Askeladd is still considered the best character in the series.
Spoilers ahead!
Summary:
- Thorfinn and Askeladd have a very complex relationship.
- For Thorfinn, Askeladd is both a foster father figure and someone to take revenge on.
- Askeladd’s mindset influenced Thorfinn’s character development.
Vinland Saga is first and foremost a character drama. The anime follows Thorfinn’s life, and is essentially a story of him (eventually) getting to Vinland — a semi-mythical land located in North America.
However, it takes a long time for the series to get there, and the currently released two seasons didn’t even get to Vinland yet. However, despite that, the first two major arcs are still great.
While the second arc/season is praised for its character development for Thorfinn, the first one sets the foundation for that. And the reason for that is the unique character dynamic between Thorfinn and Askeladd.
The Relationship Between the Two
Askeladd is the killer of Thorfinn’s father, Thors. He later takes Thorfinn himself as a student, and their relationship is… rocky at best. Thorfinn, of course, wants vengeance, while Askeladd constantly taunts him — but that’s only to make him stronger.
Askeladd hates the Norse raiders, but admits he himself is no better. Deep down, he actually regrets killing Thors, as he respected the man for his ideals. Still, during the time when the series took place (medieval ages), such idealism was hopeless at best.
Thorfinn will see Askeladd die — although not by his own hand. Askeladd is killed by Canute, who becomes the king. In his dying moments, Askeladd confronts Thorfinn, and this shows how he cared about him deep down — even though he didn’t actually show it.
Askeladd is a very complex character, and his relationship with Thorfinn shows it. Despite his death at the end of the first arc of the series, he continues to influence the protagonist and his ideals.
How This Influenced the Series
This relationship between the two is complex, and interesting on multiple layers. It shows how they both are traumatized by their past deep down, and how both of them sacrifice certain things. Askeladd became a father figure for Thorfinn, while also giving him a goal and a reason to live.
In the second arc, we see Thorfinn adopting a new outlook at life, as he despises violence. Askeladd, while a leader of a band of warriors, also despised violence, although he still used it to achieve his own goals.
This was the reason behind Thorfinn’s development, and it just shows how important one character can be even after their death.