r/VinlandSaga

When Askeladd shares his past with Thorfinn, we also learn about the environment he and his mother had to survive in.

She was a Welsh noblewoman who was enslaved by Olaf, a powerful Danish lord who then made her serve as his "favorite" concubine, and Askeladd was the product of his rape.

After that, she was thrown out of his manor and lived in a small hut with Askeladd.

I believe Lydia likely starved, and Askeladd had to take care of her from childhood.

She often told him stories about their ancestor Artorius and how he would return to save both of them from their suffering. This may or may not have been true, as she was clearly sick, but it was also something that meant everything to Askeladd, as he deeply loved his mother.

One day, Askeladd describes her having a mental breakdown where she mistook Olaf for their ancestor Artorius and genuinely couldn't tell the difference when looking at him.

Instead, she was happy and smiled at him. She didn't even react when Olaf pulled out his sword to kill her.

I've always wondered what kind of mental condition this could have been. I'm not asking for a clinical diagnosis because I myself am not very experienced in psychology, so I'd appreciate it if you guys could let me know what symptoms you see here and what they might point to.

Thanks.

These are mine:

Askeladd closing Thorfinn's mouth: I genuinely feel like missing any minor moments of their bond is just unfortunate. This happens while Askeladd, Canute and Thorfinn are pursuing the king. Thorfinn makes a snarky remark about the king being a coward, and Askeladd tells him to shut up in case he hears. Then when Sweyn's soldiers come out, Thorfinn insults them too, so Askeladd just closes his mouth himself.

Canute closing his eyes at the sight of Askeladd's body: This is another one I really wanted to see adapted. The anime already makes it clear Canute deeply respected Askeladd, but in the manga, he even closes his eyes after looking at his body, then declares that the subjugation of Wales is cancelled. I really love how it shows his respect for the man who saved his life and handed him the crown.

I also wanted the anime to adapt the panel where Thorfinn just left the girl who was being raped by Askeladd's band, but at the same time I think that would've caused major backlash, and some people wouldn't have let it slide even in season 2.

Thanks a lot for taking the time to read my post, and I'd love to hear what manga panels you wish the anime would've adapted as well.

I hope you all have a great day!

Thors: Thorfinn's biological father, who taught him that he has no enemies and that there is no one you should hurt. Thors loved his son deeply and kept him close whenever Thorfinn slept, just like he did on their ship. He sacrificed himself so both his men and his son could live, smiling and placing his hand on Thorfinn's head as he died. Thorfinn's declaration that he has no enemies is rooted in his father's philosophy.

Leif: Thorfinn's family friend and the man who vowed to never stop searching for him. Even after years had passed and Thorfinn's family, especially Ylva, believed he was dead, Leif never stopped looking. Although Thorfinn refused to return home because he was consumed by revenge, they eventually reunited during the Farmland Arc. Even in his declining age, Leif provided Thorfinn with the guidance and tools needed to establish a peaceful settlement in Vinland.

Askeladd: Arguably the most complex person in Thorfinn's life. He is the man who killed Thorfinn's father but also took on the role of raising him in his own cruel way, something Yukimura sensei has stated in interviews. Although Askeladd mostly saw Thorfinn as a weapon, he also mentored him in ways that included giving him history lessons and sharing his past after their final duel. As he was dying, Askeladd told Thorfinn to go beyond the world Thors did and become a true warrior. Askeladd continued to guide him in his dreams and visions. In the end, Thorfinn took Askeladd's final words to heart and ultimately fulfilled his dying wish by becoming a true warrior, just like his father, Thors.

Thanks a lot for taking the time to read my post, and I'd love to hear your thoughts as well.

I hope you all have a great day!

Note: I just wanna say that this isn't meant to invite a powerscaling discussion, but me appreciating Askeladd's combat prowess in his aged state, thanks.

Upon rereading the War Arc, I wanted to talk about Chapter 53, "The Fury of Britannia's King."

Right after beheading King Sweyn, Askeladd gets swarmed by the king's thegns, who were among the best guards of Denmark as they personally guarded the king, something explicitly stated by Snake in War at Ketil's Farm. I tried counting as accurately as I could, and I think there are around 16-20 visible thegns, with possibly even more lying dead off-panel.

