Vinland Saga Episode 2 Review: Sword

That awkward moment when you are just getting naked with the boys and your whole village gets pillaged in seconds by enemy forces. Vinland Saga continues with some manly manliness, and with blood thirst and treason lying in the air.

Japanese Original Episode Title: 剣

Plot

The war between England and Denmark is intensifying and the Vikings are trying to increase their forces for their next attack. One day, the villagers see a warship getting closer to the village. The Jomsvikings, the strongest army in the Northern seas, have come to pay a visit to Thorfinn’s village in order to bring back Thors, their previous captain and commander who has deserted them and fled to Iceland fifteen years ago. The Jomsvikings always kill their deserters but this time their leader made an exception. Threatening that they will destroy the village, Thors is forced to join them to the war against the English and bring with him one warship. He agrees in order to protect the villagers from being taken hostage and the village starts preparing to send their young men at war.

Episode Highlights

The lecherous English bastards: They were thirsty for some Viking booty and they got it. Such a cheat move to attack them when they ‘bathe’ and on top of everything on a freaking Saturday! These Englishmen are so repugnant.

Thors the Troll or a good father? Okay besides the fact that Thors is probably going to die in the next episode (because let’s face it he gives off such a Ned Stark vibe that his death flag has reached the roof at this point), he is trying to be a good father and teach Thorfinn not to lust for blood and war. The scene where the kids of the village come to Thors in order for him to check one of the kids’ broken arm really shows off how torn he is about his son’s talent for killing and being a good parent. You see him stressing over what to say to the kids while looking at the injury that showcases his son’s power, which gives off great symbolisms about him and his past and probably for Thorfinn’s future. Also, the scene where he grabs the sword from his son’s hands while he bleeds is very emblematic as well. Let’s also not forget what Halfdan said to him in the previous episode: ‘I bet you think you’ve freed him from his chains. Where are you going to take him now?’ All these scenes try to show that Thors is kind of chained to his destiny and he is unable to escape no matter what he does or how much he tries to be a good person and a good father.

Themes & Trivia

Jomsvikings: The Jomsvikings were an order of Viking mercenaries or brigands of the 10th and 11th century. They were staunchly Pagan and dedicated to the worship of such deities as Odin and Thor. They reputedly would fight for any lord able to pay their substantial fees and occasionally fought alongside Christian rulers. Although they were Pagan, the institutions of the Jomsvikings in some ways anticipated those of the Christian Knightly Orders of the later Middle Ages.

Danelaw: The Danelaw, as recorded in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, is a historical name given to the part of England in which the laws of the Danes held sway and dominated those of the Anglo-Saxons. Danelaw contrasts with West Saxon law and Mercian law. The term is first recorded in the early 11th century as Dena lage. Modern historians have extended the term to a geographical designation. The areas that made up the Danelaw lie in northern and eastern England.

Comments

Needless to say that all these young lads that are excited about the war are definitely going to die along with Thors in the next episode. Also, I really want to learn more about that guy that intensely eats a mushroom and then starts killing people at the opening sequence of the show. He seems like the guy who is going to be hanging out with Thorfinn to help him avenge his father, because come on let’s face it, we all know where this plot is going. Floki is going to have Thors and his men killed and then Thorfinn will go on a revenge trip to kill everyone. Oh yes, and he is definitely going to be a badass teenager that dual wields and slaughters his enemies in seconds.

Vikings bathe on Saturdays.

Don’t get too emotionally attached to Thors (and don’t get mesmerized by his mad abs either) because the next episode is probably going to be quite sad and violent, if you get what I mean.

NEXT TIME: Troll