Oath | Vinland Saga S2 Ep 9 Reaction

[@YaBoyRoshi]

Incredible episode!

[@FlameOfUdun96]

Nuff said

[@voidzero8016]

Fact this episode is an masterpiece 🔥

[@darthtyranous4514]

This and AOT is peak on peak. Peak overdose Fr. And the new Star Wars content. Mandaloreon and Bad Batch.

[@yamahsghost]

7:40 My man you didn't have to be that funny, that shit caught me off guard.

[@KuriousHeroD]

The ONLY thing I’m worried about is this: what will be the future event that’ll make Thorfinn break his new pacifist oath? I’m anime only but i know there’s more to this story so i’m now dreading eagerly to how his future will unfold

[@dreamwrlds]

Vinland Saga does an amazing job showing the reality of the burden of killing someone. All the 'action' that people loved in the first season is now trauma for Thorfinn. This is character development at its peak.

[@cheeseshark5]

Fully agree! Some of the best Seinen (VS and Berserk as obvious examples) are actually cautionary tales and life lessons about how unfulfilling and unhealthy that kind of life is, that hurting people isn't good for anybody. All of the 'cool' fight scenes, gore, and murder are the actions of a broken, hurt person, hurting themselves and others even more. Among other things, ofc

[@deadsoon]

Indeed. His PTSD is very relevant to the story. It doesn't just go away after his oath, he still suffers from it years on. Because he'll never be able to erase the harm he has caused; all he can do is doing more good than the harm he caused. So he carries with him their souls.

[@titan5999]

I agree. Great that there’s character development and it shows the consequence of killing someone. But this ain’t why I loved the show😂😂. I beeeeeeen wanting thorfinn to bug out again

[@cheeseshark5]

@@titan5999 I can understand that. But this also isn't new tbh, even in season 1, Thorfinn killing people was presented as pretty tragic, and the show made it clear how empty and shortsighted he was. It's never really been presented as positive, so the shift isn't too dramatic imo. But tbh I enjoyed seeing him crack that mf last episode, so I feel you too lmao

[@KingCanute777]

@@titan5999 he will fight just not kill anyone

[@deadsoon]

7:39 "we're in Ohio" the editor did it again 😭

[@davidmcrose777]

I was looking for a comment to see if anyone had seen it too😂😂

[@abhijith6589]

I was scrolling to see how many people caught that LMFAO

[@Stevokan]

That shit took me out lmaooooo

[@MindofKefane]

😂just saw it ,i was in search to see if i was the only one who saw it

[@nothing3887]

Bro that was out of nowhere 😭😭😭😭

[@pablolacalle6098]

So apparently Askeladd is elevated on the pillar above the carnage because despite being a warrior he was intelligent enough to understand the reality of warriors; although he was one regardless so he still ends up in nightmare world. I think that's a very cool detail

[@Ash_Wen-li]

A *Roman* pillar

[@daenopher]

Also dont forget that this is just Thorfinns projection of Askeladd and it shows that even though everything Askeladd did to Thorfinn he still views him of more than just all those other warrior monsters, but someone with wisdom and true ground.

[@pablolacalle6098]

@@daenopher makes sense as Askeladd directly gave Thorfinn all those talks in S1 where he showed he was smart af

[@daenopher]

@@pablolacalle6098 Yeah and just like Thorfinns dad (forgot his name) Askeladd always tried to atleast show Thorfinn that there is more to a warrior then just blindly killing and smashing heads. The last scene with Askeladd and the king is a good example because Askeladd did it knowing that A) he'd get revenge as "easy" as possible and B) setting up Canute and C) showing to Thorfinn that blind revenge will get you killed eventually and that's not a good thing.

[@PM-rx3up]

Askellad was never really the quintessential warrior .. He was a patriot whose ultimate goal was to honor his mother's (ancestors) belief...

