Characters in order of appearance:
Transcript
- Episode begins with Thors imagining himself waking up in a field of wheat in a green plain, with green mountains in the distance*
Helga: Thors.
- Helga stands by a tree in the distance while holding a baby, Ylva, waving at Thors*
Thors: Helga.
- Thors begins to walk towards Helga but catches his foot on something. Thors looks down and sees the decapitated head of a warrior, snapping back to reality*
Thorkell: Thors!
- Thorkell stands on a nearby boat as a warrior jumps at Thors, swinging his sword down on him. Thors blocks the strike with the side of his sword, knocking the warrior’s sword to his side with a swing of his own arm, before slashing him across the chest. Thors ducks under an axe swing from a warrior before swiftly turning around and slashing the warrior across the back. Thors jumps back to avoid a spear thrust from a warrior, before grabbing the spear handle with his left hand and stabbing the warrior through the throat with his sword. A man approaches Thors from behind while swinging an axe, but Thorkell jumps from the nearby boat to slam his giant foot, as large as the man’s torso, into the man, causing blood to fly from the warrior’s mouth as he is knocked off the boat*
Thorkell: *laughs*…*roars*
- Thorkell swings his axe at the mast in the middle of the boat, cutting it in half, while simultaneously cutting four warriors in half with a wave of air pressure. Thors jumps onto the falling mast, running up it, before jumping off the top and landing on the other side of the boat while simultaneously cutting a warrior clean in half with a swing of his sword. Text shows up onscreen that reads Year 987 Hjorungavagr, as the boat Thorkell and Thors are on is shown in the middle of dozens of others, some of which are on fire*
Thorkell: Why were you just standing there? Are you feeling unwell?
- Thors grabs a shield from the floor of the boat, while Thorkell grabs a man’s corpse*
Thors: Sorry. I dozed off.
Thorkell: *chuckles*
- Dozens of arrows fly towards Thors and Thorkell from an enemy boat, as they raise their shield and corpse respectively to block the barrage*
Thors: We’re too spread out. We won’t be able to hold off their second wave. Thorkell, when Floki approaches, bring up the frontline.
Thorkell: You mean that blockhead? I don’t mind. What about you?
Thors: I’m going to stop the enemy.
Thorkell: Stop? What do you mean?
- Thors begins running to the end of the boat*
Thorkell: How are you going to get there?
- Thors launches himself from the end of the boat to a nearby boat*
Thorkell: I see. You’re nimble. Wait You’re sneaking off alone?!
- Thors runs down a boat before cutting through a warrior’s hip with a swing of his sword, then immediately slashing another warrior across the chest. Thors then runs past three warriors, slashing each of them across the chests with quick swings of his sword. Thors runs past another warrior while cutting his arm off with a swing of his sword, before finally slashing the last warrior across the chest. Thors grabs the warrior’s bow as it falls from his hands, before nocking an arrow and shooting it through the throat of a warrior on the boat in front of him. Thors shoots another arrow through the forehead of a warrior, before immediately shooting an arrow through the throat of another warrior. Thors jumps from his boat to the boat immediately in front of it. Thors swings his sword on the three warriors in front of him, sending them all flying off the boat and into the water. Thors runs past three warriors while cutting each of them down with singular slashes, before cutting a warrior in half with an upward slash. A warrior charges at Thors while swinging his axe at him, as lightning strikes and hail begins to fall from the clouds. Thors is revealed to have sidestepped the axe swing, before impaling the warrior through the stomach with his sword. Thors jerks his sword out of the man’s abdomen, as he falls to his knees, while clutching Thors’ chest*
Warrior: *cries* Maria. Sorry…
- The warrior falls dead to the floor of the boat, as Thors stands there staring at him. An arrow suddenly pierces Thors in the shoulder*
Thors: *grunts*
- Several arrows rain down on the boat around Thors. A boat of several enemy warriors crashes into Thors’ boat, before they board it. A warrior swings his halberd upwards toward Thors, striking his sword and knocking it out of his hand. The warrior swings the halberd at Thors’ face, who ducks under the strike while quickly turning around and grabbing the warrior by the shirt, before throwing them both overboard. While underwater, the warrior grabs Thors’ throat, who begins wrestling with the warrior. Thors grabs the warrior’s sword from it’s hilt before impaling him through the chest with it. Thors stares at the dead warrior, before staring down at the sword. Thors throws the sword into the depths of the sea before swimming away, underneath all of the boats. Thors walks onto a beach, before stumbling and falling to his knees. Thors stands to his feet, as the burning wreckage of the ships are seen in the far distance behind him. Scene changes to Thorfinn, who stands on a bridge above a river, as he throws a bucket attached to a rope into it. Thorfinn pulls the bucket, now filled with water, up by the rope, before pouring the water into another bucket that is tied to a large stick. Thorfinn walks through the snow, carrying the water-filled buckets on either side of a large stick over his shoulder, passing by several farmers who till the desolate ground with their hoes. Text onscreen says Year 1002 Iceland. Thorfinn enters his house with the buckets. Ylva is weaving a decorative textile with a loom, before turning to Thorfinn who is emptying the small buckets of water into a large barrel*
Ylva: Thorfinn, can you feed the sheep and milk the cow?
