Obviously in every show there are episodes of action and calm. We often focus on the action, but really without the calm we get in episodes like this we would not see the magic of action. This is not a criticism of this episode, but a praise, as making an episode about farming interesting requires depth of plot and character.
This season has revitalised Vinland Saga. The dynamic of this episode was unlike anything in the show previous, and hopping into this season without watching the first would probably still work. There was no effort required to watch this episode, just farming, and probably most notably, we got to see Thorfinn again.
In the past 2 episodes, Thorfinn hasn't felt like the protagonist any more, and yet his new appearance reflects his regret and unwillingness to act. He has matured, and even in 1 episode Einar has done the same, and their growth will surely continue through the remainder of tje season.
The other thing about this episode was that it had some mild comedy in it. It reminded me of Araki's humour in Jojo and the dramatic irony worked well. I think the thing about Vinland Saga that I love is how well it achieves anything it aspires to.
I look forward to the following episode - I have not been let down by the second season thus far.