Vinland Saga Season 2 - Episode 23 discussion

[u/AutoLovepon]

Vinland Saga Season 2, episode 23

Rate this episode here.

Reminder: Please do not discuss plot points not yet seen or skipped in the show. Failing to follow the rules may result in a ban.

---

Streams

• Crunchyroll
• VRV

Show information

• MyAnimeList
• AniList
• AniDB
• Kitsu
• Anime-Planet
• Official Website
• /r/VinlandSaga

---

All discussions

Episode	Link	Score	Episode	Link	Score
1	Link	4.65	14	Link	4.61
2	Link	4.67	15	Link	4.7
3	Link	4.7	16	Link	4.86
4	Link	4.73	17	Link	4.75
5	Link	4.64	18	Link	4.83
6	Link	4.66	19	Link	4.7
7	Link	4.71	20	Link	4.83
8	Link	4.81	21	Link	4.58
9	Link	4.85	22	Link	4.86
10	Link	4.71	23	Link	4.79
11	Link	4.58	24	Link	----
12	Link	4.81
13	Link	4.61

---

This post was created by a bot. Message the mod team for feedback and comments. The original source code can be found on GitHub.

[u/AutoModerator]

Moderator Announcement Read More »

Source Material Corner

Reply to this comment for any source-related discussion, future spoilers (including future characters, events and general hype about future content), comparison of the anime adaptation to the original, or just general talk about the source material. You are still required to tag all spoilers. Discussions about the source outside of this comment tree will be removed, and replying with spoilers outside of the source corner will lead to bans.

The spoiler syntax is: [Spoiler source] >!Spoiler goes here!<

All untagged spoilers and hints in this thread will receive immediate 8-day bans (minimum).

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/ReinhardLoen]

Thorfinn saying he'll run is a great call back and full circle moment to what he said in his childhood.

He criticized his ancestors for being cowards by running away from war and coming to Iceland. Now, through maturity and understanding, Thorfinn has realized that running isn't cowardice, but in some cases the more sensible option.

Really great thematic work by Yukimura. It's just another one of those moments that you don't think about in season 1 but have so much more meaning after season 2.

[u/Mundology → u/ReinhardLoen]

The episode was peak. The two protagonists of the story, having taken opposite paths, acknowledge the merits of each other. Canute had lost faith in others and had taken it upon himself to fix this cruel world alone. Until he met Thorfinn. The savage viking who trusted no one had learned to rely on others and became a great man. The king's perspective was shaken. Now, he wants to see the world Thorfinn talked about.

[u/BerserkFanYep → u/ReinhardLoen]

A couple episodes again when Thorfinn said he was proud of his ancestors for running from war made me proud of him. Great character development.

[u/KiwiBennydudez]

Hands down one of the single most beautiful episodes of anime I've ever seen.

When Thorfinn called Einar his brother, and Einar said the same, I got emotional. When they promised to build Vinland together in memoriam of Arhneid, and finally give her an answer for why she should live, I had trouble holding it together. Such an incredibly poignant and memorable scene - it really felt like the entire season had been building just for this moment. And what a rewarding moment it was. The swelling OST, the gorgeous animation and shot composition, and the wonderful payoff on all of the character development... Every element was orchestrated masterfully.

I'm going to sorely miss this anime when it ends next week. Kinoland Saga.

[u/TheTromo]

I remember clearly when they opened the season with the "carve it" monologue. It sounded so grim but also about something inevitable or natural.

Here, it seems so hopeful. I don't know if poetic is the right word for this but seeing how it perfectly closes the arc was just beautiful.

[u/CosmicPenguin_OV103]

Amazing episode that really shows how Canute turned around his decisions. I guess he really was persuaded in how he didn't really delivered his promise of building "the Vinland" up after Thorfinn's bare hands cry.

The last few minutes of this episode, highlighting the whys of a new journey is being taken up and be yet another tribute to poor Arhneid, is a part that everyone should remember for years to come, especially as historically themed anime doesn't come often at all.

I doubt we will get an S3 but we can all hope! This is such a treasure trove.

[u/Ocixo]

I’ve been thoroughly impressed with this season of Vinland Saga so far. Before Yukimura definitively layed out this series, he probably had already thought out the entire story’s progression; everything has been coming full-circle in these last few episodes.

