Reunion (Vinland Saga)

Reunion is the 21st episode of season 1 of Vinland Saga

Plot
Canute and his group arrive at York to attend the Imperial Council, where assassins are waiting to claim his life and a face from Thorfinn's past is there to confront him.

Why it Rocks

 * 1) The episode puts the war of attrition between Canute and King Sweyn into motion while also adding plenty of stakes to the overall plot of the series, showing the conditions of the Vikings and how hard it will be for Canute to succeed.
 * 2) It also shows the insane lengths that Askeladd will go to to ensure Canute's victory and, conversely, the lengths even Canute won't go to and how their differing ideologies clash.
 * 3) A pretty funny bit where a body double is used for Canute against assassins, being a woman as they couldn't find a man who looked enough like him. This part is, however, turned into an emotional moment as a double was used without Canute's consent and the likelihood that she will die for someone who feels unworthy of her sacrifice.
 * 4) It does a great job showing how Thorfinn has become even more obsessed with revenge than he was before, as he challenges him to a duel despite still suffering his injuries from his fight with Thorkell and despite a chance meeting that could change his life.
 * 5) Leif is finally brought back after so long, bringing a great deal of meaning to his own personal journey to find Thorfinn and bring him back home, though he sees how much Thorfinn has changed, which makes it quite difficult despite all he's done as the one he's trying to save may already be too far gone with hatred.
 * 6) Bjorn, now dying from the injuries he received in previous episodes, is given a proper sendoff in the form of a duel to send him to Valhalla. It also shows how this event personally effects Askeladd himself as he considers Bjorn his only real friend.
 * 7) With many of the above mentioned qualities, it does a great job building up the emotional weight of the remainder of the season.

Reception
The episode received 9.4 out of 10 stars on IMDb.