Vinland Saga 2x9 Reaction Extended (YT link below)
Added 2023-07-12 18:01:12 +0000 UTCIn Vinland Saga 2x9, Oath, the blade drops again.
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I'm not sure either is more true or real than the other. Both of them are sincere and convicted in who they are. Thorfinn has experienced a lot more of his own darkness and so perhaps has a richer lived knowledge of what his actions mean. One thing I will say about Deku based on where I am in the two shows is that he has a lot more experience putting his convictions into action. It's not just speculation. He's been running down these proverbial halls and helping others for a long time. I think you could make the case that there was perhaps something self-interested in Deku's pursuit of being a hero... at least at first. But I think a more interesting part of it is that he understood very early on an ideal for what a person can become and how they can serve others, and he seized it and never let go. In that sense I think both he and Thorfinn are similar. They understand an ideal and can't unsee it. Whatever path that gets them there!
Alex G
2023-07-27 18:38:04 +0000 UTCIt is important to note that the manga for Vinland Saga started serializing by about 4 years before Attack on Titan. No doubt the authors love each others work, but I don't know if it's possible for the early Thors stuff to be inspired by Attack on Titan considering Attack on Titan manga started in 2009 and Vinland in 2005. Unless the daydream was anime only (not sure) There are definitely a lot of similarities in the themes though, and Hajime Isayama and Makoto Yukimura have done an interview together before
Nick
2023-07-21 04:01:59 +0000 UTCIt shakes up the entire foundation moving forward. I mean you can't make such a bold statement as this without it rippling throughout the rest of the story. But what I find more fascinating, is this core theme has been here since episode 1. Makoto Yukimura definitely knows what he's doing with his writing. Incredibly talented
Nick
2023-07-21 00:26:42 +0000 UTCHad no idea his favorite was Thorfinn, but that really makes me feel bad that his story has garnered so many fans that support Eren's actions post time skip. I wonder how he feels about that, considering the main messaging of his story
Nick
2023-07-21 00:23:20 +0000 UTCI've rewatched this episode a few times and I can't ever go through that "Climb!" scene without tearing up. I cried the first time, but I'm amazed at how much raw emotional power it packs even on multiple viewings.
Nick
2023-07-21 00:20:43 +0000 UTCThis episode is like seeing a ray of hope form after a terrible storm begins to clear
Nick
2023-07-20 23:39:24 +0000 UTCI somewhat disagree with the lack of credibility for Deku's character, I think Deku's kindness comes moreso from a lack of care about himself because in his society he was always looked down upon so he doesn't have any self worth which is a pretty realistic take tbh.
NitrousOxide19
2023-07-14 01:00:20 +0000 UTCYour take on this episode was spot on. Great reaction. A lot of people get so confused with him swearing off violence but and don’t take into account that the promblems and trials within that will be explored in due time. Great reaction.
Lalo
2023-07-13 17:52:24 +0000 UTCOne its close to reality compared to the other. In order to genuinely embody kindness, it is essential to first experience the contrasting side. we are all little beast when we grow up like thorfinn. we aren´t born kind, in fact thats something we really strive to reach as we grow old. Deku's portrayal lacks credibility as it leans heavily on typical tropes, resulting in behavior that feels detached from a grounded reality. Thorfinns reason for his pacifism and way of life makes him human, deku lack of it makes him a trope character.
Sh3nx
2023-07-13 16:17:16 +0000 UTCGreat great episode and reaction. I only have one opinion I want to express and its that when Thorfinn fell and Thors also had the dead clinging to him. I interpreted it as Thors being able to stay on the surface despite his baggage and burdens of his past. I could be wrong and my wording is often incorrect but I hope you can understand what I mean haha. All in all a great reaction to a great episode that helped me a great deal today. (quite stressed this week haha!)
Emman Reed
2023-07-13 14:15:10 +0000 UTCIt was this episode that made me have to pick up the manga and read it (so worth it). I had some food for thought; which 'kindness' do you think is more 'true' or 'real' someone like Thorfinn who must be kind as he has to make up for his past actions or someone like Deku who chooses to be kind to others even though he was discriminated/bullied for most of his life? Does the aspect of choice matter or does having a responsibility to rectify past mistakes kind of perverse the act of kindness because it comes less intrinsically?
