The first half of the series was a complete drag and honestly could've been cut down to like 5 episodes. It didn't help that I absolutely was annoyed by the main character. I considered dropping the series, but I'm glad I gave it another chance because the second half of the series was MUCH more interesting once it shifted focus from the main character.The supporting characters' stories were much more compelling to watch.
ART & SOUND: 10/10
It's Wit Studio. Enough said.
CHARACTER: 8/10
Thorfinn, the supposed main character, is hard to watch. He's impulsive, cocky, and hot-headed. His vows of revenge are constantly on repeat like a broken record, which is annoying. Thankfully, the focus shifts from him to other characters in the second half. I felt like all the characters grew except for him and Thorfinn just felt so insignificant in the plot later on.
The star of this anime adaptation was Askeladd, who is a complex and morally gray character. Askeladd was a mystery for the first part of the series, but as his background and motivations got revealed in the second half, he became really fun to watch.
ENJOYMENT: 8/10
Askeladd and the supporting cast saved the series for me. Their struggles and character growth kept me watching in the second half. The anime adapted the first four volumes of the manga and it felt like a satisfactory ending to this "prologue" arc of Thorfinn's life.
