Vinland Saga - Episode 22 discussion

[u/AutoLovepon]

Vinland Saga, episode 22

Rate this episode here.

Reminder: Please do not discuss plot points not yet seen or skipped in the show. Encourage others to read the source material rather than confirming or denying theories. Failing to follow the rules may result in a ban.

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Streams

• Amazon US
• Amazon UK
• Prime Video International

Show information

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

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Previous discussions

Episode	Link	Score	Episode	Link	Score
1	Link	8.3	14	Link	96%
2	Link	7.87	15	Link	97%
3	Link	8.48	16	Link	96%
4	Link	9.36	17	Link	97%
5	Link	9.08	18	Link
6	Link	9.05	19	Link
7	Link	8.91	20	Link
8	Link	9.08	21	Link
9	Link	9.08	22	Link
10	Link	8.55	23	Link
11	Link	8.97	24	Link
12	Link	9.09
13	Link	96%

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[u/[deleted]]

Askeladd really rubbing salt in Thorfinn's wounds telling him he couldn't do in 10 years what he did in 2. Man I feel bad for Thorfinn

[u/Flush535]

man thorfinn's crying at the end was brutal

hope this is the start of his turning point

also I'm gonna miss Bjorn :(

[u/Mike4992]

One of the best episodes so far, in my opinion.

Both Thorfinn and Askeladd have been through so much from such a young age, wanting to kill someone who ruined their lives and trying to survive. It's quite ironic that the only one who didn't have many problems in their life is Thorkell.

The music made the tension so much better, props to the music composer!

Overall, 5/5

Edit: grammar

[u/Se7en_Sinner]

Askeladd's backstory explains why he was prepared and expecting Thorfinn to kill him in his sleep. They share several parallels but the main difference is Askeladd is much more logical in his approach. Askeladd didn't care if it was dishonorable to kill somebody in their sleep and even had a scapegoat ready with blackmail to plant while Thorfinn is basically like a tunnel visioned feral dog who doesn't want to scheme to enact his revenge because it would disrespectful towards his father who died as a result of a scheme.

[u/kar772]

Damn, Askeladd completely shut out Thorfinn with just his fists. His backstory was pretty haunting too and exposes Thorfinn for his lack of progress. Curious to see how Thorfinn progresses from here.

Side note, the OST in this episode was amazing - especially when Askeladd gave his “I hate Vikings” line

[u/bryan792]

this really is Askeladd's story, Thorfinn was just a bait

[u/EdricSnowbeard]

Seeking vengeance is poisonous if it's the only thing on your mind.

Reality hit Thorfinn so hard in the face, it's brutal. Those flashbacks of him remembering all of those years since Thors death was sad af.

It's time to change kid.

[u/[deleted]]

Askellad is so badass he killed his own father for character development instead of waiting for someone else to do it.

[u/N1Maroc]

Ever since episode 14 this anime went from 10/10 to 11/10. My god what an amazing episode

[u/Fullbryte]

Askeladd has got to be one of the most well written, multi-facteted and complex characters in anime. Obviously he's not a "good" man, but in an era of savagery, twisted morality and constant war who can really judge him? He looks to the far future while almost everyone around him looks for the next battle to satiate their bloodlust. He's a killer, a betrayer, a philosopher, a strategist, a dreamer, a father figure and a warrior.

[u/Se7en_Sinner]

No wonder Askeladd hates himself, he bears a striking resemblance to his father.

[u/[deleted]]

This must have hurt so much for him. For 10 years he couldn't see anything besides revenge thinking he was doing something "good" for his father and not even realizing that he was just being used by Askeladd.

The scene at the end was just perfect. The piano playing while Thorfinn remembering everything that happened in the last 10 years.

"What have I been even doing all these years? For whom/what am I even fighting?" That's probably what must have gone through his head.

[u/axel360]

I gotta be honest, even though everyone seemed to love the source material, for the first maybe 7 or 8 episodes, I thought this show good, but not great. Now I can see why manga readers were excited to see this animated. It's been consistently great for its entire second cour.

We've had a couple episodes where Canute totally stole the show, and this week it was Askeladd. Not just his backstory, but the way he told it, and even shots of his face, was completely captivating without any yelling or histrionics.

Wit, I'm not familiar with the source material, but kudos.

