Review of Frieren: Beyond Journey's End

What does it mean to want to truly love a story, and not be able to? Sousou no Frieren is in many ways a breath of fresh air - it's an anime that deviates from the path and goes unassumingly but unapologetically in it's own direction, unperturbed by expectations of structure, style, and form present in other fantasy anime. It walks at its own pace, and does so with a sense of self-assurance. It has confidence in its themes and the story it sets out to tell, and allows narrative elements to unravel gradually. The show quickly establishes that time exists on amuch longer scale within its narrative pacing than in most other anime, and frequent use of flashback is a core attribute of the non-linear storytelling style that Sousou no Frieren uses throughout its first season. The past and present narratives exist in a sort of symbiosis, where memories of the past illuminate matters of the present, and actions of the present recontextualise memories of the past, providing new insights and allowing for moments of self-discovery, reflection, and growth. Through her companionship both with the original party of heroes, and the company she keeps in the present, Frieren learns more about herself, those closest to her, and the world at large; it's varying peoples, attitudes, and perspectives. These are all compelling narrative journeys, so why then is it that the story ultimately falls short?

An anime doesn't need flashy set pieces, constant action, and budget-blowing combat scenes to maintain interest, even in a fantasy setting. Indeed, Sousou no Frieren mostly strikes a very comfortable balance within its individual style between periods of heightened action, and the more gradual and reflective tone that comprises the majority of the show. There is a frankly bloated surplus of anime that provide extremely little in the way of narrative content and focus almost exclusively on "entertainment value" through action and combat; Sousou no Frieren thankfully deviates from this path. However, this begs the question - if neither pacing nor a lack of action are an issue, what is?

Simply put, although presented charmingly, the moments of reflection and realisation that characters in this show experience are not that profound or compelling. Sousou no Frieren maintains a relaxed and charming atmosphere, occasionally delving into greater conflict, but very few of the admittedly frequent cathartic moments of learning something feel much more than surface deep, leading to a fatigue of the tiny, incremental character moments which also feel largely disconnected from any larger sense of character arc, internal conflict, or narrative pull. I kept waiting for a moment of deeper connection, revelation, understanding, or impact that never arrived by the end of the season.

Characters remain largely static, usually experiencing some level of apotheosis shortly after their introduction (thus giving them the impetus to be involved in the story) before retreating into a mostly passive role with no strong sense of continued internal struggle or call for agency. This issue is exacerbated by the overall lack of emotional range present in the characters. Moods are almost exclusively subdued, ranging from sleepy to contented to occasionally pouty. The solution isn't to fall back on tropes and introduce stock characters for artificial variety (which Frieren thankfully doesn't do for the most part), but to instead present each principle character with a more prevalent internal struggle for them to contemplate, react to, and shape their view of the world. Narrative beats begin to feel hollow as the season goes on, and fatigue starts to set in when constant moments of reflection are left feeling ultimately unimportant due to a lack of deeper internal conflict.

This isn't to say that there are no interpersonal relationships or sources of conflict - as stated previously members of the cast will frequently find themselves undergoing moments of reflection. However, such instances generally fail to bring characters truly into conflict, either with each other or themselves. There is untapped potential for both character struggle and wider narrative engagement somewhere beneath surface, and a potentially excellent show lies dormant. Worldbuilding is largely non-existent, political or social interaction is left unexplored, and characters feel largely static and unmotivated. Those characters which do possess pressing convictions and strong motivations enter and then exit the story with frequency, leaving behind a core cast that feels stagnant by comparison. Furthermore, certain members of the core cast are utilised far less than others, and also fall very easily into standard moulds of anime characters.

Many of these elements can be expanded upon in future seasons, and there does exist a great potential for growth, development, and captivating storytelling in this show. Perhaps this is the reason I feel so ardently conflicted about this show - I am ready to love it, but the ingredients are not yet there. Sousou no Frieren's greatest strengths are its charming and uplifting tone, its unorthodox protagonist and themes, and its fresh attitude towards its storytelling structure, pacing, and style. Freiren herself is a genuinely fascinating take on an ancient mage, and she as a character presents a view of someone who struggles with social connection in a sophisticated, heartfelt, empathetic and sincere way. A select few wider ideological conflicts are softly established towards the end of the season, and paths for some characters are gently outlined for future exploration. Many compelling themes are touched, but only lightly. With so many elements largely unexplored over 28 episodes, and with so much more depth available in terms of character impetus, motivation, and conflict, subsequent seasons of Sousou no Frieren will need to reach much deeper to find the compelling narrative that certainly lies beneath its gentle, peaceful, and picturesque surface.