English Dub Review: Vinland Saga: “Iron Fist Ketil”

Overview: Thorfinn (Mike Haimoto) and Einar (Ian Sinclair) make considerable progress in growing their wheat plants, while more is unearthed about Arnheid (Natalie Van Sistine) and Ketil’s (Doug Jackson) true nature. 

Our Take: Thorfinn and Einar have been working on Ketil’s farm for quite some time now. Time plays a key role in how their hard work has bore fruit, or in this case, wheat crops. However, it also helps illustrate how close Einar has become with Arnheid. Their matured relationship demonstrates how much she understands his kindness, through their many chats and endlessly adorable chemistry. It also gives a look into the poor, abusive treatment by her overseer, similar to Thorfinn and Einar. 

Ketil is the owner of the farm, however, there is very little known about the man himself. The series rectifies that in two poor, desperate children, who have been acting as thieves in the night. Their actions allow us an opportunity to get under his skin. 

The war between England and Denmark has bred much savagery, with Thorgil being an extension of that. The effects of the conflict go beyond the battlefield and soldiers. It’s shown how it extends to that of the larger world in kinder individuals, like Snake or Pater, and their alleviated, but still harsh punishment, compared to his son. 

Ketil’s good-natured heart in a world devoid of one creates a deeply intrinsic and compelling moral/social issue. Couple his decency with the false reputation constructed to impress the son he’s fearful of, and there are more complex layers to his internal bind. How he juggles his ideology with the responsibility he feels is gripping in the rollercoaster of emotions on how to deal with the kids.

The retribution Ketil subjects Sture to establishes his intimate and close-knit relationship with Arnheid, along with his aversion to violence. With her vital role in his gentler sensibilities, how she’ll influence him, whether directly or not, will be very intriguing.