"Are you alright?"
I suppose I should state that while I intend to review Frieren, I will occasionally leave bits of myself in this review because I find it fitting when I think of how a thousand year old elf made me feel. For more of my episodic thoughts, feel free to check out my commentaries on an episode-by-episode basis I wrote throughout my time watching the show. Please enjoy the journey :)
I miss a friend of mine. It's been years but he occasionally pops into my head as a memory. I keep going forward but there's no forward for him anymore. Is it okay to cry? Is it okay to laugh? I don't think I'll ever truly know unless we meet again.
I can only offer a flower or two, please let it bloom in memory of you.
"You are my hero." Hearing a variation of those words has stuck by me to today. Maybe, you were my hero too.
There's beauty in everything but the biggest beauty is you.
There are many roads in life, and they all led me to you.
We laughed and had a good time.
It's the truth, I have such an impression of you.
Sometimes we meet people along the way for a short while.
Maybe I am how I am because of you. So thank you.
"I'm alright (I'll be alright)"
Maybe what I have to do is whisper our lullaby for you to come back home...
I heard this question once, and my whole world changed.
I heard it again and again with the Frieren ED and my world changed again.
The thing about it though is, I didn't know it at the time.
There's something about being asked this question that just makes me ponder life. It's reflective in a way that makes me appreciate the life I've lived and the people I've met.
It's a sad question too because occasionally I can't respond. If I respond, I would admit to not being okay.
And yet, there are times I can respond. I respond because I can sense that I am valued by the person asking the question.
Life is about making an impression isn't it? It's about truly feeling human and the emotions that come with that.
Frieren taught me this lesson again. With just about every single episode if we're being exact.
An elf teaching me what it means to be human, slightly ironic isn't it?
I suppose I should state that while I intend to review Frieren, I will occasionally leave bits of myself in this review because I find it fitting when I think of how a thousand year old elf made me feel. For more of my episodic thoughts, feel free to check out my commentaries on an episode-by-episode basis I wrote throughout my time watching the show. Please enjoy the journey :)
I miss a friend of mine. It's been years but he occasionally pops into my head as a memory. I keep going forward but there's no forward for him anymore. Is it okay to cry? Is it okay to laugh? I don't think I'll ever truly know unless we meet again.
When we first meet Frieren, we see her and the adventures she goes through. Her party consists of Himmel the Hero, Heiter the Priest, and Eisen the Dwarf. All four journey together to defeat the Demon King and therefore leave their names in lore.
This just sounds like any usual story doesn't it?
To many, it probably does. To Frieren, it was just ten years. Just ten years she remembers dearly. Just ten years we remember clearly.
We see all the laughs and moments and celebrations. We see the bond they make and how to Himmel and Heiter especially, this journey was their life. Frieren will keep going (as will Eisen to an extent), but because Himmel and Heiter are just human, time will take them away.
Frieren reunites with her party some time down the line and as predicted, age caught up. A few more laughs lead to one big cry. Himmel's passing hits Frieren and all the tears come out.
It was just ten years....but those years were so lively and dear.
I can only offer a flower or two, please let it bloom in memory of you.
A thing this show does is use Himmel's passing as a timeline. Whether it's a year after or twenty, time in a way stopped right then and there so it's only the after once it went past this moment. As time passes, we see the meaning in Himmel's passing as a stopgap.
See, this is Frieren's journey. And when Hinmel died, so did a part of her life. It's just that...she has to keep going.
She encounters old Heiter again and while not a footnote, he leaves her with a student too. Fern in a way becomes Frieren's daughter now. The funny part is she's a mage too but wouldn't you know it, Frieren only somewhat likes magic. How can she teach when her strength isn't as seemingly powerful as it can be? Easy really, Frieren is good at magic and before long, Fern will be too. She just has to be given some years as any flower should.
Time advances some and Frieren sees Eisen once more. After some reflections and conversations she takes up the offer of taking on Eisen's student too. This student is a different sort of flower however and the immediate impression from him is partially a facade. This person isn't a hero is he? Maybe he also has yet to bloom. A stark contrast to what we consider heroes to be really.
"You are my hero." Hearing a variation of those words has stuck by me to today. Maybe, you were my hero too.
When a hero is approached, does he cower?
In some way, he does. But if not him then who? Eisen went through this ordeal and the bravest thing he did was confront the enemy head on even if he had some fear in him. His student, Stark, similarly parallels this in what's to be a battle with a dragon.
Ask Himmel however, and a hero is simply someone who has made the smallest change in someone's life. If you're carried in a memory far past your time, then you are a hero too.
It's not just about fulfilling a prophecy (as a later episode brings up) and it's not just about defeating enemies. It's about everything else. It's about helping life by stepping forward or saying something. And that's the message (one of many) that Frieren leaves on us.
You saved a day whether through words or actions.
With Frieren, Fern, and Stark now together we are expected to see this expectation met a lot more.
