"An Empty Man" (カラッポな男 Karappo na Otoko?) is the thirty-second overall episode of the Vinland Saga anime and the eighth episode of Season 2, produced by MAPPA.
Synopsis[]
Thorfinn was haunted by his usual nightmares. Thorfinn, who had lived on the battlefield thinking only of revenge, had lost the meaning of life after Askeladd's death. Einar and Sverkel tell the confused Thorfinn that "people can change."
Summary[]
Thorfinn is having a nightmare, where his younger self heads into a house to kill young Einar and his family. He attempts to stop him, but the ground opens up and he falls down. Thorfinn then tries climbing up, but dead people pull him down. Thorfinn then wakes up in screams. Einar tells him that he was screaming more than usual. Thorfinn remembers that he was falling down a cliff. Einar is surprised that he remembers his dream this time and notes that he was talking a lot in his sleep, mentioning "father" and "Askeladd", and wonders if Askeladd is someone's name.
Thorfinn feels he is forgetting something important
While Thorfinn collects some water from the well to wash himself, he isn't sure why he can't remember his dreams, but know they were horrifying, and feels that he forgot something really important. Thorfinn and Einar then head out to work and the retainers come to collect the wood that Einar and Thorfinn cut. They see that their wheat has grown quite a bit and note its due to Einar. However, one of them is annoyed that Ketil allows a slave to farm a land, as they shouldn't be treated the same as the retainers.
Later while they are fixing a roof, Thorfinn tells Einar that Askeladd was the man who killed his father. Thorfinn followed Askeladd in battle, so that he can avenge his father. He fought for 11 years, all while hating him and wanting to kill him. Einar wonders if Thorfinn got his revenge, but Thorfinn explains he couldn't as Askeladd was killed in front of him by someone else. Einar guesses that if Thorfinn is still dreaming about him, he must not be over him yet. Thorfinn believes Einar may be right, but feels he is forgetting something important. Einar states that his quest for revenge is over and there is no point in hating a dead man. Recalling Askeladd's last words, Thorfinn to become a true warrior, Thorfinn states he no longer hate him, which is exactly his problem, as without hate, Thorfinn is empty. He survived on his hate and doesn't know anything other than the battlefield. Seeing them talking, Sverkel tells them to continue working as they also have other jobs for today.
Sverkel teaches Thorfinn and Einar how to fish
Sverkel takes the two to the beach and shows them how to fish with a net. Thorfinn and Einar try but are unable to catch anything. Sverkel then gives them more advices. He tells Thorfinn that he can start learning things one by one. And if he is empty, he can fit anything inside him, and if he wants to be reborn, it's better to be empty. Thorfinn then wonders if he can be reborn.
Einar finds the wheat crops destroyed
The next day, Thorfinn and Einar head to work. Thorfinn asks Einar if people can change and what it takes to change. Einar tells him that he used to be a warrior, but if someone looks at him now, he will never guess he was a warrior. Einar is glad that he didn't meet Thorfinn while he was still a warrior, as he would likely have killed him, but tells him that people can change and Thorfinn is on his way to become a better person. Thorfinn thanks Einar, but then bumps into him as he suddenly stops. The two then see that their wheat field has been destroyed. Thorfinn wonders if people did it and Einar explains that wheat is a strong crop that will get back up even if a wind blows it down. Those who did this know that which is why they dug up the roots. Einar then heads towards the retainers, being sure that they have done it. Thorfinn tries to stop him and want them to talk to Pater first. Einar is angry and notes that Thorfinn is quite calm. They have used the soil fertility and won't have any harvest. They will also need to borrow seeds for the next planting, but he is angrier as they are also farmers and know how hard is to farm. Thorfinn states that until now, he has been someone who took and destroyed, and unlike Einar, he has no right to be angry at the retainers. If Einar wants to kill the retainers, then he Thorfinn deserves to die from his hand as well.
Thorfinn manages to calm down Einar and they call Pater, who tells them to leave the field like this until he is done with his investigation as the culprits may have left some clue behind. He wonders if they know who may have done it. Einar states it was the retainers and Pater tells him he will report it to Ketil. Pater explains that he suffered a lot too, wondering why people bullied him even when it doesn't benefit them. People who love to discriminate are everywhere, but not all are like that, so the the should not lose hope.
Thorfinn punches the man before Einar
Later, Einar shares with Thorfinn that he asked Arnheid, but she doesn't have the same deal as them and Ketil had took a liking to her, and it seems she has given up on ever being free again. Einar wonder what kind of lives they are living, since if they like you, you get bound to them, if they hate you, they treat you badly. The two then see the retainers approaching and Thorfinn suggest they go another way, however Einar heads right ahead. One of the men wonders why Einar and Thorfinn feel so down. Einar stops in front of him and asks him if he was the one that ravaged their farm, but the man denies it. Einar gets angry, but Thorfinn holds him down. The man continues to act like he doesn't know anything, but states that their wheat was grown by slaves, and it would be too putrid for anyone to eat. Einar loses it and pushes Thorfinn away to punch the man, however, Thorfinn punches the man first and breaks his jaw. Thorfinn comes to his senses on what he did. The rest of the men then attack them, Thorfinn tries to stop Einar, but he hit by a rake from behind. As the retainers beat him, Thorfinn sees his father and that he is saying something but can't hear him.
Characters in order of appearance[]
Differences from the manga[]
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