[@troggdorthesecond]

I can't believe Yaboy "I'd just use guns" Roshi, said, "We just wanna farm in peace, we don't even wanna see no violence in this show anymore." XD

[@orbboom6119]

That's how good the writting truly is

[@irecordwithaphone1856]

@@orbboom6119 I love watching them farm more than I thought I would

[@kevinjonorit9329]

Roshi is having a character development arc like our boy Thorfinn XD

[@cheeseshark5]

"We're in Ohio" Bro your editor is so fuckin funny it makes me mad LMAO. Also, I think it's interesting that this is airing at the same time as AOT 'Part 4 Act 3x7 and 365 Days'. Eren and Thorfinn are on such fully opposite arcs as characters; one becoming more cold and willing to do what he feels is necessary at the cost of lives (even if he has more emotional feelings than we initially thought), and the other realizing that his dad was right, and it is NEVER okay to hurt people, and striving to change. Super good writing on both sides, but Vinland Saga really brings the true life lessons this arc

[@francesukah9168]

thought i was seeing things when i read that hahhaha!! had to rewind hahhahha!

[@LuisSierra42]

HAHAHA, I thought i was the only one who caught it

[@mrhatnclogs2391]

That edit killed me 🤣

[@ITABehelit]

"NEVER okay to hurt people" is a dangerous philosophy, it means watching people you care being hurt or killed while you not rising a single finger. Thorfinn's Father told him: "Use your strenght just to defend". Thorfinn has to learn and achieve a balanced way of living, cause violence will always be part of humans.

[@obscuree2071]

My stomach hurts 😭

[@joshuukun]

Insane how they just casually drop the best episode of all time

[@paucolas821]

Bro, I've been waiting for this to be animated for so long. I'm crying, don't know if it is because of the episode or happiness, maybe both.

[@Partha735]

MAPPA did better than I expected ☺️

[@BadrYousef64]

This is my favourite episode in all of anime.

[@yowaimon]

W season, W character development, W everything so far. This is Peakland Saga

[@SC-pg7jr]

Honestly it's pretty boring

[@darkfallSK]

@@SC-pg7jr sometimes boring is good for everything that the oc mentioned. I agree it’s not as action packed as the last season, but this IS peatland saga nonetheless. I guess it’s based on what you appreciate 🤷‍♂️

[@luccienv]

@@SC-pg7jr honestly it is 😭 Idr it being this boring when i read it the manga, maybe cuz we can’t binge it

[@_jokester_8537]

​@@SC-pg7jr don't watch then 🤷‍♂️

[@yamanb96]

@@SC-pg7jr lol im sorry for you go watch some the god of high school

[@Ash_Wen-li]

So when Askeladd said "Dont stay stuck in a boring place like this." he really just meant Ohio

[@popkaslona3747]

Ohio is literally real life multiplayer with crazy mods in it, wdym boring

[@SoaringLettuce]

"Dont stay stuck in a boring place like this. That's your true battle." Fuck, I love Askeladd.

[@AssyrianTitan]

True, nobody wants to be stuck in Ohio

[@brunobucciarati4219]

Even after death, askeladd is looking out for thorfinn. He's truly a father figure for him.

[@nunavon8952]

Can u believe people were flaming roshi and the gang on the season 1 finale cus they said askeladd was like a father to thorfinn

[@Ash_Wen-li]

@@nunavon8952 People are still arguing that

[@animusswtor4822]

People forget that this man was there with him for a longer time than his actual father, which is kind of crazy to think about honestly ^^

[@antisocial904]

the fact that they look alike is crazy too

[@olderraj]

@@nunavon8952 (spoilers) then they didn’t read the manga, it’s literally a panel where He’s standing next to thors and leif while saying “Go , my son.” To thorfinn before leaving to find Vinland .

[@Rembreiker_lychec9257]

This episode just goes to show that Vinland Saga is not just entertainment, this show has a literal message that it is trying to share. This episode is just a work of art. I know not everyone likes a slower paced story but every episode Vinland Saga has me enthralled. This isn't trying to be some battle anime story. This is a story about growth, redemption and forgiveness.

