AHHH THIS EPISODE WAS EVEN BETTER THAN THE LAST!! This was the turning point of Thofrinn’s character, his rebirth and the start of his strife to become a true warrior like both Thors and Askeladd told him. Seeing them both this episode got me so emotional especially with what they were saying. Askeladd’s role in Thofrinn’s change this episode left me a mess. I miss him so much. Hope you enjoy!
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#vinlandsaga
You say that the punch was a selfless act, and I have to disagree. Was it to protect someone? No, the retainers were only taunting them, they could have suck it up and keep walking. Would punching them make their ruined crops come back? Again, no. In summary, it was a punch thrown in fury and frustation, very far from selfless.
Mind you, I completly agree the retainers deserved to be punched. It felt good, even justified, to see the asshole get his jaw destroyed and yet the show is trying to tell us it wasn't Thorfinn's finest hour, as it took him back to the Hell he knew so well. But, it was all for the better, as it only took a single, long and reflective look at that Hell (plus some good encouraging from an old acquaintance) to truly crystalize his fathers teaching, and in doing so decide his way fowards… Towards the Path of a True Warrior.
I love how Askeladd said to bring the dead with him out of Hell, to carry them… there is no forgiveness, or at least not one that's easily obtained. Bear your sins, carry them with you, take responsability for them, and in doing so while making better choices is how you will escape, truly escape hell.
Truly a masterclass in writting and storytelling.
Thorfinn is one of the best written characters in animanga history
Amazing episode 😤🔥👍
This has to be the best episode of season 2, and also contends for best episode of the series with season 1's finale.
Genuine artistic masterpiece. The character development is beautifully done, the message also resonates very powerfully.
Just incredible!
Love how the one that motivated thorfinn here was Askelad and not Thors
"As of today, I am done with watching anime."
These truly inspirational words are one of my favorite quotes from Thorfinn when he decides to abandon degeneracy and stop being a weeb.
Great video, easily the best episode by far. Thorfinn's redemption is the epitome of his character writing
Nice work as always. Ahhh, I can't wait for the ending of this season.
I think Thorfinn striking the retainer triggered this because it was in a fit of rage. Basically the same state he was in when he killed all the other people. Had it been pure self defence it might have been different, but knocking someone out just for taunting him wasn't something he could be proud of.
W
10/10 Episode!!! Couldn't have asked for a better adaptation of this part of the manga.
Thorfinn's journey continues onward to a state of being and code of conduct, if you will, that Thors never fully managed to get to and live by. Maybe that's why Askeladd told Thorfinn to go beyond the land that Thors was at. Literally to go to Vinland which is beyond Iceland, but also metaphorically a land beyond violence and revenge, a land of warmth and hope, to be reborn.
Here we go: Thorfinn had the proper closure with his relationship with Askeladd, although it was not the real one, but the image of him in Thorfinn's mind. Indeed, the real Askeladd would never had sacrificed himself for Thorfinn. But that doesn't matter, because we are dealing here on what Thorfinn thinks about Askeladd.
Basically, the fact that in Thorfinn's mind Askeladd would be able to sacrifice himself and pushed him to get out from the hellish realm where he is confined tells us that Thorfinn saw Askeladd as a mentor, if not as a father figure, who had some affection for him. Perhaps this was true, but, besides Askeladd's real feelings for Thorfinn (impossible to determine for a man who used to hide his true feelings even to his best friend), it is then obvious that the boy had conflicting feelings for the man, combining hate with affection. Not surprisingly, he was unable to kill the man, even when he had some chance to do so.
But there is something more: the hellish realm of Thorfinn's nightmare is very similar to the depiction of the future of the world, the real world, as described by Askeladd in episode 10 of the first season. In that moment, Thorfinn listened to Askeladd while he explained him that the world was fated to fall in the hand of filthy, greed men who would only like to fight, kill, rape and pillage. With no beauty, no piety, no peace. A glimpse of that future was also shown in episode 22, when Askeladd spoke about his half-brothers, and it was almost identical to the hellish realm of which Thorfinn is now having a nightmare about.
