’t unique but the setup required to get to this point is his journey of self-reflection takes an incredible amount of pain, anguish and determination. It’s even shown directly to us the audience that it leads to him suffering physically too, his unwillingness to defend himself leads to him being beaten senseless. To these Nordic men whose culture revolves around violence and imposing their will to be a ‘man’, it seems to be worthy of mockery and completely idiotic. Yet, when Thorfinn proclaims to them all that how could they possibly be enemies when they’ve only met today, he comes across as perfectly rational and through demonstrating his physical strength and resilience he’s able to sway them into respecting him. A respect not earned through fear and intimidation. Going back to Masculinity I feel the need to make somewhat of a contemporary comment and I apologise if this seems out of place, but I thought it was relevant. I often make fun of videos such as ones like “how to manipulate people like Ayaokouji” and the entire ‘sigma’ culture that somehow derived from its ironic roots into something that is now unrecognisable and twisted. I think it’s funny to poke fun at these issues but that doesn’t stop them from being issues; the resurgence of elements of ‘toxic masculinity’ once again covered with a fresh lick of paint is a problem that is impacting a lot of younger men and their views right now. Just as in the days in which I grew up of 2016 Leafy content and Anti-SJW videos getting shared around like wildfire, there seems to be somewhat of a similar phenomenon taking place. This reinforcement of obsolete ideals like men needing to be able to financially support their partner, men having dominion over wives, men not showing emotion and ‘might making right’ is a real problem right now and I think it’s going to seriously impact a lot of impressionable younger people. It’s not like you see one Andrew Tate TikTok and you suddenly hate women but the entire subculture that has festered has led to an alarming increase of sexism and xenophobia online. Again, this isn’t exactly the place to speak on it of course but I just wanted to highlight that now more than ever, it’s important to demonstrate a more positive view of masculinity to the same people who may have been swayed into some very close-minded pathways. I do find it deathly ironic though that Fight Club and American Psycho are being used as proponents of these ideas when their very existence is essentially a mockery of them and both writers are gay men. Anyway, enough about culture because who cares about the real world, Lain Iwakura is literally me, we live in a society. I compared Canute to a Jesus like figure in my reflection of Season 1 so consider this section a bit of an addendum to that. My thoughts have shifted on Canute a lot, I still think he’s by far and away one of the most interesting characters here but his idea of creating paradise has changed slightly as he’s become jaded with the curse of the crown. Burdened by a literal “talking head” of his dead Father, Canute struggles with his identity as a King and the very well-treaded ground of the “greater good”. Canute denies falling into the same trap as his father and only sees the power required to be Emperor of the North Sea as a means to an end; only by becoming such an important figure can he ever hope to create the World he so desperately wants to defy God and fate to create. We’re shown early in the season, his idea of “peace talks” and get to see a much more macabre version of him than Season 1 using intimidation and any means necessary in order to establish the world he seeks. It’s why it’s so poignant that he tells Thorfinn at their reunion that it’s the most “challenging” peace talks he’s ever had; it isn’t just because Thorfinn is challenging his ideals but that he isn’t swayed by the King’s might and so they actually *talk*. In this Season, Canute is shown as less of a biblical figure and more like a martyr or pariah, someone desperate to do the right thing and never losing sight of their ultimate goal but not caring about the corpse-littered road it took to get there. In a way he kind of reflects Season 1 Thorfinn. This change in Canute’s character is indicated to the audience with his face growing more tired and him taking traditionally a more masculine appearance. He ditches the long hair, and his face becomes noticeably less androgynous. I haven’t seen it mentioned anywhere and I’ve been holding it in all this time, but I do want to acknowledge this. When Canute relents to Thorfinn and begins bursting out into laughter, we see the weariness fade from his face, his eyes become lighter, and he resembles the boy we see in Season 1 so much more. I don’t think it’s just a trick of the eyes or delusion based on him acting more familiar, but it was something that really put a smile on my face as well as finding it incredibly cathartic. His struggle with so much power and still feeling powerlessness of which, he uses being unable to stop the waves as a metaphor for is really compelling and works with what was established in Season 1. I did change my mind on him being a Jesus-like figure but his pledge to save the Vikings and create a place where even Sinners can find paradise is pretty biblical by nature so it’s not a complete change. Thorfinn however is presented as much more of a messiah in this season, having a profound impact on those around him, his interaction with Olmar at the end of the Season is beautiful and I found it an amazing way to send off his arc. Olmar and Thorgill were standout characters from this arc and served to provide