Vinland Saga has been around for quite some time now. Before getting a phenomenal anime adaptation, the manga had been going on since early 2005. Yes, you heard it right.
Vinland Saga is written and illustrated by Makoto Yukimura. It is considered one of the most celebrated manga creations. Makoto is also well-known for creating Planetes, but Vinland Saga has taken his popularity to a new level.
Ever since its inception, the manga has been published every month. Currently, its chapters have been compiled into 26 volumes, selling over 5.5 million copies worldwide.
Following the popularity of the manga, its anime adaptation debuted on the TV screens in 2019. The anime comprised 24 visually appetizing episodes loved by the audience and critics alike. Vinland Saga has found critical acclaim. The first season was left with many unanswered questions, leaving the audience wondering when they would get to see the second season.
It brings us to revealing the big good news. Season Two of the anime is coming soon! Here’s everything to know about Vinland Saga Season 2.
Vinland Saga Season 2 Release Date
The second season of the anime was announced in July 2021. Fans will be glad to know it is all set to air in January 2023. To add to your excitement, even more, the second season will feature 24 episodes. It means you can expect many manga chapters to be covered for this season.
Earlier, Vinland Saga Season 2’s animation was stated to be reprised by Studio Wit. However, the project has now been taken over by Studio MAPPA. You can watch the official trailer of the second season on the platforms like YouTube and Crunchyroll.
But this is not it!
To spice up things a little more, the studio has also released a key visual depicting the new story and revealed the characters that the second season will have on board. Both look promising.
What Did the First Season of Vinland Saga Include?
Vinland Saga anime adaption released 24 episodes from the 54 chapters in its first season.
Season 1 of the anime covers the prologue arc of the original manga. It follows the story of Viking commander, Thors Snorresson’s young warrior, Thorfinn, who yearns to see the paradise called Vinland. In the meantime, Viking mercenaries, Jomsviking Floki, arrive at Thorfinn’s village to enlist Thors into battle. However, his true motive remains to murder him.
Following his father’s death, Thorfinn joins Askeladd’s crew to avenge his father and challenges his commander to various duels.
More Details about the Trailer for the Upcoming Season
As stated, the second season’s trailer looks promising. You will see the flashbacks of Thorfinn’s time as a mercenary under Askeladd’s command. You will also spot the scenes of Leif Erikson and Thorfinn’s great uncle, Thorkell, interacting with new characters. The trailer also highlights King Canute standing atop a pile of treasure and brushing his hand across the scar. Interestingly, it is the same scar he received during the climax of the first season.
The audience has welcomed the trailer of the second season wholeheartedly with many comments about what the story will unfold. They cannot wait to see what the second season of the anime will feature. The makers have promised some more dramatic fictional elements in the show.
A Word about the Cast of the Second Season
Coming the cast of the second season, it would look incredibly similar to the cast of the first season. However, the cast will include some major additions and subtractions.
Some of the characters on the show have already bid goodbye – Askeladd, and Bjorn, to name them. However, many new additions to the show are expected to happen.
The fans expect to hear Yuto Uemura, Kensho Ono, and Akio Otsuka reprise their roles of Thorfinn, Canute, and Thorkell, respectively. They play large parts in the upcoming events of the series. Who all will be the newcomers in the show still remains a secret, and the fans await a word from the makers.
What Will the Second Season Focus on?
The finale of the first season had the characters and fans spinning. Ever since they have been waiting for a word on the plot of the second season.
In the service of Canute, Askeladd, Thorfinn, and Thorkell conspired to overthrow King Sweyn and put Canute in power. Askeladd reaches all the levels of madness and beheads the king to do this, sacrificing himself and allowing Canute the chance to seize power. Unable to carry out his lifelong quest for resentment, Thorfinn loses control and gets carried away to an unknown location before he could hurt the newly-crowned Canute.
The event becomes a major turning point in the manga that also undergoes a time-skip shortly after. Years down the line, Thorfinn is sold in the slave trade into the Scandinavian. He loses both his purpose in life and his willingness to live. Unwilling to even try and resist his masters, he labors until he meets another slave, Einar. They work together to earn their freedom and establish a new and peaceful life.
The fans assume that the second season will follow the same plot that Manga has established. Hence, they can expect to see all these events and more as the character of Thorfinn further develops to rediscover his purpose in life.
The Fans are Discussing the Second Season of Everywhere
The popularity of any show defines its real success. The first season of Vinland Saga witnessed massive popularity, and the fans loved it from the bottom of their hearts. Not only this but time and again, they are discussing what’s going to happen in the second season of the show. As a result. Vinland Saga Season 2 has become a hot topic on search engines and social media platforms.
Google Trends
The number of searches about the first and the second season on Google Trends has been constant for the most part. When the makers announced the second season, the trend peaked at the highest point and showed massive interest from fans across the globe.