Of note, in that nightmare Askeladd is sitting on the top of a Roman column, again recalling episode 10 of the first season, when both of them found themselves close to some Roman ruins. In that moment, Thorfinn really listened to Askeladd, and something of what the man said entered inside him, planting a seed for a change in the heart of the boy. The seed is the the fear of that future and the refusal of accepting its advent. Askeladd put his bets on Canute for make a change, but, while dying, he also directed Thorfinn toward the same end. Now the boy is starting to realize it, combining it with what he remembers of his father's teachings.
This content is a great source of inspiration. 💡
"Still stuck up there, huh, Thorfinn." I think it's supposed to bring across the point that Thorfinn has never actually gotten over his past, ever. He's trying to claw out of it, but can't. He's stuck, stagnant, can't grow.
Askeladd said that Thorfinn "Used to live here with us". I perceive that as him being a mindless soldier, continuously fighting, never actually stopping to think about why he did what he did. Bjorn and others relish in this, because that's whats valued in their culture (Strength and fighter prowess), so most of them probably never thought wrong of it. Being a Dane and showing of your fighting capabilities by raiding was kind of the norm.
Askeladd, on the other hand, sits atop a column, jumping in and out of the fray. I think this symbolizes how he was 'okay' with being a monster. He was fine with being a monster for the sake of saving Wales. He knew that he wasn't any better than those he associated with. He hated Vikings (Or, more specifically, cultures that endorsed pillaging and raiding). And – as Bjorn pointed out before dying, he probably hated himself. That's why he actually never attempts to escape that hellhole, because deep down, he probably knows he deserves to be down there with those he called his own men, he isn't any better.
The difference here is the resolve and acceptance of Thorfinn and Askeladd: Askeladd KNOWS – and ACCEPTS, that he's a monster, hence why he's down there and yet comfortably sipping his ale, hopping in and out. Thorfinn KNOWS – but hasn't come to terms with his terrible acts. This is the problem with actually opening yourself up to the possibility that you might have been wrong when it comes to killing people("Shouldn't you lend an ear to their complaints?"), it torments your mind, its harrowing. It's easier to simply be a zombie and block it all out, delude yourself into thinking that it was justified.
Thors, similarly to Thorfinn, is grappled by a bunch of dead zombie folk, but isn't dragged down to the depths of whatever that hellish place was. Thors never rid himself of his guilt, he carried it till the day he died. But he attempted to be a better person, attempted to stop others from becoming what he was. He was reborn.
I think Thorfinn being dragged down there symbolizes that he almost lost himself. He almost 'died' in the sense of becoming a zombie that simply kills and never actually stopped to think why he did. "Did these people deserve to die?" The moment you open yourself up to these questions when you've killed people for no 'good' reason. You either drown in guilt (Thorfinn at the beginning of the season, pretty much a zombie), block it out (Become a fighting zombie), or you attempt to be reborn and by getting some sort of epiphany like Thorfinn did – I guess. However, just because you're reborn doesn't mean that you 'forget' about those that you've killed, Thors struggled with this – as we saw – when zombies attempted to drag him down.
Anyway, that's just my interpretation. Feel free to criticize.
OTAKUMAI A NEW DEMON SLAYER OFFICAL TRAILER DROPED LIKE 2 DAYS AGO GIVE US A REACTION😂❤❤
ONE OF MY FAVOURITE CHAPTER IN THE MANGA!!
Thors and Askellad appeared together in the dream to teach Thorfinn, and I think from this point of view, Thorfinn has already subconsciously seen him as his second father
Mappa gave us to main characters apologizing to people they hurt back to back. Spectacular episode as always. Animation and art were so detailed!
First comment
I never mentioned this before, but I am deeply in love with the opening… It's so dam good, despite having english lyrics it flowed so naturally. Another reason why I love it so much it's one of those deeper meaning in lyrics and visuals type of opening, while it barely spoils anything. I've been told, that by the end of the arc, going back to this OP will feel a lot more special
Seeing Askeladd was the best, because he's frickin dead… Yet, his influence on Thorfinn was so great, that he can still influence him YEARS AFTER HE DIED (he's the GOAT). Seeing him support Thorfinn into a path of redemption was just… wow
I don't remember if this is the first, or second time I cried this arc, and we're not even half way done. How many more times will I cry?
