 https://myanimelist.net/anime/52991/Sousou_no_Frieren Synopsis The mage Frieren defeated the Demon King alongside the hero Himmel's party after a 10-year quest. Peace was restored to the kingdom. Because she is an elf, she is able to live over a thousand years. She promises Himmel and the others that she will be back to see them and then sets out on a journey by herself. Fifty years later, Frieren goes to visit Himmel and the others. She remained unchanged, but Himmel and the others have aged and only a little of their lives remain. Later, she witnesses Himmel's death. Frieren is pained by her desire to have spent more time getting to know people. With that regret in her heart, she then goes on a journey to do just that. On her journey, she meets many people and many events await her. Information Type: TV Episodes: 28 Status: Currently Airing Aired: Sep 29, 2023 to ? Premiered: Fall 2023 Broadcast: Fridays at 21:00 (JST) Producers: TOHO animation, Shogakukan Licensors: None found, add some Studios: Madhouse Source: Manga Genres: Adventure, Drama, Fantasy |
HOOfan_1Oct 13, 2023 9:42 AM
| Wow, they dropped 4 episodes at once...not sure how I feel about that |
| The special episode has been split into four episodes rather than all being labeled as episode 0 or 1 as is what usually happens when shows begin with a special episode like Oshi no Ko. For the first episode, Frieren mourns the death of Himmel, which is just one of many former comrades she bids farewell to over her centuries-long life. She was very close to Himmel, and afterwards she pays Heiter a visit as he's getting old himself, and spending the rest of his life raising his daughter Fern, who Heiter sees great potential in, though Frieren doesn't think so. But they get to know each other better, and a great relationship is forming. Great start with the mood being perfectly set, all while it maintains its focus in a big way. This manga series is ongoing, and I can imagine that the series ends with Frieren herself finally passing away, and doing so completely at peace without any regrets. |
| That was some top tier premiere. Everything was good, music, animation, storyboarding, direction, etc. Almost felt like I was watching Lord of the Rings or something. Madhouse absolutely crushed this. Though I will say... I like Yoasobi but she definitely was not an ideal OP pick for a show like this. |
| I'm a cultured degenerate. |
| As a manga reader (I'm about 6 volumes in), I'll be watching this. Fair warning: |
| Away from the things of man, my love, away from the things of man. |
| Episode 2 This episode is all about Frieren giving Heiter a proper sendoff, and Frieren becomes friends with his daughter Fern. 26 years since Himmel's death with Fern becoming a teen, Frieren comes across a statue of Himmel the Hero, whose legend has been largely forgotten and his stateus being neglected. Granted, Himmel was somebody who like to show off, but even so the statue deserves better. While searching for the blue moon weed, she can't help but to look back at her time with Himmel. Episode 3 Frieren trains Fern, and gives her some real life battle experience against a demon lord Frieren sealed 80 years ago, Qual. His magic was quite dangerous, but with 80 years of research and fine-tuning, the humans have come up with Zoltraak that counters his dangerous magic. So Qual is finally gone and magic is really evolving. Episode 4 To end this special, Frieren and Fern head to the coast to clean up the beach in time to ring in the new year. While Fern has been busting her butt, Frieren has been sleeping in late as she's not exactly functional in cold weather. And then more recollections as she sees an old comrade in Eisen the dwarf, who she used to adventure with alongside Heiter and Himmel. After some more reminescing, it's off to the northern continent of Ende to find Aureole, and it was because of Eisen that Frieren took in Fern as her apprentice as she totally missed the point about what apprentices are all about. And it ends with Frieren and Fern embarking on a ten-year adventure to Ende. Pretty impressive start here as it got four episodes to set its foundation, and that's exactly what it does and more. Madhouse does an excellent job with the animation as the style sets the mood perfectly. |