[@whimsofmim]

This is the rare show that has me anticipating every week, hyped as fuck when it's time to watch a new episode, then sad it's already over so soon (and already looking forward to next week). I think this season has been amazing. I can get why action junkies who thought this was a different type of show/story might be put off, but it's their loss. This is a really deep, moving story. I LOVE that a story/anime with this kind of message is held in such high esteem. It's a perfect response to a lot of the b.s. toxic masculinity/needless violence common in battle shonens.

[@HerMi.T]

@@whimsofmim their is definetly some bs words you throw though. what anime you watch shows toxic masculanity? does you watch some low tier thing? because many famous series are famous because they are good in some way.

[@whimsofmim]

@@HerMi.T learn to read. I said "common in battle shonens". Did I say I watch them? No. I'm talking about the generic run of the mill shows that have cookie cutter good and bad guys and it's just about the good guy beating the shit out of the bad guy. I swear this reaction channel has probably the worse audience and comment section. Some of you people just want to argue with every person. I make a random comment in response to somebody, not even you, and you jump down my throat about some perceived wrong I've committed. Read what people say before you start attacking them for some imagined wrong. If you honestly can't look at all the generic bullshit battle shonen and find some stupid macho macho bullshit in most of those shows, then you are being wilfully ignorant. I'm not talking about the good shows or the famous shows. Did I say the good or famous shows? NO! I said "common in battle shonens" so that means the genre as a whole, and as a whole genre, it is full of shit. Just look through all the battle shonen, not just the "good shows" and you will see all the crap I'm talking about... guess you don't realize that for every good and famous show there are probably 100 totally crappy ones full of tropes and stupid stuff.

[@raec5426]

When Askeladd appears again, you know it's gonna be a *top tier* episode. 👌

[@acl1894]

AGREED! 🙏🙏🙏

[@kikikim4589]

This episode was so beautiful so powerful can't believe people are dropping it cause there's no action, vinland saga truly deserve the place with the top manga/anime , i absolutely adore the path thorfinn is taking

[@pablolacalle6098]

S2 seperating the meatheads from the men 💀

[@Uncle-Ruckus.]

Not a big loss , those ppl wouldnt understand thr story aniways

[@kylebuonomo2557]

@@Uncle-Ruckus.deadass it’s just them outings themselves as dumbasses this is magnificent

[@miraclerizh340]

I mean.. there a reason Vinland Saga called Top 3 Seinen alongside Berserk & Vagabond.

[@whimsofmim]

Those people are like Thorkell, thirsting for endless battle, never realizing it will never satisfy them.

[@Bogustice]

The fact that Askeladd basically was tryna repent for what he done to him by fighting off the warriors made me shed tears. He seen the despair on Thorfinn's face like "he REALLY don't wanna be here no more". That's how I viewed it.

[@manfieldthegod2253]

What shook me the most was when you see Thorfinns eyes after he swears off violence, they look just like his father's when he was still alive, which makes me feel like this is Thorfinn truly beginning his journey to become a true warrior

[@stanislavzoldak2198]

The hexagons Halfdan dreads 😄

[@Korsav0]

Seeing Askeladd's spirit protect Thorfinn was exceedingly wholesome he's basically Thorfinn's 2nd father.

[@Sh1ftane]

I like that design-wise, Thorfinn in this arc has his hair tied up like Thors and a goatee like Askeladd's.