That scene where the corpses climbed up to him, and we saw Thorfinn grieve over the lives he's robbed. Not knowing when or where they were killed. And the amount of guild he feels, it's crushing him… Then the vow he made, OMG…
Thorfinn might be part of my top 3 anime Protagonists,
It's crazy how this show just keeps getting better and better
Such a heavy episode 😢 it was brilliantly done and it perfectly showed one's dark, traumatic past
Wasn't that nightmare build up worth it?! It's so satisfying to see Thorfinn become the man his always father wanted to him to be. Now Thors can rest in peace. The quest has now begun!
What Askeladd says here are really the last words he left for Thorfinn- “Don’t stay here…. Become a true warrior”. Those words have been echoing in his mind all this time.
im really curious to see how thorfinn is going to walk a pacifist path in a world full of violence? itskinda impossible in my eyes
The Nightmare scene looks like it came out of the pages of Berserk, Thorfinn's personal battle is to "Climb" rise above violence… most of us were celebrating that punch from him, but for Thorfinn it was too close to his old self.
Yeah Thorfinn's development is going to be interesting, because even Thors was disappointed in himself that he had to "…rely on a sword".
They did such a good job adapting this chapter! Favorite part about this is that it’s the first time Thorfinn openly admits his faults and to askeladd (even tho it’s a dream it still counts cuz Thorfinn used to ignore his faults, even when alone)! Rather than throw his rage fueled tantrum like during his last duel with askeladd. Also heck yeah best boi Einer, bro basically said “idk what your going on about but heck yeah I got your back” lmao
One of the most beautiful episodes of an anime i've ever seen. Love the scene of Thors adding "there never was" to season 1's "there's no one who it's ok to hurt", showing how guilt ridden Thors was for the lives he took, just like what his own son is experiencing now. He even has his own victims pulling at him as Thorfinn is dragged beneath the earth, bodies he carried each day while raising his children in Iceland. Thors wanted nothing but to shield his son from the path of blood and regret he walked, and in the end Thorfinn probably understands his father better than he ever would have without walking that same path.
People can hate all they want, this is the thorfinn i needed to see
Bruh I was straight up bawling this episode. This entire season kept making me cry. And I'm a grown man .
Great reaction! 🙂 Love you're commentary!
Askeladd and Thorfinn’s relationship is VERY complex. It’s crazy it gets even more complex AFTER he’s dead.
Now Thorfinn has to look in retrospect. Was Askeladd a bad person? Yes. But Thorfinn literally spent more years being raised by him than his own father. He taught Thorfinn the rules of war so he could survive.
The fact that in his final moments Askeladd
1) told Thorfinn to stay back and not get involved in fighting the kings men, as he didn’t want Thorfinn to be punished.
2) Using his finals words set him on the right path.
tells us all we need to know about how Askeladd felt about Thorfinn.
They always teetered between this place of hating each other but also respecting each other.
While I don’t think Thorfinn liked Askeladd, I think Askeladd grew fond of him, or perhaps just enjoyed the banter.
3:31 He sounds so young in this peaceful dream sequence, that it took me off guard . I was wondering if it was a different voice actor lol at first, but I realized it was the same voice actor for Thorfinn's voice. I'm amazed at Thorfinn's VA to protray the many tones and vocal ranges he can reach . He's really talented. Same gose for Einar's VA as well.
4:06 I love his smile in this scene it's so cute. My heart. But then you realize how heart-renching it is because we all know what Thorfinn's been going through. And then being brought back to reality was a brutally emotional moment as well. Love you're videos.
Askeladd at the bottom pushing Thorfinn to go back to the top, where his father is, and never come back to the bottom again.
I'm so happy we have a season 2 of Vinland Saga. Hopefully we get more seasons of Vinland Saga like a season 3&4
😭 These epsiodes never fail to make me cry I can't
Canute a pretty boy. I think the girl in the preview is his sister or other relative we didn't know about . I think. Been awhile since I read Farmland Arc in Manga
Well said. Vinland Saga is poetic.
Also Thors is a great dad. Thors needs father award of the year for real.
Thank u for your reaction, i really like how you watching it and at the same time you are feeling it.
EP9 has been the most epic n intense so far btw great reaction video Otaku Mai