| I've watched the first two episodes so far, and it reminds me a bit of Elaina the Wondering Witch, if Elaina wasn't a narcissist. Also kind of reminds me of To Your Eternity...a long lived person meeting various people and outliving them and ruminating on them. Didn't To Your Eternity do the thing with a bunch of people talking over each other as the preview too? |
| Well, it started out as Sad Elf: The Anime but she seems to be turning around. |
| I watched the first episode, and it looks pretty good. It's a ridiculously generic fantasy world, but that particular setting is popular for a reason, I guess. It's on my watch list. |
| Did Kazuo Ishiguro write this... That was wonderful and sort of melancholy I hope Frieren is able to dispel her regrets |
| Quantum ille canis est in fenestra |
| Well, this was great. There wasn't anything I disliked about it. The animation was beautiful, the writing was amazing, I like the character designs, the humor was genuinely funny without being distracting and it was well directed. I watched the first episode of To Your Eternity and it felt very manipulative so I didn't watch the rest. I bring that up because this reminded me of that, except this has an actual story to tell and doesn't come off like it's just trying to make the audience feel sad. |
| Cursive is the future. - Nate Bargatze |
| Episode 5 It's off to the north to see Aureole, a journey that will last years. But before they embark on their journey, they run into the solar dragon that had been terrorizing the land. Frieren approaches Stark hoping that he can slay the dragon, but it turns out that Stark is actually a coward, an even though he only scared the dragon away somehow with his presence, the village hails him as a hero. But despite all that, Stark is capable of some powerful moves with the ax. That guy does have some screws loose, but he is just trying to be honest about the situation, all while Frieren is trying to bring out his potential. Great to see Frieren making an impact on somebody as she's determined to recruit Stark to her party. |
| I gotta believe that this is more than one cours....I don't want to think this show would be half way over only 3 weeks into the new season |
Reply to HOOfan_1
I gotta believe that this is more than one cours....I don't want to think this show would be half way over only 3 weeks into the new season
| @HOOfan_1 It's already confirmed that it's 2 consecutive cours |
| I'm a cultured degenerate. |
| Episode 6 And after Eisen shares his experience in battling the dragon seeing that Stark was taught and trained by Eisen, that's passed down to Stark and this time he slays the dragon for real. Afterwards, Stark joins the party on their journey to the north, and Stark forms a close relationship with Fern. Frieren sure felt a bit uneasy there seeing that Stark called her an old hag, and while she is old, she doesn't look the part, and not to mention she won't be able to do her magical research for awhile. Great to know more about Stark as he's definitely a great fit for this party. |
| It's so weird how even when they are fighting for their life, this show has an iyashikei vibe. Poor Stark...the only male in a party with 2 females, and the one closest to his age is already ragging on him. I see they now list it as 28 episodes |
| That dragon fight was beautiful. It's a shame it wasn't longer. |
| Cursive is the future. - Nate Bargatze |
| Oof, that was a literal low blow on Stark there. |
Reply to HOOfan_1
It's so weird how even when they are fighting for their life, this show has an iyashikei vibe.
Poor Stark...the only male in a party with 2 females, and the one closest to his age is already ragging on him.
I see they now list it as 28 episodes
Poor Stark...the only male in a party with 2 females, and the one closest to his age is already ragging on him.