[@rocko1k194]

it’s really amazing how you can even hear thorfinn’s voice have so much life and emotion in it in the scenes with einar and even in the end when he’s farming he sounds so eager and full of life compared to his usual emotionless and stiffness persona in the beginning of the season

[@tempj]

Dudee the way that thorfinn sounded soooo different when he thought he woke up from a dream , sounds like a totally different person!!! the VA is soo good

[@irecordwithaphone1856]

It's almost like the inverse of what happened to Canute with his awakening in season 1. Canute's voice gets much more stern and determined. Thorfinn's voice gets much more soft spoken like he feels more relaxed

[@irecordwithaphone1856]

Ohhh I thought you were talking about when he's making the oath I see what you meant now

[@TheoVorster]

For those who are interested in reading along with the manga, this episode adapted the entirety of chapters 70 to 71. (also the manga has slightly better written dialogue, but that’s completely understandable since the people who write/translate the subtitles only have a limited amount of time before the simulcast goes up, so they have less time to dedicate/worry about the quality of their prose) One really important bit of imagery/symbolism in this episode was how not just Thorfinn was being weighed down by the dead but Thors as well. But unlike Thorfinn, Thors wasn’t pulled down to “where everyone is your enemy”, because he’s already gone on his journey of rebirth and being a “true warrior” so he’s learned how to climb back up to the top while bearing the weight of the dead (i.e. all the people Thors killed in his past). Also for anyone worried that the series is going to have zero conflict (or even zero action), recall how even Thors (who had already become and been a “true warrior” for a while) was still forced into situations that requires Thors to use martial prowess to defend himself (and others), but without taking a life. Recall Thors “a true warrior needs no sword” line as well, that should give watchers a good indication of how Thorfinn is going to learn how to deal with violence that insists on finding him. While the series is never going to be like season 1 again in terms of action and content, there is still plenty of conflict and martial engagements to be had in new ways in the future narrative.

[@rodanjo4613]

One thing I thought was cool was the part of the dream he forgot was the underworld because he kept reaching his hands up climbing out of it each time he woke up from his nightmares.

[@Aceofspades928]

I love that part too. I love details like that in this show. That scene low key might be my number 1 scene of the season if not the entire show. Literally got chills.

[@matty2steps]

When thorfinn punched that guy you have to remember it’s been years since he has been violent so all those feelings probably rushed over him causing him to feel this way.

[@Roy-ml5fn]

That scene with Askeladd also got me teary eyed. Such an amazing character! Every time he speaks with Throfinn it just feels so real and impactful. Absolute chills 🥺

[@kimod5435]

"Become a true warrior, Thorfinn!" Hit me so hard in the feels. Askeladd the Chad.

[@free2928]

This episode was the episode I’ve been needing since season 1 ended. Thorfinn has been born anew and I can’t wait to see you guys see how the show keeps getting better and better.

[@PetarBladeStrok]

Talk about a masterpiece of an episode. Wow I legit couldn't stop crying throughout this episode.

[@mikkosimonen]

You gotta remember, Thorfinn and Einar are slaves, while the retainers are free. Kettil's judgment was probably just about the best case scenario for how this could've shook out. And it also helps explain why that one guy was so pissed off at Thorfinn and Einar: if these slaves are just running their own farm, what makes them worse than free men? And therefore, what makes him better than a slave? These kinds of hierarchies are, when you think about it, another type of violence the story explores.

[@c3p6]

The beauty about this series and this arc is that farming is metaphor for learning to appreciate and literally create life. Season 1 Thorfinn was full of hate and would only tear down and destroy things. He held his daggers to kill. Season 2 Thorfinn is empty, thus learning to become reborn while also learning to reduild to atone for his sins. Now he holds a farming tool to plow and create crops aka. life.

[@NinjaPopeXue]

The "Last Episode Recaps" sound so mundane yet the show is so great. The anime staff really did this portion of the story justice. As far as I can recall, Thorfinn imagining himself killing Einar is anime-original content.

[@binkiebrew]

the line that was cut off in this reaction was "Climb and take the people you killed with you" Which is a beautiful line. So many times when people hurt and killed others, they try to forget the ones they hurt to cope. But that just makes you stagnant, even if its hard you should always remember the people youve hurt in order to not repeat the same mistakes and remember the weight of their suffering.