NitrousOxide19
2023-07-13 06:56:31 +0000 UTCThere's so much profound meaning behind Askeladd's line "Take the people you killed with you". Thorfinn should climb and grow but he mustn't forget and abandon the people he wronged.
coolkidsboi134
2023-07-13 06:16:50 +0000 UTCthere is a before and after in vinland saga from this point on. You are 100% right tho, this anime its not sunshine and flowers, it is still grounded in reality, thorfinns new found perspective and oath will have to develop because its still the world of vikings, so there will be a constant challenge, wich makes it interesting, how thorfinn will react when the world has lost love?. and where being a warrior its the way of life?, can thorfinn truly reach there even in the absolute worst?
Sh3nx
2023-07-13 06:00:22 +0000 UTCI will forever defend Farmland Saga to my dying breath.
Chris Sharpe
2023-07-13 05:53:52 +0000 UTCMan im still emotional about this ep. Also Askeladd once again being Thorfinns catalyst for change, you love to see it.
RoZiiii
2023-07-13 02:21:12 +0000 UTCI mean tbh it would only make sense if you noticed a lot of vague or thematic similarities to Attack on Titan. Vinland’s author Yukimura has stated multiple times how much he adores Attack on Titan/Hajime Isayama and how heavily it influenced his work on Vinland. Even the Thors daydream that started off episode 1 was super reminiscent of AOT’s first episode
Jake White
2023-07-12 22:53:12 +0000 UTCI swear it gets better every time I watch it. For me, i think it's the single most important episode of anime I've ever seen.
Tyler Owens
2023-07-12 22:13:25 +0000 UTCReally glad you picked up on the father above admonishing him/father below lifting him up. One of the best episodes of anything I've seen, and it leaves the door open to grow and learn from this state.
Kalvin
2023-07-12 21:50:10 +0000 UTCIn this day and age we need more people to realize that they don't have enemies, people don't have understanding for each other. We need more love and understanding in this world, this anime is exploring beautiful ideas I love it.
Marko
2023-07-12 21:34:30 +0000 UTCThis episode is full of a lot of emotional moments, but one that always seems to really get me is the end, seeing how many people on the farm have got Thorfinn and Einar's backs. Obviously Ketil and Pater siding with them over the retainers is great, but even seeing the Old Master go out of his way to help teach them how to better rebuild their ruined farm and improve their technique. Little things like that to give them hope and purpose at a time when they were at their lowest. Just an incredible episode, one of many this season. Masterpiece.
MisterRathrion
2023-07-12 21:33:45 +0000 UTCI agree.
Marko
2023-07-12 21:30:13 +0000 UTCThis episode just gets better and better every time I watch it, I say as my tears are still falling as I write this! For me this is without question one of the best episodes of TV I have ever watched. It’s a work of art. It doesn’t take a lot for fiction to make me cry but I straight up ugly sobbed through most of this and for a good 5 minutes after the credits finished when I first watched this. I’m a manga reader so I already knew that this episode was going to be emotional as its contents are incredibly important to me. Hence me crying before I even pressed play. The anime team brought absolute masters of their craft all together to make this 25 minute masterpiece. What always struck me about Thorfinn’s father figures in his dream is Thors is portrayed as disappointed not just at Thorfinn but at himself. He’s filled with regret and all he can really do is impart the little bit of wisdom he was able to give Thorfinn in their short time together and apologise as he watches his son fall. It’s Askeladd who spurs Thorfinn on, gives Thorfinn the time to process what he has done, gives Thorfinn time to cry and let his guilt out, saves Thorfinn from his demons trying to shoot him down and gives him the words he needs to hear to get himself out. (The same exact words he gave Thorfinn as he was dying) Both men are important and crucial but it’s always fascinated me how Thorfinn’s subconscious sees them. Thors was sadly in Thorfinn’s life for soo little time. Thors died when he was 6. It makes sense that, like you said, he doesn’t have a full picture of how Thors would treat him if they ever happened