Thorfinn: Okay.
- Thorfinn is shown grabbing a large amount of straw to give to several sheep. One of the sheep bites Thorfinn’s hair and pulls it, causing him to fall backward and throw the straw into the air. Thorfinn squeezes a cow’s udder, pouring milk into a small bucket, while glaring at the sheep as he is shown covered in bits of straw. Thorfinn carries the bucket of milk outside the stables before breathing on his hands. Thorfinn stares at the sea and the horizon. Scene changes to later that night, as Thorfinn, Faxi, and several other village children sit in his house and listen to Leif’s story*
Leif: After leaving Markland, our ship sailed further south. “There are better lands.”
- Leif is shown with a native headdress*
Leif: That’s what the wind was telling us.
Thorfinn: Haa!
- Flashback shows Leif sailing on the sea in stormy weather*
Leif: And then we found it. The new continent!
- Flashback shows Leif, Mols, and others walking onto the newly discovered land*
Leif: A new world where fruit grows and grassy plains cover the land. I named that land. The name of that land is Vinland. So how about it, boys? Have a better opinion of me, Leif Ericson, now?
Thorfinn: You’re amazing, Leif!
Village Children: What happened next? Was anyone there?
Faxi: Was it warm?
Village Children: Was it bigger than Iceland?
Leif: Yeah. It was much bigger than this place. There was grass growing everywhere.
- Flashback shows Leif and Mols carrying a cut tree trunk through a forest, before noticing several native people on a hill*
Leif: We saw some Natives too. We couldn’t understand each other, but we became friends. This feather headdress and pipe are gifts from them.
- Leif points to his headdress*
Leif: Listen. See this thing here? Only true warriors are allowed to wear it.
- Thors is shown walking towards the house, through the snowfall*
Leif: Well, you know…
- Thors enters the house as Helga stands before him*
Thors: What? The kids are still awake?
Thorfinn: Can I touch it?
Helga: Sorry. I wanted them to hear Leif’s stories.
Thorfinn: A true warrior? You really are amazing.
- Thorfinn touches Leif’s headdress*
Leif: Right? You’re a good boy, Thorfinn. Why don’t you come sail with me when you grow up?
Thorfinn: What?! I want to sail with you now!
Leif: Now…?
Village Children: Something’s not right, Leif. My grandfather told me that Jormungand lives in the west, and eats any ship that dares approach. And beyond that, there’s nothing.
Leif: That’s exactly why you should realize how amazing I am!
- Ari is shown standing and watching the kids and Leif*
Leif: See? This is the proof. I’m a true warrior.
- Leif points to his headdress*
Village Children: Leif, you’re not a warrior.
Leif: What? You don’t know anything. The battlefield isn’t the only place where warriors are found. Sailors fight against the sea. They’re amazing.
Village Children: *laughs* I knew it. Yeah.
Leif: What?
Village Children: Everyone says you’re just like a kid with a beard. You’re always going on adventures, and you’re useless in battle.
Leif: Hmph! You just can’t think for yourself. Thorfinn, you believe me, right?
- Leif reaches for Thorfinn who takes a step back*
Leif: Eh…Do you mean I’m just a wandering old man who can’t fight? You don’t believe me?
Thorfinn: Well, it’s true that my father is a warrior…
Thors: …?
