Forum - View topic

EP. REVIEW: Frieren: Beyond Journey's End

On the surface, Serie fails Friren because she's not the type of mage that Serie believes Frieren should be. However, there's something much deeper at work here: insecurity. Serie's ego can't accept that Frieren did what she could not—i.e., defeat the Demon King. Objectively, she's superior to Frieren in every way—even mastering the ability to suppress her mana better than Frieren. Yet, despite having thousands of years to do so, Serie was never able to defeat the Demon King. She simply sat eternally alone on her throne of stone.

Jabootu wrote:

Or I'm talking out of my own butt.

No, I think you're on the mark with all of this. That her First-Class Mage selections don't work together well is very telling on how she regards great mages: they must be powerful on their own. This leads to the great irony that her philosophy on magic is much more similar to that of demons, which may well be part of the reason she wasn't able to defeat the Demon King herself.

The other great irony here - one which had been constructed since the early stages of the series to build to the momentous payoff this episode - is that the key to saving the world from the Demon King was not some great spell, but a simple, peaceful one. The revelation here about why Himmel specifically sought out Frieren puts a much bigger layer of extra meaning on events as far back as the statue maintenance in episode 2.

I'm going to miss this series dearly when the season is over.

So I really wouldn't call Serie insecure. A tsundere grandma, yes, insecure, no.

Amuro1X wrote:

So I really wouldn't call Serie insecure. A tsundere grandma, yes, insecure, no.

Bingo. Serie is like a disappointed parent/grandparent who knows you could be so much better at [insert here] if you simply applied yourself a little more, sweetie...

So is that old dude just learning new stuff about martial arts so he can always teach Stark everything he knows?

I love how the first time Fern sees Stark she's pouting and upset and needs him to play peacemaker and make food.

Denken is always a great mentor and grandpa even off the clock. Richter is lucky to know him. And he's practically officially Laufen's grandpa.

Frieren doesn't always get the value people place in objects, but if someone she cares about is upset, she'll do what she can to make things right.

Richter always standoffish and surly but he takes pride in his work and knows a well-maintained mages' staff when he sees it.

For someone who acts emotionally closed off and reflects on the pointlessness of human apprentices, Serie sure seems mindful of their personalities and achievements and even lightly praises them. What a tsundere!

Well, now both Kanna and Lawine can commiserate and headpat each other over failing! I guess it's probably for the best that neither passed so as to not lord it over the other (and they work best as a pair and probably individually were not ready to be 1st Rank Mages).

Ha ha, all that work and Serie fails most of them in a quick montage!

To think the Demon King was defeated not because of OP magic but because of simple flower magic that was used to comfort a child and in turn made that child seek out an elven mage who was there for him...an the rest was history. Oh, and Himmel having a childhood encounter with Frieren that began his interest in her is as much a tragic romance red flag as his blue hair.

Frieren never needed validation from Serie, she got that from Flamme and Himmel, but she knows how much potential Fern has and knows Serie can't deny it. Just like Fern could never have anyone but Frieren as a master.

I'm going to miss this series dearly when the season is over.

How is the "Blue" color related to the theme?

Quote:

I'm going to miss this series dearly when the season is over.

So will we all, I assume. The good news is that the anime is doing tremendously well in Japan, thus all but guaranteeing it a second season and hopefully a complete adaptation.

Dr. Wily wrote:

Amuro1X wrote: So I really wouldn't call Serie insecure. A tsundere grandma, yes, insecure, no. Bingo. Serie is like a disappointed parent/grandparent who knows you could be so much better at [insert here] if you simply applied yourself a little more, sweetie...

She’s 100% insecure. It will probably show it in the next episode but spoiler[she bans Frieren from entering the award ceremony so she can’t see Fern being given her mage certificate. Not only that she bans her for life from entering any of their facilities! ]

"Tremendously well" may even be an understatement; I think it's practically unheard-of for a late-night series to camp in the anime top 5 on Japanese TV, but Frieren has been doing just that most of this season. Seen vastly more fan art for it than for any other new series debuting in the past year, too.

While Serie's overly pragmatic take on magic may have been necessary in an age of endless war

It will probably show it in the next episode but spoiler[she bans Frieren from entering the award ceremony so she can’t see Fern being given her mage certificate. Not only that she bans her for life from entering any of their facilities! ]

I think it's practically unheard-of for a late-night series to camp in the anime top 5 on Japanese TV

I'm going to miss this series dearly when the season is over.