English Dub Review: Vinland Saga “Kings and Swords”

Overview: Canute (Josh Grelle) hatches a scheme to gather more money for his military by using Ketil’s (Doug Jackson) farm to his advantage.  

Our Take: Olmar and Bug-Eyes interacting makes for an charming  introduction into how differently raised they are, but equally immature in their one ways. Their meeting also progresses Leif’s search in learning Thorfinn may be working as a slave on Ketil’s farm. Leif’s captain and his reservations about detouring, further delaying their trek home, attempts to inject tension. However, the conflict feels more like a formality in how committed the old man is. 

Canute’s plans to gain military funds is more evidence of how deceitful and conniving he has become. Canute’s plot to take Ketil’s land, not to mention his deceptive ploy during training, smartly establishes the harsh lengths he’s willing to go. Olmar’s sword display was just as sad and embarrassing for Thorgil and Ketil to watch as it was for me. And worse yet, he’s ripe for the picking in terms of manipulation. Canute preying up that idiocy, treating Olmar as disposable, sets him up for disastrous trouble. Discovering the depths of Canute’s cruelty continues to add nail-biting twists moving forward.