Please note that this review contains spoilers
Vinland Saga is arguably one of the best anime series in recent years. It is an adaptation of a manga by Makoto Yukimura, originally written in 2005 and adapted into an anime series by 2019. A historical fiction loosely based on Norse mythology and folklore, it delivers riveting, action-packed episodes that grab the audience's attention and keep you guessing every step of the way.
Vinland Saga is undoubtedly a one-night anime- a completely unpredictable plot makes the series unique and binge-worthy. This Viking anime possesses amazing character design and visuals, character development to rival the best of anime, fight scenes full of detailed combat techniques and gore, and beautifully written dialogue. It depicts the brutality of war with a solid foundation in actual history. So, if you are a fan of those above, keep reading.
The plot starts with Thors' life, who is the father to one of our protagonists, Thorfinn. (I use "one of the protagonists" because the plot thickens later, obviously). So Thors, tired of serving his king and going through endless wars, decides to desert. (He literally jumped ship). He flees to Iceland with his wife and newborn baby daughter, Ylva, Thorfinn's older sister. While settled there, Thorfinn is born. Thors is then hounded by Askeladd and murdered for deserting.
This serves as the prologue to the plot of the anime.
Thorfinn, having witnessed his father's death, swears revenge upon Askeladd. He then takes the short sword, gifted to him by Thors, and stows away on Askeladd's ship. He is later discovered and then proceeds to challenge Askeladd to a duel to the death in front of his band of mercenaries. Askeladd, amongst the laughter and jest of his men, decides to indulge the young Thorfinn and replies that he should train first and then challenge him. Of course, Thorfinn is completely serious about avenging his father and stays the course with Askeladd and his band of mercenaries. Thorfinn begins this adventurous journey for revenge at the tender age of 6.
Thorfinn travels with Askeladd and his men, fueled purely by hatred and his quest for revenge. Promised an honorable duel as a reward, he is tasked by Askeladd to achieve various accolades in war. The acts he commits eventually sharpen his skills while simultaneously robbing him of the remainder of his boyhood. Thorfinn accompanies Askeladd and his men for the next 11 years.
Thorfinn's singular quest for revenge sees him becoming the exact man (he's still a boy/teenager) his father strived to prevent him from becoming. His father told him, "You don't have enemies" my dude Thorfinn proceeds to kill every opponent he comes across. Thors told Thorfinn, "a true warrior doesn't need a sword" my guy decides to learn to dual-wield swords.
The series is rich with complicated characters who undergo immense character development throughout Season 1.
From the rise of Prince Canute to Thorkell the Tall and various interesting side characters. Even the minor roles played by side characters drinking and doing as Vikings become intertwined with the smaller stories and messages the saga explores. Just like the characters, the story itself has many layers.
Askeladd is undoubtedly one of the most captivating antagonists seen in recent times. His character is psychologically fascinating; he's a cunning, scheming, manipulative, deceitful, greedy man whose sole purpose in life is to do things that only fulfill himself, regardless of the atrocious acts required to achieve his goals. (This man will sell his firstborn if it aligns with his ambitions). Or so it seems. Regardless of all his shortcomings, it is extremely hard to hate him as the story develops because of his witty and charming charisma.
Askeladd's relationship with Thorfinn is a complicated one. While we are clear on how Thorfinn views Askeladd (as a murderer), it isn't the same for Askeladd. Sometimes he uses the young warrior as a tool by reminding him of how he murdered his father to stoke the flames of anger within the boy. (to rile Thorfinn up and send him after his enemies). Other times he seems almost affectionate towards Thorfinn. Perhaps this is due to his respect for his father, Thors. It (Funny how you can respect someone and still kill them, huh?
That's Askeladd for you).
Askeladd becomes the closest thing Thorfinn has to a guardian. You must respect his wise and cunning ways despite being a deceitful, manipulative asshole (pardon my French).
Along the way, various other main characters are introduced. And the story gives allowance to explain in detail their backgrounds.
Vinland Saga is unique in that nothing about it is romanticized. The main characters possess, to various degrees, a "suffer no fools" attitude. This is not your usual run-of-the-mill Shounen series looking to impact positive life values and optimistic views.
The plot stays true to the period in time it follows and is extremely cutthroat. This basically means some of the scenes are hard to swallow; they can be heavier than scenes in Berserk (anime) or A Game of Thrones. There is no veil of fantasy to compensate for the atrocities that viewers see, no right or wrong, no good or bad. Everything is simply portrayed as part of life. Through this brutal lens, viewers are reminded that reality is far less forgiving than the world of fantasy.
However, a downside to this anime is how the language barrier is portrayed. The different countries speak multiple languages. But the series uses only Japanese for the subversion and only English for the dub version. But once you get past that, the anime is pure gold.
While the references to history are greatly appreciated, the best part about the anime series is the character development. The writing is simply phenomenal, coupled with the sheer growth in the characters. The series takes you on an emotional rollercoaster with the characters and sees you sympathizing even with the antagonists, and each character possesses enough depth to warrant their own individual series.
The world of the Vinland Saga is one where the brutality isn't minimized or glossed over. Somehow, this creates a sense of beauty in the storytelling. The focal point isn't just witnessing the pillaging, raping, and murdering, which is part of daily life. (I mean Vikings, right?). Rather, it is the story of a son who has strayed away from the path on which his father tried so hard to keep him on; the story of a kind mother being betrayed by the young boy she took in and showed love and compassion to; a priest teaching the hardened Vikings about love.
It's about the various other stories that pierce your heart and soul, that remain with you even when the episode or story arc is finished. The Saga isn't just full of dramatic thrills but well-written stories that deliver a raw gut-wrenching experience to the viewers and leave you reeling with emotions—a grim tale, but one that is beautiful and optimistic in its telling.
