WARNING: This article contains major spoilers for the Vinland Saga mangaVinland SagaThe show’s first two seasons raised many questions about social issues, which is why it’s surprising that future seasons will delve into much more serious topics. The series’ ability to elegantly address these difficult topics has won the hearts of many. Season 2 just ended and it’s easily a contender for anime of the year because of its more introspective aspect. Provided Mappa continues to faithfully adapt the manga, parts 3 and 4 will presumably have even more real-life themes.
The past two seasons of Vinland Saga have been incredibly successful, with both seasons averaging an 8.7 rating on MyAnimeList and hundreds of thousands of passionate fans. Given its extreme popularity, it’s just a matter of when and if season 3 will be announced. Luckily, the show’s character designer Takahiro Abiru hinted at this in a tweet: “Thorfinn’s journey will continue.” Based on what happens in the manga, fans can expect an even deeper season than the previous ones.
Vinland Saga Season 3 may address the issue of forced marriage through Gudrid
Gudrid is a young widow character who will be introduced in the first few episodes of Season 3. She is forced to marry Halfdan’s son Sigurd. Halfdan was the one who bought cattle from Thors in exchange for a runaway slave in Part 1. The Gudrids would have an easier life by forging relationships with Halfdan’s wealthy family, so they captured she married Sigurd. Gudrid has other plans besides becoming a wife and staying in the village. She was a rarity in her time because she was a woman but still wished to sail the seas.
She eventually married Sigurd, but just before they were about to end their marriage, she stabbed him, although it was not fatal. In a panic, Gudrid flees to where Thorfinn, Leif and Bug-Eyes are preparing to leave the island. Realizing this was her only chance to achieve her dream, Gudrid begged them to let her on the boat. After begging and convincing them that she had the ability, Thorfinn allowed her to travel with them. The two became closer and eventually married. Like many young women around the world, she initially married against her will. She didn’t give up and followed her dream, which is very inspiring.
Sigurd’s story Vinland Saga is about living up to parental expectations
Many people suffer from the expectations their parents place on them and Sigurd, Halfdan’s son, can sympathize with that. His father was extremely wealthy and respected on their island. Outsiders have placed expectations on the son to follow in his father’s footsteps. However, Sigurd’s situation is more complicated than that. His father had never acknowledged him, never praised him and never talked to him for more than a few minutes or told him that he loved him. Sigurd did everything to gain his father’s approval, even going after Gudrid for humiliating him, but it was all in vain.
After a long and deadly journey, Sigurd returned to the island. He has become a changed man. Although he still loved and respected his father, he was no longer shackled by the chains of pleasing him. Ironically, Sigurd no longer cared about his father’s approval causing his father to finally respect him, deciding his son deserved to inherit his estate. Sigurd went on to marry his childhood friend and have a child. Vinland Saga shows that clinging to the expectations and approval of others is harmful and that once you let go, you can achieve happiness.
Future installments of Vinland Saga will be about redemption
Part 2 sees Thorfinn Karlsefni regretting his old lifestyle after being tormented by the guilt of murder and robbery. Thorfinn initially gave up on life and forgiveness but found answers when he met Einar. After this fateful meeting, Thorfinn decided to live a pacifist life and only use his powers for protection, and even then he would not use deadly force. He is a changed man. Even King Canute, the political mastermind of the Vinland Saga, was shocked at how much Thorfinn had changed and how kind he had become. However, his past crimes simply cannot be erased no matter how much he changes.
During the Eastern Expedition Arc, Thorfinn and his crew met a hunter named Hild. It turns out that Thorfinn killed Hild’s father during a raid by Askellad’s group. She recognized him and put poison in the food she cooked for them. To get the antidote for his friends, he must go fight Hild. She had the advantage of the terrain and defeated him. Just as she is about to kill him, Gudrid begs her to spare him and says he has changed. Remembering her father’s teachings, Hild let him go. She joined the crew to see if Thorfinn had truly changed, and even eventually forgave him.
Vinland Saga has a story about gender dysphoria
If the anime catches up with the manga, the Vinland Saga sequels will tackle the topic of gender identity using the character Cordelia. Cordelia was originally born the son of Thorkell in Ireland, however her mother raised her as a child so that Thorkell would not take Cordelia to war, as was traditional at the time. When Thorkell found a potential husband for Cordelia, the mother ran away with her so he wouldn’t discover her lie. Cordelia eventually becomes Halfdan’s slave. She began calling herself Halvar, a name given to her by Thorkell, although she was not comfortable using it.
When she overhears Thorfinn’s plans to go to Vinland and start a new life there, she realizes this is her chance to start over and embrace her identity and name. She decides to go with him to Vinland and shares her name with him: Cordelia. In a touching moment of acceptance, Thorfinn wholeheartedly accepted her and began calling her by her real name. While Thorfinn may have been indifferent or even disrespectful of Cordelia’s identity, his decision to welcome her with open arms is a testament to how far he has come.
Vinland Saga touches on many themes that are still relevant today and does so in a way that entertains and engages viewers. It makes the audience question reality and what is wrong and right, leading to a huge fan base. Thorfinn’s journey of redemption is quite inspiring to many, as sometimes people can fall into the trap of thinking that their sins are too great or too many to forgive. Thorfinn works hard to make up for what he did as a teenager. If they live up to their manga counterparts, then future seasons of Vinland Saga will make this already incredible series much more complex and interesting.
Vinland Saga available to stream on Crunchyroll.