[@irecordwithaphone1856]

Einar and Thorfinn have one of the best friendships I've seen in anime, it feels pretty believable

[@mymoca100]

*”Were in Ohio”* *I hope for nothing but good things to come to the editor*

[@areaofeffect100]

Askeladd be giving advises from hell like he's your uncle from your local barbershop

[@alyeet4489]

Thats a accurated description of that XD

[@t-rex8969]

Man's way too chill lmao

[@DystopiaWithoutNeons]

I love the twist of the envisioned heaven of Valhalla for warriors being hell, yet, they are enjoying themselves like crazy

[@RuggerJug]

One of the greatest episodes of any anime ever. I've been waiting for this episode for almost 2 years. Mappa went above and beyond for this episode. Couldn't be happier

[@RynSilvan]

Can’t believe I didn’t realise Thorfinn and Atsushi have the same va. Uemura Yuuto really has a talent for voicing traumatised protagonists

[@funnyvalentine5845]

His va is incredible

[@bando3107]

Askeladd jumping into hell for Thorfinn.

[@akdrzllol1698]

This episode was 10/10. Vinland saga is climbing the ranks in my top favourite animanga!

[@maurogleek1]

The punishment of a slave for attacking a free man would be much more severe than the punishment for ruining a harvest... So even if it is not a happy result, it is the best result for Torfin and Heinar in their situation as slaves.

[@babaloo526]

Interesting detail is that both Thorfinn and Thors get grabbed by the hands of people that they killed, but only Thorfinn gets dragged down showing that Thors achieved the ideal of a true warrior. Great visual storytelling.

[@sleshstamp]

I got teary eyed as well. He does have to carry all that and never forget it. He owes it to all the people he killed to be better.

[@natsusalamander2396]

Lupa and Sheera - That’s disgusting Roshi- This episode is BEAUTIFUL 😂😂😂

[@Crispifordthe3rd515]

Thorfinn is just one of *those* characters, if you know what I mean. A character that sorta transcended their source material and into an icon of what a *human* is and can be. Like Guts from Berserk, this character is special.

[@whimsofmim]

This animation was awesome. I love this show so much because the story and animation are both equally beautiful (and make each other better... the OST and VA is S tier too). I was so pumped and legit cried when he started to CLIMB! I loved them both being beaten and at their lowest point, but Thorfinn resolving to be reborn and Einar being right there with him. Hit me right in the feels. I think soldiers who come back from intense combat duty would probably really benefit from reading or watching a story like this. I've never gone through that kind of hardship, but as somebody who has survived trauma of a different type, I think it is so powerful seeing Thorfinn working through his trauma, growing, and resolving to be reborn as something new. I think he is resolved not to resort to violence because he has a firsthand understanding of how killing others turns him into a victim as well. I'm anime only, but have a pretty good confidence that Thorfinn will ultimately learn how to fight/"win" in a non-lethal way (like how to incapacitate those who would harm the people and things he cares about), just like Thors did when they were ambushed by Askeladd. Remember, Thors went through dozens of Askeladd's men (including beserker-mode Bjorn) and defeated them without killing a single person. I think there is a strong message in this show that becoming a "true warrior" means understanding that victory only comes when you do not have to kill others to achieve what you want. Otherwise, what you attain through killing others becomes tainted forever. I think Canute is on a similar journey, but the fact he is a King and has to lead people and keep people in line means some people will die, but he is clearly doing it the way he thinks will result in killing the least number of people (like poisoning the kings to end the war in 3 years what would have taken his father 10 years to win, at a higher cost in lives).

[@devanshupandey3958]

"You're gonna carry that weight" - Askeladd

[@kingj.4432]

Peak fiction. Goat. Raw. Fire. Zenith of the medium. Gold standard of storytelling. Epic of Epics. Legend among Legends🔥🔥🐐

[@biharimark5506]

7:40 Thank you, Editor-sama.