There's beauty in everything but the biggest beauty is you.
I suppose it's the romantic in me but a lot of this show is beautiful. Whether it's the characters, the themes, the settings, or the chemistry among some figures...it all leaves an impression.
I haven't even addressed it as I've just been giving an explanation of the plot and biggest theme but upon seeing the first minute, this show is truly art.
There were even moments of silence that left me in awe because something like the sky felt so alive.
But the OPs and the EDs, especially the first variation of the ED, just have a profound attraction to them which evokes many feelings. There's just a lot going on whether it's the lyrics, the filling sound, or even the visuals. ED 2 has a wandering Frieren for example! A lot of heart exists in this show's animation. Musically too really, as Evan Call's talents enhance a scene either intensely or soothing but always intently.
Genuinely one of the most pleasant to the eyes and ears experiences I've ever encountered.
Whether it's a fight against a dragon, a fight against demons, a fight against other mages, or even a fight against oneself...all of it was truly visually appealing. Even flowers blooming were such a sight to see!
It's very beautiful really, just like the character designs too (it's hard to deny Frieren doesn't have a strong look).
There are many roads in life, and they all led me to you.
Life... is odd. I firmly believe the best connections happen when you least expect them and in some indirect way, this show does show that.
See, this show is about Frieren and Fern and Stark. But as we go, we encounter new characters of importance too. Characters who strongly have character.
Another elf in Kraft crosses their path. Another priest in Sein crosses their time. Another mage in Denken crosses their path taken(along with the other participants of the mage exam). Another and another and another. All different people. All with their own stories to tell.
A very strong example of how this show not only gets the worldbuilding right but gives personality to it is through Sein's story. Sein is a priest who is stuck in his town to support his brother. His friend, Gorilla Warrior, had left ahead on a journey leaving Sein behind. I chose this example in particular for a couple of reasons.
We get depth within depth. Sein's story is he always wanted to be an adventurer. He just stayed for his brother. Life passed him by until Frieren and the others came along. All this time however, his passion just about flamed out but ultimately won out. Even a drunk priest can become an adventurer no? And yes, that's a throwback reference to Frieren's former partner in Heiter.
What's the story of Gorilla Warrior however? Not a gorilla, his name was chosen due to being memorable. A small but true fact about being an adventurer is that your name should stand out to easily be remembered.
Thematically, all this is provided within one backstory and character introduction. In other words, this show has details in the details.
If we consider someone else like Übel for example, we also see the depth to her but that she's also kinda evil. Simply tell someone about her scissors and they'd understand if they saw the show. A very crazy type of lady, Übel has spawned a ton of love (her appearances alone get the internet roaring) and to be fair, this is all due to how strong and memorable her personality and design are. But also, she's worth dying for isn't she?
I can say the same for any character really. Making sense of Sense, mimicking Frieren and her faces, pouting for Fern, being him like Himmel, staying grounded like Land, or making a series out of Serie....everyone has their own uniqueness and that's something that makes this show as strong as it is.
We laughed and had a good time.
This show is funny. I can freely admit it made me laugh much more than I expected. It's so expressive too. Just look at Frieren face for the best example. :3
Or well, I should say Frieren faces. Whether it's a smirk at her clothing dissolving potion or her amusement at going after treasure even if they're mimics, her expressions come across strongly.
There were also moments that in passing couldn't help but be funny. Stark waking up to being next to Kraft in bed utterly confused, Fern's small hostility (projection) of Stark's perversion, the reactions to Frieren's seduction techniques, and even Frieren simply lying down on Fern's lap to rest but giving up because of a blocked view. All these moments got some laughs out of me.
Frankly, this show has a sense of humor that just lands and it's quite magical.
While not overly reliant on being direct in telling the jokes at times, the 'show not tell' method works wonders in breaking tension or long drawn out moments.
If I had to choose a couple of scenarios to best exemplify this, I'd choose the difference in reactions to Frieren's flying kiss when done to Sein compared to Himmel. Or even a different example works, the many times Frieren falls for mimic treasure chests.
It's a blend of genres in a way even if it strongly carries a slice of life one. This isn't even accounting for the shonen aspects of the show.
Funny how it makes everything work.
It's the truth, I have such an impression of you.
This show has many rotating themes on top of the main underlying one that is present due to Himmel.
Among those is the presence of deception. Whether it exists as a lie in order to build false confidence in Stark (when he's said to scare the dragon), maintaining faith in a kingdom (as was the case with the beautiful dance episode), attempting to form an uncommon relationship (as the demons pretend to be humane), or even in not showing the extent of one's ability (as Frieren frequently does in battles by hiding her mana); deception exists greatly here. Even the surprise fan favorite Übel hides her sadistic nature.
Simply put, this show covers so much. Even themes it revisits such as what's the meaning of being a hero happen to feel new each time it's presented.
