Sousou no Frieren Episode 19 Discussion

Easily the least interesting part of the show so far.

The idea of the 'Stille' itself is fine, it's a tricky bird with a comedic surprise element to it that sets up an interesting conundrum. For about half an episode. Dragging this on across multiple is unforgivable.

The exam seemed like a really fun idea, I'm sure most were looking forwards to the hidden power level elf showing everyone else how it's done or that there'd be something really challenging and interesting even for her to deal with, but then as it goes it keeps getting dumber and dumber.

Making it a group effort decides the results by luck.
Not only do you risk not having the actual best (on merit) complete the exam because the two others drag them down, but you get some of the worst mages passing because they happened to be with those who can do it by themselves (provided the group passes together).
Capturing the bird is an interesting premise, until you realize that this isn't about a mage proving their worth, it's about being able to figure out an esoteric puzzle with no practical value - Don't get me wrong, I understand the theme and importance of mana detection (which has now gone on for a bit much), but surely there has to be far better ways of testing this specific ability without even giving it away.

Put a 'Stille' in a high ceiling room with plenty of places where it can hide. "There's a bird in here, tell me where it is." "Okay, very good, now how would you go about capturing it? You have 20 minutes to devise a plan and execute it."

Ah but instead they put probably the single most important resource in this world, mages, at risk by pitting them against each other in a Battle Royale, only to get maybe the best, maybe the worst of them coming out of it.

Notice, by the way, how apart from a couple of people everyone looks like they're from a high school anime. Is anyone else feeling that the "rank 1" exam is only being taken by people who should not have any business doing so?

Until this point the story's been a joy, but not only is this a little too out there, the dialogue is mind numbingly boring and the edgy antagonistic blowhards that have been introduced feel incongruent. I just hope it's all resolved within a couple of minutes of the next episode and that it moves on fast.

Easily the least interesting part of the show so far.

The idea of the 'Stille' itself is fine, it's a tricky bird with a comedic surprise element to it that sets up an interesting conundrum. For about half an episode. Dragging this on across multiple is unforgivable.

The exam seemed like a really fun idea, I'm sure most were looking forwards to the hidden power level elf showing everyone else how it's done or that there'd be something really challenging and interesting even for her to deal with, but then as it goes it keeps getting dumber and dumber.

Making it a group effort decides the results by luck.
Not only do you risk not having the actual best (on merit) complete the exam because the two others drag them down, but you get some of the worst mages passing because they happened to be with those who can do it by themselves (provided the group passes together).
Capturing the bird is an interesting premise, until you realize that this isn't about a mage proving their worth, it's about being able to figure out an esoteric puzzle with no practical value - Don't get me wrong, I understand the theme and importance of mana detection (which has now gone on for a bit much), but surely there has to be far better ways of testing this specific ability without even giving it away.

Put a 'Stille' in a high ceiling room with plenty of places where it can hide. "There's a bird in here, tell me where it is." "Okay, very good, now how would you go about capturing it? You have 20 minutes to devise a plan and execute it."

Ah but instead they put probably the single most important resource in this world, mages, at risk by pitting them against each other in a Battle Royale, only to get maybe the best, maybe the worst of them coming out of it.

Notice, by the way, how apart from a couple of people everyone looks like they're from a high school anime. Is anyone else feeling that the "rank 1" exam is only being taken by people who should not have any business doing so?

Until this point the story's been a joy, but not only is this a little too out there, the dialogue is mind numbingly boring and the edgy antagonistic blowhards that have been introduced feel incongruent. I just hope it's all resolved within a couple of minutes of the next episode and that it moves on fast.

Do we know how Ferns team captured the Stille? Honestly they seem like a perfect test, but also not really all that spicy for THE highest class of mages. Still having third and second classes die like flies to the monsters seems like a bad idea for the country? I guess if they lose to monsters like that they are weak anyway.

Curious if there is a deeper reason for why magic is rarer now than Frieren remembers. Sounds like an important bit of lore.

This show gets labeled as SoL but the action is actually really good, so Im looking forward to a good fight next ep and maayyybe Frieren showing off a little, because everyone there seems like small fry and I think after she ended Aura first class mages should be better if demons ever come around.

PS: Only 9 eps left now. I hope we will be graced with a second season, the quality is just too good

@Comander-07
the same way frieren captured it

@JOJOOOOOOOOOOOO so fern sat completely still next to a body of water and waited?

These shounenish fight scenes with a bunch of self-conceited teens with their untimely battle monologues (who additionally are more focused on looking cool than on what they are actually doing) bore the hell out of me. I hope this arc won't be dragged out long.

@tekalook Yes. She basically a storm caster. Lawine is the same, when there is rain, her spell could be dangerous as she basically can turn the whole rain drop to become a ice rock.

Once again showing the genius and battle experience of Frieren and Fern.
Frieren devises a plan befitting her monster strength.
Fern on the other hand, calmly toys with her opponent with no intention of injuring them until she gets the information she wants.
The moment Fern learns that her teammate is in danger, the fact that she doesn't want to fight Wirbel because he's stronger than her and says "So desu ka?" tells you all you need to know about what her reaction/next action is going to be.

Wirbel is stronger and way more experience then Fern (Fern was able to kill 1 strong demon. Wirbel wage war with demons for 20+ years. Not to mention that situation in the North is way more dangerous then in the area close to Central lands)
+
Wirbel has very convenient magic to win open fight against Fern

These shounenish fight scenes with a bunch of self-conceited teens with their untimely battle monologues (who additionally are more focused on looking cool than on what they are actually doing) bore the hell out of me. I hope this arc won't be dragged out long.

@Comander-07 her mana concealment is better than frieren and she also has bird capturing magic

It was played as an accident

Wtf that ending was so abrupt.