Sometimes, you know, you look for the words and they just don’t come easily. That’s what I feel like after this episode of Vinland Saga which, while it may have ended in a poetically predictable manner, executed the journey with a grace and dexterity you seldom see in anime or any other narrative art form. This series is very, very special, there’s no two ways about it. Nothing revolutionary or avante-garde – just brilliant traditional storytelling at its most breathtaking.
Given that we were looking at a three-week wait between Episodes 3 and 4, I did a staggered re-watch of the first three eps. Obviously because that layoff felt like forever, but also because I wanted to as closely as possible simulate the experience of going into this episode after a normal interval (like a starting pitcher doing side work when he has to skip a start on his regular rest). Honestly it wouldn’t have matted – as soon as #4 began I was immediately right back inside the story emotionally and intellectually, and would have been whether I’d rewatched the first three of not. The storytelling here is so articulate that it’s always crystal clear what’s happening at any given moment – and not having to scramble to keep up, your mind is free to grind on all the subtext (and there’s a ton of it).
In effect, this show is executed so eloquently that there’s not much left for me to do, really. I can gush of course – I’m good at that. And speculate. I’d heard over and over how the first part of the manga is – while still excellent – the weakest. I know some things were re-ordered for the anime but it’s hard to see how much better Vinland Saga can get, really. As I said last time I would gladly line up to watch any series with Thors as the protagonist – he’s an incredible man and an incredible character. But in some sense I think Yukimura Makoto intentionally embraced the much tougher task of writing a series with Thorfinn as the protagonist, because while Thors would have allowed him to deliver riveting drama, Thorfinn allows him to ask the questions he really wants to ask.
This was riveting, tense, exuberant and shocking from start to finish. Thors takes out an entire ship of Askeladd’s men – 28 in all, without killing a damn one of them (he even throws an oar to one man he knocks into the water). And that includes right-hand man Bjorn (Yasumoto Hiroki, not really that cool-headed here) who’s eaten a “berserker mushroom”. Yet all the time Thors is aware – and we are too – of the odds stacked against him. If he were alone he could take out as many men as Askeladd threw at him – he might need to resort to killing some, but he could do it. But he has two ships worth of farmers and green farmer’s sons – and one little boy – to protect.
No, this is only going to end one way, and I think it was Thors’ endgame all along even if he did try and miraculously avoid it. The challenge and the duel (which was a beautiful thing) was a desperation play, and Askeladd accepted because he knew he held all the cards either way. And because he’s too much of a badass himself to pass up the opportunity to feel the might of someone like Thors (as if there were anyone else) in battle. Even if Bjorn hadn’t roused himself and taken the dirty way out by holding Thorfinn hostage, Askeladd still wasn’t going to let Thors walk away with his ships and crews.
The funny thing, though, is that when Askeladd asked Thors to become the leader of his company, I feel absolutely certain he meant it (and his look when he realized that the answer would be what he knew it would proves it). The idea of serving under a man like Thors – to be in the presence of a warrior so strong and so inspirational – was a once-in-a-lifetime shot for Askeladd, and he took it. A mercenary yes, but he’s neither a fool or a philistine. He knows greatness when he sees it and has the sensibility to want to be a part of it. But it was never meant to be, and he knew that.
Thors lived – and died – by the philosophy that came to govern his life after he fled the Jomsvikings. “A true warrior doesn’t need a sword” – these words confuse Thorfinn, naturally, and all the more as his heart is broken by the fundamental lack of justice in the world. What we see in Thorfinn is a boy who’s in the process of rejecting his father’s way and following his own. He’s always seen the way of the Vikings as the true path, and now that he’s seen his father struck down in cowardly fashion, his bloodlust has a firm and specific target.
