Vinland Saga season 2 episode 18: Love and rage's common ground on full display as Ketil beats Arnheid ahead of Thorfinn and Einar's freedom

Vinland Saga season 2 episode 18 was released on Monday, May 8, 2023, bringing with it an incredibly harrowing and simultaneously captivating installment of the series. As many expect, Ketil and co finally returned home to the farm, where the fallout of Gardar's arrival and preparation for Canute's forces were instantly put on display.

Likewise, the episode focused heavily on Ketil, Arnheid, Thorfinn, and Einar, with these four being at the center of the season's most recent cataclysmic series of events. While Vinland Saga season 2 episode 18 is a hard watch at times for this very reason, it does not cease to captivate and engage viewers.

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Vinland Saga season 2 episode 18 set to go down as one of the best and most harrowing episodes in the series

Vinland Saga season 2 episode 18: Home sweet home

Vinland Saga season 2 episode 18 begins with a focus on Canute and his forces, who are still sailing to Ketil's farm in favorable winds. Should the winds continue to be favorable, they expect to arrive at the farm in two to three days. Floki comments on how unbelievable it is that Canute is handling this personally, while Wulf reminds Floki that Canute has a well-thought-out plan.

Wulf reminds Floki that liegemen shouldn't question their King's decisions, with Floki in turn reminding Wulf that he's not quite Canute's subordinate. Canute asks them if they think Ketil and his family will oppose them, prompting Wulf and Floki to share tales they've heard of Ketil's might.

Vinland Saga season 2 episode 18 sees Canute comment on how he didn't get that feeling from Ketil, adding it would be best for him and his family to submit so they don't waste assets. Floki questions if this is why Canute is going in person, adding that they should be made an example out of for committing an outrage against the King in the first place.

Canute says that if they don't yield, he plans to show no mercy, while the disembodied ethereal head of King Sweyn laughs from a dark corner of the boat. Canute comments on how despite their tailwind, the land they seek is far ahead, with massive waves standing in front of it. The episode then goes into its opening thematic sequence.

Vinland Saga season 2 episode 18 then shows that Ketil and co have finally returned home, with fans seeing them docking at the harbor for the farm. Others present comment on how they thought Ketil had returned, but it's just Thorgil. Thorgil then takes the barrel with Ketil inside and hurls it at the retainers, where it breaks on a rock and unveils a traumatized Ketil.

Thorgil tells them to give Ketil a stiff drink and let him sleep while telling the retainers that this is no time to hang fish to dry with war on the horizon. Thorgil is clearly excited as he shares this, but the others don't seem to share his sentiment, immediately becoming concerned with who their enemy is, when they'll arrive, and what happened to Ketil.

Vinland Saga season 2 episode 18 sees Leif Ericson's men try and conclude their deal with Thorgil, but he tells them to talk to Ketil about it since he's busy. Thorgil then tells Olmar to stick by him and learn to fight since it's his first battle, before adding that it may be their last one considering who their enemy is.

Thorgil asks Olmar if he's pleased to finally get what he wants, but Olmar looks anything but happy at the moment. Leif's crew then asks Ketil about their deal, reminding him about buying their cargo at triple the market price. All Ketil says in response is Arnheid's name, seemingly longing for his concubine.

Vinland Saga season 2 episode 18 sees Ketil get up and walk off after this, while Leif's crew calls out to him. Meanwhile, Snake's mercenaries are discussing the looming battle, as well as Thorgil's orders to repair the fortress walls. The men point out how a few days aren't enough time to get them in fighting shape, before discussing how their enemy will be told to them once the soldiers are gathered.

Fox says it doesn't matter, since they can't win no matter what due to not having enough men in fighting shape. Vinland Saga season 2 episode 18 sees him reference the men Gardar killed as the focus shifts to a nearby and captive Einar and Thorfinn, who are questioning what the mercenaries are so upset about.

Einar then wonders what Arnheid's punishment for attempted escape will be, asking Thorfinn if he thinks she'll be punished. Thorfinn simply points out how a lot of people died, while Einar reminds him that Ketil adores Arnheid. Einar shares hope that Ketil won't be too hard on her, with Thorfinn adding that she is pregnant with his child.

