Einar (Vinland Saga)

Einar is an Anglo-Norse farmer from Northern England who, following attacks on his village, was sold into slavery and eventually ends up on Ketil's farm. As a result, he is outspoken in his hatred of war and injustice. Einar meets Thorfinn at Ketil's farm and the two become close friends. Einar has little skill in combat, but proves a loyal companion. As Einar and Thorfinn think about what to do once obtaining their freedom, Einar is conflicted since the woman he loves, the slave Arnheid, has no desire of leaving the farm. Eventually, Einar and Thorfinn betray Ketil's forces to help Arnheid escape with her husband but the mercenary Snake kills the man. Arnheid is brutally punished by Ketil in the next days which causes her death alongside her unborn baby. This causes Einar's rage and desire to kill Ketil but Thorfinn stops him from committing his own type of sin. Once the farm is free from Canute's might, Einar accompanies Thorfinn to his country, Iceland, where he befriends his family. Thorfinn's mother appreciates that Einar befriended her son and he becomes part of their family.

In the third arc of the manga, Einar follows Thorfinn's dream to find a land without violence or slaves as taught by Leif. This leads them to travel to Greece to obtain the money to obtain their own ship. Across their journeys, they find several allies but are targeted by Vikings who want Thorfinn. Years later, the group returns to Iceland with their new project to find Vinland. Following their arrival to Vinland, the group befriends natives through Thorfinn's leadership.

Manga artist Makoto Yukimura created Einar to support protagonist Thorfinn during the second arc of Vinland Saga in a similar fashion to Askeladd from the first arc.[1] With the focus of Vinland Saga being slavery, Einar was created to be a complete victim of the war and slave trade. The manga author created a character who represented the victim of the slave trade and was an original character rather than one based on real life like Thorfinn or Leif. Einar represents "the pain and sorrow, and victimhood of war". He cannot be a strongly built person. As a result, he serves as the opposite of Gardar, another slave but with more strength.[2]

Einar and Thorfinn form a close relationship but they have several differences in regards to their pasts that they can rarely help each other. Across several things Thorfinn does in the manga, one of them was learning the effects of revenge and how it affects others. According to Yukimura, Einar is useless when Thorfinn is fighting as they don't have the same dynamic often seen in action series like One Piece. Yukimura still wanted to show Einar's courage and friendship to the protagonist and wonders if he hit the spot.[3] According to Yukimura There is no way Einar does not have anger towards violence. Having his family killed and enslaved. Still, it did not become "all warriors are enemies" or "all Danes are enemies". This leads to the character nearly losing his sanity and hope the anime adaptation would improve on it.[4]

Director Shūhei Yabuta and writer Hiroshi Seko had a strong impression of Einar when first reading the manga and had no idea where did his strength come from. Upon discussing, they decided to change the way in which the Einar becomes Thorfinn's friend. They found it the key factor for the appeal of the anime's second season which led to several hours of planning. Yukimura kept reading the script as a result of their pressure from their work and looked forward to their portrayal. Despite several changes, Yabuta insisted that Einar was the same character featured in the manga. New scenes were added to explore more their friendship. Yabuta described Einar as softspoken, kind and strong but even in the cruel setting of the series, he retains his kindness.[5]

Yabuta kept talking with Yukimura about how they should write Einar which led him to find the character realistic. Yukimura was surprised when talking with Yabuta about Einar's character to the point he realized that he might be superhuman-like. Yabuta found this level of strength in Einar upon seeing how he is able to live as a slave and befriend Thorfinn without problems.[5]

Upon his introduction in the anime's second season, several writers from Anime News Network praised Reinar's backstory for violent it is, fitting with the elements of violent displayed in the first season.[12] UK Anime Network praised the relationship of Einar and Thorfinn as they become friends and help each other in quiet moments.[13] Manga News enjoyed Einar's kindness as he manages to give Thorfinn comfort for the first time in his life since his father's death.[14] The bond the two grow and the wisdom they receive from Ketil's father was also the subject of praise.[15] Anime News Network found the early depiction of Einar as relatable due to his desire to earn freedom which causes him to contrast Thorfinn who barely expresses care about his status as a slave.[16] Similarly, Espinof found the character relatable and promising for how he is the subject of violence and whether or he might have a big role.[17]

According to Escapist Magazine, Einar is part of the cycle of violence and revenge the series portrays as a theme due to how the anime further shows the downfall of his family at the hands of Vikings and starts hating warriors. While this initially causes his anger towards Thorfinn for being a former warriors, his avoidance from attacking him marks a departure of the theme in the series and, most notably, in Thorfinn.[18] Decider saw Einar as the opposite of Thorfinn due to their contrasting pasts and how both are their lowest when the second arc of the anime begins. In regards to Shunsuke Takeuchi's talent as a voice actor, Decider commented that Takeuchi is skilled at delivering several lines he has it difficult to being a protagonist. When Ketil welcomes Einar to his farm as a slave, Decider saw the moment as humillating due to how Ketil different is the first episode with his memories about his family.[19]

When first hearing that the Vinland Saga would focus on slavery, manga artist Hajime Isayama, famous for writing Attack on Titan, became interested in reading Vinland Saga. He was confused by the portrayal of Thorfinn for having become too silent to the point he did not understand him. As a result, he instead related more with Einar as he found him more realisitc especially because it is from Einar's point of view that Thorfinn matures as a person when the two are working together in the farm.[20]