Vinland really won't stop its streak of amazing episodes: this one was yet again immaculate.
I was led to believe Thorfinn would get good screentime - partially, I was right, but ultimately Mappa aren't willing to rush these episodes. They're taking they're time into the arc's very climax, ultimately probably the interaction we'll see between Thorfinn and Canute at some point in the show.
Instead, this episode was more focused on the Ketil family. It was a very interesting thing to see - the juxtaposition between Olmar and his brother is insane. However, I think the really prominent motif throughout the episode was the development of every character.
In the episode we saw mild flashes and reminders to earlier this season. It's been only about 20 episodes and we've seen the dynamics and relationships between characters expand and develop. The most prominent example is Thorfinn and Einar, but Canute has developed, as has Olmar, and even Ketil changed. We see the realism here: people change, some for the better, and some people have a downfall.
I think once more the episode reiterates that Thorfinn is correct in every way: we have no enemies, nobody has any enemies, and false pride and honour is a pathetic justification for slaughter and pillage. The actions conveyed through the warriors in this episode, and the images we see later in the episode, gruesome and uncensored, once more make the show feel... real. Just a cut above other anime in that everything changes and grows in a human fashion.
Even the intro comes in at the perfect time this episode - I feel like the intro in so many anime is carelessly placed - for example I've been watching the brilliant assassination classroom recently and even in another 8.8 rated brilliant show it feels so much less calculated than Vinland; and hey, assassination classroom is one of the best consistent anime I've watched of recent.
Overall, the show never fails to impress. Yes, it's very easy for a show to get a very high rated individual episode, but to flawlessly maintain momentum like this show is a privilege only to the best of shows.
10/10. No words. Deservedly receives meticulous care from MAPPA and praise from the audiences who engage in this beautiful story.