the primary dichotomy that served as the basis for this season’s deconstruction of masculinity (that sentence was the grossest combination of buzzwords I’m so sorry lol). Which is why I think it’s about time to get to the negatives, I can’t just sit here all day and gush over how great some of the character writing is in Vinland without acknowledging its flaws. Although, I think Vinland needed to go in this direction, I think it fumbled it slightly. Thorfinn’s dramatic self-reflection did feel a little rushed to me and I think the series should have committed to a more dramatic slow-down to truly reflect his journey. Some moments here and there would have felt even better like that. Vinland also severely underutilises its characters, it was a problem in the first season too with interesting characters like Bjorn not getting their time in the spotlight but its even more apparent when the cast gets even bigger. It leads to this weird feeling of detachment from the characters and plot because you’re given too many things to care about when really you just Thorfinn’s journey of self-discovery. The first third and last third of this season were really great but the middle third genuinely just didn’t connect with me. I would rather the whole season focused on a smaller circle of people rather than the larger setting of Ketil’s farm. Their numbers don’t help especially with the fact that the cast is generally very hit or miss. For every new character I enjoyed and found entertaining like Thorgill, Olmar and Snake. There were characters like Arnheid, Gardar and Fox who were uninteresting, the former two having the slowest and least compelling stretch of the story yet. I didn’t very eloquently put it when I reflected on the first 16 episodes but their conflict was very uninteresting and I didn’t emotionally connect with it at all and merely saw it as a barrier to more interesting characters getting the development they deserved; that might seem like scathing criticism but we all connect differently to media as aforementioned and I just felt nothing for these people. There was also a lot of characters that might have been interesting or more interesting but just had not enough time. Einar, Ketil and even Canute’s attendant Wulf come to mind. Vinland overextended a little in this stretch and it left to some very interesting characters in premise not really resonating with me. Ketil could have been much more of an interesting antagonist but his shift into his façade falling away and his abuse of Arnheid feels cheap, unearned and played mostly for shock value. Yeah it made me hate the guy but that wasn’t really a strength to me. The scene itself is very uncomfortable and I think serves its purpose but Ketil never came across as anything more than a pathetic manchild who snapped at the first sign of his pride being defaced. Which I suppose is the point but it didn’t really work for me. Einar was very hit or miss, some scenes I thought he was great and the performance is amazing for him but other times he’d really miss the mark for me and seemed only there for plot progression like Arnheid- although much less egregious than I found her and by the end I decently liked him and hope he develops further into a character I can really enjoy. Production wise, this Season was noticeably less impressive than Season 1 in terms of visual fidelity. The sound design and music was as good as ever though, using some tracks from Season 1 as well as some new great ones. I’ve attached a sample at the top of this to hopefully make reading this a little more ambient as well as less tedious haha. MAPPA is a studio I’m a bit rocky with, for every production they get right, there’s another I dislike, or think is iffy. VS2 doesn’t look *awful* but outside of a few scenes it doesn’t look great either. Faces make these weird, contorted expressions sometimes that whilst present in Season 1 were a lot more noticeable here, backgrounds are pretty stellar but overall polish could be a little better. The little choreography there is, is serviceable but nothing of note. It’s a lot less flashy than WIT which does fit the tone of this arc a little more in theory but like with Attack on Titan it does feel like a downgrade. I don’t think it’s adding too much to the source material which is why I’m confident I’ll eventually start reading it because I don’t feel like I’ll be missing anything from the adaptation that will vastly improve the quality. Those are the little gripes aside and overall I think this Season was wonderful, personal preference would still side with the 1st but this Season was a lot better than I expected and I loved a majority of it; there are some amazing things discussed here- mainly for me how it deconstructs Vikings and how it introduces more progressive ideas of masculinity into a historical story which fixes one of my main gripes with the genre being they oft are restricted to the mentalities of the time and can feel a bit superficial because of it. I don’t think this is great just because I agree with those ideas but because I think it’s a great demonstration of how to do it right, with all the current conversations about morality across history and whether its okay to judge people by modern standards when they weren’t upheld back whenever I think Vinland is a shining example of how to inject a positive message whilst maintaining a historical setting and bending truth to make a truly brilliant story. Whilst Vinland deals with some very harsh and dark topics like the brutality of War, slavery and deep-rooted trauma, I think its second Season is a very positive show and left me who didn’t and