A Haunting Past | Vinland Saga Season 2 Episode 4 Reaction

Wow like wow…this episode was just great! I got emotional when Throffin thanked Enair for helping him to be awake! I’m loving this story and I’m excited for more character development

Extremely well directed episode. Probably the best one so far this season. The drawings on the close up shots were hella insane.

I actually really liked the approach here with Einar's character. The man had everything taken away from him by the Vikings, and the revelation that Thorfinn, the very guy he's partnered up with, used to be part of that group. Who wouldn't have surging emotions of rage and anger at that moment and want to strangle and kill that person even if they're just associated?
I'm glad they're developing Einar and Thorfinn's relationship in a very nuanced and natural way at least anime-wise, because while Einar shouldn't be readily wanting to be "buddy-buddy" with Thorfinn this early on, IMHO he at least showing that he does care about Thorfinn to a good extent, to where he had enough incentive to help wake him up from his crazy nightmares. The part where Einar talks some sense into Thorfinn was VERY emotional and heavy, without feeling so blunt with the topics at hand. VERY well done! 🙌🙌

Can't wait for Canute and Thorkell to show up next episode, though! 🔥🔥

For those who are interested in reading along with the manga, this episode adapted the last 10 pages of chapter 59, all of chapter 60, and the last scene in the episode homaged a couple pages (but didn't directly adapt) from chapter 61. Next episode is likely adapting the entirety of chapters 61-62.

The story-boarder of this episode was Atsushi Kobayashi, who also boarded some of the more visually striking episodes from season 1 of Vinland Saga (and is apparently a relatively prolific animator/boarder).

Though what was interesting about this episode was how there was a number of additions and changes to the content this episode adapted from chapter 60 of the manga. Some of these include stuff like additional lines of dialogue during Thorfinn and Einar's conversation with Pater (the squinty-eyed ex-slave), cutting of some internal dialogue/monologues from characters and relying more on visual storytelling to convey information.
However, the most notable changes this episode had from chapter 60 of the manga was the night-time scene with Thorfinn and Einar at the end of the episode. In the manga Einar actually stops himself from trying to choke Thorfinn before he even lays a hand on Thorfinn (with Einar instead internally thinking the "it's not as though he [Thorfinn] was responsible for killing my family…" line to himself), the manga chapter also didn't give us a peek of what Thorfinn was dreaming about (so no trippy dream sequence). The scene after Einar woke Thorfinn up also differed as well, with the manga focusing on Einar realizing Thorfinn is extremely not used to being treated kindly by others (hence why Thorfinn had no response to Pater's earlier kindness and why Thorfinn asks why Einar wakes him up from his nightmares), and then Einar declaring that he and Thorfinn are friends now (the chapter ending with a small comedic moment of Thorfinn asking "what does that mean" in a nonplussed manner).

The anime's decision to instead emphasize Einar's rage more and connect his rebuke of Thorfinn's despairing pessimism back to the lesson/philosophy of Einar's mother was an interesting creative choice. I'm not sure which version I prefer personally, but based on the Twitter of Makoto Yukimura (the mangaka of Vinland Saga) it appears to be a change he is okay with.

And that was indeed Canute at the end of the episode, he's just grown out of his feminine boyish looks over the course of the last 1+ years. 

I was also surprised to find out (after looking it up) but apparently dung beetles are found on every continent (except Antartica).

For those who are curious, in this series Thorfinn was born on February 3rd 996 (while the real-life Thorfinn Karlsefni, the character is based on, is estimated to have been born circa 980-985). And it being August-September of 1015 during the events of this episode, means Thorfinn is well his way into his 19th year.

Intro scene was fantastic, Snake's just too badass and charismatic. I was calling Einar a fucking clown, why are you acting up now cuz all those events already happened. Glad he came around. So my copies of Books 2 to 4 came in today and i had to refresh my memory of who the old lady was in Thorfinn's dream. It's heartbreaking that he tried so hard to get all the people in her village to flee. Now he's still feeling the guilt and regret, seeing her in dreams, etc. All in all, the direction, production, voice acting, opening's a banger, ending got the feels, everything is absolutely amazing. Extremely high contender for AOTY.
Also great to see Canute again, and based on preview a goat is back next ep, cant wait…

God damn Floki is still alive? That's one square face I did not want to see.

The entire sequence at 11:00 is the exact same POV shot that happened when Thorfinn took off the French commanders head for a duel with Askeladd.

I might be in the minority here, and I'm perfectly comfortable if ppl don't see it this way, but I don't think Einar tried to choke Thorfinn.

Upon rewatch, I genuinely think the "choking" scene was a visual representation of Einar wrestling with his anger and hatred towards Thorfinn at the moment.

While the anime didn't make it painfully obvious, and is therefore open to interpretation, like yall said, ain't no way Thorfinn THAT deep of a sleeper. And I know, "it's anime" might be a common excuse, but Vinland's writing quality doesn't sink to those excuses.

Also, u will notice Thorfinn has no bruising on his neck when he awakens, which is extremely unlikely if Einar was putting as much effort as his hands appeared to imply, and if there's 1 thing Vinland doesn't skimp on, is details on important scenes.

Either way, if ppl think that's cap, they're free to their opinion, I just don't think Einar is the kind of guy to kill a person on their sleep and I interpret that scene in a more metaphorical manner.

What ISN'T up to debate is the fact that hedgies are Hella cute.