Thorfinn vs Thorkell
Vinland Saga had some good fights but the most standout fights were between Thorfinn vs Thorkell. Thorkell the Tall, who is the second strongest Viking Warrior in the series, and Thorfinn, who is the son of the strongest warrior in the series have two of the best fights in Vinland Saga.
Thorfinn vs Thorkell is a battle between brains and brawns .
The first fight between Thorfinn and Thorkell takes place in episode 9 of Vinland Saga while the second fight takes place in episode 18.
Below’s an analysis of the fight between Thorfinn and Thorkell along with a background of who they are.
Who is Thorfinn?
Thorfinn is the main protagonist of Vinland Saga. Thorfinn is a Jomsviking noble through his mother Helga and is the son of Thors, who was considered the strongest warrior of his time and referred to as “The Troll of Jom”.
Thorfinn is a teenage warrior in Askeladd’s company, though he hates him for slaying his father Thors and has sworn to kill him in a duel.
To earn the right to engage in these duels, he must complete difficult feats for Askeladd, such as sabotage or the killing of enemy generals.
Thorfinn’s Personality
As a young boy, Thorfinn was headstrong but happy. He was fascinated by the stories of Vinland. Thorfinn longed for adventure and was eager to know more about the world. He was also excited to go fight on the battlefield. He loved play fighting with the other kids in his village.
He had tremendous respect and love for his dad who he saw as his hero.
After Thor sacrifices himself, Thorfinn becomes fueled by rage and extremely vengeful.
After the death of his father, he joins Askeladd’s gang hoping to avenge his father in a duel. He stays with Askeladd for 10 years and in that time he becomes more detached and angry. Thorfinn abandons everything and becomes obsessed with revenge.
He is easily irritable and is a hothead, which has cost him battles against more experienced opponents.
Unlike Thorkell, Thorfinn does not fight for the love of battle.
Who is Thorkell?
Thorkell is a Jomsviking general, brother of the Jomsviking Chief, uncle-in-law of Thors and grand uncle of Thorfinn. A giant man who loves combat, he defects from the Danish army to become a mercenary for the English, believing that fighting his fellow Vikings will give him a better challenge.
This same love of war leads him to support Prince Canute’s bid for kingship of the Danes. He remains under Canute once he becomes king.
Thorkell worked with Thors and deeply respected him, resulting in a fondness for his son Thorfinn. He duels twice with Thorfin with him losing two fingers in the first duel and an eye in the second.
Thorkell’s Personality
Thorkell loves war and battling strong opponents. He gets huge satisfaction from fighting and loves a challenge. He does not respect weak warriors or cowards.
Despite his violent and sometimes sadistic nature on the battlefield, he is jovial and usually smiling. He’s often loud and boisterous.
He loves drinking and has a huge appetite.
Thorkell is widely respected by his men who also enjoys his fun personality. He is a great leader that is able to motivate and inspire.
Thorfinn’s Skills in Battle
Thorfinn uses his daggers in battle after being handed one by his dad before his death. He typically uses two daggers in battle.
Thorfinn inherits superb physical talents from Thors and becomes a very skilled fighter throughout the series.
Thorfinn was arguably the strongest kid in his village, beating kids twice his age. He is smart and extremely resourceful as he was able to survive in the wild by himself and learn how to hunt.
As Thorfinn spends time with Askeladd, he hones his skills and becomes very strong.
He is fast and agile. He is able to detect an opponent’s weak points and strike with one of his daggers.
Thorkell’s Skills in Battle
Thorkell typically wields a pair of axes as his primary weapons.
Thorkell skill and strength rivals Thors. After Thors death, he is considered the strongest viking warrior.
Thorkell is often referred to as Thorkell “the Tall” because of his huge size. His greatest asset is his immense physical strength. He is able to slice multiple enemies in half with his axe with just one full swing. He is also able to launch huge boulders effortlessly as well as throw spears at huge distances, impaling several of his enemies.