still doesn’t have a deeply personal connection with it feeling a little more inspired and optimistic about the world. Its final episode is beautiful and the scene where he reunites with his mother made me sob unapologetically. The conclusion was brilliant but like with Season 1 I just wish the setup to get there was streamlined a little more. I see why people love Vinland Saga, I think it’s a great foray into some meaningful topics as well as some personal ones- it’s profound, entertaining and overall, I’m really glad I watched it. The production and overall lack of perfect cohesion this season did hold it back for me a little but please don’t get that confused for me telling you Thorfinn “fell off” or the season was “boring” because he became so great this season and it’s a move by Yukimura that as I have previously said I greatly respect. If you read this far, thank you for witnessing the conclusion (for now teehee) of my voyage into Vinland Saga- I didn’t expect to like it as much as I did but it was a really great time and I see why so many people fell in love with it. I’d say I have no enemies but I’d be lying if I said me and my 6am alarm for Work on Monday are on the greatest of terms… #8/10- too little Leif Erikson.
# ~~~Introduction~~~ _______ The first two seasons of Vinland Saga touched on themes of futility and meaning. I chose to use the basics of Albert Camus' absurdism to better understand the primary questions that we are left with. I think most people intuitively felt sympathetic toward Thorfinn as a character. At the start of season two, he is explicitly described as the man who nothing good has ever happened to. He lost his father, grew up in violence, and was deemed unfit to fight by Askeladd's crew. Camus' childhood was also painted by violence as Algeria was being colonized, he lost his father and was deemed unfit to fight by the government. While despondently following the conflict, he pondered the question; >"In a world devoid of meaning, can my individual life be meaningful?" Humanity's intrinsic desire for meaning and the meaninglessness of the world are two ununitable enemies, that contract is fundamentally absurd. # ~~~The Absurdity of War and the Viking Ideal~~~ ___ Season one paints a vivid picture of a meaningless war. Young men are drawn to the allure of Valhalla, which you can only enter if you die in battle. They don't care who they fight, just that they die fighting. Thorfinn is blinded by rage and will kill anyone if it allows him to duel with Askelled, so he can lose and do it again. The fights never seem to stop, and the cycle of revenge keeps going. He's like a bird with clipped wings, unable to fly freely. Just as Sisyphus was condemned to roll a boulder uphill only to see it tumble back down for eternity, the characters' pursuit of honor seems to yield similar futility. # ~~~The Absurdity of the Farm~~~ ___ Season two opens with an unrecognizable shell of what Thorfinn used to be. Askaladd died just as meaninglessly as the meaningless lives he had ended to get there. Without a goal, Thorfinn now deforests a piece of land that he does not own to farm wheat which he does not know how to farm. When threatened with death, he firmly says that he doesn't care if he dies. >"If my life is devoid of meaning, is the only rational response dying?" Camus' work on this premise was rather unique. In his work about Sisyphus, he declared that everyone's life carries as much meaning as his endless, monotonous labor. He believed that true freedom lies in acknowledging the absurdity and still finding value and meaning in one's actions and experiences. He viewed suicide as a form of surrendering to the absurd, whereas choosing to live in spite of it is a form of rebellion. Einar was able to come close to showing him such value and meaning by choosing to be his friend. # ~~~To Rebel by refusing to Fight~~~ _____ What makes Camus' response to meaning so interesting is how he views rebellion. He views it as a philosophical act instead of a political (and violent) one. He cautioned against revolutionary ideologies that might replace one form of oppression with another. Instead, he championed the notion of individual rebellion, where one takes responsibility for their actions and values. Overthrowing a government only leads to more meaningless violence, which is shown in Canute's character arc. Near the end of season two, Canute's army violently takes over Ketil's farm. With an absurd hope for peace, Thorfinn wants to arrange a meeting with Canute. As someone challenges him to duel, he accepts by allowing his opponent to strike him 100 times. If he survives, he gets to speak to their leader. This shows how his means of rebelling against this violence, is the creative act of refusing to contribute more violence. He accepts the absurdity of battle but existentially rejects his own willingness to participate in it. All of this culminates in an immensely cathartic moment where he proudly declares he has no enemies. Rebellion starts within yourself, not on whichever battlefield you wish to fight for your ideals. Be it in a duel with swords or a Twitter (or X) thread. I'm very happy to see this becoming a meme of sorts since it is a beautiful philosophy to have that translates perfectly into everyone's daily life. # ~~~A call to Live Authentically~~~ ___ Vinland Saga's violent world and introspective nature intertwine seamlessly with the profound philosophy of Albert Camus. This has helped me to appreciate the show even more. At its core, Vinland saga is a call to live authentically. When the sky over your head turns to bronze, the ground beneath you iron, live your own life. Find what is Vinland to you and chase after it. > "In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer. And that makes me happy. For it says that no matter how hard the world pushes against me, within me, there's something stronger - something better, pushing right back," - A. Camus img220(https://colunastortas.