Leif: Thors! These kids think I’m a fool! Beat some sense into them!
- Thors stands up and claps his hands*
Thors: All right. That’s enough for today.
Village Children and Faxi: Ehh?
Thors: Ari, send them home.
Ari: Yes, Thors.
- Ari leads the village children from Thors’ home*
Thorfinn: See you later.
Village Children: Bye.
- A man with a chain around his neck is shown walking through the heavy snowfall, walking up a hill overlooking the village. Thors sits around a fire in his house, alongside Helga and Leif*
Thors: I see. Several people froze to death in Greenland.
Leif: Yes. The cold wave will be severe this year. A lot of livestock will die. The problem is that it gets harder to endure the cold as you get older.
- Ylva walks into the house with two sheep*
Ylva: It’s so cold.
Helga: Thanks.
Ylva: These are the only ones getting weak.
Leif: You must be cold, Ylva! I’ll warm you up!
Ylva: You pervert. Mother, go to sleep. You’ll catch a cold again.
Helga: I’m fine. Can you help me tie up the sheep?
Ylva: Okay.
Leif: Looks like life is tough here too.
Thors: Yeah.
Leif: Someday we might get a winter so cold that no one survives. Back in my country, my brother is making plans to emigrate right now.
Thors: It’s far, right?
Leif: What? I made the round trip.
- Thorfinn dreams of himself sailing through the sea*
Thorfinn: Go! Vinland is near!
Crewman: Captain Thorfinn!
Thorfinn: What?!
Crewman: It’s Jormungand.
- Jormungand, a massive sea serpent, appears before the boat. Thorfinn draws a small sword from a sheath*
Thorfinn: Bring it on, you monster.
Crewmen: *cheer*
- Jormungand suddenly wraps it’s tail around Thorfinn, pulls him off the boat and squeezes him. Thorfinn wakes up to find Ylva sleeping beside him in his bed, with her arm wrapped around his head*
Thorfinn: That hurts. Huh?
- Thorfinn pushes Ylva’s arm off himself*
Thorfinn: Sister! Sleep in your own bed! There’s not enough room!
Ylva: Ehh? I don’t want to.
Thorfinn: That’s not fair! I’m the one who warmed up this bed!
- Thorfinn notices Thors sitting outside the room*
Thorfinn: They’re still talking.
Ylva: Don’t pay attention to them. Worrying is for adults. Come over here. I’ll give you a hug.
- Ylva grabs Thorfinn and pulls him down. Scene changes to the next morning, as Ylva and Thors are shoveling snow off the roof of the house*
Ylva: Hey, Father. Why can’t we get a slave? Mother’s health is poor. And now I have to help with the chores.
Thors: That’s not what we do. Stop asking the same thing every year.
Ylva: *sighs* You’re so weird.
- Ylva slips off the roof and falls into a snowbank on the ground*
Thors: Ylva!
Ylva: I thought I was going to die.
Thors: Are you hurt?
Ylva: I’m fine.
- Ylva notices something in the snow*
Thors: What’s wrong?
Ylva: There’s something under here. Ah!
- Ylva begins frantically digging through the snow with her gloved hands*
Thors: Ylva? Ah!
- A man with a chain around his neck is shown laying in the snow, halfway uncovered by Ylva’s digging, with his arms blackened from the cold. Scene changes to Thorfinn sitting on an overturned boat while looking at the sea*
Thorfinn: Hey, old man. How much of your story yesterday is true?
- Leif applies tar to the bottom of the overturned boat with a brush*
Leif: What are you talking about? It’s all true.
Thorfinn: Then take me on this ship. I’ll believe it if I see it with my own eyes.
Leif: Idiot. That’s now what it means to believe. If you want to ride a boat, then go ask your father. Our warship is sitting over there. Our village has been using it for many generations. I’m sure your father would be happy to lend it to you.
Thorfinn: *groans* My father’s so stingy. He always says no, no matter how many times I ask.
Leif: He’s not being stingy.
Thorfinn: Hmm?
Leif: The ocean here is scary, Thorfinn. I got trapped in an ice floe once, when I was young. I had just moved to Greenland. I was careless. We ran out of food in no time. We ate ice to make us forget our hunger. Our boat was finally crushed by the ice. We were left with no choice but to walk on the sea. And then one day, I noticed I was the only one left. My six companions were all dead.
