Warning! Contains spoilers for Vinland Saga Season 2!
Vinland Saga just wrapped up its beautiful second season by showing what made it one of the best shows of 2023 so far. The anime produced by Studio Mappa and based on the manga by Makoto Yukimura may not have had as many hype action scenes as fans hoped, but instead, it featured a brilliant reflection on the cycle of violence and the horrors of war, showcased through the cathartic transformation of the protagonist, Thorfinn. The last episode showcased this in a particularly poignant way.
Vinland Saga Season 2 finale, "Home" featured Thorfinn finally returning home to his village in Iceland. After being away for so long, most people don't even recognize him, but his mother tearfully embraces him, and he becomes accepted by the villagers. This leads to some beautiful moments of kindness and joy that feel deserved after the suffering Thorfinn and Einar endured as slaves on Ketil's Farm. The most important part of the episode however is when Thorfinn tells his family of his journey and his goal to make a land of peace in Vinland. The story features clips from various parts of the show that reveal how the sum of Thorfinn’s experiences has shaped him into the man he is.
Vinland Saga Season 2 Has One Of The Best Characters Arc In Anime History
While some may call such a montage filler, in Vinland Saga it is incredibly satisfying. The anime has shifted its genre multiple times, from a story of war and bloodshed to a political thriller, to a slice of life about farming, all set against the backdrop of Viking Culture. Connecting these seemingly disparate phases of the story is Thorfinn’s journey of growth, starting as a child obsessed with vengeance and growing into anime's only true pacifist. Season 2 is basically the story of Thorfinn’s drastic transformation. After living most of his life as a killing machine obsessed only with avenging his father, the death of his target, Askeladd, made Thorfinnplunge into deep apathy, which coincided with being sold as a slave. However, this proved to be Thorfinn's ultimate salvation.
On Ketill's farm, Thorfinn met people and things that slowly filled the void inside him. Einar, a fellow slave who became Thorfinn's best friend, as a non-Viking brought him an important outside perspective on the horrors of warfare. The Old Master of the farm, Ketill's father, showed Thorfinn the beauty and value of hard work. Finally, Arnheid tragic story and fate pushed Thorfinn into shaping his new belief in pacifism into a concrete drive to change the world. The final episode of the season showcases Throfinn's growth, finally crystallizing his life philosophy and goals.
Vinland Saga Is One Of The Best Shows Of The Year
Beyond its incredible story and characters, Vinland Saga is also stunning on a technical level. While it may not feature as many flashy action scenes as other Mappa series, its animation was always subtly brilliant, from its hauntingly symbolic portrayal of Gardar and Arnheid’s slow deaths to Vinland Saga's grounded character designs, pretty much all aspects of the show’s design was perfect. This paired with outstanding voice acting and music allowed the anime to deepen the impact of the story it is adapting.
Of course, by the nature of its second season’s plot, the show isn’t for everyone. While Vinland Saga did a great job making its viewers care about farming, the slow pace of some of the season’s arcs isn’t for everyone. The show also features some scenes that may be too disturbing for some viewers to watch, such as Arnheid’s savage beating. But for fans willing to be patient with the show, Vinland Saga is easily the best anime of the year so far, telling a complex and powerful tale of character growth and preaching pacifism in a medium that often glorifies violence.
Vinland Saga Season 2 is available to watch on Crunchyroll and Netflix.
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