I’m here, in the wee hours of the morning, at almost two, wrapping up the last episodes of Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End and feeling this dull, echoing ache that only some storytelling can convey. It’s not the sorrow of something being poor quality, left undone, but rather the emptiness that exists after something important ends. Frieren was never just an anime I sat through and then left behind, but rather an education, one that was carefully and meticulously conveyed, through what may very well be the best-told example in the history of the format.
Essentially, Frieren is about the elvish mage who lives for well over a thousand years and is remembered for all eternity for her role within the legendary party who defeated the Demon King. However, rather than exploring this aspect, the story takes off after this victory, when for the rest of the party the journey represents what might be considered the defining moments of one’s life, but for Frieren only represents a short interlude before the real story truly begins. It is just this aspect of the show that makes it so resonant and powerful, in that it shows us over time just what Frieren truly understood about her companions: that she understood each and every one of them far more thoroughly than she realized.
This, in my opinion, is what makes Frieren so special. It is not a story about learning how to care, but how to know when to care. The process of Frieren’s development is one of belated realization, where feelings arise long, long after the occasion that brought those feelings about. She sets out on her adventures not as a way of revisiting her past, but as a means of making better sense of it, and as a way for her not to make the same mistake twice. The need to do everything at a slower pace, build connections in a measured fashion, and help without expecting anything in return is exceedingly humane, even for an immortal like Frieren.
Including Frieren with Fern and Stark in each episode was one of the most crucial aspects of the series. If Frieren had been left by herself, it would have been impossible for time to pass as it should, as her development as a human could not have been more abstract. Fern and Stark ground her reality. The act of sharing meals, long walks, musing conversations, as well as uncomfortable silences, teaches Frieren what it means to live life together with people rather than just alongside them. This allows her own pursuit of understanding people to be possible.
But the beacon of emotion in the whole series is, on the other hand, Himmel. Himmel is remembered in the series as a hero, obviously, for having overcome the forces of evil, but even more so for the manner in which he treated people without the possibility of being judged in return. As a human, he lived a very short life, but he had a colossal impact on the world. It takes a while for Frieren to fully comprehend the extent to which he was loved.
Perhaps one of the most potent parts of the final episode occurs when Frieren talks to a fellow magician who passed first-class exams. He asserts that he assists others, not because that would change the world, but because Himmel taught that even small acts make a difference. Helping an individual is about more than your reach—it’s about your reflection, and how performing an action affects your own development. This notion captures, perfectly, Frieren’s theme that meaning exists not in grand but genuine actions.
Aside from the themes, Frieren is outstanding in terms of its delivery. It has the kind of pacing that is slow but not in a bad way; it lets the feelings sink in. It also contains action sequences that are unbelievable in the best way; they’re always clean, fluid, and always in balance with the story. It has characters that seem to have been carefully crafted, to the point that I have considered some of them among my favorites. If you are in the market for a show that can genuinely alter your outlook on things, serve as a comfort during a lonely moment or two, or deliver nothing more than a good story in the best of senses, then ‘Frieren’ does not ever disappoint in any fashion. As a show with so few total installments—only 28 before the first season has concluded—it’s surprisingly well-rounded yet also leaves you thirsty for more of what’s on the way. As the second season of ‘Frieren’ draws near, it has solidified a spot within the ranks of the best anime that I have ever been privileged enough to watch inasmuch as it does so with ‘Attack on Titan’ in the sense that it knows exactly how it can have the most impact. Above all, what Frieren teaches you is to cherish what you have around you: folks in your life, time with them, moments that you think you always have. Because, ultimately, it is possible that looking back, you’d find that it was precisely those transient moments which mattered. Overall, 10/10.
50 out of 55 users liked this review
