Canute’s rise to the top continues in Vinland Saga Season 2 Episode 11. Let’s see how far he is willing to go and the levels he is willing to sink in this review!
Vinland Saga Season 2 Episode 11 Overview
Vinland Saga Season 2 is an action, adventure, and drama that serves as the sequel to its highly acclaimed and fan favourite Vinland Saga Season 1, which aired in 2019. The series is based on an award-winning manga written by Makoto Yukimura. Read the review of the previous episode of the series here!
The show’s second season is being animated by Studio MAPPA, a different studio that the one which did its previous season in Studio WIT. However, most of the personnel behind the series have been retained. Director Shuuhei Yabuta, of Inuyashiki and Attack On Titan fame, is returning to direct the series.
– Vinland Saga Season 2 Episode 11 Review does not contain spoilers –
Vinland Saga Season 2 Episode 11 Review- Kings And Swords
The story of getting corrupted by power is as old as the medium of storytelling itself. Some interpretations of ‘The Epic Of Gilgamesh” deem him a good person who got corrupted by power and who sees the right of way when somebody close to him passes away. While Vinland Saga is telling a similar kind of story right now, the origins of Canute and Gilgamesh couldn’t be more different. For one, killing somebody close to him is one of Canute’s first acts on his journey.
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He has been walking a path that he might not be able to redeem himself from, which brings him closer and closer to meeting Thorfinn again. Thorfinn’s reaction when he discovers that Canute is the reason he might not be receiving freedom from his slavery and that he is currently on the same path as his terrible father is going to be interesting. Thorfinn was once again absent from this episode, but only physically. A lot of the plot in this one is focused on him and somebody who is still looking for him.
It is hard not to feel affection for Leif after all this time. It has been literal years since he last saw him and got rejected by him, but Leif still hasn’t given up the prospect of bringing Thorfinn back to his family as he promised Thors. He is old and wrinkly now, but his eyes still gleam every time he hears the name “Thorfinn”, which has led him to rescue quite a few other children named Thorfinn. That is a very sweet background story to give to him at this point and displays that despite not being on the screen that often, he is still diligently working towards his goal of getting that boy back.
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The Ketil family drama in Vinland Saga Season 2 Episode 11 served as a means to an end but wasn’t a particularly engaging watch. All three family members aren’t particularly interesting and annoying in some way or another. They aren’t bad if a little plain as plot devices go. However, their significance in a show of this kind isn’t apparent, and one wonders if what these characters have been able to achieve this far would have been better served by using different kinds of characters.
Vinland Saga Season 2 Episode 11 wasn’t a particularly special episode in any way. It furthered Canute’s story a bit and expanded upon what Leif has been up to, alongside the socio-political climate of Denmark at the time. Things are being set up that will create massive waves towards the second half of the season, but there’s not much to be excited about at this point. This was always going to be a slow and purposeful journey, and the show has always been good about payoffs.
Verdict
Vinland Saga Season 2 Episode 11 was a setup episode for major things to come. It was relatively slow and uneventful, but still, a pleasure to watch.
Click here to read the review of the next episode!