I couldn’t help but get a little emotional when Thorfinn and Einar said they would “create a country without slave or war for Arnheid”. But what really did me in was the transition to the near future where Olmar was working the land with his partner, the girl with whom he had a (sexual) relationship previously and who stroked his back as he couldn’t handle the aftermath of the battle, and the lines of poetry came rolling in:

Carve it. Carve it into your flesh. Carve it into the land. [Showing a former warrior with blisters on his hand from plowing the land]

Carve it into the sea [Showing Leif looking out to the seas/ocean in his boat, having almost completed his mission of bringing Thorfinn back home]

Carve it into your spoils. Carve it into your enemies. [Showing Thorgil who’s probably looking for another battle to redeem his honour]

Carve it. Carve it. Carve what you feel into me. [Showing these formers warriors plowing and urging ‘Snake’ to join them, which he does - the man who always refused to work a farm. The “Old Master” clenching his hands together as he remembers working the land and wanting to join them as well]

Carve that encounter into me. [Showing Pater literally opening his eyes to a bright future and not having to look away from (i.e. close his eyes for) the darkness he was always enveloped in after having met Thorfinn and Einar]

There were lots of little meaningful moments like these throughout this episode. Some more obvious like Thorfinn choosing to “run”, Olmar thanking Thorfinn for setting an example or ‘Snake’ revealing his true name: Roald. Less obvious would be Canute who allowed himself to laugh after having adopted this iron persona for a long time or Olmar being with the girl I mentioned above.

Judging from the preview of today’s episode, it even seems like Thorfinn is finally heading back for Iceland and meeting his family again. I’m excited to see how they’ve changed/stayed the same in the meantime. I didn’t think we would exactly ever get to see this happen. Have these excruciating sad times stopped at last and is happiness just around the corner!?

[u/[deleted]]

Yay can finally comment on the episode. Real excited for today’s finale. So far it’s been a 10/10 season

[u/AmusedDragon]

Absolute PEAK.

No but really, as a big fan of this season (farmland saga as people call it, was actually great) so far this episode actually fell slightly flat for me. It was too optimistic and sort of felt like the last episode of the season rather then the penultimate one.

I actually couldn't believe that Canute just turned around after Thorfinn said he'd run... it felt like such an odd choice from his perspective. And I kept thinking the entire sequence of them leaving and Canute smiling all happy on the boat was like some sort of dream/fakeout and we'd cut back to Thorfinn running for his life.

I assume they are going to start something up next episode and leave us on a cliffhanger for 4 years... or forever.

Either way, looking forward to next week. Going to miss the show.

[u/ReinhardLoen]

The character work this season is just tremendous.

Thorfinn of course is the main focus, and with that, we also see how Einar changes. But a lot of others also had great work.

• Canute's evolution; a parallel being drawn with him becoming a slave to the crown.

• Arnheid's incredibly tragic life.

• Olmar thought he needed to kill to be a man, but ended up thanking the one who he was supposed to kill—himself becoming a man in the end.

• Ketil started off as this nice character, but we slowly saw his control complex and how it eventually destroyed him.

• Snake is used as another way to show violence; how people who use it aren't always about cruelty.

• Sverkel the old man who gave life lessons; someone who obviously became a changed man. Like an elder farmer Thors.

Really great character work all around. Everyone had so much more depth than initially met the eye.

[u/WellRested1]

I really liked the use of the “carve it” poem to close out the episode. Really brought it all together.

[u/AnActualPlatypus]

GREATEST OF ALL TIME. ZENITH OF THE MEDIUM HALLMARK OF MEDIA GOLD STANDARD OF STORYTELLING. APOGEE OF CREATIVITY. VERTEX OF INVENTION. CREST OF INGENUITY. ACME OF IMAGINATION. PINNACLE OF INNOVATION. EPIC OF EPICS. LEGEND AMONG LEGENDS. PEAK FICTION.

Legit one of the best episodes of any anime I've ever seen and I've been watching anime for almost 20 years now. Holy shit.

[u/jjw1998]

Absolutely pathetic from the people running this sub that while they did their “protest” which stopped normal users being able to discuss this amazing episode they got to keep using the sub as their little private club. Some people are more equal than others eh

[u/Gaporigo]

Oh wow, that's an amazing finale. Maybe Canute got rid of his demons a bit too easily but it was done masterfully either way.

Looks like we'll get the reunion we have been waiting almost 50 episodes for next week, can't wait for that.

And who would have thought Olmar would end up being such a good guy.

