Oct 19, 2024
This review contains very mild spoilers.
What do you expect from an anime? What makes it great and valuable for you? Is it the well-thought-out and developed characters? Is it a well-narrated story? Or maybe it’s just the atmosphere? Perhaps it’s none of those things, and you just want to watch an anime that lacks them. But hey, at least she tries to get a magic license to make up for it! I can say that there are a lot of overrated shows on this site, but this might be the most overrated one as I write this review.
The main structure of this show is basically
...
a shounen. When I first heard about this anime, I wasn’t very hyped, but I thought it might bring something different to the genre. To some extent, you could say that it does. Unlike some others, this one has a different approach, at least at the beginning, to the whole premise. Although Frieren is a hero, she isn’t introduced as your stereotypical “I swung this sword so much that now I’m an edgelord” character. Which she eventually turns out to be, but it was fun while it lasted. Anyway, the main idea of the anime is to tell a story about Frieren’s emotional growth while pumping out as many unnecessary characters as possible to lengthen the story, with no real narrative for that growth. Do we really need a whole arc about the mage license for Frieren and Fern? Do we need a backstory for a random rich mage wannabe? Are we really that low on ideas? If you can’t create an interesting plot point, why are you stretching the story with ideas that lead nowhere or lack depth? You already have a compelling plot point with Frieren and her entire arc. This is a common problem in shounen anime, and unfortunately, Frieren is no exception.
Another common issue in shounen anime is tonal dissonance in the narrative. Often, even in pivotal moments, writers don’t hesitate to insert jokes, which can create a tonal shuffle that undermines emotional impact. This still holds true for Frieren. If you’re trying to create a calming, methodical atmosphere but keep cracking jokes about Stark being a pervert, sure, you might get some laughs, but you’re also undermining the show’s potential. If you constantly rely on this kind of writing, it can become irritating, as viewers want a cohesive emotional experience throughout the show.
As for the characters, most of them are… well, shounen. However, we can discuss Fern and Frieren. Frieren is an unorthodox character for the genre, and I like her concept. She is a calm knowledge seeker who loves her books and plants. However, having her act like a child for laughs can be tiresome, and when you consider her age, it sometimes feels like I’m watching a child grow up through the story, which she kind of is. But starting her arc from such a low point and only revealing backstories when necessary, like with every Himmel flashback, why is she understanding all this just now sometimes I wonder? Did she really need to adopt an apprentice to figure it out? As for Fern, she’s the best character in the show so far. While the show isn’t finished, I appreciate her journey and growth. The rest of the characters mostly serve as plot points, and it’s unnecessary to go through each one.
Regarding the art and music, I like the aesthetic of the show: wands, clothes, swords... I enjoy it. It isn’t a cinematographic masterpiece, but it doesn’t need to be. It’s good as it is. I don’t have a strong memory of the music, and of course, we’re not listening to Bach, but it fits the scenes well. When the show is serious, it’s serious; when it’s goofy, it’s goofy.
As I write this, the show’s MAL score is 9.33, and it has held the number 1 spot for some time now. So, is it the greatest show of all time? No, it is not. From the same genre, there’s Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood, which is a stellar show. Even though it wouldn’t be my number 1, I could totally understand if it held that spot forever since it would rightly deserve it. But I just can’t wrap my head around this one. It’s not a bad show; I’ve mostly written a negative review, but it is a passable show. It has its fun moments and doesn’t require much from the viewer. However, that alone doesn’t make it a masterpiece, at least not for me.
Reviewer’s Rating: 5
What did you think of this review?
Nice
12
Love it
3
Funny
8
Confusing
1
Well-written
6
Creative
0Show all