Vinland Saga (Season 2) Episode 19: This latest episode of Vinland Saga’s second season starts the long-awaited war between King Canute and Ketil. Subsequently, the sheer difference between the two armies is readily apparent to almost everyone but Ketil himself, along with some naïve farmers. Einar and Thorfinn, who were just reunited with Leif, have a difficult decision to make regarding their dear friend Arnheid. While their decision won’t surprise anyone, it does set in motion more tragedy. Beginning the final story arc and confrontation of the season, this episode is another win for Vinland Saga.
Vinland Saga (Season 2) Episode 19 Recap:
Opening with a shot of gathered fighters, the episode shows Ketil, Thorgil, and Snake before them in the position of leaders. Fox says their forces number around three hundred and fifty, but only a hundred or so of them have any real fighting experience. He then worriedly asks Snake if they will really fight, and Snake says they will have to since Ketil wants to.
Fox inquires why so many people arrived in the first place. Snake informs him that these people owe Ketil money and that their debts would be forgiven if they battled. But they would not have gone if they had known they were going to fight King Canute beforehand. Their pride as Norse men, though, prevents them from fleeing after having assembled.
Snake continues that when there are large numbers, people believe themselves to be invincible. They think they can win, adding that it was a clever tactic not to tell them who they were fighting first, which was Thorgil’s idea as Thorgil is excited about the upcoming battle. Snake spots Thorfinn in the distance on a hill overlooking the army, who turns and leaves.
Thorfinn goes to a hut and updates Leif and his men on the situation. His men implore Leif to leave as it is too dangerous to stay. Einar and Pater are tending to a heavily injured Arnheid, who is still unconscious. Thorfinn says that they don’t want to leave Arnheid behind. He then thanks Leif for caring about him so much and tracking him down, to which a smiling Leif points out the changes Thorfinn has gone through.
Suddenly, Arnheid starts coughing but still doesn’t wake up. Pater responds to Einar’s question concerning her by saying that he cannot determine her condition until she regains consciousness and that she cannot be moved because she is pregnant. Leif decides that they will wait for a single day. However, he doesn’t elaborate on what will happen once the day is up.
Later, at a watchtower, one of the mercenaries spots King Canute’s fleet and informs Snake, who wants Ketil informed of the same. Ketil’s fighters are then seen on the beach, and just as Badger berates them for pointlessly firing arrows, Canute’s army returns fire and takes out several men, causing them to retreat. Canute’s army comes ashore. He tells Wulf to send an envoy to Ketil and await his response here, not wanting to shed blood on good land as he looks over the fields.
Ketil is furious upon hearing that King Canute will supposedly grant him and his son mercy by banishing them for ten years instead of executing them as is the norm. He rebukes his men for allowing the army to disembark as Thorgil returns with a scouting report on Canute’s men: two battleships, two cargo ships, and a hundred fighting soldiers. This causes Ketil and his men to burst into laughter, sarcastically wondering if Canute thought his mere presence would see them surrender. He then promises the one who slays Canute anything they desire.
Close to Canute’s camp, Snake and Fox are stealthily surveying the enemy forces themselves. Snake remarks on the exceptional nature of these 100 men, emphasizing that some of them are esteemed individuals known as thegns. Moreover, Snake highlights that being part of the king’s guard signifies their remarkable strength, as they were once Thorgil’s comrades. Fox bout the soldiers in white capes, and Snake reveals that they are Jomsvikings, causing Fox’s eyes to widen with fear, much to Snake’s amusement.
Snake acknowledges that their adversaries are significantly superior, making it clear that they cannot overcome them in battle. He further adds that Ketil may not comprehend this fact until they face their opponents firsthand, urging his men to flee if they desire since Canute has granted them the opportunity to do so. However, Snake acknowledges his responsibility as the commander and decides to stay, expressing his determination to protect the remaining 350 soldiers to the best of his ability.
Despite Fox suggesting tying up Ketil’s family and giving them to Canute to avoid fighting, the mercenaries doubt if they can defeat Thorgil, not to mention Iron Fist Ketil. Snake reveals that Ketil is, in fact, an impostor, as the real Iron Fist was his mentor and an older brother to him. He came to Ketil’s farm looking for a place to hide but found somebody else masquerading as him and using their same names to his advantage.
Shocking his men with this revelation, they question Snake as to how the fact isn’t widely known. Snake says he stayed on to guard the farm, and it is now time to pay them back for all the free food they gave him. He gives his men the freedom to do what they want. They choose to follow him into battle despite clearly being afraid, with Fox explaining that running away would make them the worst. Snake commands them to keep the secret of Ketil’s identity.
Ketil rides into battle on a horse as Canute watches. Subsequently, the scene changes to Thorgil explaining Canute’s army’s positions to Olmar, asking him how he would attack the king. Shooting down his response of attacking at night, Thorgil discloses that he gathered the farmers to act as a diversion for his real plan.
On the battlefield, Ketil begins the war despite Snake’s warnings of their loss, as Thorfinn watches from a distance before retreating to a cart containing Leif, Bug Eyes, Einar, and a still-unconscious Arnheid. The party leaves, and the scene transitions to a dream that Arnheid is having.
Vinland Saga (Season 2) Episode 19 Ending, Explained:
What Does Arnheid See In Her Dream?
Arnheid, fully conscious and unharmed in her dream, is seated at the back of the cart with an infant and her son Hjalti asleep in her lap as they are going through a dark forest. Hjalti looks like he did in Gardar’s dream a few episodes back. She notifies Gardar, who is driving the cart, that they are sleeping due to the cart’s swaying.
Gardar assures Arnheid that their arduous and lengthy journey is drawing to a close, and they will soon escape the gloomy forest and return to their warm, welcoming home. Catching the sight of a deer and a wolf, Arnheid remarks that life still persists amidst the darkness of this forest.
In response, Gardar halts the wagon just before reaching a well–lit area and asks Arnheid to bid farewell to those who took care of her. He adds that he will wait there with the children while she does so, and Arnheid agrees. As Arnheid awakens in reality, Einar notices her regaining consciousness immediately, and she weakly says his name.
The scene then shifts to the battlefield, where Ketil and Canute’s men clash. Canute and Wulf observe the battle from a distance, with Wulf noting the impressive resilience of the Jomsvikings. Canute determines that they can forego using the rearguard and suggests employing the second line of thegns to capture Ketil. Meanwhile, Ketil obstinately sends his fighters into the fray, commanding them not to retreat while wondering about the whereabouts of Olmar and Thorgil.
Behind Canute’s camp, in the sea, Olmar emerges from the water onto the beach and emotionally admits that he cannot emulate Thorgil. Simultaneously, Thorgil is silently closing in on Canute, poised to assassinate him as the episode concludes.