Even if Thorfinn were to kill Askeladd in revenge for his father’s death (which it’s hard to imagine him doing as a six year-old, even if he did manage to stow away yet again and his sheer force of will commands their attention and Askeladd’s respect), his bloodlust isn’t going to be sated. But surely Thors’ words will forever be at the back of his son’s mind as he walks his own bloody path – a nagging presence he can never quite shake off, no matter how many men he kills and how many battles he wins, asking the difficult questions Yukimura wants to ask. And that struggle inside Thorfinn will, I suspect, be the spine of Vinland Saga through its entire narrative course.
Jindujun93
July 29, 2019 at 9:52 pmAskeladd’s just one hell of a fascinating man, and those first few glances at him in the anime made it absolutely clear. He easily became one of my favorites throughout the manga, and I’m really glad that so far they’re doing him justice. In particular, they just nailed moments like the one you mentioned where he offered Thors to become their leader, as well as his seemingly non-chalant but actually pretty shrewd and pragmatic attitude. Really have to tip my hat to the voice actor there.
Speaking about that – wow, Thorfinn’s voice actress sent shivers down my spine at the end with the enraged Thorfinn scene. That gaze already killed it in the manga, but here with sound, it’s even more intense.
It’s also already been confirmed that next week, the anime is going to have a mostly anime-original episode – but unlike with so many other cases, I’m actually super optimistic here due to how much care the team has shown for Yukimura’s material so far (it actually makes me hope that we’ll get a similar home-run to the stellar anime-original episodes from Dororo), and can’t wait to see just how they intend to enhance the material even further.
Guardian Enzo
July 29, 2019 at 10:04 pmYeah, Ishigami was really good in that scene – I should have called it out.
say
July 29, 2019 at 10:30 pmThis anime will be great! In a way I am surprised: it seems I have found the most enjoyable anime in the summer schedule so far (Shoukoku no Altair, Banana Fish and now Vinland were all unexpected presents).
The first arc of the manga is neither weak nor strong. It depends on the reader, but what is undisputable is that it is a prologue. Now that the 4th episode aired it is safe to say that the first chapter in the manga introduced Thorfinn first, so that the readers know who the protagonist was, and then his father while the anime kept it uncertain until now. Nothing more. We will see the beginning chapter soon.
Yukie
July 29, 2019 at 11:09 pmAs a manga reader I was both dreading and looking forward to this episode, and wow, I am impressed.
They really did the clash between two of my favorite characters justice and also tore my heart into a hundred pieces again.
I especially appreciate the pacing so far. As much as I want to see what happens next, I like how they aren’t rushing through to get to the high-octane parts and giving all the character moments time. More and more manga adaptations have suffered from this type of pacing, so it’s really nice to see how they’ve handled the material so far (but I am kind of worried about anime-original material this early in the series, is it really happening?).
Can’t wait for you to see more of Askeladd. I want to gush about him, but I’ll hold my tongue for now.
Jindujun93
July 29, 2019 at 11:33 pmYeah, an interview with the screen writer already confirmed that it’s going to happen (see the video below, around 2:50).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGrSFFSk_es&feature=youtu.be
Yeni
July 30, 2019 at 12:49 amEven though I knew what was coming, Thors death still felt like a punch to the guts. Also, I kept holding my breath during the whole fight, riveting indeed.
The cinematography has been truly outstanding so far, I love how they’ve been making full use of body language to subtly convey what the characters are feeling/ thinking, though reading some people comments (bad idea) it seems many of this show’s subleties are flowing way over their heads.
Askeladd is an amazing character, so complete and full of nuances that basically… he just needs to breath. He stands out even in a story full of complex characters as this one. I’ve reread the manga many times and I still find things that I didn’t notice before.
He is only my second favorite, because to me Thorfinn’s character arc in the long run is out of the charts.
Talking about him, after watching the fifth trailer, I think I kinda have an idea of what this anime original is gonna entail and I think that: 1. It will be a plus to the story. 2. It will break my heart.