Thorfinn: Why? Why do we live so far north, if we have to go through all this?
- Thors carries the chained man into his house, as Ylva walks behind*
Thors: Helga! Boil some water! Ylva. Bring the fur blanket.
- Helga appears from behind a curtain*
Ylva: Okay.
Helga: Oh, no. What happened?
Thors: He was buried in the snow.
- Thors places the man on a bed by the fire, before removing his shirt, revealing several deep scars around his abdomen and shoulders*
Ylva: That looks like it hurts. What happened to him?
- Thors grabs the fur blanket from Ylva*
Thors: Add more wood to the fire.
Ylva: Okay.
- Thors wraps the man in the fur blanket, before applying chest compressions*
Ylva: Hey, Father. Isn’t he already dead? His hands and feet have already rotted. That guy’s dangerous.
- Helga wipes the man’s feet with a wet cloth*
Helga: He’s not from our village. Poor thing. Why was he outside in the blizzard?
Ylva: Why? He’s a runaway slave. You’ll get in trouble if you hide him.
- Scene changes to back to Thorfinn and Leif, as Leif sits atop the overturned boat alongside Thorfinn*
Leif: We ran away. My ancestors used to live much further to the east, a long time ago. In a land called Norway. It’s warmer than here. The sea doesn’t freeze. It’s a good land, protected by many coves. But one day, a powerful man named Harald appeared. Harald’s forces conquered our villages like a raging fire. He proclaimed himself to be the first king of Norway and became its ruler.
- Flashback shows Harald holding the tip of his sword to a man’s throat*
Leif: He forced the people to choose whether they would obey the king or leave Norway. Many people hated Harald’s tyranny. They moved to a faraway land, away from Harald’s reach. They came here, to Iceland.
Thorfinn: You’re lying.
- Thorfinn slides off the overturned boat to the ground*
Thorfinn: You’re a liar! My father and my ancestors would never run away! Stupid old man! You wandering old coot!
Leif: …
- Thorfinn approaches his house*
Thorfinn: Father!
- Thorfinn enters his house*
Thorfinn: Father. Listen to me. Leif said…
- Thorfinn notices Thors applying chest compressions to a man*
Helga: Huh? Welcome back, Thorfinn.
Thorfinn: Who is he?
Ylva: He’s someone else’s slave. He ran away.
Slave: *gasps*
Thorfinn: …!
Ylva: He came back to life!
Thors: Hey, you! Can you say your name?!
- Thors lightly slaps the man’s cheek*
Ylva: Huh…
Slave: I’m so cold.
Thors: The fire. Ylva, get the fire going.
Ylva: Oh, okay.
Thors: Where did you come from?
Slave: Are you going to make me go back…to Halfdan’s household?
Ylva: Halfdan?! You came from the other side of the mountains?
Slave: I hate it there. I hate it. *cries* But…I don’t…have anywhere else to go.
Thors: *sighs*
- A villager barges into the house*
Thorfinn: Huh?
Villager: Thors! Come! Halfdan is down at the harbor! Those guys came to pick a fight again. You’re the only one who can handle him.
Ylva: *groans*
- Halfdan and dozens of his men are shown departing from a boat by the coast*
Villager: They said something about a slave. They forced their way onto shore. Leif is trying to intervene, but I’m afraid he’ll start a fight. Just come!
- Scene changes to the coast*
Halfdan: Chains are the only type of necklace that looks good on a human. Not gold. Not silver.
- Halfdan swings a chain within a circle in his hand*
Halfdan: An iron chain. A chain around a man’s neck is the only way to make him half decent.
- Halfdan stops swinging the chain, causing it to wrap around his arm, before catching the end of it within his palm*
Halfdan: Don’t you agree?
Villagers: *nervous noises*
Halfdan: Last night, one of my slaves cut his chain and ran away. Do you know anything about this?
Ari: Stop trying to pick a fight with us!
- Ari pushes through the crowd of villagers, before drawing his sword*
Ari: You’re just trying to drag up old fights again! What a bunch of sissies.
- A villager turns to Leif*
Villager: We’ve had problems with him before. We had a mediation the other day.
Ari: You think your numbers scare us?!
Halfdan’s Man: You brat! I remember you! You cut off my left arm during that one fight!