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Vinland Saga season 2 episode 18: Another way

Vinland Saga season 2 episode 18 sees Einar hang his head and hope for her safety, while Thorfinn apologizes. Einar then says that Thorfinn has nothing to apologize for since he even broke his oath to help Arnheid and Gardar. Einar adds that sometimes one has to fight before thanking his friend.

Thorfinn responds by saying he likes Snake, calling him a kind and principled man. He even says he didn't want to fight Snake, and he let Gardar die in the end as a result. Warning that he's stupid so he doesn't know how to phrase it, Thorfinn questions if there was a better way, and if so, many people had to get hurt and lose their lives.

Vinland Saga season 2 episode 18 even sees Thorfinn question if he himself explored a way to avoid such bloodshed, with Einar responding that there wasn't one. With the casualties involving Snake's men, he couldn't back down either. Thorfinn responds that violence should be a last resort, still wondering what the best option was in the end.

He also asks what should've been tried first, explaining that he wants to learn how to find a non-violent method of resolution, what he calls "that first method" here. Thorfinn adds that no one deserves to be hurt, with Einar saying he's right. The episode then shows Ketil arriving home, still as horrified as he was when he was last seen.

Vinland Saga season 2 episode 18 sees him call out to Arnheid as he enters his home, asking her where she is. He enters his bedroom but is still unable to find her, eventually returning outside to look for her there. He finds his wife here, ignoring her comments as he walks by without a word.

Ketil enters a nearby shack and calls out to Arnheid, with his wife sighing in response before explaining that she’s been tied up and thrown in the stable. This shocks Ketil back to life, as his wife explains that Arnheid caused trouble while he was gone. She shares that she was plotting to escape, calling her a "truly ungrateful slave" as Ketil questions the use of the word escape.

Vinland Saga season 2 episode 18 sees him question this fact once more, prompting his wife to explain that her old husband Gardar came to the farm and led her away. This resulted in the deaths of many mercenaries, as well as two other male slaves assisting them. She tells him that he will have to address this matter, while Ketil can only repeat the word escape.

He then questions why everything keeps slipping from his grasp, repeating the word escape as he speaks and questions this reality. The episode then shifts back to the mercenary camp, where Snake is telling Leif and co that they can't permit him to see Thorfinn. Leif promises that it's true and Ketil promised to free Thorfinn, adding that he'd at least like to confirm that this Thorfinn is who he's looking for.

Vinland Saga season 2 episode 18 sees Snake say he can't allow this until Ketil confirms the story. Leif says he understands, before departing to go speak with Ketil. Leif apologizes to Pater here for bothering him while he's so busy, with the latter responding that he doesn't mind showing Leif around.

However, something is clearly bothering him, which Leif asks about. Pater explains that he's the only one he can go to with this as an outsider, asking if he has the funds handy to purchase a slave. Leif says he has some of the funds while emphasizing that he was told he could have Thorfinn for free.

Vinland Saga season 2 episode 18 sees Pater emphasize that Ketil keeps his promises and Thorfinn and Einar will be fine but calls Arnheid a more challenging matter. Pater says he knows he's asking for a lot, but asks Leif if he'd be willing to purchase two slaves besides Thorfinn.

The episode then cuts back to Thorfinn and Einar, who are sitting silently in their restraints. Einar thinks about Arnheid, who is then shown to be locked up in the stables and being watched by a mercenary. The man comments on how boring it is to have a captive woman he can't do anything with, before asking Arnheid if she actually knows what she's doing despite her meek personality.

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Vinland Saga season 2 episode 18: Punishment begins

Vinland Saga season 2 episode 18 sees the mercenary assert that Ketil will spank her a few times before forgiving her for everything, saying that he's too easy on her. The man adds that she's lucky her punishment wasn't up to them to decide. Arnheid, meanwhile, stares blankly at the floor in front of her.

The mercenary then approaches her, promising that they'd have assaulted her several times over by now for their brothers who were killed since they can't rest in peace otherwise. He begins touching her leg while asking her if she agrees when Ketil arrives with a weapon in hand and sternly asks him what he's doing.

Vinland Saga season 2 episode 18 sees him tell the mercenary to leave since he has business with Arnheid, with the latter eventually complying. Ketil then enters and approaches Arnheid, asking her if she tried to escape from him. He asks her why she'd do this, but she sits silently with her eyes closed.

