Vinland Saga

- Season 1

(2019)

Young Thorfinn longs for an adventure far from his home in Iceland. One day, his father saves the life of a runaway slave found buried in the snow.

As the war between England and Denmark heats up in the year 1002, Jomsvikings arrive in Thorfinn's village and pressure Thors to return to battle.

Mercenary Viking leader Askeladd accepts Floki's orders to kill Thors. Meanwhile, Thors and his army of enthusiastic young men embark on their voyage.

As the ships are surrounded by Askeladd's pirates, Thors decides to take action on his own hands in order to protect the crew and his son.

Consumed by his desire for revenge, Thorfinn sneaks up to Askeladd's bed, intending to kill him in his sleep. Leif breaks the news to Helga and Ylva.

Thorfinn kills his first man. As more time goes on Thorfinn kills more men and becomes more skilled. One day when Thorfinn is in battle he gets shot with an arrow and ends up unconscious. An English woman and her daughter help him recover.

Smelling an opportunity for treasure, Askeladd decides to join a skirmish among the Franks. He sends 16-year-old Thorfinn to negotiate on his behalf.

After capturing the treasure from the Franks, Askeladd's men return to the village of Gorm on the Jutland Peninsula in Denmark to pass the winter. Thorfinn challenges Askeladd to a duel as a reward for bringing him the head of the captain of the clan of Franks. Even though Thorfinn has grown in skill through his experience in battle, he is still no match for Askeladd.

In October 1013, King Sweyn leads a fleet of Danish and Viking ships in an attempt to take London Bridge of England. Askeladd's army, hired by the army of Denmark, was among them. However, after the betrayal of Thorkell the Tall, a Viking known for his overpowering strength, London Bridge has become impregnable. Askeladd tells Thorfinn he'll reward him with a duel if he's able to kill Thorkell.

Askeladd's army separates from the army of Denmark and attacks a village 100 km to the west. Thorfinn leaves the soldiers behind in disgust and climbs up a hill overlooking the village, where he pledges revenge for his father. However, he encounters Askeladd sitting in the darkness, who tells him about "Britannia", the aging of the world, and Ragnarok, the final battle.

Thorkell takes Canute hostage and follows after the main army of Denmark. Ragnar objects to Thorkell's plan to take on the entire army of Denmark, boasting 16,000 soldiers, with only 500 men. Thorkell then begins to tell Ragnar the story of Valhalla, the pride of Normans, a place where only those who die in battle can go.

Askeladd and his men continue their march to escape from Thorkell. However, their march comes to a halt at the Severn River. Askeladd hands a letter to an old man operating a ferry across the river and tells him to deliver the letter to the other side immediately. As soon as he hears the addressee's name, the old man sets off in his boat.

Askeladd crosses the river and escapes from Thorkell into Wales with Canute. However, Askeladd's men are ambushed by a group of soldiers hiding behind the boulders at the border of the kingdom of Brycheiniog. Askeladd attempts to negotiate with their messenger, and reveals his plan.

In middle of the inclement weather, Askeladd's men find a village. Cornered by the blizzard, the vikings show their true nature.

After losing Canute, Thorkell decides to halt his advance in central England. Thorkell hears that the end of the war between Denmark and England is near, and bemoans the end of the war. However, he later gets wind of an interesting piece of news.

Askeladd and his men are attacked by the English army in the village where they had planned to camp during the winter. Askeladd captures their captain and interrogates him to find out how the English knew where they were, and discovers that Thorkell is fast approaching. The news of Thorkell's arrival sends waves of shock among Askeladd's followers.

Askeladd's men continued their march to escape Thorkell. However, Torgrim and his friends were hatching a plot to switch sides and join Thorkell, taking Canute with them. Torgrim finally launches his rebellion and corners Askeladd, negotiating with him to hand over Canute, then Thorkell arrives in the midst of the confusion.

Thorfinn and Thorkell agree to have a duel over the fate of Askeladd. Thorkell looks forward to facing off against Thors's son, Thorfinn, and asks him what a true warrior really is. Meanwhile, Canute is suddenly ambushed while he attempts to escape, and has a dream about a certain individual.

Thorfinn is told to think about what he has to do to beat Thorkell. Askeladd treats Thorfinn's wounds so that he may fight again someday, and proposes a joint strategy to help the two of them survive longer.

After the fighting dies down, Canute takes in Askeladd and Thorkell as his followers, and returns to Gainsborough. Canute goes through an awakening when he realizes the meaning of love in the aftermath of Ragnar's death.

Canute's party arrives in York to attend the Imperial Council. Although Canute had wanted to strike out against King Sweyn

Thorfinn begins his duel against Askeladd with Canute and Thorkell as witnesses. However, Thorfinn is unable to strike as he stands overwhelmed by the extraordinary mood that overtakes Askeladd after Bjorn's departure.

After the assassination attempt on Canute's life, rumors spread through York saying that the king is trying to kill Canute. As a result, the king is unable to issue any orders that would put Canute in harm, and

As the Imperial Council proceeds, Askeladd is shocked by the news of Wales. As he gets called by the king, he makes a last stand.