- One of Halfdan’s men reveals his stumped arm, with a cloth wrapped around the end*
Ari: How dare you cut off my brother’s leg?!
Leif: Stop, Ari
- Leif grabs Ari’s arm and pulls him away, while one of Halfdan’s other men does the same to the one-armed man*
Ari: My brother will never be able to walk again! I’m going to chop off your leg!
- Ari wrestles free from Leif’s grip and points his sword towards the man*
Halfdan’s Man: Bring it on! Who cares about the law?! Who cares about the town assembly?!
- The man draws his sword, before Halfdan suddenly wraps his chain around the sword and pulls it to the man’s side*
Halfdan’s Man: …! H…Halfdan…
Halfdan: I’m going to tie you up, you bastard.
- Halfdan flings the man’s sword into the air with his chain, before wrapping the chain around the man’s head. Halfdan violently jerks the chain, deeply gashing the man’s face, as blood and flesh fly into the air*
Halfdan’s Man: Ahh!
Halfdan: I won’t let anyone get away with breaking the law. The law is a chain. The only way to make a heretic a human is to bind him with the law. Don’t forget.
- Ylva stands within the crowd of villagers*
Ylva: *fearful noises*
Halfdan: The runaway slave is a young Slav. Have you seen him?
- Scene changes to Thors’ house, as the slave imagines himself standing in a field of flowers*
Slave: Where am I? *sighs* I’ve never felt so peaceful before.
Thors: Hang in there! Hey, you!
Thors: Stay awake! Or you’ll die!
Helga: Thors.
Thors: *groans*
Slave: Dad. Mom. Sister. You were all here. I was worried about you. We all got sold to different places. Where am I? Why am I…?
Thors: Far, far to the west, across the sea, there’s a land called Vinland. It’s warm and fertile. It’s a faraway land, without slave traders and without war.
- Thors grabs the slave’s hand*
Thors: What do you think? Come live there with us someday.
Thorfinn: Vinland…
Slave: I see…
- The slave imagines himself walking in a field of flowers while greeting his family*
Slave: This land is called Vinland.
- Halfdan barges into Thors’ house alongside several of his men*
Halfdan: Heh. I found him. Pardon my bad manners, Thors. I’m the rightful owner of that slave. Give him back to me.
Thorfin: Father…
Helga: Come, Thorfinn.
- Helga leads Thorfinn to a different room*
Ylva: Halfdan!
Ylva: You know…We weren’t trying to hide him. We saved your slave when he was about to die….
Thors: Halfdan. How much did you pay for this man?
Ylva: Father, it’s rude to ask that.
Halfdan: Two sheep. Both young ewes.
Thors: I’ll give you three sheep. I’ll buy him.
Ylva: Eeh!
Thors: What do you think, Halfdan?
Halfdan: I’m bringing him back. I have to torture him in front of the other slaves to make sure they learn their lesson.
- Thors stands to his feet, towering over Halfdan and his men*
Thors: Then I’ll give you four sheep.
Halfdan’s Man: You bastard! Didn’t you hear what Halfdan said…
Halfdan: Shut up. What if I said I want twice that many.
Thors: I’ll pay. I’ll give you all ewes. Under 3 years old.
Ylva: *shocked noises*
Halfdan: Hmph! Eight sheep for a man who’s good as dead? Tch!
- Halfdan walks toward the door and begins to leave*
Halfdan: That was a good deal.
Ylva: No way. The deal’s closed?
- Halfdan stops at the doorway*
Halfdan: Thors. I bet you think you freed him from his chains. Where are you going to take him now? *chuckles* I’ll be the one to choose the sheep.
- Halfdan and his men leave, as Thorfinn stands watching from the other room. Scene changes to Ylva, Thors, Thorfinn, and Helga standing by a grave on a cliff overlooking the sea*
Ylva: *cries*
Thorfinn: Sister. Are you sad?
Ylva: Of course I’m sad! He cost eight sheep! But he died right afterwards! *cries* Father, you idiot.
Thors: *sighs*
Thorfinn: Father. Did we run away too? Leif told me…that our ancestors fled here from the east. He said they ran away and came here.
Thors: Yes. That’s what they say.
