Review of Frieren: Beyond Journey's End

Most anime is loud. It’s usually about screaming battles and constant cliffhangers. Frieren: Beyond Journey's End is different because it’s quiet. The premise is unique because it starts after the "The End." The hero's journey is over, and we get the mage's reflection instead. It’s a slow look at grief and memory through the eyes of an elf who sees decades the way we see days. The writing respects the audience. It focuses on the past, viewed through the present. Watching it reminds me of youth, the friends who are still there and those who are no longer in your life. It’s funny that such agentle series is the highest-rated anime on MyAnimeList. There are complaints that the pacing is "too slow" or the stakes are low. I think these criticisms often come from people who are used to instant gratification or haven't lived enough life to get the themes yet.

Frieren takes patience, but if you’re willing to slow down, it’s one of the best anime I’ve seen.