to reunite. But with Askeladd, he was with that man for 11 years of his short life. He’s still 19 here in this episode would you believe! The similar themes of the wheat field getting destroyed last episode and Thorfinn’s descent into the abyss is stunning. Just like it’s easier to destroy than to create, it’s easier to fall than to climb. To create and to climb takes work. Soo much patience and work. To fill up your emptiness left behind by destruction, not just physical but mental too, you need to be productive and take those first steps into building yourself back up again. Just like Sverkel told him in ‘An Empty Man’ to work and in ‘Oath’ Askeladd told him to keep climbing. To recover from trauma, from ptsd, to atone, this is road that Thorfinn must take. And it will definitely not be easy with his new conviction. Thorfinn faced his worst fears and now he is on the literal road with Einar by his side to improve himself. Yukimura you are a god among men and I adore you! Also lastly I really do believe that while the visuals, the directon, the music etc was stunning the real MVP for me this episode was Uemura Yuuto. His portrayal of Thorfinn has already been amazing but this episode he went through the absolute ringer. His voice sounding so bright at the beginning, then desperation and sorrow, then genuine fear as he fell, then absolute pain and heartbreak, then that roar of sheer determination and lastly how alive he sounded as he came back to reality. That’s such a dream as an actor to have an episode like this and he really truly is the perfect Thorfinn.
Sacha
2023-07-12 20:43:52 +0000 UTCGotcha, yeah I've been calling the jerk characters retainers
Alex G
2023-07-12 20:20:39 +0000 UTCEasily one of the greatest anime episodes of all time.
CastSenpai
2023-07-12 20:01:13 +0000 UTCI may be misunderstanding but I think you are mistaking the retainers to be the same as the 'guests'. The retainers are basically farmers who have lent farming territory from ketil and do the work and in return also pay ketil. The guests are the security people who had that story part of making ketil's son kill thorfinn and einar and they are the ones who are under snake. The retainers are just farmers and have nothing to do with Snake and the other fighters.
ez
2023-07-12 20:00:09 +0000 UTCI think it’s fine to do particularly for their season 1 selves… but it kinda ends there for them. I think a nice healthy discussion on the difference between these two can be really great. But again ‘nice and healthy’ is not something you usually find on the internet sadly.
Sacha
2023-07-12 19:43:51 +0000 UTCHe’s such gem. I try not to put people on pedestals, but all you have to do is look at this man’s body of work and know that he really tries to be an inherently good person. Even as a mangaka, a job that is incredibly stressful, his first priority has always been his family and his three sons. He takes fairly regular breaks in the year in updating chapters which is just such a rarity in that position.
Sacha
2023-07-12 19:40:07 +0000 UTCI hate those comparisons so much
Khalid
2023-07-12 19:40:07 +0000 UTCSpeaking of the comparisons between Thorfinn and Eren as protagonists, Attack on Titan Finals Chapters Pt.1 came out on the Friday and this episode 2x9 came out on the Monday. What a bookended weekend that was! What’s curious and fascinating about these two episodes is how we have both protagonists admit their sins, sob/cry, and apologise. But one decides to rise and the other … well… continues to fall. A lot of people try to pit these two together on ‘whose the better MC’. First why can’t they both be amazing?? But most importantly secondly, there are definitely comparisons and parallels to be made on their journeys but I think we can agree that in their adult lives they are very much different people now. It’s fascinating also that Isayama (AOT) has gone on record to say that his favourite character in the series is Thorfinn. (Now I have time to watch the reaction so I’m getting ready to cry and probably have another big comment afterwards just fyi!)
Sacha
2023-07-12 19:33:51 +0000 UTCThat’s exactly what fascinates me the most, Thorfinn could’ve easily taken Eren’s path and found new hatred/revenge to feel something. Which is why I feel like this episode makes me so proud of Thorfinn lol. I can’t believe he is the same person in s1.
