The pandemic has a funny way of making time seem completely irrelevant, and this is the case when it comes to Vinland Saga. After a successful run in 2005 via Weekly Shōnen Magazine and Monthly Afternoon (both owned by Kodansha), it eventually was produced into an anime series by Twin Engine (Dororo, Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress), Production IG (Psycho Pass, Haikyu!!, Ghost in the Shell), Wit Studio (AOT Seasons 1 – 3, Ranking of Kings, Spy x Family, Ancient Magus’ Bride), and Kodansha. 

It premiered in 2019, which was really a glorious year for anime fans. As Demon Slayer, Dororo, The Promised Neverland, Dr. Stone, Fruits Basket, Kaguya-sama: Love Is War, and so many other fantastic series graced our screens and blessed our eyes, Vinland Saga crept up silently and made anime fans stop, look over their shoulders, and take notice. While the animation is not as “visually beautiful” as other anime released in the same year, the style and atmosphere that persists throughout the season adds a grittiness to the story that truly elevates it beyond its competition and earning a place in history as Best Drama in Crunchyroll’s 2020 Anime Awards.

Vinland Saga, a historical manga from the brilliant mind of Makoto Yukimura, tells the tale of a young boy named Thorfinn who sets out on a harrowing journey to find and take revenge on his father’s killer. His father, Thors Snorresson, was a former Jomsviking and the strongest commander the Viking world had ever known, earning him the name Troll of Jom. When called back to the sea, Thorfinn snuck onto Thors’ ship, a decision that would result in tragedy and trauma, changing his life irrevocably. 

It was during this trip that Thorfinn, Thors, and his men were ambushed by Askeladd, the commander of a band of Viking mercenaries. Having been hired to assassinate Thors, Askeladd gave Thors no choice but to fight and ultimately sacrifice his life in a solo battle to the death against the entire band of mercenaries in exchange for sparing the lives of his crew and most especially his son, Thorfinn

Witnessing his father’s murder was the moment that set Thorfinn on a hate-filled path. Life being as unpredictable as it ever can be, he found himself joining Askeladd’s crew and became an assassin with the ultimate goal of growing strong enough to kill Askeladd and avenge Thors. From that point on, Vinland Saga chronicles his journey throughout land and sea, with incredible twists, turns, and heartache along the way.

As I stated before, the pandemic really has a way of making time seem irrelevant. What I mean by this is that Vinland Saga aired in 2019 and has finally resumed four years later, which feels like an eternity and a blink of an eye at the same time.

As one can expect from what is starting to be recognized as a production powerhouse, MAPPA is back at it again, this time taking over the second installment of Vinland Saga. The main production staff from its premiere season continued on to work on Season Two, which is reassuring for fans like me that want to experience little difference in the way its story is told. 

Season Two takes place a year after we see Thorfinn last. The first episode, Slave, introduces Einar. Einar is a slave from England, and this season we follow along as he meets Thorfinn while working on a farm. 

Vinland Saga Season Two premiered on January 10, 2023, and is 24 episodes long. It’s available on Crunchyroll for those of us that live stateside and can be watched on Netflix for those across the pond.

In terms of memorability, I sometimes feel this particular series isn’t as acknowledged as it could be when it comes to depth and overall story in comparison to say, Demon Slayer or AOT. This is probably more of my personal opinion rather than one based on facts – as the statement itself is quite subjective. If you haven’t watched it, now is really the time to do so – Season Two has just started airing!

If you want a story that grips you and doesn’t let go, I highly recommend Vinland Saga. New episodes are aired weekly, with Episode 5 available on February 7th. Are you caught up on this season so far? Have you seen the first season of Vinland Saga? Let us know what you think about it! 

Watch Vinland Saga on Crunchyroll.