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/albertcamus.jpg) _As this is my first review, I would really appreciate your feedback! You mustn't view this as an assessment of the show's value, the score below is purely symbolic._
~~~__Introduction:__ I love a story with great character development, but more than that I love a story with a message and Vinland Saga is just that. Based on historical events and Norse legends, Vinland Saga continues to enthrall me with its intricate storytelling, complex characters, and breathtaking animation. The first season was a remarkable journey of the Viking world, it introduced us to great characters such as Askalade, Thorfinn and Canute. The second however takes us deeper into the hearts of its Viking world and fully develops the world and its characters. It heavily touches on character goals, vengeance, duty, honour, and their relentless pursuit of personal identity. __Body Paragraph: __ Thorfinn is no doubt a troubled character who has had to grow up in what I can only describe as hell. But at the end of the day, for better or worse, he's killed people. So many to the point where he's lost count. In the first season, he has no emotions, gets manipulated by his enemy, and lives a miserable life just for the sake of revenge. You don't hate him but you also don’t like him. You feel sad for him, at least I did. Conversely, this season he's finally awakened. He can see through people's intentions through his past experiences, and despite being a slave, he is no longer a slave to revenge. He’s also able to reflect on his wrongdoings. Thorfinns has actually developed true goals and ambitions, making him not only likable but alive at the same time. I personally loved the way the anime took its time with him. From eavesdropping on Snake reading the Bible about loving your enemy, resorting to peace instead of violence, and atoning for his wrongdoings through labour. I'm sure there are many other examples, but all this shows change. I think the most important lesson for him was when he finally realized what his father Thors, along with his ancestors were trying to do all along. —Making for some great foreshadowing. Moving on to Canute, It's clear that the series has built him up as the main antagonist. Creating a parallel with Thorfinn; with their shared goal of ending war and conflict. But what truly separates them are their chosen paths to said goal. Canute, a once devoted Christian; now an atheist, is fighting God for peace on Earth. Meanwhile, Thorfinn, a theist, now embodies Christian values as he seeks to establish peace on Earth. Despite their shared goals, Canute's methods make him no better than the very evil he aims to eradicate. __Music & Animation:__ I personally saw nothing wrong with the animation. I still prefer Witts Studio after looking back on season one. MAPPA however still delivered. I have no complaints aside from some minor nitpicks such as still shots used in scenes. In addition to this, some scenes felt a bit dragged to pad the episode time, but it didn’t bother me too much. The background shots look incredible, especially the landscape of the farm. The soundtrack was incredibly well done as well interim of setting the overall tone. Whether opening or ending, I really loved the theme song, especially from LMYK (Without Love) so much that I’ve added it to my Spotify. __Characters:__ One flaw was the side characters. To be frank, they weren't as interesting as the ones from the season one. That's not entirely a bad thing because Snake, Pater Enir, Arnheid, and Sverkell were great. I don't feel as if we needed them to be anything more than that, they just weren't as memorable or impactful as the ones from season one. As for Arnheid's character arc. It was nice but felt a bit stretched or dragged, especially with the flashbacks. And just when I thought her pain and suffering ended, that narcissist Ketil showed his true colours. Don't get me wrong it was gut-wrenching to watch but still didn't change the way I felt about Arnheid.On the other hand, it was nice to see Olmar's character development. I honestly didn't see it coming. I'm still bummed out that they didn't get revenge for Arnheid, but that wouldn't really make that much sense. __Closing thoughts:__ In conclusion, this season was as intense and thrilling as ever. Going in, I was initially scared because of the noise the community was making, but it turned out it was all rubbish. I've never been so disappointed in my community. I find it absurd that people were calling this season a farming simulator. I keep seeing review after review calling this season boring, slow, etc. —Were they even listening to the story and the message it was trying to convey? Did they actually read the dialogue at all? The fact that people care more about mindless gore and violence; over a well-written story is beyond me. It unironically makes them sound like Vikings. The only valid criticism I could understand is animation and pacing. At the end of the day, this a seine anime and reviews like this are why children should look elsewhere. Besides some minor nitpicks, MAPPA absolutely delivered. I really enjoyed Thorfinn's character development along with the rest of the cast, especially Canute. Above all, the animation along with the music was solid. Mature members of the audience will love this season as it really embodied the seinen genre extremely well, at times feeling like a cinematic work of art. This was a worthy successor to the first season. Yes, I will admit it was slow, but we kind of needed it to be. Thorfinn got character development that takes some characters hundreds of chapters/episodes. I really enjoyed the writing and overall messaging. "You have no enemies; no one in the world is your enemy. There is no one you need to hurt." I'm glad Thorfinn took after his father and is continuing his path. Thors was truly ahead of his time. I can't wait for season 3. ~~~
