Episode 28

"Awakening" (目覚め) is the twenty-eighth overall episode of the Vinland Saga anime and the fourth episode of Season 2, produced by MAPPA.

Synopsis
When one of the guests, the "Fox," raises his sword at Thorfinn, the leader of the guests, the "Snake", appears and rules the place. Einar sees Thorfinn's incredible moves and learns that Thorfinn was once a warrior.

Summary
Snake eats while listening to what happened. He tells the guests are idiots for bullying the slaves. Badger complains that Thorfinn got cheeky. Snake then apologizes to Thorfinn, however he gets serious and attempts to slash Thorfinn with his sword. Seeing his eyes, Thorfinn is instantly reminded of Askeladd and reacts by instinct and attempts to kick Snake. Thorfinn's movements surprise everyone and Snake tells him that his body wants to live. Snake then decides to go take a nap, and tells the rest to see Thorfinn and Einar get back home. He also warns them that if they cause more trouble about this matter, they won't be able to eat anymore. Thorfinn starts to question himself if he wants to live and if he lives, what he will do.

Pater checks on Thorfinn's wounds, and explains they are not deep, so he will fully heal soon, expect his ear. He apologizes for them having to go through this and explains that Ketil doesn't know what to do about the guests misbehavior. Pater states they wouldn't have been killed, but Einar is sure they would have been killed if Snake didn't show up, and to people like them Einar and Thorfinn's lives are worth less than those of insects. Thorfinn says that it can't be helped as the strong kill the weak. Pater tells them to come to him instead of going with them, if they try to mess with them again. Pater then applies some medicine on Thorfinn's wounds as he doesn't want his wounds to fester. He tells them to not worry about paying him back for the medicine as its his responsibility to look after them. Pater also suggest they thank Arnheid, since she ran to tell him what happened. Pater tells them to rest for today and also gives Thorfinn one of his shirt, although he explains it may be a bit big, but Thorfinn's shirt is now full of holes. Thorfinn doesn't say anything, which annoys Einar, who tells him that he needs to say "thank you" in such situation. Pater is fine, noting that he knows that Thorfinn doesn't talk much.

After Pater leaves, Thorfinn puts on the new shirt and heads towards the woods to cut trees. Einar reminds him they can rest today, but as Thorfinn still heads out, he decides to go too. While they cut trees, due to the way Thorfinn reacted to Snake, Einar is sure he isn't ordinary man. As Thorfinn had also said the strong kill the weak, Einar asks Thorfinn if he have been to war, and Thorfinn confirms. Einar then asks him if he had killed people and Thorfinn confirms again. Einar then wonders how many, guessing five or ten. Thorfinn asks him why he wants to know, as he said he didn't like war. Thorfinn cuts the tree and explains that he had killed many, but doesn't know how many exactly. He has been on the battlefield since he was five or six years old, and joined the Danish army's invasion of England. Thorfinn states he was a warrior and wonders if Einar now hates him, however Einar remains silent.

At night, Einar thinks of what Thorfinn said and recalls when his village was burned twice and his family died. Einar stands up and get overs Thorfinn and starts choking him. At the same time, Thorfinn is having a nightmare. He dreams of being young and having to fight people he killed and eventually kills the old woman who saved him. As he yells due to his nightmares, Einar stops choking him. Thorfinn continues to yell for a bit, tortured by his dreams, until Einar grabs his hand and Thorfinn wakes up. Thorfinn asks Einar why he keeps waking him up when he is crying in his dream. Thorfinn is no different than those who killed Einar's family. Einar recalls that Thorfinn said nothing good had happened in his life and asks Thorfinn if he want to die. He doesn't know through what Thorfinn went through, but they can still talk, eat and sleep, because someone kept them alive. So Einar wonders how he can say nothing good happened to him. Einar also states that Thorfinn isn't the one who killed his family, so he shouldn't be that arrogant. Thorfinn then thanks Einar for waking him up. Einar states he can't get enough sleep because Thorfinn keeps talking in his. Thorfinn apologizes, but Einar tells him to just fall asleep.

Characters in order of appearance

 * Thorfinn
 * Fox
 * Einar
 * Badger
 * Snake
 * Olmar
 * Pater
 * Canute

Differences from the manga

 * Removed Thorfinn’s line speaking to himself in the manga when Snake attacks him where he says “He’s good! As sharp as Askeladd… Maybe even quicker on the strike.”
 * Changed the scene in the barn with Thorfinn and Einar. In the manga, Einar stands over Thorfinn, but then Thorfinn starts having a nightmare and Einar feels bad and wakes him up. In the anime, Einar starts choking out Thorfinn, where he starts having a nightmare until Einar ultimately gives up and wakes him up. Einar is still annoyed at Thorfinn in the anime until he says thank you to Einar.