Vinland Saga (Season 2 Finale) Episode 24: Recap & Ending, Explained: Concluding Vinland Saga’s second season, this episode is a markedly low–key affair, injecting some comedy and lighter moments into what has been a very dark, serious storyline so far. Thorfinn is brought home after a long time by Leif, and reactions to his reappearance vary from person to person, but the man himself does not intend to stay for too long.
Instead, he wants to start preparing right away for his journey to the fabled Vinland, which will no doubt be the focus of future seasons. The second season, though, has been a great one, accomplishing everything it set out to with a greater focus on Thorfinn’s and Canute’s character development rather than action scenes. Einar is a great addition as well, voicing the common man in all these struggles. Given the strength of the first two seasons and their popularity, fans will be eagerly awaiting a third season.
Vinland Saga (Season 2 Finale) Episode 24 Recap:
Beginning sometime after the group has departed the farm, they have almost reached Thorfinn’s village in Iceland. Einar, who is visiting for the first time, finds it to be very cold and understands why there is not much farming, owing to the low sun, short day, and cold climate. Leif explains that since it is winter now, the day is shorter, but the days are much longer in the summer, and people even grow wheat then, but it is far from enough to feed the entire island.
Continuing to ask questions out of curiosity, Einar asks if everyone on the island is a shepherd or something similar. Leif says that there are craftsmen and fishermen, too, as there are not enough fields for everyone to have livestock. All of this surprises Thorfinn, which in turn surprises Einar since Thorfinn should have known all of this, being a local. Thorfinn points out that he left when he was just six years old and cannot say how long he has been gone for, nor can he remember his exact age, leaving him befuddled.
After reaching the village and disembarking, the villagers they meet seem to not remember Thorfinn or the fact that his older sister Ylva had a younger brother. They find it suspicious and wonder if they should tie him up when Thorfinn cannot remember them either, but he asks them to cut him some slack since it has been so long. Leif is amused by the whole situation.
Going to Ylva, who is furious at a merchant for his shady business and overcharging, Leif calls out to her and points out Thorfinn as her younger brother. Rushing forward to hug her, Thorfinn is kicked in the face instead, as Ylva says she does not know anyone by that name. Leif reminds her of her little brother, and Ylva admits that he was called Thorfinn, but he died when he was a child, despite Leif saying he met him several years ago in York. Ylva thinks it is a story Leif made up out of kindness for her and her mother’s sake and thanks him before getting upset with Thorfinn for trying to scam Leif.
Later on, Leif tells a depressed Thorfinn that they should go to his house next as his mother Helga will surely remember him. Thorfinn states that he himself barely recalls his family, so it adds up that they might have forgotten him too. Bug–Eyes tries to cheer up Thorfinn by reminding him that he is fortunate to still have a family at all, as his own family’s whereabouts are unknown. He concludes by asking if he should play the role of the returning son, but Thorfinn thanks him and decides to go home.
At his home, Helga is stunned at the doorstop and Bug–Eyes pretends to be Thorfinn, only to be scolded for joking in poor taste. Helga, though, identifies Thorfinn immediately and cups his cheek, crying in joy, and says that he has grown up to look like his father, Thors. Moved, Thorfinn also begins to cry and apologizes to his mother for all that he has done.
Moving inside, a short time passes, and Ari (who has now married Ylva) returns home, having heard rumors of Thorfinn’s return. He embraces Thorfinn and apologizes to him for Thors’s death. Einar, seeing all these emotional reunions, decides to leave to give them privacy but is stopped by Helga, who tells him to stay the night as he is her son if he is Thorfinn’s brother.
Ylva returns home and is angered to see Thorfinn there playing with her children, but Helga stops her from attacking Thorfinn and confirms that it really is her younger brother. Surprised for a moment, Ylva then gets angry again, punching Thorfinn in the face and asking where he has been for all these years. Barely conscious, Thorfinn assures a worried Einar that he is alright, before falling unconscious.
Once the children are asleep that night, Thorfinn begins to tell his family all that has happened since he left, beginning with Thors’s death and ending with the departure from the farm.
Vinland Saga (Season 2 Finale) Episode 24 Ending, Explained:
How Does Thorfinn’s Family React to His Story?
Though he spoke calmly and summarized events, everyone was left speechless upon hearing all that he had done and all that he had been through over the years. Thorfinn is of the opinion that his sins are great and that he has to go to Vinland to create a peaceful land, free of war and slavery.
Surprisingly, his mother, Helga, agrees and tells him to do just that. She uses the example of herself and his father, Thors, both of whom wanted to escape Jomsborg, the city of Viking warriors. She feels that there are many people who want to escape their lot in the world and that Vinland can be a place for them.
While acknowledging Thorfinn’s determination to go to Vinland, Leif points out that he will need funds for new ships, manpower, materials, and more, which will be difficult, but not so difficult with his help. Thorfinn thanks him for volunteering to help.
After the family meeting has ended, Thorfinn goes to pay his respects at the escaped slave’s grave that his father had saved many years ago. Einar arrives, too, asking him about the grave, and Thorfinn explains that it was a dying slave’s grave who was saved by Thors in exchange for eight sheep. Considering it a high price, Einar then says that Thorfinn got his kindness from his father and heads back inside, finding it too cold outside.
Left alone there, Thorfinn then sees a vision of his child self who asks him where the people who wish to run away will go. On his other side, his father, Thors, appears and claps him on the shoulder, saying that he knows the answer already. The vision, then, sees them in a large, golden wheat field, and the episode ends with this shot.