~~~__[a spoiler review by satorublue]__~~~ ~~~img(https://i.imgur.com/EkeahAV.jpg)~~~ ~~~I really think Vinland Saga changed my life. ~~~ From all the seasonal anime and shows I've watched in 2023, nothing and I mean ___nothing___ compares to Vinland Saga season 2 for me. It may be recency bias talking here but I don't care, this series is perfect to me and I stand by that. _quick disclaimer: In all honesty, I intended to write a review on the season as a whole but as I was writing this up, it kinda just turned into a conversation about Thorfinn's character development and what it means to be a true warrior. So if you were expecting a proper review.... my bad?_ ~~~__Thorfinn's character development:__~~~ ~~~img(https://i.imgur.com/cNeAd8G.png)~~~ In the beginning of the season, Thorfinn was a shell of person devoid of purpose after Askeladd's death. Ever since Thors was murdered by Askeladd, Thorfinn's entire purpose has been to kill Askeladd in a duel. It has been his only objective since he was six years old. Now that the main motivator for why he continued to live was gone, an important question arose: what does he live for now? Episode 9 really challenged Thorfinn's understanding and perspective of life as he was forced to confront his past actions. This was masterfully shown in a scene where we see all of his victims are physically pulling him down, symbolising the weight of his sins. ~~~img49%(https://i.imgur.com/lCBKsR4.png) img49%(https://i.imgur.com/6LsUgFD.png) img49%(https://i.imgur.com/uUdClKG.png) img49%(https://i.imgur.com/2MWFZzU.png)~~~ I really liked episode 9 in particular because it was a significant turning point in his development and allowed for him to begin his healing process as he vowed to atone for what he'd done. Although he had questioned if there was even a possibility for someone like himself to truly change, he was already changing but it was just a matter of him realising that change for himself. Thorfinn's growth is perfectly demonstrated in episode 23, when he negotiates with Canute and his men about the future of Ketil's farm. He keeps to his promise to never harm another person and avoids violence at all costs, even when it meant that he'd get hurt in the process. Just when the negotiation seems to be going nowhere, he tells Canute that if he intends to follow through with his plan to forcefully take the farm, he'll run which surprises Canute. ~~~img49%(https://i.imgur.com/MdANqFn.png) img49%(https://i.imgur.com/K1dPNXl.png) ~~~ His decision to run rather than engage in battle beautifully parallels what six year old Thorfinn said in season 1. Six year old Thorfinn criticised his ancestors for running away to Iceland and referred to it as a sign of cowardice rather than a show of strength. It is popularly believed that violence is an effective tool to becoming a warrior but in season 2 Thorfinn comes to the realisation that a true warrior is born from the resistance to violence, that a pacifist approach to life is what truly fosters a meaningful life. This was what Thors tried to get Thorfinn to understand in season 1, explaining that a true warrior has no enemies and doesn't need a sword but as we've seen in Vinland Saga, it is a philosophy much harder to adopt due to the tragic circumstances a lot of the characters are put in. ~~~img49%(https://i.imgur.com/NPax5Bg.png) img49%(https://i.imgur.com/Kdf0Hdy.png) img49%(https://i.imgur.com/ACSc8sJ.jpg) img49%(https://i.imgur.com/uDIvrjQ.jpg)~~~ Vinland Saga season 2 constantly questioned Nordic ideas of what it means to be a true warrior. In Vinland Saga, the value of men is measured by their skill in battle and the number of people they kill. Therefore, it's no surprise when a character like Olmar is introduced wanting to prove himself in battle rather than work in the farm like his father. It his belief that killing another man is a right of passage and it is what will determine his worth as a man. However, after he killed a man for the first time in a duel, he begins to question whether the violence he was taught to appreciate is even a good thing to begin with. In episode 21, we get to see Olmar confess his true opinions on the matter as he has to make a decision on whether his men should continue fighting against Canute. He acknowledges the mistakes that he's made which led them to their current situation and decides to surrender. He even confesses that he's scared of the violence and seeing people die. ~~~img360(https://i.imgur.com/bfa6XtO.jpg) img360(https://i.imgur.com/8FSNmpO.png)~~~ It really is beautiful to witness, especially because I initially judged him to be just another arrogant character with not much to show for himself. But seeing him change and even aspiring to be the type of man Thorfinn is by the end of episode 23, made me really like him as a character. We even get to see him become the man he wanted to be at the end of episode 23. ~~~img49%(https://i.imgur.com/niuPSsR.jpg) img49%(https://i.imgur.com/9BtkXaW.png) ~~~ ~~~__Overall:__ ~~~What I appreciate most about season 2 was how it utilised the tonal shift to further develop Thorfinn's character. (other character's too). I'm not fully aware on what the fans' thoughts are about this season but I have heard mixed opinions about the season's shift in tone. I can understand some people would be thrown off by it and might be underwhelmed by the lack of action scenes compared to season 1 but I am personally of the opinion that the shift was useful for Thorfinn's character arc this season. Vinland Saga season 2 was truly incredible and one of this season's greatest strengths was definitely in its writing. Watching Thorfinn become a true warrior and a better man was actually really inspiring and hopefully we'll be able to see him fulfill his goal in season 3.