I suppose I am repeating myself in making it perfectly clear that there is much more than surface level in this show but truth be told, it's not as if the show does anything too new. It just pours love in masterfully crafting and evoking emotion per scene. And that's what the biggest impression laid upon me has been. The care taken in what amounts to Frieren's world.
The flashbacks for example. They're integrated perfectly with the flow of the episode they appear in. Do we know why Frieren looks to search every room and floor of a dungeon even if she knows the direction of the boss? It's because of her time with the Hero's Party, and specifically due to Himmel's love for exploring.
Mimics may present a 99% chance of having nothing, but that 1% chance they have something is worth heading headstrong and head-on into the head of probable danger.
So much love is put into every moment and detail and line of dialogue and in basic terms, it's pretty much inspiring. It inspires to love and feel as if I hadn't loved and felt before.
Sometimes we meet people along the way for a short while.
Frieren's journey does not just stop at meeting Fern and Stark as I've alluded to already. Nor to her previous party.
She meets so many people. Of these, Sein is the one who joins the group. He joins until he has to leave.
What struck me with this in particular is the fact that Sein leaving felt bittersweet. We were given just enough individual moments of him as well as moments with the others to the point a bond with him as part of the group was developed.
So imagine having a new companion only for them to have to leave. Would you feel happy for them? Sad that you won't have them around anymore? This show did an excellent job at presenting this situation.
Before leaving, we had seen Sein's capabilities in battle as well as his many observations of which he points out how Fern and Stark should get together (just like we all agree on). This lover of older women brought such joy in such a short time, and in life this can be the case too.
I suppose it's to be restated but this show makes every character leave an impression on the viewer. It's kind of characteristic of a real masterpiece isn't it?
Even the whole second half with the mage exams, about 10 important enough characters were introduced. All these characters made me miss them too by the time the show reached its conclusion.
Maybe I am how I am because of you. So thank you.
I think, personally, the biggest novelty this show gives us is the callbacks to Frieren's original party. On some occasions it's just an embedded memory as it happens to be when she sees the sword in the stone. On other occasions, it's based on previous promises such as meat in a certain restaurant remaining the same flavor over time. But on every single occurrence, the fact remains, Frieren was heavily influenced by her time spent with Himmel and the others.
And that...is truly how life goes.
We see this with Fern as well. She battles in the way Frieren taught her. She develops her personality similar to Frieren too just more pouty.
With Frieren, we get occasional ruthlessness (especially against demons) due in part to her mentor Flamme. Or even her love of a spell to make flowers out of magic. We also get adapted mannerisms such as Frieren's love for random spells and stopping to help even with the smallest tasks (thanks in part to Himmel).
It's a gentle reminder that the life we give is what carries others forward.
"I'm alright (I'll be alright)"
Honestly, I haven't addressed some of the noticeable things here. Things such as the stylistically and visually beautiful duels as well as how well choreographed movements seem to be. I also haven't given much note of how fitting the OST comes into play when it's necessitated. Or how just about every sequence makes this show feel like a true grand journey to the end. A true beautiful showcase of all this is the second mage exam.
I haven't mentioned all this because there's simply too much to say for this show. With all respect too, the highest impact it leaves on the viewer in my opinion, is how seamlessly an elf makes you appreciate the things that have existed.
As perhaps the grandest example of all, the ring Himmel gave to Frieren is what stood out as most endearing. Frieren losing it sent her on an unresting search for it and only until she finds it do we find out the meaning behind the ring and the memory.
Himmel meant the world to Frieren.
He's no longer around but even then, his presence lives on. Frieren will be alright.
In my personal life, I assuredly will be alright too even if I've been brought down. As will yours in what can possibly be some trying times :) I promise that.
Maybe what I have to do is whisper our lullaby for you to come back home...
What I tend to believe, or rather what I tell myself when I get sad, is that everything happens for a reason. Things happen, life exists - it's born and it passes. What matters is remembering. What matters, is that your path crossed theirs. What matters, is you.
It's so selfish to say this but the fact pain remains from those who pass can be a positive thing. It's selfish to say this but having no imminent regret is the way to go because if you see a person you felt dearly about again, you can tell them how much they helped you grow. It's selfish to say this but an elf did not entirely make me realize all this, she just helped me express it.
To cry and laugh and smile and feel, an elf simply gave me a road to find these feelings again.
It's ironic really. An elf teaching me what it means to be human. An elf, who pretty much appeals to how to best carry a person with you will now be a part of me too due to this season's conclusion.
How I wish the things that have been said could be said again. How I wish the things that have been seen could be seen again.
But you know what? Knowing all this is the beauty of life. A new day comes for those who remain and those yet to arrive. So thank you for having existed and still existing.
And thank you to this journey Frieren invited us on....invited me on.
I shouldn't entirely be sad about an ending, because after all, it would be embarrassing when we met again.
Anytime, anywhere....it's alright.