[@smilesmile5789]

Well it's never easy to avoid violence in this world especially in their era. So thorfinn will have to learn how to defense himself and avoid violence as often as possible

[@thisperson345]

14:15 I personally think Thorfinn will realise this, I believe that what Thorfinn is going through is exactly what his father went through, his father swore off violence as much as possible but eventually realised it's a necessary "evil" (if you can even call it that) to protect your friends and family. Thors became a true warrior yet nobody else could attain that, not Thorkell, not Askeladd, nobody and I think it's because they thrive for it (more just Thorkell), they want to become a true warrior and to them, a warrior means violence, they're going the complete wrong way about it, to become a true warrior you must witness the horrors of the battlefield, realise that violence isn't a tool to harm others but instead a tool to protect your loved ones.

[@WhenYouSleepMBV]

Just realized that at 11:02 when it shows Thors, it’s basically saying like father like son. They were both cold warriors who killed many until they stopped and started to atone.

[@Anch0rd]

Thorfinn is becoming more like his father, when we saw him fight, he refused to kill anyone as well. Its a neat parallel.

[@shaybinns8906]

I think that's what that flash of Thors was on Thorfinn and Einars path. Symbolising thorfinn is finally heading in the direction Thors wanted him to go in.

[@blackzephyre]

I think Thorfinn might become like how Thors was at the beginning of the series. He never fought unless it was ABSOLUTELY necessary, and the one time he did when he fought Askellads crew, he defeated them all but not a single one of them suffered even a single injury.

[@thingsidislike799]

His dad saying no one is your enemy and then other dad telling him here every one is your enemy

[@esteban8681]

This was the best episode of the show for me. Wow what a crazy story.

[@leonarduskrisna4588]

Thorfinn always Had a Dream where he like he was fell into something without knowing what it means Now he had another dream and knowing what it means He climbing instead of Falling

[@sage4217]

Such a fantastic anime.. I remember when i watched this episode and the one after and i thought that Thorfinn has in a sense 2 guardian angels helping him out.. the one he hated and the one he loved.. one is walking behind him and makes sure he gets up when he falls and the other is walking in front showing him where to go. Sry if there are any typos, English is not my native language. hail from Norway.

[@BreakerX42]

That's the point of the oath. He will eventually be forced into fights, but he won't hurt anyone. So it's interesting to see the ways he finds around it

[@johncordero1248]

"We're in Ohio." I choked on my water lmao🤣.

[@jewelabyss]

This episode showing Thorfinn's trauma and his development was clearly the best so far. People should stop trying to look for action cause it's not what we're here for

[@denzelrobert]

Literally Barely any Action but the Dualogue, the development carries so much in every great way

[@Redstorm1220]

I love that everyone watching is so interested in the farming part more than fighting. Are we experiencing character growth with Thorfinn?

[@hanking6348]

7:42 we’re in Ohio killed me 😂

[@Ash_Wen-li]

Thorfinn swearing off violence just means he's not using violence as a solution to his problems. Instead he is seeing violence as the problem that needs to be solved. Just like Thors he will fight when he sees no other option, but in fighting he has essentially failed to solve it otherwise

[@Jisco8]

7:42 “We’re in Ohio” lmaooo I caught that 🤣

[@olympiahorton2999]

Vinland Saga just gets amazing with each episode, i appreciate the character development and progression! Nice to meet everyone

[@BreakerX42]

Most other shows: you killed my family! Vinland: You stepped on my wheat!

[@tangbein]

I was working as a mail man many years back. The guy who taught me the route was a guy in his late 40's. Very Hill Billy like guy. And just like most Hill billies he had been in a lot of fights where he had punched out the teeth of many men because he couldn't control his anger. Because of that he struggled with guilt and would even get panic attacks from time to time which would make it difficult for him to attend work. He was a really nice and whole some dude you at the same time wouldn't want to mess with. But he had his inner struggles. If he ever were to see Vinland Saga he would be able to relate 100 %. Hope things are going better with him today.