Vinland Saga is on Twitter. The official handle of the show has more than 34k followers, which is an impressive number. Many people follow the handle and often engage in conversations and discussions regarding the second season. It highlights the popularity of the show. The number of searches remains active.
Google Searches
The number of Google Searches of the Vinland saga has been overwhelming, and how!
The total number of monthly searches of the show on this search engine is 74k, and these figures keep increasing. Out of this number, 32k searches are from the USA alone. It shows that the popularity of Vinland Saga is not just restricted to the native country alone, but also exceeds the borders, and the fans across the globe are enthusiastic about the anime.
Online Reactions to Vinland Saga Season 2
The online reactions of any series help understand the opinions of the fans and audiences around the globe. Here are the online reactions that the last and upcoming season of Vinland Saga has gathered.
As stated, the official Twitter account of this series has a massive following. And if we take note of the discussions of season 2, it is nothing less. From memes to story discussions to discussions about the characters and everything in between, the fans are actively participating in the dialogues and waiting for more.
Some Twitter users have also shown their concern about the opening of the second season. According to them, the show should not have a rock opening like Mukanjo. The fans are experiencing to have a different kind of video from the opening of the show’s sequel. They assume that the upcoming season may have a different aura than the previous one.
Reddit is a hub for discussing shows, celebrities, and other elements. It is the same platform that many people use to express their love for anime. Before the announcement, there have been thousands of questions and speculations about the second season. The fans and Redditors would often engage in the discussions like why has the season been delayed, or what would be the story of the second season and more.
All Reddit users, who are fans of the anime, were happy when the announcement of the second season was made, and they expressed their thoughts on the same.
Vinland Saga Has Rave Reviews on IMDb too
When it comes to checking the reviews and ratings of any show, people often switch to the platforms like IMDb. Vinland Saga has received a positive response on IMDb. The show has a rating of 8.8 on this platform.
The reviews are highly positive from the critics and audience alike. In the recent time, where the audience has become more calculative in judging any show, Vinland Saga has received an extremely positive response. It has proved to be one of the best new-gen anime out there. The intriguing historical setting is beautifully blended with the War theme of the series.
This combination is something that the fans appreciate the most. Thus, IMDb has approved this anime.
Popular Characters from Vinland Saga
The show has given us some of the most notable characters, and the fans love them a lot. Here are the popular characters from Vinland Saga to watch out for.
Thorfinn
Thorfinn is the protagonist of the show. Thus, he has to be there on the list. And he is bound to make a reappearance. Askeladd gave him a vital task. The task is to seek his life’s purpose. Thorfinn is the son of Thors. He must reach the places Thors was not able to. It is expected that the character will make a comeback in the next season. Fans are eager to see him seek his purpose in life.
Canute
Prince Canute has now become King Canute, and he is one of the most notable characters on the show. With the end of his father, he became the legal ruler of the Danes. But not to forget, his achievement was the result of the sacrifice made by Askeladd. However, he is yet to achieve his motto. The fans expect him to try and achieve his dream in the next season. The dream is to make this world ‘Paradise’.
Thorkell
When the first season appeared, fans showered their immense love on Thorkell. And when it comes to the return of the next season, it would be with a bang too. Thorkell lovers war and fight. He is one of the essential people on Canute’s team. So, he is likely to be seen as a little submissive towards his king in the upcoming season.
Ragnar
The list is incomplete without mentioning Ragnar. He is one of the strongest characters on the show. Ragnar is Canute’s guardian, idol, and chief retainer. He has his flaws, but Ragnar generally aims for good. He is like a father figure to Canute and often treats him as his son. The fans couldn’t control their tears when they saw Rangar dying on the show.
Snake
Another remarkable character on the show is Snake. He has strength greater than Askeladd and speed nearly matching Thorfinn. His overall power is phenomenal. Snake is an absolute treat to watch on screen.
Garm
Throughout the first season, fans see Garm as a sociopath. He is always ready to take up the battles and fight them to the death. Due to their similar love for battle and violence, Garm is often compared with Thorkell. He thinks of assassination as a game and hates the idea of living a peaceful, quiet, and monotonous life. He is highly fascinated by Thorfinn as he has recognized his combat prowess and acknowledged him as a worthy opponent.
Askeladd
Another notable character on the show has to be Askeladd. Throughout the show, he is seen as a cunning strategist who led a band of mercenary Vikings who plundered and looted villages for gold. He used his deception to give his enemies a false sense of overconfidence. He then took advantage of them and crushed them mercilessly and ruthlessly.
Thors Snorresson
Thors Snorresson deserves to be on the list of top characters on the show. He was seen as the mightiest warrior in the entire land of the North Sea Empire. Thors was a ruthless and cold-hearted warrior during his military days. But the birth of his first child changed him forever.