Thorfinn: Then…
- A Viking warship is shown sailing through the sea*
Thorfinn: Then where does everyone who wants to run away from here…
- A man, Floki, walks up to the front of the boat, smiling*
Thorfinn: …go?
- Thors places his hand on Thorfinn’s head. Scene changes to Thors’ house, as an ornate chest is shown within a room, and two swords and other gear are shown within it. Episode ends*
Episode Rating
Story & Pacing (9.2/10)
- A perfect mix of action, drama, and world-building. The episode opens with an intense battle featuring Thors and Thorkell, before transitioning into the slow, atmospheric life in Iceland.
- The pacing is deliberately slower after the battle, mirroring Thors' desire to escape war and violence.
- The runaway slave subplot serves as a microcosm of the larger themes, highlighting Thors’ morality and Halfdan’s brutal philosophy on power.
- The gradual buildup to Floki’s arrival at the end sets up an ominous conflict that will force Thors to confront his past.
Characterization & Themes (9.3/10)
- Thors Snorresson – The Reluctant Warrior
- The episode establishes Thors as a legendary warrior who is not only an unstoppable fighter but also deeply conflicted about violence.
- His decision to throw away his sword and flee the battlefield is a defining moment, symbolizing his rejection of war.
- In contrast, he’s now a peaceful farmer who values life, as seen in how he tries to save the dying slave and negotiates with Halfdan.
- Thorfinn – The Young Dreamer
- Thorfinn idolizes warriors and adventure, fascinated by Leif’s stories about Vinland.
- His curiosity about his ancestors fleeing from war foreshadows his future character arc, where he will have to grapple with the meaning of strength and freedom.
- The final scene, where Thorfinn asks where people escape from Iceland, is a brilliant moment of foreshadowing for his eventual journey.
- Leif Ericson – The Storyteller & Survivor
- Leif provides a contrast to Thors, as a man who values adventure over war but also understands the dangers of the sea and survival.
- His backstory, being stranded in the ice and losing all his companions, adds realism to his tales of discovery and exploration.
- Halfdan – The Ruthless Tyrant
- Halfdan is a compelling and terrifying antagonist, embodying the philosophy of control and power through violence.
- His treatment of his men and slaves shows that he sees chains and laws as the only way to control people.
- His brutal punishment of his own warrior, using the chain to rip his face apart, is a chilling demonstration of his authority and cruelty.
- Ylva – The Practical One
- Ylva’s reaction to the slave’s death is a highlight. While Thors sees the moral cost, Ylva sees the practical cost (eight sheep lost for nothing).
- This realistic and grounded viewpoint adds depth to her character and emphasizes the struggles of life in Iceland.
Action & Tension (9.4/10)
- The opening battle is an adrenaline rush, showcasing Thors' ridiculous combat prowess.
- Thorkell’s sheer brute strength and joyful personality provide a nice contrast to Thors' precise, efficient fighting style.
- The scene where Thors methodically cuts through enemies is visually stunning, but the moment where the dying soldier says “Maria… Sorry…” humanizes the violence.
- The tension of Halfdan’s arrival in the village is executed perfectly, with the growing threat of conflict hanging over the peaceful settlement.
Worldbuilding & Themes (9.5/10)
- The episode beautifully contrasts war and peace. The first half glorifies violence, while the second half examines its cost.
- The brutality of Viking society is shown through Halfdan’s rule, the concept of slavery, and the struggle for survival.
- Vinland is introduced as a dream-like paradise, serving as the episode’s central theme of escape and a peaceful life.
- The historical realism is fantastic, with details about Norway’s unification under Harald, the struggles of living in Iceland, and the dangers of the sea.
Cinematography & Atmosphere (9.2/10)
- The opening battle is choreographed brilliantly, with dynamic camera angles and seamless action sequences.
- The snowy landscapes of Iceland feel cold and isolating, mirroring Thors’ attempt to escape from his past.
- The lighting during Thors' dream and the slave’s final vision of his family adds a tragic beauty to these moments.
- The final shot of Floki’s ship sailing in is ominous, hinting that Thors' past is about to catch up with him.
Final Verdict: 9.1/10 – A Masterfully Executed Episode
This episode blends action, emotion, and thematic depth in a way that few anime achieve. It’s a near-perfect introduction to the world of Vinland Saga, setting up its philosophical core and upcoming conflicts.
