Vinland Saga Season 1, created by Makoto Yukimura, directed by Shuhei Yabuta, and produced by WIT Studios, is a captivating retelling of the tales of the Jomsvikings, a renowned warrior clan featured in the Scandinavian epics, as well as the narrative of the Danish Prince, Prince Canute. By skillfully blending historical facts with plot twists tailored to the storyline, “Vinland Saga” has established itself as one of the finest adaptations of Viking legends across various media forms. The series remains faithful to the real-life timeline and draws from the epics and cultures to accurately depict the Vikings and the legendary Jomsviking warrior clan. While the anime struggled to convey the characters’ emotions effectively, Thorfinn’s cold expression in the manga came across as a childish tantrum. WIT Studio did an excellent job presenting the storyline. MAPPA Studio will produce the forthcoming season. Although highly recommended by many viewers, the anime series has also faced criticism from those who have read the manga. This article will focus exclusively on the anime, which contains numerous spoilers related to the series.
In “Vinland Saga” Season 1, we follow the life of Thorfinn, the son of Thors, a former legendary Jomsviking warrior who chose to abandon his life of violence and start a new life in a remote village. Thorfinn’s peaceful existence is shattered when Askeladd, a cunning and ruthless Viking leader, murders Thors during a battle. Filled with grief and a burning desire for vengeance, young Thorfinn joins Askeladd’s crew to take revenge on his father’s killer eventually. Throughout the season, we witness Thorfinn’s growth as a skilled and fearsome warrior, albeit haunted by the shadow of his father’s death.
The series explores themes of revenge, war, politics, and the pursuit of a utopian land known as Vinland, believed to be a place free of conflict and suffering. As the story progresses, we are introduced to a complex web of characters, including the ambitious Danish Prince Canute, whose transformation from a timid and inexperienced royal to a decisive and powerful leader is a significant plot element in the series.
Vinland Saga Plot Summary
Vinland Saga Season 1 begins with Thors, a former member of the Jomsvikings warrior clan, leaving behind his life of violence in search of a peaceful existence. He travels to Iceland with his wife Helga and daughter Ylva, hoping to start a new chapter as farmers. However, Thors cannot entirely escape his past, as Floki, a Jomsviking warrior, contacts him and insists that he rejoin their ranks. Thors’ young son Thorfinn, eager for adventure and fascinated by war, stows away on their battleship by hiding in a barrel.
As Thorfinn witnesses Thors sacrificing himself to the cunning and ruthless Viking leader Askeladd, he becomes determined to avenge his father’s death. This decision sets Thorfinn on a harsh journey, living in the wilderness and eventually becoming a spy for Askeladd’s pirate army. Askeladd later joins the retinue of Prince Canute, the Danish prince, with Thorfinn following closely behind.
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In an attempt to mold Prince Canute into a strong and capable ruler, Askeladd kills the prince’s retainer, Ragnor. Askeladd and Thorkell, a legendary Viking warrior, eventually become Prince Canute’s retainers, while Thorfinn serves as his personal guard.
Meanwhile, King Sweyn of Denmark has ordered the assassination of Prince Canute to simplify the succession process and make way for Prince Harold, Canute’s brother. King Sweyn’s actions have caused widespread grief across the continent. To put an end to this suffering, Askeladd and Thorkell agree to a truce and pledge their loyalty to Prince Canute. As they present a safe and sound Canute to the royal council, they must remain constantly vigilant.
During these events, Leif, an explorer and friend of Thors, sails across various towns and seas to find Thorfinn and bring him back home, fulfilling a promise he made to Helga and Ylva. As Leif finally meets Thorfinn and convinces him to return home, the sudden murder of King Sweyn by Askeladd puts their plans on hold as Thorfinn rushes to help Askeladd. Prince Canute seizes the opportunity to solidify his claim to the throne by putting an end to Askeladd’s rampage.
In the aftermath, Canute becomes king and acknowledges Thorfinn’s anger while banishing him from the court. The season concludes with guards holding Thorfinn back as he tries to approach Askeladd’s lifeless body. This marks the end of Vinland Saga Season 1, setting the stage for further exploration of Thorfinn’s journey and the ongoing saga of the Vikings.
Would Thors Have Died Even If Thorfinn Was Not There?
Thors Snorresson’s death was somewhat anticlimactic but necessary, as young Thorfinn witnessed his father sacrificing himself for him and their village. This event became the driving force behind Thorfinn’s character development, as he sought revenge and attempted to avenge his father at every opportunity, only to be defeated by Askeladd each time. This raises the question: if Thorfinn had not stowed away on the ship, would Thors still be alive and leading the Jomsviking army, aiding King Sweyn against the English army?
- Floki had asked Thors to rejoin the Jomsvikings, threatening his village if he refused.
- Thors had planned to leave the villagers with Leif and sail towards the army alone.
- However, Thors had not anticipated Floki hiring Askeladd to assassinate him.
Thors seemed to have had some inkling of an assassination attempt, which is why he wanted to send the villagers back as soon as possible. If Thorfinn had not been present, it is most likely that Thors would have sacrificed himself, making this his last journey to battle.
