12 Anime That Make You Root For The Villain

Vinland Saga is an anime about Vikings, and to put it plainly, Vikings are dicks.

When you're watching any kind of show or movie about the Norsemen, you'll have to accept that the characters will do some reprehensible things, as that's just what Vikings did. By that logic, it's tough even to call Askleadd a full-on villain, as his sins only exist to help him survive a dog-eat-dog world. Still, he is the object of revenge for the protagonist (Thorfinn), so he fits the bill.

Despite being the antagonist of the series, Askleadd was simply damn likeable. He was cool, skilled, clever and had a deep set of convictions. Not to mention, his tragic backstory tugged at your heartstrings. Throughout the show, he developed fascinating plans and schemes. Following along with them, hoping they would succeed, helped make the series enthralling.

Plus, although he killed Thorfinn's dad (yikes), it would be a lie to say that Askeladd didn't take on the reigns of a father figure. It may have been in a twisted way, but he did look out for Thorfinn and helped him become the person he was, for better or worse. That's another reason why it was so hard to root against him.