Despite his goofy and carefree appearance, Thorkell is very smart. He is good at reading a situation and strategizing. One of the reasons for this is the decades of experience he has on the battlefield.
Thorkell has also shown a good understanding of politics, though he doesn’t like it.
He is well known and feared with one character believing that 4000 men aren’t enough to stop Thorkell.
Thorkell First Appearance
Thorkell appears in the very first episode of Vinland Saga in the battle at Hjörungavágr at a Viking sea. He makes a strong impression. He is first seen calling out to Thors for standing and gazing. He then assists Thors in fighting, slicing 5 men in half with a single swing of his axe.
Thorfinn vs Thorkell Fight 1
Thorkell defects from the Danish army to become a mercenary for the English, believing that fighting his fellow Vikings will put on a better fight. Floki tries to negotiate with Thorkell but fails.
Askeladd, who is now supporting the Danes, offers Thorfinn another duel if he can defeat Thorkell and deliver his head. Thorkell has fun decimating the Dane army and mocks them. He gazes up and sees Thorfinn and knows instantly that this will be a fun battle for him. He orders his men not to touch Thorfinn so they can battle one on one.
This fight was animated by Arifumi Imai, who also did the epic Levi vs Beast Titan fight on Attack on Titan Season 3 Part 2.
Arifumi Imai has expertise in 3D movement having animated alot of scenes on Attack on Titan with many characters using the 3D Maneuver Gear. Shuuhei Yabuta, who is the director of Vinland Saga and also has a background in 3D animation, got the right guy for the job. Imai was the perfect fit for a scene like this.
Imai has a good understanding of free-flowing action and is able to animate alot of amazing stunts. He does this by manipulating the camera and is able to execute incredible dynamic scenes.
Thorfinn jumps towards Thorkell and is able to skillfully avoid the swing of his giant log, with the camera displaying how fast Thorfinn is. As Thorkell swings the log, the camera is constantly moving and then it zooms out as Thorfinn jumps up in the air so it gives the viewers a sense of how high he jumps and then zooms in. It’s a great use of camera angles.
Thorkell is impressed by Thorfinn and throws away his giant log to fight him unarmed. He tries to deliver a stunning blow and Thorfinn can feel the force of his punch even if it doesn’t hit him. He realizes instantly if he’s hit, he’ll die.
Thorfinn is able to cut Thorkell’s wrist and then decides to attack low so he can immobilize Thorkell and deliver a striking blow to his weak spots.
Thorkell is more experienced in battle and is able to take advantage of Thorfinn’s tactic. He allows himself to get stabbed so he can grab Thorfinn and then slams him repeatedly.
Thorfinn is plays dead for a bit and then cuts off two of Thorkells fingers when hes off guard. Thorkell is very impressed that Thorfinn still has the will to live. He calls him a warrior and asks for his name. When Thorfinn tell him his name and that hes the son of Thors, it gets Thorkell’s attention. However, Thorfinn drops himself off the boat and escapes.
Thorkell decides to let Thorfinn go and yells at him that the battle was fun and to fight him again as he hilariously waves with two fingers missing from his hand.
Thorfinn gets a dislocated shoulder, broken ribs, and sprained ankle from the fight. As he limps away, he calls Thorkell a mad man and wonders how he can enjoy battle so much.
Thorfinn and Thorkell Second Meeting
Thorfinn and Thorkell meet again when Askeladd sends him to retrieve the prince in a forest fire. Thorkell gets a glimpse of Thorfinn in sea of smoke and happily greets him. He calls Thorfinn a great warrior and isn’t suprised his men are having trouble.
Thorkell confirms that Thorfinn is the son of Thors and the son of Helga. Thorfinn is surprised and asks Thorkell if he knows his father. Thorkell responds by saying of course and that he’s the only man in the world stronger than him. He calls Thors a “true warrior”.