I see they now list it as 28 episodes
HOOfan_1 said: I see they now list it as 28 episodes It was always going to be 2 consecutive cours but there was confusion whether it'd be 25 episodes or 28 episodes. The 2-hour long special premiere was just a special theatrical edit of the first four episodes. Official Japanese TV programs aired it as 4 episodes so therefore the official episode count is 28 episodes. |
| I'm a cultured degenerate. |
| Episode 7 The journey to the north begins with Frieren's party going to a town where her previous party is pretty famous and statues of them are erected there to do some shopping. But while they are in town demons have infiltrated the walls, and Frieren is agitated by their appearance. But these demons didn't come into town to pick a fight and Frieren gets thrown in the slammer for believing that. As it turns out, these demons led by Lugner are envoys for peace and want to put an end to the fighting. Or at least on the surface that's what they want, but Frieren understands their true nature to take up the human language to deceive humans. Frieren is well aware that this is all just a deception, and knowing that Frieren is the only thing that can throw the plan out the window that Draht is sent to kill her. Things are getting really ugly here as the humans are all too trusting of the demons there, but Frieren arrived at just the right time to know that what they are saying are nothing but lies as a means to get them to drop their guard to let the demons swarm into town. |
| That last line by Frieren would probably have Cid Kagenou standing in ovation, and that episode title for next week could give us a Shadow type performance. This kind of reminds me of the tale of the scorpion and the frog "it's in our nature". Also the Sigfried and Roy tiger attack...you think they are safe and tame, but it doesn't take much to have then turn on you. |
Reply to MenchiK1
FINALLY a show that depicts demons as actual monsters! And deliciously disturbing ones at that "mom...a magic word", "what's a father?". Love it, this show gets better every week. Can't wait to see Frieren lay the smack down on these guys. Love how the real story remains Frieren's journey and what would be the major plot of another show are just little side stories here. :)
MenchiK1 said: FINALLY a show that depicts demons as actual monsters! The Demons in Idaten Deities are similar in manipulating humans to kill them. Some of the ogres in Peachboy Riverside as well...plus another show this season seems to be taking a similar track |
HOOfan_1Oct 21, 2023 11:17 AM
Reply to MenchiK1
FINALLY a show that depicts demons as actual monsters! And deliciously disturbing ones at that "mom...a magic word", "what's a father?". Love it, this show gets better every week. Can't wait to see Frieren lay the smack down on these guys. Love how the real story remains Frieren's journey and what would be the major plot of another show are just little side stories here. :)
MenchiK1 said: FINALLY a show that depicts demons as actual monsters! And deliciously disturbing ones at that "mom...a magic word", "what's a father?". Love it, this show gets better every week. Can't wait to see Frieren lay the smack down on these guys. Love how the real story remains Frieren's journey and what would be the major plot of another show are just little side stories here. :) I was worried when I saw the demon girl that they were going to kawaii-desu us but they went full, actual monster. Not the usual "Oh, they're just misunderstood". |
| Freiren really believes in the sink or swim method of teaching doesn't she...although I think Stark is more in danger of dying from Fern's rejection of everything about him than he is of being killed by a demon at this point. |
| Episode 8 Frieren shows just how powerful she is in making quick work of Draht. And with a demon's body disintegrating upon death and the guard beheaded that it means Frieren is the one who is ultimately going to get the blame for killing the guard. In the meantime, Luger and Linie show their true colors as they attack Gratan, but Fern comes just in the nick of time to save them. Frieren shows why she's gotten the moniker Frieren the Slayer, and not to mention she knew that Luger and the other demons were just putting on a facade there that would fool most humans. |
| Fern should have immediately lined up a second shot. None of this talking nonsense. |
| I think's it's an interesting twist on the way demons are often portrayed with how these demons use language. A lot of times demons are portrayed as deal makers who have to stick to the letter of what they say. These demons don't do that, but language is still important to them as a means of getting an advantage over humans. runec said: I think her and Stark's lack of experience is what held them back in that fight. They're both strong enough. They just don't know how to deal with demons. If Frieren had told Fern that the attack magic she'd been taught was especially deadly to demons she might not have been so hesitant about pressing the attack.Fern should have immediately lined up a second shot. None of this talking nonsense. marklebid said: So she's basically 'Dead End' for demons.Rather than use the word 'slayer' I think 'undertaker' would have been a better translation for her nickname among demons. |
| Cursive is the future. - Nate Bargatze |
