Vinland Saga ends with Part 2, dubbed by many as the “Farmland Saga”. Shooting his friend and colleague Hajime Isayama of Attack on Titan, Makoto Yukimura advises fans who want pure violence to consider that.
Anime News Network asked Yukimura if he had any words for readers interested only in violence. “If you like my story for its violent side, then at some point, I may not live up to your expectations,” he said. “If you really want to read about things like violence, you should watch Attack on Titan [laughs]. I actually heard comments from fans saying they liked Thorfinn back in the day. ‘What had happened to him? He’s just farming!’ I hear their complaints, but at the same time, I can’t help it. So sorry.”
Outlining her staunch pacifism, Yukimura refused to enlist even under threat of imprisonment. “My hope is that the younger generation will share this kind of value in the future, so that there is no war in this whole world. This is the only wish I have. As an optimist, this is my only hope to show in my story.”
Eren Yeager’s gradual pursuit of freedom through violence has made him one of anime’s most iconic characters. Starting off similar to Thorfinn, Eren lives an almost peaceful life in Shiganshina, unaware of the extent of the conflict happening around him. Attack on Titan’s existential themes may overwhelm the Vinland Saga on paper, but the cycles of war, rage, and reconciliation are common themes for both. The difference lies in how both main characters are changed by their circumstances.
Criticism of Thorfinn has increased
Criticism of Thorfinn continued to grow after the anime aired. Now lacking the will to live, many fans hoped Thorfinn’s break from his previous rough-talking, heavy-handed personality was just temporary, but Season 2 is the opposite. Askeladd’s death left a deep mark on Thorfinn. His subsequent return in a dream is the ultimate sign that the show has really changed from the first story. While many felt this was a lure and switch from Yukimura, others asserted that the words of Thorfinn’s father, Thors, have always been at the heart of the film. Going so far as to hope for Season 2 to be the last, celebrating the Vinland Saga as a perfect story of two halves, some fans hope Thorfinn’s television journey will end here.
Unfortunately for those fans, Season 3 may be in the works, according to one of the Vinland Saga’s character designers.
Source: Anime News Network
