This episode closed the season well. The losses and twists made sense, and the writers and actors held the suspense well. They expertly finished the season with suspense while minimizing cliffhangers that would otherwise ruin the season (not that there are no cliffhangers, but the season felt finished and ready for a new chapter).
This episode particular showed the strides that the team has made with the art style. The end credits scene shows tremendous promise, but the entire episode was excellently animated.
Having read 'North! Or Be Eaten', there is a lot that was lost in this episode that just doesn't fit the television/streaming format well. If one has not read the books, then nothing will be missed though.
This episode made season 2 stand very well on its own, and it set up the next season very well without being dissatisfying on its own.