Thorkell decides to let Thorfinn go along with the Prince noting that they’ll going to the same place anyways.
Thorfinn vs Thorkell Fight 2
Thorkell and his men arrive after Askeladd’s men turn on him. He gives Askeladd’s men an opportunity to die fighting. Suddenly, Thorfinn storms in with his horse but Thorkell punches the horse with Thorfinn on it and sends it flying.
Thorfinn tells Thorkell not to kill Askeladd and that he’s his but Thorkell tells him to duel for him, with the winner getting Askeladd.
Thorfinn is able to have a slight advantage over Thorkell because of his size and speed. However, Thorkell is wearing chainmail underneath so Thorfinn can’t cut him.
Thorkell commends Thorfinn for not being scared of his axe and compares him to Thors. Thorfinn questions him and asks him what is he to his father. Thorkell mentions that Thors rose through the ranks with the skill of his sword and tells Thorfinn that he’ll tell him more if he entertains him.
Thorfinn is able to deliver several cuts to Thorkell with his dagger. Thorfinn changes his strategy by trying to go for the tendons in his legs so he can deliver the finishing blow.
Thorkell notes that Thorfinn is strong but his swordsmanship is average. He claims that Thorfinn is missing something that prevents him from reaching perfection as a warrior. When Thorfinn responds by saying why is he having such a hard time, Thorkell tells him because hes missing something too. He thought he could learn what that is by fighting Thorfinn since he’s Thors son.
Thorkell asks Thorfinn a very important question which is what does it mean to be a true warrior?
When Thorfinn can’t respond, Thorkell tells him that he wasn’t expecting him to know.
Thorkell uses his axe to send a flurry of snow as a distraction and then kicks Thorfinn into the air, sending him crashing into nearby trees. Thorfinn faints for a while but when he wakes up, he discovers that his arm is broken.
Askeladd comes to help him with his wounds and offers him advice on how to beat Thorkell. While Askeladd helps Thorfinn, Thorkell tells him more about his dad. In his story, Thors tells him he discovered what it means to be a true warrior after he decided to leave the Vikings and quit fighting.
Thorfinn and Thorkell resume fighting again, with Thorkell dominating. Thorfinn is only able to fight with one arm and is severely injured. When Thorfinn makes Thorkell believe he used everything he got, he waits for his opportunity.
When Thorkell is about to deliver the finishing blow, Askeladd temporarily blinds him using the sun’s rays and Thorfinn’s dagger. Thorfinn uses that opportunity to kick Thorkell right in the chin, knocking him out.
Askeladd was able to remember Thorkell’s weakness in a previous battle.
Thorkell’s weakness is that he has a weak chin.
After Thorkell is on the ground, Thorfinn attacks him and rips out his left eye. Thorkell’s soldiers interrrupt the fight, which angers Thorkell.
Thorkell says that he’s been humiliated and claims that his soldiers tarnished his duel. He is about to kill his right hand man, Asgeir for interrupting the fight but stops.
Thorkell is forced to surrender the duel, making Thorfinn the winner.
Canute, the prince, shows up and makes his Thorkell’s men release Thorfinn.
Aftermath of Thorfinn vs Thorkell Fight
After the fight between Thorfinn and Thorkell, Canute tells Thorkell that he has no value as a hostage and is about to march against the King, his father, for the crown.
Thorkell decides to test him and after seeing his newfound resolution, Thorkell agrees to join him, especially after regretting not to follow Thors years ago. Askeladd joins the Prince as well.
Conclusion
Thorfinn vs Thorkell was a great fight. The first fight was well animated with the help of Arifumi Imai and serves as a good introduction for future fights. The second fight was more strategic and more character driven.
Thorfinn and Thorkell are both great warriors who fight for different reasons. Through their fight, more of Thors background gets revealed and the question of what does it mean to be a true warrior comes up.
Thorfinn vs Thors was a fun battle to watch.
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