You can really tell just how much genuine passion Makoto Yukimura (the original author) has for this period of history as well as the stories and figures that occupied it. Also as a Brit it's nice to see something that really digs deep into the rich history of invasion, occupation and coexistence along with the religious division, intolerance but also compromise we have.
you watching all the good anime's in a row rn w selections. You must watch Code Geass Lelouch of the rebellion there are two seasons and in lot of people's top 10.
I really appreciate that you stop from time to time to show us the map. On my 2nd watch of this anime, I kept a map handy, and it added more depth & perspective to many of the events. Great addition to your reactions!
Stuff I've found while looking up incidents at the London Bridge. "In 1013, Sweyn Forkbeard again invaded England, perhaps to punish Thorkell for his desertion. This time, the countryside submitted to him. Only London, where both Æthelred and Thorkell were confined, held out. When the Vikings attacked the town, "many of his host were drowned in the Thames because they did not trouble to find a bridge." Gotta love the little nuggets of real world history in here. Fascinating stuff.
Just like we had the 2012 Mayan prediction of the end of the world, which maybe few people believed (most didn't), people often don't realize that these sort of "end of the world" predictions were very common throughout history. Just the Christians alone had like 50 predicted "ends of the world" that many people believed and these were also often endorsed bu Church itself. This specific end of the world that Askelad is mentioning in the episode was predicted for 1033 AD, since it would be 1000 years since death of Jesus (or so they thought, even though Today we think he wasn't likely born exactly in the year 1 BC). Thorfin, who has no concept of Christianity, understands it through Norse paganism as Ragnarök. Which is not exactly what Askelad was talking about, but close enough. The way this show shows interactions of character from different religious and ethnic background is really interesting and obviously well researched. When you compare it with other, western TV shows about this period, they seem like they were written by a 3 year old by comparison. Just a bunch of weirdos running around with biker jackets and acting cliche.
I think what I've heard about the more unbelievable action aspects in the otherwise grounded show that vinland is, is that it's not just for the purpose of anime fight logic, but to mirror the actual viking sagas and match the grandiosity that they'd speak about their feats in battle with. Obviously in part it is just cause it's cool and anime plays well to those kinds of fights, but it's cool that there is an actual link to historical texts, the same way the vikings made theirs grand and unrealistic like fighting bears and throwing felled trees, the anime lets thorkell be thorkell and the other main characters be almost perfect in most of their combat.
If you are looking for some shorter, already finished anime to get into after this I recommend: -Cowboy Bebop (26 eps, adult sci fi, one of the goats of 90’s anime) -Gurren Lagann (27 eps, mecha shonen, probably the most “anime” show on this list. But has a lot of heart) -Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (64 eps, universally loved, a great starting series for newer anime fans, finds a balance between silly anime stuff and the serious philosophical stuff)
I have a very very cool excuse for over exaggeration. The name of the show is Vinland Saga. The Saga, that had been told by Torfin and retold by other people (like Leif was telling stories of his journeys to the kids in the first episode). When you tell a story, you over exaggerate sometimes, to emphasize things 😇 The way i see it, we are not watching what is happening, but more like we are watching the story, that is exaggerated here and there 😊
Honestly, I think these are the greatest reactions to Vinland Saga out there. The way you include your dive into the history behind these little arcs is incredible... These reactions have been really engaging both from the story and you the reactor.
I am begging HBO to do a live action of this show it would be huge and fits in their library of dramatic narratives. I would only ask that they work with the manga creator and use the music from Yutaka Yamada.
i think you would really appreciate anime like monster or death note because they are sort of similar to vinland in the way that they present themselves.
The way I interpret people lifting boulders, leaping immense distances, etc is that... It's an anime, duh. But more importantly the name of it is Vindland Saga, and if you've ever read a Saga from nordic mythology you'll understand that over exaggerating stories was common in the various Scandinavian cultures of the time. It's like any myth though, like Hercules and his trials he tackled. What happens in the story may be real! But there are small dashes of over exaggeration, cultural iconography, and religious motifs. BUT I cannot wait for you to hit season 2, the themes, the character developments, the new characters and struggles Thorfinn faces. I feel like you totally wont see the change between the two seasons coming.
I love your explanation of the show being measured and realistic. Like you said it still has the classic anime troop of exaggerating certain human capabilities but it doesn't go too over board. It's enough to add more excitement while still feeling somewhat within the realm of possibility.
