Askeladd is so self aware. Like the fact that he is the one who did all this to Thorfinn invalidates some of what he said from a moral or even practical standpoint. But at the end he admits that he’s just a Viking. And of course he doesn’t think a Viking should be the king of anything.
I think Askellad's frustration this episode is partially at himself, he saw what kind of man Thorfinn's dad was and he also sees how Thorfinn is stuck/stunted as this vengeful stubborn kid. He is unable to be like his dad because of Askellad. It's like Askellad failing twice in a way, he was unable to "serve Thor's" and is also the reason his kid turned out this way. Obviously there are other factors as well, Thorfinn is kinda a loss cause/annoyance for Askellad right now. So Thorfinn is just a constant reminder of his failures.
You mentioned, how he asked Askeladd to duel him with broken arm. I don't know if Thorfinn even expects to win, thought he doesn't consciousnesly realises that. I interpret it as a guilt after being shamed by Leif for abandoning his family - he needs to justify to himself why he still there - so he asks for duel, when he's clearly not in shape to fight. His life was so horrible for decade, and Thorfinn doesn't know any other way to live, that having this duels probably gives him at least some structure in life, having this twisted ritual
We could really see the difference between Askeladd's and Thorfinn's approach to revenge. Askeladd wanted Olaf dead and did everything in order to achieve that. But Thorfinn doesn't want revenge as much as he wants to prove his father wrong. He wants to prove that a real warrior could've won that fight. He doesn't understand Thor's definition of a warrior and he doesn't want to either because in his mind it was this definition of a Warrior that lead to Thor's death.
@@Lost7one When Thors threw his sword away it really clashed with Thorfinn's view of a warrior because he believes all the Viking stories about how powerful warriors defeat their foes. Thors choosing death when he could've killed all the enemies instead doesn't make sense to him and I think he wants to prove to himself that killing Askeladd's entire crew would've been the better choice, even if that meant he wouldn't have been able to protect everyone else.
I think Askeladd is low key telling Thorfinn that he's also walking through the same path that Askeladd took after he killed his dad.( Thorfinn can't see past through it )....Deep down Askellad doesn't want Thorfinn to end up like him.
Askeladd is so self aware. Like the fact that he is the one who did all this to Thorfinn invalidates some of what he said from a moral or even practical standpoint. But at the end he admits that he’s just a Viking. And of course he doesn’t think a Viking should be the king of anything.
One of my favorite moments, really brings a lot of clarity to Askellad's character. Really did the manga justice this episode.
I think Askellad's frustration this episode is partially at himself, he saw what kind of man Thorfinn's dad was and he also sees how Thorfinn is stuck/stunted as this vengeful stubborn kid. He is unable to be like his dad because of Askellad. It's like Askellad failing twice in a way, he was unable to "serve Thor's" and is also the reason his kid turned out this way. Obviously there are other factors as well, Thorfinn is kinda a loss cause/annoyance for Askellad right now. So Thorfinn is just a constant reminder of his failures.
Thorfinn never grew up...he's still a 6 yr old kid 10 yrs later.
You mentioned, how he asked Askeladd to duel him with broken arm. I don't know if Thorfinn even expects to win, thought he doesn't consciousnesly realises that. I interpret it as a guilt after being shamed by Leif for abandoning his family - he needs to justify to himself why he still there - so he asks for duel, when he's clearly not in shape to fight. His life was so horrible for decade, and Thorfinn doesn't know any other way to live, that having this duels probably gives him at least some structure in life, having this twisted ritual
We could really see the difference between Askeladd's and Thorfinn's approach to revenge. Askeladd wanted Olaf dead and did everything in order to achieve that. But Thorfinn doesn't want revenge as much as he wants to prove his father wrong. He wants to prove that a real warrior could've won that fight. He doesn't understand Thor's definition of a warrior and he doesn't want to either because in his mind it was this definition of a Warrior that lead to Thor's death.
How does he want to prove his father wrong?
@@Lost7one When Thors threw his sword away it really clashed with Thorfinn's view of a warrior because he believes all the Viking stories about how powerful warriors defeat their foes. Thors choosing death when he could've killed all the enemies instead doesn't make sense to him and I think he wants to prove to himself that killing Askeladd's entire crew would've been the better choice, even if that meant he wouldn't have been able to protect everyone else.
I think Askeladd is low key telling Thorfinn that he's also walking through the same path that Askeladd took after he killed his dad.( Thorfinn can't see past through it )....Deep down Askellad doesn't want Thorfinn to end up like him.
This episode gives me goosebumps ><
Your analysis was really good!
Thanks x3