What really stood out to me is that they were coming at him from every direction in close quarters while also wearing helmets, chainmail and carrying shields, which should've been a huge disadvantage for Askeladd. Yet every swing was taking someone's head or limb off while breaking their swords and shields, all while he was laughing and mocking them the entire time. The craziest part is that he doesn't even seem tired afterward, and even Floki gets overpowered the moment he steps in. I honestly think Floki showing up was the only thing that stopped Askeladd from cutting down even more of these elite guards, as he also had to sacrifice himself in order to save both Canute and Wales.

Thanks a lot for going through my post, and please feel free to share your thoughts as well.

I hope you all have a great day!

Bjorn: "You hated our friends who died... and even yourself. Aren't you lonely?"

These are Bjorn's internal monologues before he is stabbed and dies in Askeladd's embrace, and Askeladd tells him that he was his one and only friend before granting him a warrior's death, sending him to Valhalla, and ultimately fulfilling Bjorn's wish.

After that, we see Askeladd's disappointment in Thorfinn, and after their final duel he shares his past with the boy, meant to serve as a lesson on how to kill a man you truly hate.

To me, that also came across as Askeladd seeing himself in Thorfinn, as both had a traumatic past and lost the person they loved the most, which led them down the path they walked.

We see Askeladd murdering thousands, pillaging villages, showing no mercy, being as charismatic as he was, and pretending to fit into the same world he despised.

He hated the men he led because of his burning hatred for the Danes/Norsemen, including Bjorn.

One of the few Norsemen Askeladd truly respected was Thors (I believe he was a Norseman because Thors' ancestors fled from Norway to Iceland).

Askeladd was genuine when he asked Thors to be their leader, as that was the man closest to a living Artorius he could find, but in the end he too had to put him down to not appear weak in front of his own men.

Askeladd even reveals that in the name of his ancestor Artorius, he won't kill Thors' men, including his son, showing his genuine respect for Thors, as he was a true warrior Askeladd could never wish to be.

He always appeared smiling, but could also occasionally be seen isolating himself at night, like in Season 1 Episode 10 titled "Ragnarok," where Askeladd shares history lessons with Thorfinn.

Though I doubt Askeladd cared much about Thorfinn beyond seeing him as his weapon for most of their time together. Occasionally he did show some care when trying to teach Thorfinn, and in the end he truly cared about him, using his final breaths to guide the boy to become a true warrior, something that Askeladd could never be.

He had redeeming qualities, but none absolve what he did all his life.

So I've always wondered, just how lonely was Askeladd? Did he truly have no one in the world after his mother was gone, or did it go beyond loneliness?

I love this character so much.

I originally wrote a much longer analysis of this matchup, but I ended up deleting it because I thought it'd be more interesting to hear everyone's thoughts through the images instead.

For the 8th image, it's from Thorfinn's final duel with Thorkell, where one of Thorkell's men say that small and agile fighters are the type he struggles with the most.

You guys can also discuss the Snake vs Slave Thorfinn matchup, as Snake is roughly Askeladd's equal in skill and is overall faster too, though we don't know how they compare in raw physical strength, so I'd give that edge to Askeladd since we see him split men in half through their metal helmets.

I'd really appreciate it if you guys could go through the images first, as they provide the context for the discussion.

Who do you guys personally think would win, and why?

Que pensez vous de mon dessin dessin d'Askeladd

Now , I know he already said he despise the Dane , the viking and himself in extension but I believe he enjoy every moment of his life as a viking . Despite him hate living among the Dane , if Canute never appear , I say he wouldn't die in regret or anything , he would be sad about Wales , Thor's son and Artorius when old age catch up to him but as long as he can support his village with all the gold he stole and winning battles and killing everyone he deemed "ugly" , I think he is content with his life as it is now

Sorry if I misinterpret his character , and correct me if I'm wrong

Note: I made this post because I've seen some people reduce Season 1 to "just a battle shonen." While it did begin in a shonen magazine, it moved to a seinen magazine from Chapter 17 onward, making the War Arc and the series as a whole a seinen.

Season 1: One of the best revenge stories I've ever seen with arguably the best written anti villain in seinen. The Thorfinn and Askeladd dynamic, the political maneuvering, Canute's transformation, and Willibald's "Love is discrimination" speech genuinely made me love this season far more than its battles.

Season 2: Personally, I loved this season more, as Season 1 is the Prologue, which I see as Askeladd's story. After that, we finally get to witness the beauty of Thorfinn's growth. The themes explored and the side characters introduced honestly put this story in my heart.

Thank you for reading, and I'd love to hear your thoughts as well.

Have a good day!