Review of Frieren: Beyond Journey's End

In an era of anime overpopulated by low-effort isekais and shows reliant on tropes and fanservice, Sousou no Frieren comes as not just a breath of fresh air, but a massive gust of wind that sweeps away any notions that anime can no longer produce high-quality, compelling stories. This show is a reminder of what the anime medium is capable of, and why some of us continue to slog through overhyped new releases in the hopes of finding those feelings of excitement and emotional connection that got us into anime in the first place. Summary at the end. This review is based on my experience watchingthe show and my background going into it. In other words, every review/experience is subjective, and I want to be clear about where I'm coming from.

I greatly enjoy the fantasy genre and play (primarily DM) Dungeons and Dragons. You will likely see the comparison between this show and DnD a lot, as it is obvious that parts of the show are heavily inspired by TTRPGs. There are adventurers, parties, and classes like warriors and mages. A lot of other fantasy anime have these aspects too, but Frieren (the show) utilizes them in such a manner that, again, makes it obvious where the inspiration is coming from. Other examples include side quests, rewards, and events/things that one could joke and say are there because the DM said so.
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Story/world-building

Frieren's story draws on a number of conventional story-telling types to craft a journey unlike any other that I have seen. First, it is a character study of Frieren herself. Exploring the concept of an immortal (though elves in this world aren't technically immortal as far as I know) character has been done before (in all mediums) to varying levels of success, and this show stands out as one of, if not the best I've seen. How does the character view relationships with shorter-lived beings? How do they approach everyday problems and concerns? Frieren (the character) finds herself on a journey, and reminiscing about a past one, that provides the answers to these questions and more. The primary focus is on how her current path slowly makes her realize how important her previous adventure was to her, but we also see how she just...lives her life in the world - her reaction to laws, organizations, finances, everything. There are reasons for why she tends to keep a low profile despite her historic status and magical power, but they only serve to bolster the exploration of this fascinating character. All of these points are compounded by the fact that she is a very powerful mage. In other words, she is a great example of an OP character done right. Every smaller arc and mini-adventure within the show serves to progress/examine Frieren's personal journey.

The story is also a presentation of a fantasy world and the characters and forces within. I'll touch more on this in the Characters section, and for now I just will address the world itself. The gradual reveal of the world and its history is a slow burn, every new bit of information adding to the larger picture and making you desperate for more. The story does its worldbuilding in multiple different ways too. Frieren and her companions travel from town to town, each location having its own interaction with both historical and current events. New characters share their experiences from their parts of the world, expanding on the state of affairs beyond the scope of Frieren's party. The world feels alive and real without the need for tedious exposition or explanations of systems, countries, etc. We are given relevant information at the right times, leaving the rest as a mystery to be explored along with the main characters.

The first half of the show follows Frieren and her companions in their travels and encounters. This is the part that I think most people would say is the best, the part that exemplifies what Frieren (the show) is all about. I'm inclined to agree, but I also feel that the second half contributes to the overall story just as much, though in different ways. You will likely see the second half referred to as a tournament arc, which is a description I disagree with. There are three tests that make up this arc, of which only the first may loosely fit the definition of a tournament arc in anime, so I will instead refer to the second half of the show as the Exam Arc. The Exam Arc has much more action, more notable characters, and more magic than the first half. The pacing is slower, as each episode covers much less time than those in the first half, yet it feels faster as the stakes are high and there is so much going on. As mentioned earlier, I feel the Exam Arc contributes greatly to the overall story. First, it does so by introducing a wide cast of new characters, each with their own experiences and magic abilities. We learn a lot more about the world and magic in this arc, and especially a lot about Frieren's personal abilities near the end. The magic system leans more towards being a soft magic system, the most famous example of which being Lord of the Rings, though elements of a hard magic system are present like mana usage and explanations about the interactions of different spells. Yes, the tone and pacing are quite different from the first half of the show, but using this as a criticism doesn't hold up under scrutiny.

A final note on the story and world - there are reasons and explanations for pretty much every event and character choice in the show. This is a "smart" story with smart characters, though sometimes the decisions they make turn out to be bad ones as they simply didn't have enough information. Along with this, the first several episodes are slower than you may be used to, but I stress that everything has a purpose and it all makes character development and the climax of each arc that much more impactful.
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Characters

Not a single character in this show feels one-dimensional. Even if a character has little screen time, you know that they have their own story and experiences just waiting to be explored. For example, later in the show we meet a guy with that classic shark-toothed smile who seems to enjoy fighting for its own sake, or at least I wrote him off as that trope. Nope. He has his own motivations and struggles, and learning more about his experiences also expands what we know about the world. Frankly, I don't actually want to spend that much time discussing in-detail just how good the characters are, as it would be better for you to watch and experience them for yourself. My personal favorite is Stark, as he displays both good and bad personality traits that come together to make a relatable character that I can cheer for. I just hope he gets more screen time in season 2.
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Animation and Sound

Action - Fantastic sakuga, engaging choreography, and eye-catching magic effects. Not a single 3D-model in sight, even for the creature they fight in episode 6, which most studios would have done in 3D.
Non-action scenes - As these comprise the majority of the show, they had to be good. There are hardly any scenes where it's just mouths moving, much of the time characters are given half or full-body movements/shifts as they talk, if that makes sense. Facial expressions, postures, and moving 2D backgrounds contribute as well to the "life" of the scenes. There are a few shots of characters at a distance where the detail of their design itself is low.
Background art - also fantastic. All the city, town, and natural scenery are depicted with high-quality stills. It's all part of the fact that this show is, simply put, high-quality.
OST - A wonderfully-unique soundtrack by Evan Call heightens the emotions of every scene and complements the story well. There is little about the OST that feels generic for a fantasy anime, or fantasy in general. Both the opening themes are great, though I personally like the second better. The ending theme perfectly captures Frieren's (the character) emotional journey.
Sound effects - Again, high-quality stuff here. Spells feel powerful, hits feel impactful, and basic things like clothes and footsteps are done well.
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Conclusion

I can't recommend Sousou no Frieren enough. This is a quality anime with an engaging and emotional story, fleshed-out and enjoyable characters that you can easily get attached to, and great production to top it all off. Everything comes together to make what is easily the anime of the year, though of course it has already gone even beyond that to become an all-time favorite of many.