Vinland Saga Season 2

Farmland Saga

Vinland Saga Season 2 is the first season of the series after the prologue. In case you forgot, the entirety of Season 1 was nothing more than the prologue of the series. So, it’s in this season that we see what Vinland Saga is really all about.

And, if you haven’t watched this season yet, you might be in for a surprise. Vinland Saga isn’t actually a story about Thorfinn fighting in war after war. Instead, it’s an anti-war anime that focuses on the negative impact war has on all involved.

But, how did we get to that from the constant bloodshed of Season 1? Well, it all started with Askeladd’s death. After Askeladd died, Thorfinn no longer had someone to take revenge on for his father’s death. And without that purpose, he lost who he was.

At some point, Thorfinn leaves Canute’s army and becomes a slave on a farm. And this is where the real story begins. It’s while working on this farm that Thorfinn comes to realize what’s truly important in life. He realizes how precious life is and also how much pain he caused during his time as a soldier.

Remember, Thorfinn didn’t have much of a life outside of war. He left his village when he was still only a child. And at the end of the series, we learn he was a soldier for more than a decade. War and death were all he knew.

But, on the farm, Thorfinn experiences many new things. He makes friends, finds religion, and sees firsthand how war hurts even those not involved in it. How do you think all the other slaves on the farm came to be slaves? They were normal people whose villages were attacked.

New Main Characters

There are quite a few new characters in Vinland Saga Season 2. And, in fact, the only main character of this season who stayed from Season 1 is Thorfinn. Other characters from Season 1 make appearances, sure. But, the focus is on the new characters.

The most important of these new characters is Einar. Einar is another slave on the farm with Thorfinn and becomes Thorfinn’s best friend. They become so close, they refer to each other as brothers. And it’s Einar who teaches Thorfinn how fulfilling a life of peaceful farming can be.

Another friend Thorfinn and Einar make on the farm is Arnheid. Like Thorfinn and Einar, Arnheid is also a slave. But, while they work in the fields, Arnheid is the master’s attendant and favorite slave. Both Einar and Arnheid became slaves after their villages were raided by Vikings.

Ketil is the master of the farm. But, despite being a slave owner, he’s not that bad of a person. He allows most of his slaves to work toward earning their freedom. And then once free, he gives them the option to keep working for him as paid retainers.

Thorgil and Olmar are Ketil’s sons and are also complete opposites of each other. Thorgil serves as one of Canute’s guards and is an accomplished warrior. Meanwhile, Olmar is a bit of a dweeb who has grand plans to become a warrior himself. However, it’s pretty clear that Olmar isn’t cut out for war.

Lastly, there’s Snake. He’s the leader of a group of mercenaries hired by Ketil to protect the farm. I think Snake is the most interesting new character. He has a mysterious background and a lot going on. But, unfortunately, we don’t get to fully explore who Snake is.

A Different Experience Than Season 1

If you’re looking for more non-stop action like in Season 1, you won’t find it in Season 2. Season 2 is far slower than Season 1 and doesn’t have nearly as much combat. Though, that’s not to say there’s no combat at all.

However, if what you liked about Season 1 was Askeladd’s character arc, you’ll like this. Season 2 is much more about the characters and their stories. And each character brings a different perspective on how war affects people. Some ran from war, others partook in it, and then there are those who were the victims.

Even characters who lived through similar circumstances have different outlooks on war. For example, Arnheid and Einar both became slaves after their villages were attacked. Einar lost his mother and sister in the attack. And Arnheid lost her son. But, the details surrounding their similar circumstances are different.

Einar is someone who’s able to bounce back from his experiences. Arnheid, on the other hand, has a tougher time with this. But, in the end, I thought that Arnheid’s character arc was the best of the season. We got a lot of emotional content revolving around her.

For me, good drama anime are some of the best. If you look at my favorite anime, there are quite a few drama anime in there. So, it’s no wonder I liked Arnheid and Vinland Saga Season 2 as a whole. But, what about the viewers who are all about action?

Luckily, this season still has characters for you. Snake and Thorgil are going to be your favorites. They’re both exceptional warriors with years of battlefield experience. And toward the end of the season, there’s a battle in which they both get to show off their strengths.

Conclusion

In the end, I rated Vinland Saga Season 2 an 8/10. That’s the same rating I gave to the first season. The two seasons are very different. But, they also both excel at what makes them different. Season 1 was a great story about revenge. And Season 2 is a great story about the human impact of war.

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