‘Vinland Saga: Season 2’ Episode 1 Recap & Ending Explained: Where Is Thorfinn?

Welcome to the Ending Explained for Vinland Saga Season 2. In this opportunity, Mappa takes on the role of animation studio and promises to deliver another fantastic season of television. The second season of Vinland Saga, of course, plays as a continuation of the first one, where we followed the character of Thorfinn in his quest for revenge against his father’s killer. We also saw got a glimpse of one of his other motivations, to settle in a land where no war or suffering exists, a place called Vinland.

At the end of the first season, we saw how Thorfinn managed to get captured and sold as a slave. His destination is unknown. Askeladd is dead, which is a triumph, but Thorfinn never discovered who really was the one who gave the order for his father’s death, a man named Floki. Askeladd also killed the king in the previous season, which allowed Canute to become the new king. Now the second season slips into an entirely new territory, both figuratively and physically, as we get stories with new characters and also explore new locations.

The following paragraphs contain spoilers for Vinland Saga Season 2, episode 1, titled “Slave.” Read at your own risk.

Who Is Einar, And Why Is He Taken As A Slave?

The episode begins by giving us its title, which is “Slave” this opens up an entire can of worms that is often not talked about in current history conversations. When talking about slavery, most conversations deal with the slave trade that was performed between the European states and the African states. The racial component becomes a very important and dominant element in conversations about the subject. Many people believe that slavery only came about as a result of racism, as a product of the hate that white people have against black people.

However, it is known that the trade of slaves between the Scandinavian states was rampant. In this case, as all the people involved were white, the subject of slavery simply results in the submission of the other, no matter the color of their skin. One person, from one place, puts the boot on another one. It is here that Season 2 begins with the introduction of a character named Einar. He lives on a beautiful farm with his mother and sister. It seems that some time ago the farm was destroyed but by working hard, Einar and his family have managed to rebuild it.

The good things don’t last, though, and soon Einar’s region is attacked by Vikings. Slavers, to be more precise. They kill, destroy the farms, burn the buildings, and capture people. Their objective is to capture as many people as possible and then sell them for a profit. It is truly some nasty business. Einar, his mother, and his sister try to escape, but an arrow hits his mother, and she falls to the ground. It is revealed that Einar knows very little about war or combat.

Einar is frozen in place, and he cannot act. The slavers arrive at his position, and his mother hits Einar to snap him out of his shock. She makes him promise that he will live and that he will start a new life somewhere and be happy. It all seems just like a dream right now. Einar’s mother dies, and the slavers pick up his sister, Lotta. Lotta manages to stab one of the slavers, but she is killed in return. Einar spans and tries to fight, but he is knocked unconscious. The next time he wakes up, he will be a free man no more.

Where Is Thorfinn?

We continue to follow the story from Einar’s point of view. We see him and other slaves being transported by ship. A terrible storm is raging around the tiny boat, and a woman is suffering on the ground, ill with some sickness. The slavers arrive, and a concerned Einar tries to help. However, the slavers come to the conclusion that the woman will not survive the journey. They pick her up and then throw her overboard. Einar is shocked by the disregard of the slavers in the face of human life, but he is quickly reminded that he is only a slave now.

Einar arrives at the market, where he and others will be sold alongside food, animals, and other goods. For the slavers, they are not humans anymore. Einar catches a moment when he is not being seen and tries to escape. However, he doesn’t know where he is, this land is completely unknown to him. Einar tries to steal food from a house, but he is quickly discovered, and the slavers catch up to him. He is beaten and put on display in front of the other slaves. A message is sent: don’t run; there is no escape. Find a good master and live the best life you can.

Einar internalizes this message and he accepts his place. Einar is fit and healthy, but not many people seem to be interested in him. It is here that we see Leif Ericson. The old explorer is taken to Einar, but he was hoping to find Thorfinn. Eric has been searching for Thorfinn since the moment he was taken, and the clues have led him to this market. Leif leaves disappointed to continue his search, but Einar thinks that whoever this Thorfinn is, he is a very lucky man as he has someone looking for him. Einar realizes that, unlike Thorfinn, he is all alone.

However, at that moment, a big blonde man appears in front of Einar and inspects him. The man asks where was Einar from and what did he do before being a slave. Einar answers in a monotone voice that he is from Northern England and that he is a farmer. The man gets excited with these answers, and he asks Einar if he would like to help on his farm. Einar also becomes excited, the expectation of going back to work doing what he loves fills him with the hope that he might have a good life after all.

Einar arrives at the man’s farm, and Einar is shocked at how big and beautiful it is. He is without words. The man then leads him to another slave who is cutting trees. This other slave is Thorfinn. Einar recognizes the name after having heard it from Leif’s mouth. This is the moment where these two characters will start a relationship that will shape the rest of the series moving forward.