Vinland Saga Season 1 and 2

By Frog

 



To say that Vinland Saga blew me away with it's first two season would be an understatement. It is simply a modern anime masterpiece and even saying that may not be doing the series justice. It isn't often that you can say that watching an anime series changed you but I definitely felt that to be the case after watching Vinland Saga.

Without diving too deep into spoiler territory as this is a series that truly should be watched with as fresh eyes as possible, the story of Vinland Saga feels wholy unique and unlike anything else the anime industry is putting out currently. The first season is action packed and filled to the brim with violence, only for the second season to completely flip reverse that and recontextulize season one in ways I could not possibly have expected. For a brief summary the series follows the life and times of a young man by the name of Thorfinn as he goes on a quest of vengeance all set during the time of the vikings in the early 1000s.

The series really focuses on the concept of 'having no enemies', something which Thorfinn's father tried to teach him although it does take some time before he truly understands what it really means. It is through this exploration of having no enemies that Vinland Saga cements itself as something special. For a series that focuses a lot on the violence of the vikings era to focus heavily on the pacifist concept of having no enemies is a bold move. It is during season 2 that this philosphy takes centre stage as Thorfinn undergoes a great level of character development as he trades the battlefields for the farmlands. It was a stark change from season 1 that may not work for every viewer but if you give it a chance you will come to see it is all in service of the message of 'have no enemies'.


Beyond being a fascinating philophoical rumination on the consequence of violence, Vinland Saga is also an engaging series in its historical war time drama filled to the brim with complex characters that will have you keen to watch the next episode as soon as the ending theme hits. Ultimately it is a brilliant series in all regards that genuinely has something affecting to say about the nature of humanity and offers ideas on how to live life in spite of the chaos that surrounds us. The fantasy of Vinland may not be so far from reality and if you change your perspective on how you view others as being against you or in competition with you, there is a path to a more peaceful life in that.

Overall I highly recommend Vinland Saga's first two seasons both for their engaging storytelling and action but also for its rich cast of characters and its thoughtful commentary on the very nature of being human. This is a modern masterpiece.

Thanks for reading.






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