Vinland Saga is like a really bad bike accident. Everything is fun when you're riding, but when your bike chain breaks and you go tumbling to the ground, everything starts to feel like it's going in slow motion, and your life flashes in front of your eyes before you make contact. Vinland Saga season 2 is the aftermath of that fall. By the end of this 24-episode series, itll leave you in pain and you will end up with a moderate amount of trauma that will probably stay with you for quite some time. Or at least it did with me. # STORY After the events of season 1, season 2’s story takes a slower pace this time, Thorfinn is now in slavery and a new protag Einar who is also in slavery. The first season was a road trip across the country, but this entire season takes place mainly on a farm lol. Two bros, chillin' on an English farm, two feet apart cuz they're enslaved. One thing I love is what it does with the setting, it gets you so familiar with it that it almost has a character of its own. And its not just only one location, There’s the crop fields, the farmhouses, the stable, the forest, its almost like I can navigate the farm itself because of certain events that happen at these different locations. Now I know this change of pace with the story wasn't everyone’s cup of tea. But I was entirely fine with it. I knew this season would be slower-paced because season 1 was just the prologue to this story, so I wasn't expecting the beginning to be balls-deep into the story quite yet. The story this season is a whole different beast than season 1 though. Remember in my Mushoku Season 2 review when I said “Don't mind stopping the plot to introduce characters, but you better have some solid goddamn characters”? Well, Vinland Saga season 2 is an example of what I mean. This does a lot of things that Mushoku tried and failed at. It introduced new characters with a lot of depth, explored themes of trauma with dignity, still kept the story interesting by incorporating a side plot involving the kings, and best of all, there’s no cringy anime humor. It has that fma style of humor where the jokes itself is pretty modest, but it's the characters that make it stronger. I mention the humor, because goddamn, it's necessary to get through the absolute soul-crushing moments of the anime. The reason why this season was a tad more effective than the last is because there is a sense of empathy I developed after i finished s1. I grew attached to these characters, and I just wanted the best for them, especially in this horrible world based on reality.What Vinland is great at is making these characters feel human. The script, the voice actors, the character expressions, and the way they move, it almost feels like I'm watching a live-action historical drama, there is something that just clicks with them, and it makes the way they act on screen all the more immersive. The first season just showed unfiltered blood and brawls. So many people were killed left and right indiscriminately by the Vikings.S2 takes you outside of that view to focus on the consequences of these actions. The people whose lives were affected, and even the ones dealing with the guilt and trauma of taking part in those actions, mainly Thorfinn. Complaining about this season not being good because it doesn't show a lot of action like season 1 did is such a slap in the face of this writer’s intentions. What makes this story beautiful are the more cathartic moments in this slave life. It's the little moments when you are farming, cutting trees, asking to borrow a horse, or enjoying a meal. It straight-up becomes a slice of life for the first half. Also, one trope that I am such a sucker for is the found family one. Maybe because of my core values and experiences, but God, it's done so well in here. These moments are the little bits of hope that get me more attached to these characters, and right when I become attached to them, the second half kicks in, and things get horrible. Abandon all hope, ye who gets to the second half of this season. Just when you expect things to get better, they get worse. I'm not ashamed to admit it, I’ve cried so many times. The anime is just harrowing, dude. It gets really hard to watch at moments. It's not just pure shock value though, it's a combination of so many things that it starts to break you. The context of the characters involved, the animation/music, and how the theme ties back into season 1. And that is the theme of Hatred. The show surprisingly takes a nuanced approach to such a concept. These things being shown on screen are awful, but it's there to explore how easy it is to destroy another’s life. There is so much that the story explores through these characters as well. There are the people who condone this, the people affected by it, and the people who have to live the rest of their lives lamenting over