"Snake" (蛇 Hebi?) is the twenty-seventh overall episode of the Vinland Saga anime and the third episode of Season 2, produced by MAPPA.
Synopsis[]
As Ketil's son Olmar grows into a full-fledged man, the farm guards known as the "guests" attempt to give him "killing experience" as a rite of passage. One morning, the guests appear before Thorfinn, who wakes up with a nightmare, and Einar, who has begun to find hope in life on the farm.
Summary[]
Fox telling Olmar to kill a man.
Fox and Badger take Olmar with them. Olmar gets easily drunk and starts complaining that no one is understanding him. Olmar feels that they are laughing inside at him and Fox and Badger note that he isn't a fun drunk and feel they made mistake taking him with them. Olmar overhears them and questions them if they have any pride as warriors as they serve his father for pittance. Fox states they have their usefulness in a fight, but Olmar states he never saw them doing any work, but Fox explains its because the village is so peaceful. Olmar tells them to draw their swords, wanting to test their skills. Fox and Badger the flip the table, pushing Olmar on the ground, where they easily take his sword. Olmar then throws a tantrum, wanting to be killed, since he is a nobody. Fox realizes that Olmar doesn't want to be treated like a child and tells him that to become a real man isn't that hard and he needs to complete a rite of passage, by killing a person. Fox explains that after he kills someone, he will feel confident and will learn how fragile human bodies are. Olmar wonders who and Fox states he knows the perfect target who is even in this farm.
Thorfinn wakes up and screams.
Einar wakes up and goes to pee. He then hears Thorfinn screaming and goes to check him. Thorfinn wakes up confused and Einar wonders what he dreamed that made him scream like that, however, Thorfinn states he doesn't remember. They go to wash their faces at the well, but the woman who Einar saw the other day is already there. She explains she is done and let them wash their faces. Einar states that even if he wash his face it won't get any better, however the woman disagrees and states he has a wonderful face, which embarrass Einar. She introduces herself as Arnheid and guesses that Einar is joined them recently. Einar confirms and explains he came from England. That surprised Arnheid as she notes he speaks the language very wall and she guessed he was Norse. Einar explains that his village are descendants from Nords and they speak both English and Norse. Einar apologizes, guessing its hard for a lady like Arnheid to understand him due to his thick accent. Arnheid apologizes herself, as she haven't told him her status. Einar is then surprised to learn that she isn't Ketil's daughter, but another slave and Ketil's personal attendant.
Fox and Badger then come and Fox jokes if they are gathering to plot their escape. Fox asks Thorfinn his name and Badger wonders if Einar is also a slave as he doesn't recognize him. After Einar explains he joined them this Summer, Fox tells Thorfinn and Einar to follow him. As they go with them, Einar wonders who are they since they carry swords. Thorfinn explains that they are "guests" and resident defensive force at the farm, essentially bodyguards. Einar guesses that whatever they want won't be good, but then recalls Arnheid complimenting him and he giggles. Fox notices and states Einar is in a good mood and he seems lively one.
Einar jumps on Olmar.
They go to Olmar and other men and give Olmar a sword. Fox then tells Olmar to do a nice cut. Einar doesn't understand what is going on and Fox states that they are making their young master a man and want Einar to die for him. Einar gets angry and wonders what they have done to deserve it, but Fox explains that their lives aren't theirs and their owner can do what he wants with them. Olmar states that Einar and Thorfinn belong to his father and not him, and if he kills them, he needs to pay back his father. Fox is disappointed that Olmar is making excuses and wonders if he is afraid of his father. Olmar denies it and Fox tells him to kill them then. Einar tells Thorfinn to run and then charges and takes down Olmar. As he fights with Olmar, he tells Thorfinn to run again and go tell Ketil. Thorfinn isn't moving, but two other men also point their swords at him and warn him to not move and just watch. Thorfinn sighs and states Olmar can cut him down. He notes that they need to kill only one and should leave Einar to return to work.
Snake wakes up later. He then looks around and starts calling his old man asking for breakfast. The old man tells him its late for breakfast and if he wants to eat, he should help him with the harvest once in a while. Snake refuses, and the old man tells him that he won't cook for him and to figure out something himself. Not wanting to cook, Snake decides to head home.
Fox cuts Thorfinn's ear.
After Thorfinn's statement, the men are surprised and Fox asks him about his name again. He then asks him if he understands what it means to be cut and Thorfinn confirms that he will die. Einar wants to stop him, but Badger shuts Einar. Fox states he can't overlook what Thorfinn said and such remarks reduce the value of their product. He wonders if Thorfinn knows what they sell and as Thorfinn doesn't, Fox states its death. Fox states that everyone is afraid of dying and points at Olmar, noting that he is even afraid of someone else dying. Fox states death has value because everyone fears it. He takes out his sword and makes a small cut on Thorfinn's chest. He then points his sword at Thorfinn and states he should be afraid. He makes few more cuts and wants Thorfinn to beg for his life. In that moment, Snake returns and sees that Thorfinn didn't even blink when Fox cut his cheek and recalls that Thorfinn is Ketil's slave. Thorfinn asks why they should fear death and if they live to because they don't want to die. He wonders if anything good comes from being alive, and then states that nothing good had happened to him in his entire life. Fox gets frustrated and cuts part of Thorfinn's left ear, noting that his eye is next. Fox is about to do it, but Snake yells to stop. Hearing Snake, Fox freezes in fear. Fox wonders when Snake came back. Snake tells Fox to come to him and then punches him in the face. Snake then turns to Badger and tells him to explain the situation.
Characters in order of appearance[]
Differences from the manga[]
Trivia[]
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