Vinland Saga has entered its second cour, and there has been no change in the quality of the series. It is still as good as the first half, if not better. It's no secret that things are different in the second season of the anime, and mainly it's because of the change in Thorfinn's nature. The once-proud warrior was left distraught after Askeladd's death.
Considering Thorfinn had made killing Askeladd his life's goal, it's not surprising that he suffered a mental shock. Thorfinn was robbed of an opportunity to avenge his father, who died at the hands of Askeladd and his mercenaries. The second part of Thorfinn's life has been quite different. He became a slave to a wealthy man named Ketil. There was very limited information available regarding Ketil's life, but as the story continued, it became clear that there was something wrong with the man.
Iron Fist Ketil
Ketil was known by many people on the farm as "Iron Fist" Ketil. This epithet was apparently given to him during his days as a warrior. Due to this reason, Ketil was deeply respected by everyone. The fans were also in awe of the fact that he used to be a legendary warrior. But there were certain things that seemed amiss. For example, Ketil seemed to lack confidence, which was odd considering he was a great fighter. When Snake caught the two young children who had been stealing from the farm, Ketil engaged in an inner monologue. He kept saying that why couldn't the children just stay away from the farm or steal from someone else?
When Olmar and Thorgil slaughtered Canute's guards, Ketil was horrified. He couldn't believe his eyes when he saw that his sons were responsible for the bloodbath. Ketil was scared for his own life, and he couldn't discern the situation. As the story moved forward, it was confirmed that Ketil had taken the identity of another person. He knew that he had to act tough in order to survive in the world of the Vikings.
Ketil's Malevolent Side
Ketil maintained a calm demeanor most of the time, but there were certain situations where he showed his heinous side. When he found out that Arnhied had tried to run away with her husband, Ketil lost his temper. He was so furious that he beat her up within an inch of her life. It was truly horrifying to see Ketil do such a brutal thing.
If Ketil was truly a fierce warrior, Canute wouldn't have tried to take away his farm. Canute would have thought twice before attacking the real Ketil's farm. Given the fact that Ketil used the legendary warrior's name to acquire wealth by deceit, it made sense for Canute to go after Ketil's farm and use it for his country.
Impact On The Story
Ketil's inability to control his emotions makes him a dangerous person. There is no way of telling how he will react in a particular situation. Despite his shortcomings, Ketil makes for an excellent antagonist in the story. Ketil's well-mannered side enabled him to establish a farm that produced an incredible amount of yield every single year. Most of the farmhands and all the other people who live on Ketil's land appear to be happy. This is hardly surprising, as he normally comes off as a gentle soul.
Ketil's need to steal the name of a mighty warrior highlights the problems faced by people living in the age of the Vikings. They had to pretend that they were strong and dependable so that the other people wouldn't stomp on them. Being bought by Ketil changed Thorfinn's life, as he learned many valuable lessons while living on the former's farm. Needless to say, without Ketil's kindness, Thorfinn would have never met Einar. So, even though Ketil is a horrible human, he definitely played an important role in Thorfinn's life.