Vinland Saga (Season 2) Episode 18: In the latest episode of Vinland Saga, we see Ketil and his sons finally return to the farm as the slaves, Arnheid in particular, face the consequences of their actions in the last few episodes leading to one of the most disturbing sequences in the entire series. Simultaneously showcasing their punishment which understandably took center stage while also advancing the plot enough and having characters reflect on recent events, was a tricky balance, but Vinland Saga pulled it off. The impending war against King Canute will be the focus moving forward, with fans eagerly awaiting the next episode.
Vinland Saga (Season 2), Episode 18 Recap:
The episode opens with King Canute’s fleet sailing towards Ketil’s farm, with Wulf saying that if they continue to have favorable winds, they should reach there within two to three days. Floki finds it difficult to believe that Canute himself is going to the countryside, with Wulf reminding him that retainers should not question their king. Floki, in turn, responds by saying that he is more of an ally and not a retainer of the king.
Canute, looking out to sea, asks the two if he thinks that Ketil will resist them, and Wulf replies by bringing to his attention the fact that he was known as “Iron Fist Ketil” due to his might on the battlefield. However, Canute says he didn’t seem like a hardened warrior to him, also saying that human lives are a valuable resource that he doesn’t want to waste.
Wondering if this was why King Canute was going in person, Floki says that Ketil should be made an example of, with Canute promising not to go easy on them should they resist. Hearing this, the decapitated head of his father, King Sweyn, laughs as Canute says the land they seek is still far away.
At the small dock of Ketil’s farm, the workers think Ketil has returned, but Thorgil disembarks first and throws a barrel at them, which breaks, revealing a distressed Ketil inside. Thorgil tells them to give his father some alcohol and take him to bed while telling them that the enemy is coming and it is time to prepare for war; the workers clearly do not share Thorgil’s enthusiasm, instead showing worry and asking questions.
Thorgil tells Leaf to talk to Ketil about their deal since he has to prepare for the war and takes Olmar with him, saying this could be the latter’s first and last battle, given who their enemy is. Given that this is Olmar’s long-held desire to go to war, he expects Olmar to be excited and eager, but he just looks solemn, showing no reaction.
As Leif’s crew reminds Ketil about their deal, he instead goes looking for Arnheid while Snake’s mercenaries are discussing the coming war and Thorgil wanting to fix the walls of their fort, which they can’t due to lack of time and human resources. Thorgil is keeping the enemy’s identity to himself and will reveal it only once they have gathered their forces. Fox points out that they can’t win no matter who the enemy is since they don’t have enough experienced warriors, adding that Gardar killed five of their men.
Thorfinn and Einar, who are tied to poles and restrained for their actions, wonder why the mercenaries seem so agitated. Einar asks Thorfinn what he thinks Arnheid’s punishment for trying to escape with Gardar will be, and Thorfinn says a lot of lives were lost during the attempt. Einar knows that Ketil loves Arnheid and hopes he will be lenient towards her, as Thorfinn points out that she is also carrying his child.
As Einar continues to hope for her safety, Thorfinn apologizes for failing. Still, Einar says he needn’t apologize and that he tried his best, even going back on his vow of nonviolence to help Arnheid and Gardar. Einar concludes by saying that sometimes people have no choice but to fight, and thanks Thorfinn.
In response, Thorfinn says he likes Snake, who is a kind, rational man whom he didn’t want to fight at all, and Gardar died because of that. Prefacing his next statement by saying he isn’t smart, so can’t phrase it well, but there had to be a better way to go about everything, asking if so many lives had to be lost. He then asks if he had even looked for an alternate answer to the problem, but Einar tells him there wasn’t one in this case, and Snake couldn’t back down himself since many of his men were killed. Even then, Thorfinn says, violence should be a last resort.
Thorfinn continues wondering what the best course of action would have been and where it all began. He wishes he knew how to choose the best way, saying that no one in the world deserves to be hurt, and Einar agrees with him.
Meanwhile, Ketil reaches his home, looking for and calling out to Arnheid, but she isn’t there as he ignores his wife, who reveals that Arnheid had tried to escape in his absence, bringing him up to speed on what had happened. Ketil is shocked, to say the least, and despairingly questions why everything is slipping from his grasp.
At the mercenary fort, Snake refuses to let Leif see Thorfinn, even to identify him, without permission from Ketil. As Leif departs, he apologizes to Pater for troubling him to show them around the farm, who in turn apologizes but asks if he has extra funds to buy more slaves. He says Einar and Thorfinn should be fine as Ketil always keeps his word, but Arnheid will be harder, asking Leif if he would be willing to purchase two slaves besides Thorfinn.
Elsewhere, Arnheid is revealed to be tied up in the stables under the watchful eye of one of the mercenaries, who are angry with Arnheid for her actions, especially since he believes that she will get off light as Ketil adores her. He continues in a similar vein for a while, only to be interrupted by a stern Ketil carrying a large stick.
Vinland Saga (Season 2), Episode 18 Ending Explained:
What does Ketil do to Arnheid?
Ketil sends the mercenary away, saying he has business with Arnheid. He asks her if it is true that she tried to escape from him and why she would do it, but she doesn’t respond. Ketil then hits her with the stick, and she cries out in pain. He keeps talking in a one-sided fashion and hitting her, declaring that he won’t let anyone, not even her, take away his pride.
As he carries on beating her, Arnheid finally speaks, saying that he shouldn’t hit her stomach since she is pregnant with his child. She begs him to stop, reiterating it is Ketil’s child since he asked her and telling him to trust her, but Ketil tearfully continues beating her, saying that she is the only one he trusts. Ketil continues hitting her with the stick as he wonders what it means to trust someone and what he himself should believe.
Continually beating her, a flashback briefly shows viewers some important yet sad moments from his past, all about the girl he once loved. He keeps thrashing her, calling her a thief, and saying those who helped her were thieves as well, vowing that they will pay for it all.
Snake shows up and stops him as Pater and Leif watch on, saying that flogging is an appropriate punishment considering Arnheid’s crimes but continuing from this point on will kill her. If he wants to kill her, Snake will let him continue as she is his slave, and Ketil finally lets go of the stick, telling Pater to tend to Arnheid’s wounds. He also refuses to sell Arnheid to Leif, saying that while he can take Thorfinn and Arnheid wherever he wants, Arnheid belongs to him.
Later, Thorfinn, Einar, and Leif are looking at an unconscious and heavily injured Arnheid, and Einar is furious. Pater is unsure if she will live as she still hasn’t woken up. Elsewhere, Ketil is still talking about thieves and how everything he has nurtured and cherished is about to be stolen from him as Thorgil is seen preparing for war and ignores his son. Instead, he goes into a hut and draws a sword, saying that even the king won’t go unpunished as the episode ends.
