Vinland Saga

[Kanon]

Originally Posted by Frontier

Yeah, I figured some of it was because he knew Thorfinn would screw it up if he got involved, but it was so instinctual the moment he laid eyes on Thorfinn that it kind of came off as Askeladd being protective to me.

I think it was because he didn't want Thorfinn to screw everything up as well. He didn't dislike Thorfinn, but I wouldn't go as far as to say he liked him either. He gave him very nice parting words, but remember the way he sent off the brothers who betrayed him? He gave them money and gave the brother who was still sane some advice on how to live his life. It wasn't that different. The other reason is that Thors was probably the man who impressed him the most in his entire life, so he thought it was a shame to see his son waste his life.

[Forsaken_Infinity]

Amazing final episode. Askeladd was one hell of a character.

The ending montage is seriously disorienting as an anime-only viewer though lol. No idea what's being shown, and too many people that have hair similar to Thorfinn at too many places. It looked like he's in that ship that seems to be piloted by the redhead dude though?

[Arya]

Originally Posted by Kanon

I think it was because he didn't want Thorfinn to screw everything up as well. He didn't dislike Thorfinn, but I wouldn't go as far as to say he liked him either. He gave him very nice parting words, but remember the way he sent off the brothers who betrayed him? He gave them money and gave the brother who was still sane some advice on how to live his life. It wasn't that different. The other reason is that Thors was probably the man who impressed him the most in his entire life, so he thought it was a shame to see his son waste his life.

Interesting, because at first I'd have said the feeling was mutual, but you are right, it's not granted Askeladd felt the same way toward Thorfinn. Sure, he was his last companion since Bjork's demise, but it's hard to say he really liked him.
On the other hand the one thing Askeladd regretted the most, imho, was not having anyone telling him which path to follow. So despite everything he couldn't avoid to give some good advice, to the brothers and to Thorfinn, exactly as he would have wanted for himself back then.
Sure probably he wouldn't have followed it, thinking to be (and also being) the smartest guy in the room, kinda in the same way Thorfinn didn't (for opposite reasons, being the least smart guy in the room).
But in the end I think Askeladd regretted to not have had a father, a father who guided him, and so taking such a one-of-a-kind man Thors was away from Thorfinn probably affected him more than he thought.
Also, to be noted that Askeladd's last scheme main target was Canute and the Danes, Thorfinn's came along naturally but not necessarily. He wasn't even there at the time. But arrived only by chance.

[Kaoru Chujo]

Yes, Askeladd became a deep character. And I was glad to see Wales getting some attention in Japan. But maybe because I wanted to see Thorfinn get home and head off with Leif for Vinland, I found much of the series somewhat wasted. And Thorfinn's character seemed to me to get stuck and go nowhere. Well-made, good scenes, good bits of story, but ultimately disappointing, to me, after a great start.

[Kanon]

Originally Posted by Kaoru Chujo

Yes, Askeladd became a deep character. And I was glad to see Wales getting some attention in Japan. But maybe because I wanted to see Thorfinn get home and head off with Leif for Vinland, I found much of the series somewhat wasted. And Thorfinn's character seemed to me to get stuck and go nowhere. Well-made, good scenes, good bits of story, but ultimately disappointing, to me, after a great start.

IMO the main character of the prologue is Askeladd. It's only after the prologue that the focus truly shifts to Thorfinn and he receives development. As such, the original anime scenes with Leif were kind of bait and switch.

[Haak]

Yeah, I wonder if they made a mistake in rearranging the narrative order and putting Thorfinn's childhood story first. It might have been better if it solely focused on Askeladd to begin with and maybe even bring his childhood story towards the beginning and have Thorfinn's story on the side (alongside a potential backstory for Bjorn). It might have even made Askeladd's fate a bit more "Eddard Stark"-ish

[Alchemist007]

I ended up respecting Askeladd more than I would've thought. He's basically a possible future version of Thorfinn. The art, characters, and direction were all above average. Hope to see another season.

[SeijiSensei]

Tough to admire Askeladd after he had that entire village massacred. He is the most interesting character in the story though.

[Alchemist007]

It's more understanding than admiration, he's still leading a gang of murderers.

[Arya]

Certainly admiration is not quite the word! But in terms of complexity and depth it's a really well shaped character. It's been a while I didn't meet such an interesting character. In a way he reminds me a lot of Squealer/Yakomaru (even if he had mitigating circumstances Askeladd didn't have).

Of course the fact he is a bad guy gives him the edge over any good guy you can pick up, since they have not the luxury to be explored in their dark sides, otherwise they won't be good anymore

In any case in retrospect I agree that they could have showed Askeladd backstory in place of Thorfinn, it would have worked better given Askeladd ended up being the focus of the whole story. It seemed even more interesting than Thorfinn's.
In the end they did a great service to Aslekadd but not to Thorfinn.

[SeijiSensei]

Originally Posted by Arya

Of course the fact he is a bad guy gives him the edge over any good guy you can pick up, since they have not the luxury to be explored in their dark sides, otherwise they won't be good anymore

Tenma in Monster buys a gun and takes shooting lessons in his pursuit of Johan. Not every "good guy" is good all the time.

[Arya]

Originally Posted by SeijiSensei

Tenma in Monster buys a gun and takes shooting lessons in his pursuit of Johan. Not every "good guy" is good all the time.

Well, I'm not familiar with this show, but taking shooting lessons doesn't mean someone will actually shoot someone else. And even then motivations are also relevant. Anyways I was referring to the complexity of a written character more than a character being good or bad. So for a writer is easier to write a more complex and likely more interesting character if she/he can go both sides.

[SeijiSensei]

Originally Posted by Arya

Well, I'm not familiar with this show, but taking shooting lessons doesn't mean someone will actually shoot someone else. And even then motivations are also relevant. Anyways I was referring to the complexity of a written character more than a character being good or bad. So for a writer is easier to write a more complex and likely more interesting character if she/he can go both sides.

Spoiler:

He certainly intends to shoot Johan but chooses not to when the chips are down.

You should give Monster a watch. It's one of the most highly-respected anime ever made.

[Kanon]

Originally Posted by SeijiSensei

Tenma in Monster buys a gun and takes shooting lessons in his pursuit of Johan. Not every "good guy" is good all the time.

I'd say intending to kill a serial killer to stop him still qualifies as being a good guy.

[SeijiSensei]

Tenma is pretty torn over the issue though. Even being a "good guy with a gun" is tough for someone who has sworn the Hippocratic Oath.

[Kanon]

Originally Posted by SeijiSensei

Tenma is pretty torn over the issue though. Even being a "good guy with a gun" is tough for someone who has sworn the Hippocratic Oath.

That's part of what makes him a good guy.

[Haak]

YouTube

https://youtu.be/rGrQhdLo_-U

Sorry; dynamic content not loaded. Reload?

Been listening to the soundtrack recently. Man I love listening to Track 8 - The Real Warrior. The music in this series really gave it the feel of an epic.

[Blaat]

Interesting tweet from the director of Vinland Saga.

Images

Sorry; dynamic content not loaded. Reload?

If you look carefully at the bottom left corner of each panel you'll see some Nordic runes, which supposedly translates into: sea, son, two.

[Guardian Enzo]

Yabuta-sensei has been a merciless tease about this. The first time I think it was unintentional but this seems very calculated...

[Kanon]

This is a pretty clever tease.