Even outstanding series can fail.
Summary:
- Frieren explores a lot of interesting themes.
- It does it in a way that doesn’t work for many fans.
- The characters are the weakest point of Frieren.
- Discussing the series is more entertaining than watching it.
Frieren: Beyond Journey's End (Sousou no Frieren) is a type of series that can be discussed for hours. We can analyze its characters and their motivations, we can think about the theme of love in the series, we can praise its world for its depth and beauty, and so on. It’s easy to find a peculiar conversation topic with this anime.
There’s a Lot Going On
You can think of any theme and there’s a good chance you’ll find something about it in Frieren. There’s death and loss, there’s romantic and platonic love, there’s exploration of power, there’s evil and revenge, there are demons, elves and dragons. We could go on for ages.
That’s why it’s so interesting to participate in various online debates about the series. Fans writing essays on the portrayal of demons or the love between Himmel and Frieren has been an incredible form of entertainment.
Frieren herself has an amazing personality, so intricate that you can read a 10-page analysis of it and still not know what her next move will be.
And Yet, It Doesn’t Work
All of the above is true indeed, Frieren is a once-in-a-lifetime type of anime. But it still doesn’t work for so many people.
Online weekly episode discussions are one thing, but watching the series is a completely different experience. And while going deeper into Frieren’s world and characters feels amazing, actually watching the anime doesn’t.
The weakest point of the series is its characters. There’s very little diversity in them, a lot of them just feel the same. They talk in the same way, behave similarly, use the same phrases and have the same morals.
And yet the characters are very important for Frieren. The series has a lot of themes and topics to discuss, but it doesn’t have much to offer in terms of the actual plot. That’s why so many viewers call it “anime the side quest.” It really feels like you’re doing video game side quests a lot.
When the story is nothing outstanding, the characters become the heart of it. And if they don’t work for you, there’s nothing else a series can offer. That’s what happens with Frieren. Many fans aren’t attached to the characters at all, so the anime doesn’t work for them.
Debates Are the Best Part
Because of that, talking about Frieren might be much more entertaining for some fans than actually watching the show.
It’s curious to discuss how the magic in the series works and what’s going on between Stark and Fern, but it’s not as entertaining to watch a fight that ends in about 2 minutes in the actual series or see Fern being mad at Stark for the 100th time for no particular reason.
Moreover, it’s always interesting to talk about the series with its hardcore fans. When opinions collide, curious discussions ensue, and this is one of the best parts of any fandom experience.