User:Tintor2/Sandbox

Creation
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. 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 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.

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.

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.

Portrayal
According to Yukimura, the strength of Einaru's vitality is really evident in his voice. Shunsuke Takeuchi voice was praised by the manga artist for being "powerful" and "youthful", giving emotional strength. With the release of the fourth episode of the series' second season, Yukimura was surprised by the handling of the character and looked forward to more of these in the series. Takeuchi said there were several psychological overviews in regards to his role and found him important for the impact he has on Thorfinn to the point he considers him the axis of the story. Initially, he viewed Einar as a man who hates warriors which made their interactions hard to do. Takeuchi met Thorfinn's Japanese actor Yuto Uemura to discuss together the story which he enjoyed doing and made look more forward to his own work.

Reception
UK Anime Network praised the relationship of Einar and Thorfinn as they become friends and help each other in quiet moments. 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. The bond the two grow and the wisdom they receive from Ketil's father was also the subject of praise. 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. 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.

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. Decider saw Einar as the opposite of Thorfinn due to their constrasting 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.

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.