[@animusswtor4822]

„Let the weight of the hoe do the work“ Sverkel, 1015 AD(?) colorized. Truly words to live by. Genuinely love the character focus Thorfinn gets this season because it was absolutely needed and, even though realistically almost impossible to „never hurt another again“, I am rooting for Thorfinn to be able to overcome his trauma and become a true warrior who does not have enemies. Speaking of, I quite liked the contrast between Askeladd‘s „everyone but yourself is your enemy down here“ and Thors‘ „no one in this world has any enemies“. Still liked the previous one a bit more but this was an S-tier episode too

[@tranquilk5912]

6:20 the fact that you found the Harry Hill's TV burp ending meme is legendary. Classic British TV 😂

[@leeshawnklb]

Nah Askeladd is DEFINITELY NOT a father figure for Thorfin not at all… *he said with brutal sarcasm*

[@muhammadrafa7189]

This episode got me crying at the end

[@MrMetaVal]

not gonna lie, I teared more for this episode than aot one.

[@acl1894]

Dude Vinland Saga changed my life, and continues to change my life right now. ❤🙏 This show is just so beautiful!

[@sniperzayn]

This was the most meaningful and most well-written episode of anime I've ever seen (Season 2 Episode 9), and that's saying something because normally I notice a lot of literature flaws in other anime. The amount of layers of meaning in this one episode simply created peak literature - the most peak literature I've ever seen in any anime EVER - period. This episode was better written than any AOT episode I've ever seen, and that's really saying something. The non stop contrasts and parallels, the character depth and exploration, the links between guilt and redemption, the personification of Askellad and Thors - there's so much meaning in this one dream that I can't even put it all into writing. Both Thors and Thorfinn at the beginning were being pulled down by dead bodies, but notice that only Thorfinn fell. These bodies were the people that both of them had killed in the past, but because Thors had learnt the true meaning of being a warrior, he wasn't pulled into the ground like Thorfinn was. This detail is something that many people tend to miss. Also, notice the way it starts off with Thors, above ground, saying "you have no enemies", which contrasts perfectly with Askellad, below ground, saying "down here, everyone is your enemy", to which he fights off every enemy to save Thorfinn by urging him to climb back up. It's as if the dream is connoting that Thors and Askellad were two sides of the same coin - two father figures for Thorfinn (which is a given). It was also really refreshing to finally observe Thorfinn's interaction with Askellad post-death. It gave a tonne of closure which adds onto the commandability of the writing here. Did you guys notice that Askellad was actually the only person in "Valhalla" who wasn't disfigured or eaten up by rage? It's as if his knowledge of the reality of the place, and his own hatred for what he was, ended up putting him on a literal pedestal above everybody else. This was depicted by him sitting at the top, drinking and watching the endless war occur in front of his eyes. When Askellad said that "there's no end" to the fighting down in that place, it was a reference to war being a non-stop cycle of hatred, both physically and spiritually, which reminds me of the philosophy of AOT. The pedestal of Askellad is something that has me thinking though. Does simply knowing your mistakes make you better than those who commit the mistakes when they know no better? One could actually argue that somebody is an even worse person when they understand how cruel their actions are, but still pursue those paths, as opposed to being a random warrior who simply fights because that's all he's been taught, and that's what he feels is right. Askellad knew he was wrong but still killed many people despite hating his own actions - personally I'd say that makes him an even worse person than the mindless brutes, so I'm a bit unsure how to feel about the pedestal he was given here. Another cool contrast I noticed was the way Thorfinn woke up in the dream happy, thinking that real life was a dream, and then later woke up in real life terrified, in the same position, realising that he's back in reality. Another example of good writing. And then when he made the vow against violence, you see Thors walking in the same terrain as where Thorfinn was looking, as if to imply that this recurring vision of Thors was destined to be made clear in this moment - at this exact time and place. To top the episode off, Thorfinn swinging the hoe into the ground and dragging it was a really cool connotation of him paving himself a new life. There's so much more I could write about but I'll leave it off here. I hope that there are more moments like these later in the anime.

[@trendntopik240]

Watching them all fight in hell was a crazy ass scene I hope they don’t stop at season 2

[@profoundity]

I'm happy they took the time to appreciate how beautiful the episode was, AND give me the jokes I always look for. It's all about that balance!