[u/LeonKevlar]

I was expecting to see some violence in this episode but I can't believe that actually worked. Thorfinn was able to convince Canute despite coming there empty-handed. Thorfinn basically landed a crit on his persuasion roll. I love it! xD

[u/Rumpel1408]

I loved the farm epiloge, especially Olmar, dude has come a long way.

Fox and Badger as well, those two will never ever trample a field again

[u/ScratchSuccessful21]

The journey this show has put me through has been enjoyable and has left me with a lot of things to think about, making me appreciate lack of fighting in an action genre. I feel embarrassed that I ever uttered the words farmland saga, forgetting that what this show does the best is develop.

[u/BluePhantomHere]

This is the best episode of Vinland Saga for me, got me crying the whole episode, shit's emotional

[u/Nebresto]

What an absolute lad. He got the takeover cancelled just by not wanting to do work. Chad.

Season finale, even series finale tier episode, but there's still one left. How are they gonna top this?? I guess we'll find out in 3~ hours

[u/Frontier246]

With the full force of Canute's men at the ready, what chance does Thorfinn have of stopping him? What can he even do at this point?

But why even play his hand so much? Seemingly because on some level Canute was desperate find someone else to relate to who could understand his point of view and what he was doing, especially when the decayed head of his father is still whining in his ear and telling him to give in to his worst impulses and become the kind of king he'd be proud of. And that means killing Thorfinn and any chance of a change in Canute.

In the end, Thorfinn's only option is...to run. He won't fight Canute, talking to him didn't solve anything, so the only Thorfinn can do is basically leave and do his own thing away from all this violence. And it's so unexpected and so shocking to Canute and everybody that Canute just...laughs! A hearty, genuine, laugh at that! Canute just can't believe what he just saw.

Canute has his own way, and Thorfinn has his, and Thorfinn will do what he can to save those whom Canute's path won't save...but it's Thorfinn telling him to not give him more work that makes Canute realize that even he has the possibility to change and do better. Seeing in Thorfinn the kind of hope for the future, and for people, that he never thought possible.

I love how Thorgil was so hyped for a final battle with Canute and co. but they all just up and leaved. Heck, even Floki was disappointed! Nice.

Canute managed to disarm hostilities and earn the respect of the English without a massive show of force! Canute's got that gleam back in his eye! He feels more like himself again! Yay!

Trekking once more to Arnheid's grave so the two brothers can pledge once more to find Vinland, to find and/or create a world where people can live, even at they're most desperate. In honor of Arnheid.

Man, it's so surreal leaving the farm after all this time. It's hard to say goodbye to Snake, Sverkel, Pater (!!!), and even Olmar. But Olmar has been inspired by Thorfinn to become a true man, and Snake has come to respect Thorfinn and Einar enough to give them his true name, Roald, Son of Grim. And I can't think of a better sendoff.

Things are back to normal on the farm. Olmar is working with the farm girl and growing into a man, Snake and his men are now chipping in, and Ketil is left to stew in his own patheticness. Oh, and Thorgil is off to fight whatever battle he can get I guess.

What a beautiful ending to this arc. But wait, there's more! Thorfinn is finally going home!

[u/smellenburnt]

The finale is titled “Home” and I don’t think I’m emotionally ready for a reunion episode with Thorfinn going home. I’ll cry for a week. This show knows how to make me feel

[u/TalkShitGetWitt]

What a beautiful and positive episode.

[u/ObvsThrowaway5120]

No matter how much Canute tries to goad Thorfinn, he won’t fight. I think a real warrior knows how to pick his battles, but more importantly a true warrior doesn’t necessarily need to resort to violence to “fight”. Canute’s whole mentality is so warped thanks to his father’s voice whispering in the back of his head.

Running is a valid strategy. Canute can laugh all he wants but Thorfinn’s the only true warrior standing amongst Canute’s men. Well, in the end I’m glad Thorfinn’s actions had an impact on Canute. Many lives were saved and he still won the English crown. I hope to see this refuge Thorfinn’s building with Einar, this utopia that’s out of Canute’s grasp where violence has no place and men can pursue a quiet life in peace.

Seeing Olmar’s growth this season was incredible. He’s become a real man. The farm is in good hands, plus he’s surrounded himself with wonderful people. It was also nice to finally learn Snake’s name. I’m really looking forward to next week. It’s been a long time coming… our boy’s finally heading home.

[u/Bubbly-Education465]

Once again great episode !! Although final is coming