the actions they chose. The best way to address these aspects is by mentioning them in the character section. #ANIMATION -MAPPA controversy Oh MAPPA. MAPPA, MAPPA, MAPPA.Can I do at least one anime review without your name on a project? Mappa seems to be making headlines pretty much every week because of the backlash on how animators are treated. So it's hard to give the studio credit, because of the way they treat their employees. Luckily, I don’t have to do that this time because all of the staff from Wit’s first season are back for this season at MAPPA’s production house. Despite a different environment, it's still the same iconic WIT, this time with some improvements. As a result, the anime looks pretty much identical to its previous season. And hell even better in some ways. This season doesn't use CGI nearly as much as the last, when it does use it, it looks so much better. My god, the backgrounds in this anime are mesmerizing. It has a certain painterly style in places. The skies look like Shinkai painted them, and this attention to detail for such a simple farm setting makes the environments all the more memorable. One thing I loved about Vinland is how colorful it feels for a historical setting. And the anime really does take some risks visually, mainly with the horrifying dream sequences but it tones it out with beautiful moments as well.The characters are designed modestly, but animated with a lot of life and personality. And im also impressed on how consistent they are with the designs as well throughout the series.If someone has a scar or injury, the anime becomes really consistent with that injury throughout the remainder of the show.But yea, overall, Vinland is visually solid. #MUSIC I was really surprised how ambient the music in Vinland is, just like any good score, it enhances the scene instead of clashing with it. And some of the piano tunes really got stuck in my head. Especially that one piano tune that sounded like the beginning of that Demi Lovato song “Cool for the Summer” The openings and endings are fantastic.One thing I love about the first cour’s themes are how they build anticipation, in which even if the episode itself is very lighthearted, the ops and eds remind you what to expect when you get to cour 2. The ending themes, Without Love and Ember, are emotional ballads. And I think they give off this tortured yet liberated feel. They give me that small dose of confidence, especially after how depresseding the episode before it is. Rivers is a very soulful and ambient track with great lyrics. …..The there is “Paradox”. This is by far my favorite song from Survival Said The Prophet ever. I wasn’t a huge fan of “Mukanjyo”. It just felt like some rock song that just happened to be the theme song to Vinland Saga.But OH MY GOD, “Paradox” fits the tone of Vinland Saga s2 to a T. Really passionate, hard-hitting lyrics, and the music itself sounded very grand yet maddening as if you were having a mental breakdown on a battlefield. Put that along with the absolutely disturbing imagery in the opening animation, and god, you have a very iconic anime opening. DUB -yep thats right,bitch, I watched this series dubbed lol. And tbh I wasn’t expecting much but…. This is by far the best dub I've watched in a long ass time. Mainly because the story asks so much from these characters that if these VA’s missed even one mark in the acting, it sticks out horribly. And I was expecting that, but that never happened. The main reason I got emotional was because of the voice acting. These actors do such of good job of showing just how mentally troubled each of these characters is that it becomes scary. I'm tearing up just thinking about some of the certain screams or cries of agony I heard from them. #CHARACTERS Einar He is the new introduced character and the FOIL to Thorfinn. He basically goes through the same level of hatred that has ruined Thorfinn’s life and the show doesn't put him in the wrong for acting in ways thorfinn disproves of and that makes it all the more nuanced. - Thorfinn -Thorfinn is a, but its justified, because he deals with horrifying ptsd that affects him every night, If you had those moments, you know how hard it can be to just sit and deal with your hatred internally. Thorfinn had to deal with that in season 1. But now he is dealing with something much worse, atoning for the lives he's taken. Thord from season 1 put it best, “A true warrior doesn't need a sword” because a true warrior is already fighting a mental battle in their head constantly. And in the case of Thorfinn, his trauma is portrayed is way more difficult for him to deal with than anything he dealt with in season 1. Arnhide- -Arnhide is a character that really makes Vinland Saga a well rounded package. One thing I appreciate about Vinland Saga is how it focuses and the experiences of women, who struggle alot in this brutal patriarchy. But Arnhide is just the pennicle of hope. Despite all the odds. But its not all sunshine and rainbows with her character, no not at all. In fact the more brutal and hardhitting facts about this reality are shown through the eyes of this character. Olmar- -Olmar is a nice deconstruction of the idealized heroic figure trope. Yea at first, you see him as basically this whiny brat who angsts over the fact he hasnt fought in a battle. But throughout the series, the show just mentally breaks him. This gives commentary to how fucked the cultural and societal expectatiions of the time period are. In a time where you’re worth is based on how many you have killed,and the wars you fight. This is then when the show points out the irony of striving to be