Suddenly, Ketil strikes her with a piece of wood he's holding, sending her flying across the stables and causing her to cry out in pain. He asks her why she doesn't understand and why she would do that, but she's unable to answer. He asks if she despises him while saying he won't allow anyone to take his pride from him, not even her.

Vinland Saga season 2 episode 18 sees him continue beating her, prompting her to say not to hit her stomach since she's carrying his child. This seemingly brings Ketil back to reality as she begs him to stop. He asks whose child it is, prompting her to swear that it's his, which is the truth.

She begs him to believe her, but a tearful Ketil comments on how she was the only one he trusted with a sadistic smile on his face. He continues beating her while asking what he's supposed to believe and what it means to trust someone.

As he says this, shots of his younger life and the girl he once loved play out before viewers and presumably flash in Ketil's own mind. He continues beating her all the while, with the horses in the stable responding to the violence being committed in front of them. He keeps beating her despite her lack of response and blood flying out from her, calling her and those who helped her thieves and promising that they'll pay for this.

Vinland Saga season 2 episode 18 sees him add that he will punish her with his own hand as he prepares for another strike. However, Snake then arrives and stops him from beating her with the wooden rod anymore. Pater, Leif, and Bug-Eyes are also in tow, with Pater rushing to Arnheid's side.

Snake comments on the appropriateness of flogging her, but says that if Ketil keeps going, he'll kill her. Snake adds that Arnheid is Ketil's slave, so he has the right to do so, even asking him if he wants to execute her. He says he’ll let go of the rod if this is the case, while a panting Ketil gives no response. He instead looks at Arnheid once more before letting go of the rod and walking away from the scene of his own crime.

Vinland Saga season 2 episode 18 sees him tell Pater to tend to her wounds, while all present are visibly uncomfortable with what has transpired. Leif then calls out to Ketil, saying he'll buy Arnheid if he doesn't want her. Leif adds that he heard about Thorfinn having two other friends who are also Ketil's slaves, with Leif explaining he wants to buy both from him.

Ketil responds by asking who said he doesn't want Arnheid, before giving Leif permission to take Thorfinn and Einar wherever he wants. However, he emphasizes that Arnheid is a different matter and that she belongs to him. The episode then shows Thorfinn, Einar, Leif, and others bearing witness to a bedridden and brutally beaten Arnheid, with Einar seemingly unable to contain his rage.

Vinland Saga season 2 episode 18 sees Pater confirm that she's alive but unconscious, unfortunately adding that he's unsure if she'll make it. Einar goes to her bedside, prompting Pater to warn him not to touch her or move her. Einar crouches down next to her and is audibly in pain, while Ketil promises that "they" won't get away with this and that "they’re all thieves."

He continues angrily ranting here, saying that he raised "it" up with such care and takes such good care of "it." He laments that "they’re" trying to take "it" all away from him as he returns home. Thorgil calls out to his dad, asking where he's been and reminding him of what they have to do. However, Ketil ignores his son, instead heading inside and approaching a chest.

Vinland Saga season 2 episode 18 sees him open the chest while commenting on how he won't let the "thieves" get away with this and that he will punish them. He then pulls out and unsheathes a sword, saying that even if it's the king, he won't let them go unpunished for this. The episode ends with Ketil's furious expression in the sword's reflection.

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Vinland Saga season 2 episode 18: In summation

The previous installment of the smash-hit anime series was incredibly sad due to how emotionally poignant and thought-provoking the life and death of Gardar was. However, Vinland Saga season 2 episode 18 is sad in a truly dichotomous way, instead showing the horrors of humanity in an almost irredeemable light.

While the entirety of the episode centers thematically around actions and consequences, Ketil's confronting Arnheid is particularly difficult to sit through. Due to both the love and hatred one can feel emanating from Ketil in the moment, it feels as though the scene serves as a reflection of human emotions at their most extreme.

Combined with the chilling final scene of the once self-described pacifist Ketil excitedly and enthusiastically preparing for war with his anger, this episode is a truly harrowing one. Despite it being emotionally uncomfortable, or maybe even due to it, Vinland Saga season 2 episode 18 is one of the best episodes of the season and the entire series overall.

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