Summary
Each week, the contrast between Thorfinn and Einar’s characters grows more profound, and it’s in highlighting their differences that the show thrives in storytelling and character development.
In Vinland Saga Season 2 Episode 7, viewers learned much about Ketil (voiced by Hideaki Tezuka). While he is still a good man as we reach episode 8, it seems the person he truly is and the person people think he is are quite the opposite. Although his kind nature could be good for Thorfinn (Yuto Uemura) and Einar (Shunsuke Takeuchi), Ketil’s more ruthless son, Thorgil, could be a problem later. How he’ll react to Thorfinn and Einar is unknown, but viewers can only hope he doesn’t become an enemy.
Vinland Saga Season 2 Episode 8 Recap
The episode opens in the middle of a nightmare, with Thorfinn dreaming of a younger him going after Einar’s cowering family. He tries to stop himself but falls through a crumbling floor. As he attempts to climb back up from the trenches, corpses grab his limbs, pulling Thorfinn down before he eventually wakes up screaming.
When he wakes up, Einar tells Thorfinn that he is again having a nightmare. For once, Thorfinn at least remembers a little bit of his dream, but not much. Einar then tells him that in his sleep, Thorfinn mentioned the name “Askeladd.”
After seeing how much Thorfinn and Einar’s wheat crops have grown, the other farmhands begin to complain, saying it is unfair that enslaved people and farmhands are allowed to cultivate the land.
While working on the farm, Thorfinn tells Einar about Askeladd, admitting that he was the man who killed his father. He tells Einar about following Askeladd into battle for 11 years in hopes of exacting revenge, only not to get it. While Einar tells him his heart probably needs time to promise everything, Thorfinn can’t help the feeling he has forgotten something. He then admits that although he no longer hates Askeladd, he feels empty without him.
What does Thorfinn ask Einar about humans?
Sverkel teaches Thorfinn and Einar how to fish using a net.
As they return from the shore, Thorfinn asks Einar if humans can change. Einar responds that he believes it is possible, as Thorfinn is currently “in the process of changing for the better.”
What happened to Thorfinn and Einar’s wheat?
Thorfinn and Einar return to their wheat field to find that it has been destroyed, with the plants having been dug up from the roots. Almost immediately, Einar knows this is the work of the farmhands and leaves to find them. Thorfinn stops him from using violence against a free man, and instead, they tell Pater, who says he will lead an investigation.
Einar tells Thorfinn that Ketil is very attached to Arnheid, so unlike them, she cannot work her way to freedom.
Vinland Saga Season 2 Episode 8 Ending Explained
While walking across the farm, Thorfinn and Einar encounter the farmhands. As the free men taunt them, Thorfinn tries to keep Einar from attacking them. Still, Einar attempts to punch the main antagonist anyway but is beaten to it by Thorfinn, who hits the man first. The two groups then break into a brawl, and Thorfinn sees moments from his past as he falls unconscious.
When this season first started, I didn’t expect Thorfinn and Einar to be the dynamic duo they’ve become. I’m especially enjoying how they’ve both changed as the season progresses, with Thorfinn being the calmer and more rational of the two while Einar becomes more tired and quick to anger. Although Einar still manages to keep his cool most of the time, his rage is reminiscent of season one Thorfinn’s, and it’s interesting to see Thorfinn react to that now that he’s matured some.
This episode had a little more action, which was a nice touch. Although the season hasn’t needed fights to carry it, it’s still fun to see Thorfinn use his skills sometimes. Hopefully, it doesn’t come back to bite him too much.
What did you think of Vinland Saga Season 2 Episode 8? Comment below.
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