chivalrous. At the end of the day, it doesn’t mean anything if you end up dead. And speaking of which. King Canute, dude. He takes such a heal turn I didn’t expect. He still is a pacifist, but his intentions this season are not “ well’ in the slightest. He is basically a snake. He uses this foolish notion of chivalry as an actual weapon to manipulate others,and I just find it extremely clever how they make him antagonistic without giving him a sword. Not to mention the trauma he is facing and his goal to strive and not be like his evil father, but more and more you realize that is exactly what is happening. Im really excited where the show takes him next. There’s not a single weak character in this season at all.All of them feel so real. The desperation, their struggle to protect others,the dehumanization of men,women,and children all based on this slave status, and how normalized hatred and abuse is in a society bred by war.This is where Vinland Saga truly shows itself as to what it is about and where the story is going to go from here on out. # ENJOYMENT Goddamn, this anime messed me up. I don't continuously weep when watching something fictional, especially if it's animated. I can watch Koe no Katachi and Grave of the Fireflies with no problem, but with this, I couldn’t handle it. I cannot think of an anime that has struck such an emotional chord within me before. It hit me just how helpless these characters are in a barbaric world like this. Physically because I've grown so attached to it, that when it ended, it left a large void I haven't felt in some time. But it's not all dark, there are hopeful moments that help balance out its grizzly nature, just like real life. Overall on a technical aspect, the anime blows it out of the water, and it really does enhance the story to a point where i became helplessly immersed with it. And story wise, I love its commentary on the human psyche, i really empathize with its characters, despite the setting being based on reality, it still feels very rich and familiar. The music really hit when it needed to, the animation and art take more ambitious liberties than it did last season,the dub is one of the best ones I've heard in a while, and there is just a great sense of consistency and attention to detail with this anime. From the writing to the actual character designs. Goes to show that if you or a team of people are very passionate about something, the audience will see that passion. And as for me, it has been almost a week since I finished it, and i haven't been the same, this really did leave a mark on me. But at the end of the day, I see Vinland Saga as a cautionary tale and a reminder that hey…this shit is real.…this is what humanity was really like years ago. And despite how awful we are now as a society, we were a hell of a lot worse back then.
Yeah... it is absolutely incredible. Season 1 was already stellar, the writing was amazing, the animation (aside from the god-awful CGI background characters like those were so bad) was great and Askeladd was one of the best villains I had ever seen but Thorfinn, well he was good, but I did not really think much of him. Season 2 changed that. I have never seen such a beautifully written character arc like Thorfinn's. Every bit of it oozes emotion and it feels so real. His growth and redemption are incredible and his "I have no enemies" scene, which has been overplayed to hell online, is one of the best moments I have seen in an anime. The message is so simple and so obvious yet so impactful. When I am brought to tears by a piece of fiction, it is usually something like Clannad Afterstory episode sixteen or episode eighteen or the entirety of A Silent Voice, not something like Vinland Saga but I cried and for me, that means something. Looking at the other aspects of it, the soundtrack was amazing with the piano coming in at crucial times that elevated the experience tenfold, OP1 is genuinely one of my favourite OPs of all time (until I get sick of it from constantly replaying it over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and... well you get the gist), the animation is a little harder to judge as it's doesn't really have fight scenes like Season 1 did to really compare but it was serviceable at most times and had some absolutely gorgeous scenes like the chasm scene... oh my lord was that a stunning scene. The voice acting was great and definitely iconic (though I wish that they had kept the hoe line in from the manga), and I have heard that the English dub is fairly good, so I will probably watch this my father. That is right. It is an anime where you do not have to worry about any cringe scenes when you are showing people. No walking in on the tsundere changing, no weird age-gap incest stuff (like I love Fruits Basket, I think that it is one of the greatest anime of all time, but the age-gap thing was just kind of fucking weird like it happens twice… why?), no fanservice, just no anime bullshit. It is just storytelling at its purest and for that, it is a 10/10. No matter what slight shortfalls this season may have, it just hits so hard that I cannot see myself give it anything else but a perfect score. Also, it does not have the shitty CGI horse and background characters of Season 1 that burnt my eyes whenever I looked them so that is a plus. Also, the people that were complaining about this season being less interesting than season 1 due to it being less violent seriously missed the point of the show. It is a little slower paced, but the writing trumps any moment of sakuga. It could have been a PowerPoint for all I cared and it would have still probably hit as hard.