He possessed a mastery of hand-to-hand combat unparalleled by any other character and was capable of fighting against multiple opponents in a melee. Thors defeated Thorkell in combat in 987 and knocked him out despite being unarmed. His combat skills remained sharp, although how he maintained them remains a well-kept secret.
Thors single-handedly defeated one of Askeladd’s crews by incapacitating or disabling his opponents, including Bjorn.
What are the Best Episodes of Vinland Saga?
Listed below are the best episodes of Vinland Saga.
The Light of Dawn, Episode 14
The episode showed up as a reminder that Askeladd and his crew were not meant to be cheered for. They are not the good guys in the tale, nor are most of the Vikings. It is a great episode to watch for the tone it holds. It pulled no punches on the subject matter, something that Vinland Saga has always done well as a series.
The Battle of London Bridge, Episode 9
Vinland Saga is all about a series of revenge, and this episode remains one of its highlights. By now, Thorfinn can think of nothing else other than revenge for his father. He wants to kill Askeladd as much as a person wants to quench his thirst by drinking water. Thorfinn jumps at any opportunity he could to earn a duel with the man.
That opportunity was earned by taking care of Thorkell, the Tall, a Viking traitor well-known for his overpowering strength and feared by many of his own kind.
Servant, Episode 17
In this episode, Askeladd’s men continued their march to escape Thorkell. However, Torgrim and his friends were hatching a plot to switch sides and join Thorkell, taking Canute with them. The episode also features Torgrim finally launching his rebellion and cornering Askeladd, negotiating with him to hand over to Canute, then Thorkell arrives amid the confusion.
The Journey Begins, Episode 6
A loss could change a person in many ways, and this particular episode highlighted the same. Some of these losses are far from good. The Journey Begins showcases Thorfinn coming to terms with losing his father by this point. He is forced into becoming a man, the peaceful life he once knew gone. He ends up killing his first man here, helping shape the character that would serve as the primary protagonist for the rest of the series.
Throughout the episode, you will see a steady progression that makes it heart-touching. The whole episode stays with the audience for a long time.
Reunion, Episode 21
This episode had many highlights to discuss. Reunion dives deeply into the political side of things. The characters in power are shown as deceitful, intelligent, and bloodthirsty as the warriors they send out onto the battlefield.
This episode of Vinland Saga is often compared to Game of Thrones in this regard. It shows how cutthroat one part of society can be. The way this episode ends with questioning why a warrior exists is equally compelling. All the promises so made end up empty, leaving the warrior devoid inside.
United Front, Episode 19
We cannot stop raving about the animations in this episode. They are fluid, and the battle is far more than just two men fighting for the sake of it. But there is so much story layered within it, especially Askeladd, who may receive the most development here, despite not being an active participant.
It is with his advice and aid that Thorfinn can defeat Thorkell, thus solidifying his legendary status.
A True Warrior, Episode 4
One of the finest episodes, A True Warrior is about Thors and what makes a true warrior. The whole episode gives you a feeling of impending doom around it as Thors, and his men fall into a trap set by Askeladd.
Tone helps set the stage for the sheer epicness of Thor, from him getting to show off his immense strength against Askeladd’s men to how much he desired to protect the ones who need it. He is willing to do everything he can in his capacity to protect the ones close to him, especially his son. And finally, the audience sees him standing true to his plan.
Troll, Episode 3
Askeladd, the leader of a Viking army of a hundred men, receives orders from Floki of the Jomsvikings to kill Thors. He was once known as the Troll of Jom. However, the villagers are unaware of the order. They buzz with excitement as they prepare for their very first battle. Thorfinn also joins in the excitement. Thors and his men are about to set off on a difficult sea journey to England.
Crown, Episode 20
After the fighting dies down, Canute takes in Askeladd and Thorkell as his followers. He returns to Gainsborough. He goes through an awakening and realizes the meaning of love in the aftermath of Ragnar’s death. Canute also throws away what little feelings he had left for his father, thus joining Askeladd in plotting to assassinate King Sweyn and take over the throne.
End of the Prologue, Episode 24
Endings have barely been smooth for anime. Rarely do they stick perfectly. Normally, it is inoffensive and does not detract from the story to that point, or in some cases, it also ruins the entire series. Rarely the endings of any season are pursued as the best episode of the whole series. But Vinland Saga managed to pull off.
It would be fair to say that the whole episode is poetry. It tied up the character’s arcs to that point and gave Askeladd the sort of end fitting his character. The ending of the prologue is incredible by all means. The makers crafted him as the villain of the story so successfully.
Where Can I Watch Vinland Saga?
Season two of the series is yet to arrive. In the meantime, you can catch up with all the episodes of the previous season. Vinland Saga season one can be streamed on online platforms like Netflix and Crunchyroll. You can also check the other platforms where the anime is streamed for the audience worldwide.
