Vinland Saga manga single-handedly saved 2025 from becoming a year of bad endings

Vinland Saga is an animanga series that has pushed me to become the best version of myself. What started as a revenge story blossomed into a beautiful series that has left its fans with bittersweet feelings after reading the final chapter. Makoto Yukimura’s vision remained unwavering across two decades.

In a world where readers expect spectacle, Yukimura gave us something braver: honesty. With beloved titles like Kaiju No. 8 wrapping up in controversial fashion and other long-running series delivering rushed, unsatisfying conclusions, fans were left questioning whether manga storytelling had lost its way.

Then, like a lone light in the darkness, Vinland Saga by Makoto Yukimura reached its finale in Chapter 220 on July 25, 2025, and reminded us of what it means to end a story with grace, purpose, and emotional truth.

That is why in a year filled with letdowns, Vinland Saga didn’t just stick the landing, but rather it soared. And in doing so, it single-handedly redeemed an otherwise disappointing year for manga conclusions.

Thorfinn’s journey didn’t end in a blaze of glory, but in peace. He says goodbye not with a sword, but with a hoe and seeds; it is a symbolic gesture to Pulmuk and the Kipui tribe. No final battle, no grand enemy. Just the enduring hope that something better can be grown.

Interestingly, that kind of ending, grounded and heartfelt, hit readers hard. Some fans claimed it to be the greatest manga ever made. While others thanked Yukimura for not compromising on the story’s core philosophy. These weren’t reactions of polite appreciation. These were tearful goodbyes to a life-changing story.

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Thorfinn’s final words were both a warning and a wish

Even in his farewell, Thorfinn remains true to the person he’s become. As he and the Norse depart from the island, he shouts a final warning to Kak, the self-proclaimed “king” who clings to the illusion of power through his sword.

“Throw away that sword,”

Thorfinn says.

“If you wish for the new to continue living peacefully… throw that sword into the sea.”

But Kak laughs. He holds the sword high, intoxicated by its symbolism.

This moment is painful, and Yukimura knows it. The story admits that not everyone will change. That peace is not inevitable. That even the best intentions can be undone by pride and ignorance. But Thorfinn doesn’t fight him. He doesn’t seize the sword or burn it. He leaves the choice to Kak. It’s a scene loaded with grace, restraint, and maturity.

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Why Vinland Saga’s ending worked when others didn’t

In 2025, fans watched other beloved manga fumble the finish line. Complex arcs collapsed under their own weight. Philosophical themes were traded for fan-pleasing climaxes. Pacing issues plagued stories that once promised greatness. But Vinland Saga never lost focus. Its ending was not just about how the story ended, but also why.

Yukimura stayed committed to the very first promise of the manga: That violence begets violence. That true strength lies in forgiveness. And that even if you can't change the world, you can still make your little corner of it better.

By giving us that ending that didn’t shy away from historical failure, but found beauty in trying anyway, Yukimura offered us hope in a time when fans were growing cynical.

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A masterclass in thematic closure

Too often, manga that begin with strong messages lose their thread as the series progresses. They dilute meaning in favor of action, or stretch the plot until the original spirit is unrecognizable. Yukimura never allowed that to happen with Vinland Saga. The final scenes don’t offer resolution in the typical sense, but rather a direction: forward.

Pulmuk, one of the Kipui tribe members, receives a hoe and seeds from Thorfinn. He plants wheat. It is a crop known for durability and resilience, and tend it with care. It’s an act of faith.

These seeds represent more than agriculture. They are proof that peace, however temporary, was real. This is the story’s true ending: Not victory, but the choice to build again.

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Final thoughts

In many ways, Vinland Saga isn’t just a manga. It’s a philosophical journey dressed in historical fiction. And by choosing not to end in tragedy or triumph, but in continuation, Yukimura made a statement that will linger long after 2025. This was not just the best manga ending of the year. It may be one of the best manga endings ever crafted.