Courage

Vinland really won't stop its streak of amazing episodes: this one was yet again immaculate.

I was led to believe Thorfinn would get good screentime - partially, I was right, but ultimately Mappa aren't willing to rush these episodes. They're taking they're time into the arc's very climax, ultimately probably the interaction we'll see between Thorfinn and Canute at some point in the show.

Instead, this episode was more focused on the Ketil family. It was a very interesting thing to see - the juxtaposition between Olmar and his brother is insane. However, I think the really prominent motif throughout the episode was the development of every character.

In the episode we saw mild flashes and reminders to earlier this season. It's been only about 20 episodes and we've seen the dynamics and relationships between characters expand and develop. The most prominent example is Thorfinn and Einar, but Canute has developed, as has Olmar, and even Ketil changed. We see the realism here: people change, some for the better, and some people have a downfall.

I think once more the episode reiterates that Thorfinn is correct in every way: we have no enemies, nobody has any enemies, and false pride and honour is a pathetic justification for slaughter and pillage. The actions conveyed through the warriors in this episode, and the images we see later in the episode, gruesome and uncensored, once more make the show feel... real. Just a cut above other anime in that everything changes and grows in a human fashion.

Even the intro comes in at the perfect time this episode - I feel like the intro in so many anime is carelessly placed - for example I've been watching the brilliant assassination classroom recently and even in another 8.8 rated brilliant show it feels so much less calculated than Vinland; and hey, assassination classroom is one of the best consistent anime I've watched of recent.

Overall, the show never fails to impress. Yes, it's very easy for a show to get a very high rated individual episode, but to flawlessly maintain momentum like this show is a privilege only to the best of shows.

10/10. No words. Deservedly receives meticulous care from MAPPA and praise from the audiences who engage in this beautiful story.

Vinland Saga Season 2 Episode 21: "Courage"

Another magnificent episode, this arc is something else...

"A Norse Man should value his honor over his life" I think this is the central point of the arc that Yukimura is trying to refute. In a world where valor is heavily prized and rewarded, it takes courage to choose not to fight. Both Olmar and Thorfinn showed that courage today.

Todays episode really helps cement how much I appreciate that Vinland Saga also takes the time to really give its secondary and tertiary characters time to grow and have their own arcs.

Olmar's arc is one of my favourite minor character arcs.

"I didn't have the courage to let people laugh at me." That right there was peak character development for Olmar. Also shoutout to Olmar's voice actor, the voice acting in general this season has been incredible.

So for me Olmar was the highlight of this episode, but I looking forward for Thorfinn in the next episode. I'm sure it will be a special one!

Within this episode, multiple characters display heavy development. Olmar displays his capability as a forgiving person, Thorfinn reviews his experience on Ketil's farm, and Leif describes his vow to Thors. With these factors in mind, I strictly stick to my 10/10 for this episode. The phenomenal sacrifice of Thorfinn to speak to Canute is amazing and I cannot wait to see how that plays out. The last few episodes have all been a phenomenal sequence, all developing the finale. I can only imagine that the pinnacle of this season will outdo that of the first. The development of the show as a whole is a perfect mirror to that of the characters.