Khalid
2023-07-12 19:19:53 +0000 UTCI was thinking about AOT watching this episode and the next, particular about freedom. Thorfinn feels more "free" in a vital sense than Eren despite being a literal slave
Alex G
2023-07-12 19:10:38 +0000 UTCI rarely get emotional, but every time I watch this episode (and s2 in general)I just starts tearing up.Thorfinn’s journey is just beautiful. side note. I’m currently rewatching AOT and it’s striking how Eren and Thorfinn journey differ soo much despite they all started from similar tragedy.
Khalid
2023-07-12 19:09:29 +0000 UTCHis personality comes across so well in these passages. I understand his feelings of being moved. I'm glad that the show did such a great job with the amazing story he wrote so that he's able to appreciate it
Alex G
2023-07-12 19:07:38 +0000 UTCYukimura Twitter thread for 2x9: “I don’t know. I drew the original work. I made the story. But I’m watching and crying. Thank you for watching Vinland Saga episode 9 “Oath”! When the person in charge read the line “I’ll never hurt anyone again” he said to me in a low voice “Are you serious?” The declaration that the hero will not fight anymore. Well.. it would be nice to have at least one manga like that. There are plenty of battle manga in the world, so it’s okay. (He has said this sentiment many times in quotes and interviews and it makes super emotional every time I think about) Bjorn was familiar with Valhalla. In Valhalla, Bjorn must be in a constant berserker state. The warriors who went to Valhalla had a daily routine of slashing at each other all day long to hone their fighting abilities. “Even if I die during training, I’ll come back to life at night and have a party, and I’ll train again tomorrow.” It’s a rough heaven… I’ve been thinking about violence for the last 20 years while drawing manga. My conclusion! Violence should be gone… it’s embarrassing that I’ve come to this conclusion after all these years. It’s better to be gone but I wonder how it will go away… But it’s amazing, I think the world is making progress. In modern times, when the head of state uses aggressive behaviour, they often make excuses such as “they are bad” and “they have no choice but to fight”. You are ashamed of your use of violence. It wasn’t really like this untill the 20th century. I think my consciousness has progressed to the extent that I’m ashamed. I hope people become much more and more ashamed of being violent. It would be nice if shooting a gun felt as embarrassing as a bare dick. (this particular quote of his has become quite popular 😄) Ah, but there are people in this world who are embarrassed but welcome. That’s going to make things difficult. Really, this 9th episode “Oath” has shaken my heart (me too Yukimura 🥺 me too!). No, it’s not self-praise! It’s anime! Because I don’t cry when I read the original manga I drew. Anime expressiveness. Video and background art. Music and voice acting. Directing. Good anime. Great anime. No! It’s not self-praise!” (why is he such a sweetheart!? It’s okay to for you to know you created something amazing!)
Sacha
2023-07-12 18:58:36 +0000 UTCI love this season so much, I teared up a lot throughout it. Thors, himself being weighed down by those he killed knew what a heavy burden Thorfinn is carrying. He wanted to protect Thorfinn from it, but he died before getting the chance to do so. I like how we can see that Thors was at ground level, but still had the dead clinging on to him, while Thorfinn was at the bottom of that chasm. It shows how far Thors got on his own path of becoming a true warrior. I think the scenes with Thors represent the idea that being a true warrior is a constant journey, not a state where you reach and plateau. You can go higher and higher, and I think it's Thorfinn's destiny to surpass Thors. Askeladd even asked Thorfinn at the end of season 1, what he was going to do after his death. He asked Thorfinn to go beyond and surpass the closest person to being a true warrior that we ever saw in the show. I also love Askeladd reinforcing the idea that Thorfinn must keep climbing, even with all of his past atrocities weighing him down. It's his responsibility now to live in a way that allows him to atone for his past. His two father figures while standing in very different positions are beacons of inspiration for Thorfinn, and while they lived so completely differently from each other, I think both are vital in forming Thorfinn's character and his goals. More greatness is yet to come, but this stands out as truly beautiful. Also, screw the retainers; all my homies hate the retainers.
Alter Nate
2023-07-12 18:36:23 +0000 UTCProbably one of the most important parts of this story as a whole.
bl0odm1st
2023-07-12 18:07:10 +0000 UTC
