Review of Vinland Saga Season 2
Carve it… What makes a good adaptation? One that is able to “Carve what you feel into me. Carve that encounter into me”. The storytelling of Vinland Saga manages to carve a strong, well written, and brilliant story about how individuals live and navigate a world dictated by pure violence. A world that is cruel - The Viking Age. Instead of focusing on the violence, Farmland Saga (Season 2) looks at the cost and consequences of violence. This is embodied by the story's protagonist Thorfinn. One who carved into his enemies but now carves into the land. From season 1, Vinland Saga resembles current works aboutthe Viking era like The Last Kingdom, Vikings, and most notably The Northman. These are stories encompassing brutality, relentless pillaging, revenge, despair, slavery, and violence – the essence of the Viking Age. However, season 2 follows the events of season 1 with a different approach by focusing on a story about facing trauma, facing the past, and the juxtaposition of two world views.
Vinland Saga's storytelling about the role of violence in a world shaped by it is masterful. Without going too deep into the plot itself. The audience is treated to a story about an enslaved Thorfinn discovering the meaning of life, challenging his relationship with violence, discovering peace, maturing as a person, and farming. Simultaneously we are exposed to a different Canute, one who is bearing the weight of the crown, and one who is trying to create his paradise in a world that is cruel to him in season 1. However, this Canute embraces what he was frightened of when we first met him, violence. These two stories are both transformative, complex, and supported by the wonderful direction of Shuhei Yabuta. Not to mention, these two stories are supported by a cast of characters with various levels of depth. From Einar a man sold into slavery who parallels early Thorfinn to the war crazed Thorgil (There really is no shortage of these types in Vinland Saga, it is the Viking Age).
As for the animation, it was consistent and good. In comparison to Yukimura’s panels in the Manga, you cannot always replicate every specific detail drawn 1:1. Animation principles would not allow it or even production time constraints. Despite this, the animation team at MAPPA really captured the essence of Vinland Saga and its period with the background art, character details, and scenes that required rigorous animation from tilling the field to swords clashing. Of course, there are moments where animation is less but nothing too jarring.
I will address one elephant in the room about pacing, at first, I was apprehensive about season 2 adapting all 44 chapters of the Slave arc. However, season 2 manages to keep a good pace that covers various levels of depth within the manga like establishing new characters, the atmosphere of Ketil's farm, the climax of the arc, and developing Thorfinn. That said, if you are exclusively looking for the pure action elements of season 1, go watch The Northman (No seriously do it, there was even a collab with Vinland Saga).
As for the soundtrack, Yutaka Yamada continues with his beautiful emotional piano melodies and orchestral scores. The soundtrack composed by Yamada manages to capture the raw emotion and atmosphere of Vinland Saga. Also, let’s not forget the sound design, Vinland Saga’s detail to sound goes from the animals in the field, to the sound of battle, and even a plow tilling the field (We love farming).
Overall, if you have gotten this far in the review, go watch season 2 and even pick up Vinland Saga as a manga. If you enjoy a story about questioning morality, the philosophy of life, and how characters transform and navigate a world dictated by violence? Watch season 2.
That said if you hate the review “I have no enemies”.