Thorkell
From Vinland Saga
Thorkell is a supporting character in Vinland Saga, Thorkell the Tall, a giant Jomsviking commander who defects to the English simply because fighting his own countrymen sounds like more fun. He is also Thorfinn's great-uncle. He is voiced by Akio Otsuka in Japanese and Patrick Seitz in English (Netflix dub).
About Thorkell
Thorkell the Tall is a towering Jomsviking commander who defected to England for the fun of fighting his own countrymen. He treats battle as the only honest joy in life, throws tree trunks at ships, and respects one thing above all: a warrior's spirit. He is also Thorfinn's great-uncle, and his duels with the boy, fingers lost and all, are among Season 1's wildest spectacles.
Appearance
Thorkell towers over every other character, a mass of muscle with wild hair, a broad grin and the cheerful eyes of a man at a festival rather than a battlefield. He usually fights with two axes and no visible concern for his own safety; across the story he collects the scars to prove it, including lost fingers and an eye, and wears each one like a souvenir. Everything about him is oversized, his strength, his appetite and his laughter.
Personality
Thorkell is joyfully, honestly in love with war. He has no politics, no greed and no cruelty in him, battle is simply the only time he feels fully alive, and he respects anyone who fights with spirit regardless of which side they are on. That purity makes him oddly likeable and completely terrifying: he will switch armies for a better fight, compliment you warmly while trying to kill you, and treat losing fingers as the price of a good day.
Background & Story
Thorkell was a senior Jomsviking commander and brother of the order's chief, and he once fought alongside Thors, whom he respected above all men. When Denmark invades England, Thorkell defects to the English side, not from loyalty, but because fighting Danes promises a harder, better war. His clashes with Thorfinn, whose father he knew, become highlights of the campaign in England: the giant is delighted to find Thors' blood in the boy. When Canute makes his move for the crown, Thorkell backs him, partly for politics and mostly because interesting things happen around the new king.
Powers & Abilities
- Colossal Strength: The strongest Viking alive in raw power, he throws tree trunks and ship masts as spears and kills horses with a single punch.
- Twin Axes: Thorkell fights with an axe in each hand, overwhelming guards and armour through sheer force and relentless pressure.
- Fearlessness: Pain and injury barely slow him; he treats lost fingers and grievous wounds as jokes and keeps fighting at full ferocity.
Key Relationships
- Thorfinn: His great-nephew, whose duels with him are a deadly game Thorkell enjoys enormously, he sees Thors in the boy and wants him to grow stronger.
- Thors: The one warrior of his generation he truly respected; Thorkell's fondness for Thorfinn starts here.
- Canute: The prince he captures, then chooses to serve as king, finding the new Canute far more entertaining than the old court.
- Floki: A fellow Jomsviking commander whose scheming Thorkell has little patience for, they represent opposite ends of the Viking world.
Quick Answers
Is Thorkell related to Thorfinn?
Yes. Thorkell is Thorfinn's great-uncle, he is the brother-in-law's brother of Thors' family line through the Jomsvikings, and he fought beside Thors in their youth.
Why did Thorkell fight for England?
For fun. Thorkell defected because fighting his fellow Danes promised a better challenge than fighting the English, loyalty never entered into it.
Who voices Thorkell?
Akio Otsuka voices him in Japanese. In English, Patrick Seitz voices him in the Netflix dub and Joe Daniels in the Sentai dub.