The villagers’ lives were at stake, and Floki would not have harmed them due to the Jomsvikings’ strict warrior code, the warrior code also mandated a death penalty for deserters.
The Jomsvikings were a strict Viking military tribe ruling the Northern Sea, with members joining at age 18 and retiring from the frontline at age 50. Thors, the only Viking who could defeat Thorkell the Tall, was an exceptional warrior who had risen through the ranks at age 25 and earned his captaincy.
Even though Thors was a deserter, Floki could not directly harm him and chose assassination instead.
Thors had given up his sword and did not want to use it again, with his true strength coming from his refusal to kill another man and his disdain for war.
In conclusion, even if Thorfinn had not witnessed his father’s sacrifice, Thors would not have returned to their village alive. His strong moral code ultimately led to his death, as he refused to compromise his beliefs even in the face of danger.
Was Askeladd’s Death Really Necessary?
Episode 24 of Season 1 of Vinland Saga marked a major turning point in the narrative, leaving viewers to wonder if Askeladd’s death was necessary and if Canute’s betrayal of Thorfinn was fair. Askeladd had a reputation for being exceptionally bright and strategic, constantly thinking ten steps ahead of his competitors. Due to his Danish father’s treatment of his Welsh noblewoman mother, he held off on attacking the Danish army until the time was right. He had even falsely accused his brother of killing their father, leading to the latter’s execution, and gotten away scot-free.
Although though Askeladd did some questionable things, he saw the potential in Thorfinn and raised him to be a warrior by giving him tough love and welcoming his trials. After watching Thorfinn battle his father, he decided to become his mentor and help him become a formidable fighter in his own right. At an earlier point, Askeladd might have eliminated Thorfinn, but instead he decided to nurture his innate abilities.
After much thought, Askeladd and Thorkell decided to follow Prince Canute because they both hated Askeladd and his army of Danish pirates. Unfortunately, Askeladd’s preparations were derailed by Floki’s plotting with King Sweyn, and he resorted to anger-driven action to preserve Prince Canute and Wales. By murdering King Sweyn and taking the ensuing responsibility upon himself, Askeladd shrewdly paved the way for Canute to rise to the throne. While Askeladd did not swear allegiance to Canute, he did view the latter as the best option for putting an end to the brutality of the Danish Vikings and protecting Wales.
Canute fatally stabbed Askeladd so that no one could challenge his right to the throne. Canute felt he deserved the scar on his face that was the result of his betrayal of Thorfinn. If the King hadn’t overestimated his power and ordered Wales’ subjugation, provoking Askeladd to inflict enough devastation to put Canute on the throne, Askeladd’s murder could have been prevented. If the king hadn’t done this, Askeladd would have had to play a longer game with King Sweyn in order to guarantee Canute’s ascension to the throne.
Was Thorfinn Able to Take Vengeance on His Father? An Explanation of Season 1 of Vinland Saga
Vinland Saga Season 1 concluded with viewers eagerly awaiting the answer to the question on everyone’s mind: was Thorfinn able to avenge his father? Unfortunately, due to Canute’s betrayal, Thorfinn was unable to fulfill his goal. Askeladd’s death left him lost and searching for a new purpose in life. While his sole purpose had been to defeat and kill Askeladd in a warrior’s duel to uphold the rules and morals of a warrior and show respect to his father’s clan and soul, he had never considered what would happen once he achieved his revenge. Askeladd’s dying words urged Thorfinn to move forward and not be clouded by revenge or get stuck in a loop of wanting to avenge further. Askeladd knew that if Thorfinn found out that Floki was the man behind Thors’ death, he would chase Floki to the ends of the earth, wanting to avenge his father. Askeladd wanted Thorfinn to search for the true meaning of a warrior and reach places his father Thors could not, so he could truly respect his memory.
Askeladd’s death robbed Thorfinn of his motive for revenge and a teacher and guardian who had taken him in and never once questioned his morals as a warrior. Askeladd had understood Thorfinn and kept the secret behind Thors’ death to himself. He had led Thorfinn to practice with him and played along to improve him. Thorfinn had repeatedly come back to save Askeladd, and while Askeladd was sometimes shocked by this, he understood Thorfinn’s childish expectations toward him. Through Askeladd’s death, Thorfinn was thrust into a new world where he had to learn to live for himself and move on from his quest for revenge.
Thorfinn’s immaturity and childish nature had been unable to grasp Askeladd’s teachings, and he was left in shock, holding a dying Askeladd in his arms. He lashed out at Canute, but even Canute realized it was necessary to let Thorfinn go so he could break free from the loop he was stuck in. The viewers could see the grudging respect, affection, and guilt for that affection that raged inside Thorfinn for Askeladd. Despite being stubborn, he carried out every one of Askeladd’s orders and kept trying to prove himself to him.
Askeladd’s dying words marked the end of Season 1 and the beginning of a new journey for Thorfinn in Vinland Saga Season 2. Viewers can expect to see growth in Thorfinn’s character as he learns to maneuver in society by himself and finds a new purpose in life beyond revenge.
