The first season was such a thrill ride. It was difficult at times to know what was going to happen as a curveball would come out of nowhere and upheave the plot.
First things first, there are two separate dubs depending on where this is viewed. Keeping track of which version will be needed to stay consistent.
Vinland Saga has been on my radar since the anime premiered in 2019 though the manga has been around since the mid 2000’s. I’ve listened to the OPs before knowing what show they belonged to and have seen countless memes about Thorfinn, the MC. While the beginning felt a bit slow in developing the main plot, once the action begins, its very difficult to stop watching, even when an episode ends.
While the overarching story and battles depicted aren’t historically accurate, the main themes and certain plot points are rooted in the realism of the Danes battling against the English. While some characters have historical counterpoints, the creative freedom compliments the narrative, weaving a compelling story.
The main aspect I adore is the rawness of the story. There is no attempt to coddle the main character, who is merely a child at the start, on his path of vengeance and self-redemption. The atrocities both sides commit in their path to glory are fleshed out. The MC Thorfinn is not free from flaws, along with the main cast, each crafted complexly in the way they act and react from their various environments and upbringings. Characters initially met with anger or annoyance at their ineptitude or selfish nature end up being the ones most rooted for. Thorkell, Canute, Askeladd, are all captivating and compel the story forward through the long trek of war. Thorkell ended up being my favorite character by the end with his no-nonsense attitude and how he sees being a warrior.
The animation is also beautiful and some snapshots of scenes are works of art that breathe with emotions. Action shots are vibrant and explosive throughout the series as well. The score highlights climatic moments and the openings are wonderful songs to rock out to.
Season 2 is currently airing and I’m so excited to watch it once it’s all out.
5/5 Berserker mushrooms
Currently working on another review and hope everyone is having a good day and week!
Kaylen Azalea Grimm 