The following contains spoilers for Vinland Saga Season 2, episode 1, "Slave", now streaming on Netflix.
After waiting for several years, Vinland Saga fans were finally able to enjoy the first episode of the second season of their beloved anime series. There was a great deal of excitement for the anime's first episode, and it wouldn't be a stretch to say that it started on a strong note.
The second season of VinlandSaga is slated for 24 episodes and will cover the entire Ketil Farm arc, which is quite different from the previous arcs.
The Beginning Of A New Story
The first episode of the second season is titled "Slave," which seems like an odd title, but as the episode moves forward, it becomes clear that the title is quite fitting. It focuses on a young man and his family. The young man is named Einar, and he lives with his mother and his sister, Rota. The three seem like a happy family, and they are dependent on land for survival. While having food, Einar talks to his mother about the past and how they were able to survive because of their father's sacrifice. Einar's mother didn't seem to be too bothered, and she told him how they haven't lost anything because they rebuilt everything that was destroyed. Einar starts looking at the fields, and he seems to agree with his mother's words.
However, the joy of Einar's family quickly changed into dread as the Vikings found their way to the small village. The trio was hiding behind some bushes, and they watched raiders murder and burn everything that they could get their hands on. While her children were still startled, Einar's mother decided to make a decision. She told them that they would run into the forest without stopping. Not long after they had started to run, an arrow came out of nowhere and pierced the back of Einar's mother.
Rota kept on running, but Einar stopped to pick up their injured mother. After hearing Einar's scream, Rota expeditiously made her way back to the scene. After seeing their mother's condition, Rota fell to her knees. Despite being on the cusp of death, their mother got up and told Einar to run away. Sadly, it was too late, as the pillagers had found Einar and Rota. They wasted no time in taking away Rota, and when Einar tried to fight back, they knocked him out with a single hit. Rota couldn't stand to see her brother being hit, so she used her hairpin to stab the person carrying her. Before Rota could even complete her sentence, one of the criminals killed her. After losing Rota, Einar sank deeper into despair, but he was powerless to do anything, and he ended up being taken away by the raiders.
Captured
As the episode continues, Einar is seen on a ship with other slaves who are going to be sold. One of the women on the ship seemed sick, so Einar called for help. After completing their inspection, the traders decide to throw her into the water. Once again, Einar can't do anything but watch helplessly. When the traders arrive at their destination, they start grooming the slaves so that they look presentable and attract more buyers. As they are lined up the next day, Einar runs away, but he is caught and beaten up by one of the traders.
He is thrown on the ground before the other slaves, and the trader tells them that if they run away, they will have to deal with poverty and other problems. However, if they are bought by a good person, they will have a decent life. Hearing these words, Einar begins to realize his blunder and agrees that it is his only option. The next day, Leif Ericson comes to the traders' camp, where he starts to inquire about Thorfinn, only to leave disappointed. Seeing Leif's efforts makes Einar think that Thorfinn is a lucky person. Following Leif's departure, Einar is purchased by a serious-looking man who wants help with his farm. With no other option, Einar leaves.
​​​​​​The First Meeting
When Einar arrived at his buyer's farm, he was baffled by its vastness. For a few minutes, he lost his ability to discern things and just admired its beauty. As Einar continued to walk, his buyer began to call out Thorfinn's name. It took Einar some time to remember that he had heard the name somewhere.
When Thorfinn walked out, he looked completely different from the last time fans saw him. Thorfinn had his hair open, and his height also increased. The episode ended before Thorfinn and Einar could talk, which was a bit disappointing. However, there are still over 20 episodes left before the season concludes. Overall, the episode was great, and it did an excellent job of demonstrating how difficult it was to live a normal life back in those days. It also helped viewers to learn about Einar's past, which will come in handy as the story moves forward.