Benjamin Bassini
July 30, 2019 at 2:34 amIf this was the only show worth watching this season I think I would be ok with that. Don’t get enough shows like this anymore, couldn’t really ask for a better adaptation. I can see now why the manga has been compared to Berserk and Vagabond.
Onix Franceschini
July 30, 2019 at 2:59 amAll I will say is this: this story will go places that I don’t think many imagined. These early chapters were great, but the stuff that comes soon is amazing. Truly exceptional writing and characterization… I am utterly thrilled to experience it again with such a great team behind it, and of course your words of excitement. 🙂
Miyu Fan
July 30, 2019 at 3:04 amI just finished reading Planetes manga and Yukimura Makoto is really an incredible storyteller – it’s amazing how Planetes was his debut work, finished it and then he immediately started Vinland Saga. It’s very rare to find a talented mangaka like him nowadays.
Love this episode, and with how the staff promote it to reach an international audience, I hope it’s a success. To be frank I don’t think this would become a mainstream hit in Japan, it’s a very serious historical drama which doesn’t appeal to your standard anime audience. My one wish is that maybe it can get an incredible English dub and can reach wider audience with that. This is really the most Western-friendly story that you can get in an anime.
Guardian Enzo
July 30, 2019 at 7:33 amYeah, this is one I think could work in the West. Golden Kamuy would be the commercial model for Japan, but VS doesn’t have the same quirky modernism GK has. I don’t think it’s going to be nearly as popular as an anime.
Marty
July 30, 2019 at 5:54 amThis episode has too much great things to talk about, I don’t know where to begin.
These characters real and not one dimensional.
Thors himself remains a fascinating figure. Ironically enough, as far as the anime is concerned he’s the strongest warrior seen thus far, and yet, besides being blessed with the physical abilities many of this era could only dream of, he chooses to reject the killer’s path.
In a sense, Thors should be sort of grateful for Floki’s underhanded ways. Had Floki faces him head on, Thors would’ve been forced to either be the lone survivor of a bloodbath or to abandon his morals in order to survive and save his son and companions by killing. In the end, Askeladd was able to allow Thors to die with his morals and principles intact.
Speaking of Askeladd, this episodes dropped a few hints towards his character not yet discussed. He claimed that he’s the descendant of “Arturius” (I believe). Now, history tells us that the Roman Empire reaches what we would call England. Even though the Vikings never interacted directly with the Romans, there’s the possibility that either Askeladd is part Briton and has a certain pride in his Roman heritage (might explain the curaiss he wears) or he has an admiration for the Romans and adopted some of their culture as his own. Either way, I’m looking forward to what Vinland Saga has in stock for him.
Thorfinn, oh man. I’ve never seen such a drastic character design change with so little actually changed. His eyes are basically the only thing that’s different, but it’s clear the optimistic youth is dead, replaced with a being of fury and hatred.
No matter how hard he tried, Thors couldn’t completely divorce his son from his culture. Ironically enough, in trying to avenge his father, Thorfinn is dishonoring his memory. Whatever may happen, Thorfinn’s innocence is no more. Even if he eventually comes to see his dad’s point of view, it won’t be the happy Thorfinn, but a Thorfinn broken and bruised by a cruel world, that will do so.
Michael
July 30, 2019 at 3:04 pmThis was a really great episode, and I enjoyed the vast majority of it. One thing that really bugged me at the end though – there is no way Leif lets Thorfinn out of his sight during the negotiations. It is absolutely preposterous that Thorfinn stowed away on that ship after what happened. There should have come up with a much better explanation, because that completely goes against the character of Leif, and honestly of many of the villagers.
Kurik
August 3, 2019 at 3:33 pmDude…I came here to say the same exact thing…that’s the only thing that put a wrinkle on this episode and series so far….I can’t grasp how Leif would allow that…its only 12 of them and one ship…no way he could have missed him….I am doing my best to put it aside and focus on the greatness of this anime in general so far. Epic is the word that comes to mind. This anime, simply, makes me happy to be a fan.