We still love him, though.
Summary:
- Himmel is a fan-favorite character.
- Everything about him screams “perfect.”
- He would look more human with more flaws.
Himmel is definitely one of the most fan-favorite characters in Frieren: Beyond Journey's End (Sousou no Frieren). And it doesn’t matter if he’s actually quite rare on their screens, fans can’t help but adore the man.
Himmel Is Exceptional
It’s true that Himmel has plenty of traits that make a good and lovable character. He’s kind and easygoing, he’s very good at forming connections with other people, he’s brave and inspirational, he’s selfless and compassionate.
And all of that is wrapped up in stunning looks. If that’s not the man of your dreams, then who is?
To make Himmel even more appealing, the story gives him a touch of narcissism. So, not only is the man handsome, but he also knows about his beauty, which adds a playful note to his personality. Himmel’s charm is a force to be reckoned with.
We could go on forever and talk about Himmel’s outstanding nature, but there’s something about him that’s missing. It might sound weird but this something is actually a flaw.
He’s Too Perfect
The beauty of interesting characters is that they have both strengths and weaknesses, and while Himmel has a lot of the former, the latter seems to be mostly missing.
Yes, we can see that even his bravery and intelligence have a limit. The demon kid was a great example of this, as Himmel genuinely didn’t know what to do with her. And it led to human deaths and suffering. But this is merely an exception and a small flaw in the sea of greatness.
This all might be because we see Himmel through Frieren’s eyes. She only remembers about him when it’s relevant to the story, and she wants to keep him in her memory as a great person, since he was the one who influenced her so much.
Frieren’s perception of Himmel is a little toned with rose-tinted glasses, and we understand that. Still, even she had to see something imperfect about him.
That’s why we can’t help but feel that something is missing about Himmel. Making him more flawed wouldn’t turn him into an unlikable character. On the contrary, it would make him more human and more relatable.
If Himmel was shown to be doubtful or even weak more often, then his strength would also look more impressive. After all, this is the secret of great character development: someone has to fall and get back up.
Mistakes and flaws are always important, and we wish Himmel had a little bit more of them, too.