Review of Vinland Saga Season 2

The idea that Thorfin had any meaningful character development this season is simply WRONG. The premise of pacifism, more specifically the ideals that Thorfin was preaching is simply flawed. Consider the following: Without hate, love is meaningless. If you do not hate those who destroy what you love, you do not love. In just one small sentence, the whole premise of Thorfin's season 2 "character development" is rebutted and we didn't need 24 episodes to realize pacifism is a fundamentally flawed premise. Throughout the show, the viewer is force fed this idea that to be morally virtuous, one must 'have no enemies' and forgive literally everyone unabashedly.Even when faced with an adversary who opposes your desires directly, one must submit in order to avoid violence! In the anime, Thorfin shows this is his ideology time and time again by letting people walk all over him (and even at times, being ok with paying the ultimate price of death!). It pains me to watch Thorfin being used as a metaphorical martyr for a fundamentally flawed ideology.

The contrast between season 1 Thorfin and season 2 Thorfin is not a natural character's development. It's like the author tried to shoehorn in the idea of pacifism being good, on a character which is (and should be) incompatible, at a time where it would be impossible. Thorfin's ideals completely flipped 180 seemingly over night, for not real justifications (as explained above) It makes no sense.

Only watch this season for continuity for the coming seasons I guess...