You're right, Thorfinn was not fleshed out this season, but remember that this was only the prologue.

Asklad was the main character of season 1 imo

I am almost certain you will absolutely love season 2! Very hyped to see your perspective.

The ending with those random people you don't recognize are for future seasons. The manga was written a long time ago and is ongoing. Remember that season 1 and 2 of the anime was years apart so it was just a teaser.

The first season is an incredible set up to one of my favorite stories ever. I hope you enjoy season 2 if you choose to watch that as well

7:40 That's an Arctic Tern, famous for long distance migratory patterns. Yukimura uses it a few times in this first season to represent Thorfinn's (and in a later season another character's) desire to go exploring across the sea.

The fact that episode 24 is "End of the Prologue" should give one an idea of how epic this tale really is. The payoff for how everything is set up is stellar.

I think Askeladd cared... or at least felt responsible for Thorfinn. Askeladd is ultimately a very flawed man, but he has a pure dream, which is the idea of a world without violence. I think when Askeladd asks Thors to lead them, its because in Thors he sees someone that could be that good king. His horrifically pragmatic, which makes him seem very cold and callous, but he does definately respect and care those who are close to him, and Thorfinn is close to him. I think he feels responsible for corrupting that innocent Thorfin into the mini monster he becomes. I think at the end its a case of him realising he has nothing anymore. He burned everything to get revenge for his father, his whole life was about that revenge... and with Askeladd dead... what is his purpose? Bjorn never attacked Askeladd. The fight at the end wasn't a real fight. Bjorn was basically already dead, he just wanted to go out quickly in battle and trusted Askeladd to be about to do that. Thats why Askeladd apologies when he fails to kill him in one strike. Cant wait to watch season 2 with you, where we get to watch Thorfinn build a snowman.

I love the way Thorfinn actually catches Askeladd as he falls.

You know it occurred to me that narratively speaking, Floki might be there to be the vengeance that the viewer is robbed of. It's set up so that only we (and Askeladd) know that he's *ultimately* responsible for Thors' death. We the viewers think "I wonder if he will get his comeuppance" but he doesn't even get scrutiny - and I think it's meant to have the effect it does - we get a little taste of what Thorfinn feels as the audience.

You know a character is incredible when you hate and love him at the same time, Askeladd is easily the best character in season 1

Askeladd could of told Thorfinn that Floki was the one who set it up, shifted blame away from him and redeemed himself to Thorfinn in any way. Instead even in his dying moments he offers Thorfinn his life, to help him move on, he takes all the blame. He does want Thorfinn to move on. Thors was always missing something, Askeladd saw something in Thors that made him genuinely ask him to lead his group. He respected him and knew he couldn't simply ask Thorfinn to understand or forgive him. He understood exactly what that felt like in the past with his own revenge. He only hoped he could finish it with his death. The series could of gone to have Thorfinn continue his revenge and fight against Floki, there could of been multiple seasons of it. But instead you will see where the series goes. As much as I love Askeladd as a character. Thorfinn remains one of my favorite main characters ever, I am really excited to see how you like season 2 since its a massive shift. But for me I consider season 2 better than the first.

22:25 No one but Askellad and Bjorn knows about that, who are both dead. I like to think that he couldve always used that as an out to Thorfinn at any time if he wanted to redirect his hatred, but chose not to and instead take it upon himself, and in the end preferred Thorfinn be released from that curse. Him telling about Floki in the end would just set the cycle to repeat further, and in this case wouldnt benefit Askellad either hehe. After he is dead and can no longer use Thorfinn, he seems to truly hope the best for him from here on. edit- On rewatch, you can see how disappointed he is in Thorfinn's lack of growth, just as the viewer is, and how ultimately he was hoping for him to be a gem because he respected his father, despite using him and manipulating him... its twisted but interesting and layered. He chooses Canute to put his hopes in at this point, but still has different hopes for Thorfinn after his death I think, as long as Thorfinn has no target left for his hate he thinks he may be able to move forward, and thats why i think he would never tell about Floki.

Vinland is a masterpeice

Now you need to watch season 2, that is where ALL of thorfinn's character development is.

Love this anime

原作の方はまもなく完結するでしょう。 アニメの方は2期まで製作されてますが 果たして物語の完結までアニメが製作されるかは 残念ながらわかりません。 ヴィランドサガは歴史漫画の傑作です。 原作も是非読んで頂きたいですね。

Believe it or not, as much of an MVP as Askeladd is this season and how it probably feels like the show will struggle without him, the second season is even better than the first

Next season is much better

As for how Bjorn became a mushroom user, this can be attributed to viking culture - viking berserkers were actually known to eat certain psychoactive mushrooms to go into a battle trance. I know I wouldn't fight well on mushrooms, but they're just built different.

As the other guy mentioned, Askeladd is definitely framed more as the protagonist of the first season. In the first “arc” (what is season 1) in the manga, rather than starting with Thors, we actually start with Thorfinn in Askeladd’s gang already. In fact, the first named character we see IS Askeladd. Not Thors, or Thorfinn. He’s overlooking a battle with him calling over Thorfinn for his “task” of taking a captains head on the next page (this moment is episode 7 of the anime). The story still of course follows Thorfinn, but I find that introduction interesting. Thorfinn’s childhood we see in the first 4 episodes is actually a flashback in the manga that happens a few chapters later instead. It’s after Thorfinn and Askeladd have their first duel (episode 8 of the anime). Which makes it even more interesting to the reader as the manga reader has a TOTAL lack of context of their relationship while the anime viewers do. This is still a VERY accurate to the source material series. Some call it one of the best manga to anime adaptations. But pointing out the very few changes is always good fun.

very fun reaction

Okay that's the prologue, season 1 is only the prologue

Season 2 is great, you will love it

Bjorn dueled Askeladd because he was dying, the wound Atli gave him cut his organs, it was only a matter of time before he died in his bed and in typical Viking fashion he wanted to go out in battle so he could go to Valhalla. The last scene between him and Askeladd before the duel he asks him if his leg has healed because he wants to make sure Askeladd is in good enough condition to duel him. One detail a lot of people don't pick up on from that episode is in Bjorn's final moments rather than reach for his sword, he reached for his friend. Whether it was meant to be perceived that way or not I'm not sure, as I believe the idea of dying holding your weapon to get into Valhalla is more of a modern media thing than something the Norse actually believed. I like to think that concept is part of the Norse beliefs in Vinland Saga as it further drives home the level of respect and care Bjorn had for Askeladd, he wanted the duel to get into Valhalla but at his end it wasn't getting into Valhalla that mattered to him, it was knowing the man he followed for all those years was his friend. Also not sure if you noticed but the scene with Thorfinn holding up Askeladd on the white background is identical to the scene in episode 4 with Thors and Thorfinn. Can't wait to see what you think of season 2!

Season 2 is peakland saga. IMO it is even better than season 1

Hype :)

❤

I am thinking to watch these anime plz suggest me is it good?