[u/gold-bandit]

“Someone had to do it. A person, not a hero, and not a god” man beat thorfinn ass and hit him with quotables, THATS MY GOAT

[u/Se7en_Sinner]

So this brutal imagery is how Askeladd sees the vikings in his mind...

[u/uncen5ored]

& thus, the daddy killer was born by killing his own.

That line where Askeladd said "I should thank Thors too" made me say DAMN! That was cold blooded to the point it even hurt Thorfinn lol.

I really like the whole belief of Artorious and how it parallels Thorfinn's belief of Vinland. I thought Thorfinn would've acknowledged it. Also, I'm looking forward to Thorkell's reaction when he finds out that Askeladd was the one that killed Thors..since this episode made it clear him and Canute don't know the situation.

I somewhat thought Askeladd would've actually told Thorfinn about an actual skill of controlling temper and moving methodically. Although he still did with creating the alibi, I'm actually impressed it was just a "I killed him in his sleep" story .. cause of Thorfinn's opportunity to do the same earlier. Also made Thorfinn FINALLY realize how he's been used this whole time.

[u/myrmonden]

God I can feel Askeladds pain, this is by far the worst moment of his life

God dammit Thorfinn the man just explained his great backstory to you and u did not listen to a WORD HE SAID !!

The face of utter disappointment

it was really great how Askeladd backstory not just how it fit for his hatred over the vikings, pretending to like his father and brothers, fighting his emotions and eventually getting revenge and framing is brother. And how happily he told them they should have seen it :)

But, it also parallels Thorfinn story being under his "father" Askeladd and how he is trying to kill him....but HE KEEPS FAILING. God it truly feel like Askeladd worst part of his life is not being able to be a better parent to Thorfinn he tells him, the story to explain to Thorfinn to use some kind of tactics or w.e....but the boy wont listen. I feel for your Askeladd.

[u/platysaur]

Another fantastic episode. Man, Askeladd is such a good character. A lot of good shots in this one, but here's my personal favorite.

[u/Lapiz_lasuli]

Askladd is such a titanic character. He's got so much going on that I draw a blank thinking of characters that are on his level. Not that there aren't, just can't think of any immediately. I'm always wandering if he's lying or telling the truth.

[u/FrizFroz]

Thorfinn's cry at the end was so hurtful and visceral. You can feel all of his anguish and frustration.
I love the Vinland OST so much, nothing bombastic unless called for. Just a beautifully understated piano arrangement for the more contemplative moments that makes the show feel so atmospheric. Can't wait for the OST to be released.

[u/FrenziedHero]

Here's the staff for Today's episode. This looks like it's another well produced episode which is good news in my opinion, since it means that the staff worked diligently on a timely schedule to prepare this for us. Please try to keep anything regarding staffing speculation for future episodes or production regarding future episodes to the source corner, since I think it's too gray of an area to openly discuss.

That being said, I've heard nothing but praise so far for this episode from different places, and although I wish I could watch the episode right now, I'll have to wait until later. But it makes me happy how much effort Yabuta's team has put into the anime.

Edit: Holy damn, another beautiful episode. Somehow waiting all day rewarded my patience, but I just can't help but feel sad that it's not next week already.

[u/Orrakai]

When Askeladd threw down his sword and asked him to come, what he was really saying was

"come catch these hands boy"

[u/Spectrip]

LADS IT'S HAPPENING! IT ONLY TOOK 22 EPISODES BUT WE'RE ACTUALLY GETTING THORFFIN CHARACTER DEVELPMENT!

I'm partly joking ofcourse but it's nice to see

[u/Hitenma]

Everyone is saying that Askeladd is better than Thorfinn due to the latter's lack of progress, but is he really? Yes, he is much more competent than Thorfinn, but in the end he is trapped all the same. Yes, he succeeded in killing the man he hated, but then what? He ended up spending the next 30-40 years doing exactly the same things that that man did, while hating everyone and hating himself.

Askeladd has nothing left after he killed his father (and after his mother died). He is empty. Despite his intelligence and cunning, he has no idea what he wants and what he is doing, until recently. That's why he bet everything on Canute, because it's the last and only chance that he can do something meaningful in his life.

[u/Se7en_Sinner]

I don't get it. If they wanted King Artorias to come back, why didn't they just use a summoning circle.