| Episode 9 As it turns out, this isn't the first time Aura attacked the town as did it back when the Graf's grandfather ran the place, and it was Frieren who saved the town back then. As such, she's fully acquitted for everything that happened. But now Fern is fighting Lugner and Stark is fighting Linie as with mana-infused blood on them, those demons were able to track them. Lugner nearly impaled Fern, but Fern got her staff to blast him to bits. And Linie gave Stark a hard time seeing that she can imitate techniques from others that includes his master Eisen. But Stark got up and turned the tables. Now all that's left is for Frieren to take Aura down. |
| I never thought we'd see that much fighting in one episode of this show. Too good. |
| Cursive is the future. - Nate Bargatze |
| Fern hit Stark with the "you almost sounded cool for a second there" look after he said he was going to beg Frieren to come back. I'm not sure why Frieren didn't go out to face Aura knowing she would have to kill her from the beginning, unless Frieren wasn't sure that she could kill her...I guess the two demons killed in this episode died from overconfidence, so Frieren is trying to keep from falling into that trap herself. |
| Not the show I was expecting to get epic fight scenes from. |
| I wonder what the priest brought to the hero's party if he couldn't do magic? (No spoilers please, I expect we'll get shown in a flashback eventually) HOOfan_1 said: She said last episode that she hated fighting strong opponents too. So she asked Aura to just turn around and leave at first. Knowing how strong Aura is, she must have gone out there not exactly wanting to fight her, but knowing she would have to anyway. And knowing the fight might be more difficult since she'd decided to not just blast away at all the puppets, like she did last time, may have made her even more reluctant to have to fight.I'm not sure why Frieren didn't go out to face Aura knowing she would have to kill her from the beginning, unless Frieren wasn't sure that she could kill her. |
| Cursive is the future. - Nate Bargatze |
Reply to zkeleton
I wonder what the priest brought to the hero's party if he couldn't do magic? (No spoilers please, I expect we'll get shown in a flashback eventually)
HOOfan_1 said:
I'm not sure why Frieren didn't go out to face Aura knowing she would have to kill her from the beginning, unless Frieren wasn't sure that she could kill her.
She said last episode that she hated fighting strong opponents too. So she asked Aura to just turn around and leave at first. Knowing how strong Aura is, she must have gone out there not exactly wanting to fight her, but knowing she would have to anyway. And knowing the fight might be more difficult since she'd decided to not just blast away at all the puppets, like she did last time, may have made her even more reluctant to have to fight.I'm not sure why Frieren didn't go out to face Aura knowing she would have to kill her from the beginning, unless Frieren wasn't sure that she could kill her.
zkeleton said: I wonder what the priest brought to the hero's party if he couldn't do magic? Maybe miracles, which I don't think count as magic |
| Episode 10 As powerful as Frieren is, her mana pales in comparison to Aura's. Or at least that's what it looks like as all this time, she only used a fraction of her true mana having learned that trick from her master Flamme. Having hundreds of years to train, she has perfected it. And now, she uses that trick on Aura when she uses those scales in which the person with the higher mana level can force the one with the lower mana level to do one thing. Frieren's true mana level is way stronger, and as such Aura kills herself by Frieren's order. Seeing that she's already plenty strong with her suppressed mana level that she's downright scary when she goes all-out. |
| Man, she does not fark around. |
| Yup, this is the show of the season right here. Probably the year too. I like how the demons are all sociopaths. No wonder ten years is nothing to Frieren, she spent a thousand years just hanging around and training in some forest. They already told us she was that old, but I didn't realized she'd just stayed on one place for so long. |
| Cursive is the future. - Nate Bargatze |
| I spent the episode both appreciating the flashback with Flamme and worrying the way it was pacing we'd have to wait another episode to see the battle between Frieren and Aura. The battle was over the moment Frieren landed. I love the way this anime brilliantly plays with expectations. |
| The tomatoes are coming! Arm the dicer! Prepare the olive oil! |
Reply to zkeleton
Yup, this is the show of the season right here. Probably the year too.
I like how the demons are all sociopaths.
No wonder ten years is nothing to Frieren, she spent a thousand years just hanging around and training in some forest. They already told us she was that old, but I didn't realized she'd just stayed on one place for so long.
I like how the demons are all sociopaths.
No wonder ten years is nothing to Frieren, she spent a thousand years just hanging around and training in some forest. They already told us she was that old, but I didn't realized she'd just stayed on one place for so long.
zkeleton said: I like how the demons are all sociopaths. This. Demons are depicted as what they really are, dangerous untrustworthy monsters. |
| I'm a cultured degenerate. |
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