- Strengths:
- ✔️ Incredible action sequences featuring Thors and Thorkell
- ✔️ Deep and nuanced character writing (Thors, Thorfinn, Halfdan, Leif, Ylva)
- ✔️ Themes of war, slavery, freedom, and morality are expertly explored
- ✔️ Hauntingly beautiful cinematography and atmosphere
- ✔️ Tension builds naturally, leading to Floki’s ominous arrival
- Weaknesses:
- ❌ Some viewers may find the slower pacing in the second half jarring after the intense opening battle.
Overall, this is one of the strongest premiere episodes in anime, setting up Vinland Saga as a brutal yet thought-provoking tale about war and peace.
Character Ratings
1. Thors Snorresson
- Role: The protagonist of the episode, Thors is portrayed as a highly skilled warrior who ultimately rejects violence. He is introduced through his dream, battle prowess in Hjorungavagr, and his peaceful life in Iceland. His compassion is emphasized when he attempts to save a runaway slave, showcasing his philosophy that a true warrior does not need a sword.
- Impact: 10.0 – The episode revolves around Thors, his past, and his present ideals. His actions directly influence Thorfinn and other villagers.
2. Helga
- Role: Thors’ wife, Helga is shown as a nurturing and caring figure who supports her family. She helps take care of the slave and maintains the household.
- Impact: 3.5 – While not a major player in events, Helga serves as an emotional anchor for Thors and the family.
3. Ylva
- Role: Thors’ daughter, Ylva is depicted as responsible but somewhat materialistic, caring more about the value of the sheep than the life of the slave. However, her reaction to the slave's death reveals her hidden compassion.
- Impact: 5.0 – She provides emotional contrast and commentary on Thors’ choices, representing the village’s practical mindset.
4. Thorkell
- Role: Thorkell appears as an enthusiastic and brutal warrior during the Hjorungavagr battle, showing great respect for Thors. He is a massive presence in the fight, cutting down enemies with ease.
- Impact: 6.0 – Though his role is limited to the battle, he provides insight into Thors’ past and contrasts with Thors’ developing pacifism.
5. Leif Ericson
- Role: The episode’s storyteller, Leif introduces the legend of Vinland and represents the spirit of adventure. He also provides historical context about their ancestors fleeing Norway.
- Impact: 6.5 – Leif significantly influences Thorfinn, planting the idea of Vinland in his mind and challenging his perception of strength.
6. Faxi
- Role: A village boy who listens to Leif’s story and interacts with Thorfinn.
- Impact: 2.0 – A minor presence who contributes to the storytelling scene.
7. Mols (Flashback)
- Role: Appears in Leif’s flashback, shown during the expedition to Vinland.
- Impact: 1.5 – Only relevant within Leif’s story.
8. Ari
- Role: A young warrior who tries to stand up to Halfdan. His impulsive nature showcases the tension between the village and Halfdan’s men.
- Impact: 4.5 – He represents the more aggressive side of the village and serves to highlight Thors’ calm authority.
9. Harald (Flashback)
- Role: Mentioned in Leif’s story as the conqueror who forced their ancestors to flee.
- Impact: 2.5 – Important to the historical context but does not influence present events.
10. Halfdan
- Role: A ruthless slave owner who values power and discipline. His presence brings conflict to the village, and his interaction with Thors demonstrates Thors’ peaceful resistance.
- Impact: 7.5 – He is a key antagonist in the episode, presenting a direct moral and philosophical contrast to Thors.
11. Floki
- Role: Appears at the very end of the episode, seemingly arriving with an unknown agenda.
- Impact: 5.5 – His presence hints at a major upcoming development, adding suspense.
12. Runaway Slave
- Role: His plight serves as the emotional and philosophical core of the episode. His suffering highlights the cruelty of slavery, and his tragic death underscores Thors’ ideals.
- Impact: 8.0 – Though passive, his presence deeply affects Thors and Ylva, becoming a catalyst for the episode’s moral themes.
13. Thorfinn
- Role: A curious and adventurous boy who idolizes warriors but is confronted with the harsh realities of the world. He is fascinated by Vinland and struggles with his father’s passive stance.
- Impact: 7.0 – Though not yet central, his curiosity and idealization of war contrast with Thors’ beliefs, setting up his character arc.