[@Kitsuji]

This was amazing character development for Thorfinn. Good to see AskeDad again!

[@Micheal93k]

Confirm for me that that was the dream Thorfinn has been having, this time he remembered it. His hands were reaching out when woke up just like before

[@stanislavzoldak2198]

I think it always consisted (among other things) of falling into a ravine when he was waking up, hence the hands and in the previous episode he was sleep talking about Thors and Askeladd. But I don't think it was the same, because this time a lot of it was triggered by the added guilt of punching that retainer. He does remember it this time though.

[@SeaBagel228]

Bro thinks he's Canute, took a nap and changed his whole personality

[@jackbordar2727]

Some people know what violence means. Was Thors violent in his fight against Askeladd and his people? No, but he defended himself and everyone else, but did not use violence.

[@senanz8471]

07:40 This subtitle just break me LMAO

[@brunobucciarati4219]

The editor is too good 😂

[@pmzk3425]

Someone with no enemies in a land full of enemies, that’s deep.

[@crastofer]

Einar in his randy marsh "I didn't heard no bell" persona lmao.

[@onegemini420]

I think Thorfinn is on a journey that will make him more like his father as a warrior. I believe even Askelad knows this and tells Thorfin to become a true warrior. I think he means like Thorfin's father, who fought without a sword and not to kill. I think Thorfin has to discover that balance his father had. Thorfin is going to the extreme opposite of his violence to pacifism. But he will likely learn that will not work and there will be times to fight and he will be the badass his father was.

[@ArtesMatt]

Thorfinn's story began now, at the point where he reached the step where his father was. And now where will this pacifism take us?

[@gronvind]

I'm so happy to see Askeladd again 🥹

[@TheManOnTheStreetOMG]

yeah this is him remembering the nightmare, we've had loads of little snippets of it, him falling down the cliff and mentioning Askeladd

[@requisblack8105]

Notice how Thors also have thoses zombies of people he killed before trying to pull him down but he is standing and thorfin is on the ground

[@FlashyDolphin]

Been waiting for this episode all season. The staff did a great job adapting these chapters With regards to the rest of the story, definitely don’t expect as much action as season 1. Also if you remember in season 1, Thors became a true warrior like Thorfinn is trying to be now but there were still problems that required him to fight, albeit without killing anyone. One important line he left kid Thorfinn was “A Warrior doesn’t need a sword”. The Farmland Saga was the peak of the story for me but I love the direction it goes afterwards. I’m really hoping the staff get to work on this beautiful story until the very end of the manga

[@igodreamer7096]

It really was a beautiful episode, man! Thorfinn meeting his both fathers and finding a reason to live, reborn as new man. Becoming a TRUE WARRIOR!

[@ArtesMatt]

Abou as for fighting being necessary at times, Canute seems to have already found his answers to dealing with problems "without violence".

[@mr.nostha]

"Valhalla? Nah bro we are in Ohio" I'm dead xD

[@itami4k]

still cannot believe that people hate this season. this story is amazing

[@pranjoshi]

Bro got isekaid to a peaceful mountainside but his dad kicked him out from sent him to the real world.

[@cr0-okedglasses814]

7:40 “We’re in Ohio.” 😂 The editor is hilarious!

[@ryderls2729]

Bro Thorfinn in the lake of rot, shit is wild

[@iconz9165]

7:45 bruh yalls editor is pristine 😂

[@ysteinschiefloekanestrm7652]

Vinland Saga the anime is a really interesting experiment. Introduce our hero as a powerful badass, like the ones we find in all our favorite shows, only to have that hero STOP fighting….WHAT?! Revenge is empty? What? Violence begets no one? What?! Im all for it, but the market has got us used to violent solutions. Even our friends at Yaboyroshi says «Hope he knows there are times you should fight» when none of us should have to fight ever. We fight in defence because of a mean person who thrust violence upon us.

[@shimizu4202]

Thus his journey begins to becoming a TRUE WARRIOR.