It’s no secret that, over the last decade or so, fantasy anime have become a dumping ground for the derivative. There is the isekai phenomenon, where protagonists are whisked away from a mundane life where they were overlooked and overworked, only to reincarnate into a generic medieval milieu where they gain some “OP” ability that suddenly makes them “strong” and “important” (but no more interesting). Generally speaking, these are shameless power fantasies. Then there are the many series that adopt RPG vocabulary, replacing any trace of novel world-building with generic stat sheets, cookie-cutter monsters, and other droll building blocks. Yes, not all of these are bad—the “Villainess” trope in particular has led to quite a few gems—but by and large, these existing formulas have become so deeply rooted in these spaces that mere mentions of elves and dragons tend to inspire weariness instead of excitement.
There’s something very different about Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, which is apparent at a glance. Unlike most of these shows that aren’t given the resources to succeed, this proved one of the most visually exuberant series in recent memory, which was even more impressive given that it ran for 28 episodes straight. At a time when studios are chronically overscheduled and delays are common, studio Madhouse’s production on the series was a marvel, delivering a window into a high-fantasy world that sold its setting with painterly background art, smooth character animation, and a score from Evan Call that drifted between coziness and deep melancholy.
The story setup was similarly unique: Essentially, it’s about what the Fellowship got up to after successfully chucking the One Ring into Mount Doom. It centers on Frieren, a nigh-immortal elven mage who was a member of the adventuring party that slayed the Demon King. However, while the grand quest may be over, Frieren’s life is not, and as her allies begin to leave her, she comes to regret never getting to know them better. For the sake of closure, she sets out on a new journey that will trace her previous one, taking her past the Demon King’s castle in the land of Ende (I imagine this naming is more subtle for Japanese viewers), so she can find the fabled spirit world Aureole, where she will be able to say goodbye to her comrades. Beforehand, she takes on a mage apprentice, Fern, an orphan of the Demon wars, and then recruits the ax-wielding frontliner Stark, who was trained by one of her companions. Together, they follow the path of Frieren’s previous ten-year adventure while facing new challenges.
Essentially, by focusing on what comes after the pivotal battle, the series not only distances itself from run-of-the-mill fantasy anime but also from fantasy literature as it proves itself an introspective tale about memory, grief, and the passage of time. It may be a bit reserved, but this only makes its emotional flashbacks and gorgeously animated action scenes pop all the more.
This second season picks up immediately after this previous arc, with the crew having received the first-class mage certification needed to pass a blockade in the Northern Plateau and heading toward their ultimate goal. In many ways, this first episode back doesn’t sound particularly impressive on paper, and its plot can be summarized as follows: After leaving Äußerst, the gang falls into a hole. And not just any hole, but one that is quite literally a spellcaster’s kryptonite, a cavern filled with crystals that cancel out mana. While Stark and his axmanship are unaffected, Fern and Freiren are now “just regular girls,” as the latter puts it. Things get worse when they surmise that this beautiful cavern is the home of a creature. It turns out that losing two of the most powerful mages of this age lowers your survivability chances quite a bit.
Although this installment is undeniably a side adventure, it demonstrates a return to form. The last season closed on an 11-episode mage exam arc that, while thrilling, lacked the low-key, episodic charm that came before. This first episode back is entirely in that more patiently paced mode, and even with the life-or-death stakes, it is largely focused on its central characters rather than on a sense of external danger.
Things begin with some amusing slice-of-life scenes that illustrate this group’s charm and the series’ understanding of comedic timing: One highlight comes when, after struggling with his fishing line, Stark hands over the tiniest catch imaginable. The camera pulls back and allows for a moment of silence before Stark, who can sense Fern’s inevitable cutting repartee, apologizes that he’ll catch a bigger fish next time. After this, we see Frieren being a total magic nerd as she geeks out over a crystal that quite literally robs her of her godlike abilities, causing Fern to matter-of-factly state how they’d be wiped out if they were attacked at this moment.
The crystal is a bit of foreshadowing, because before long, they’ve fallen through a hole that leaves them surrounded by these mana-absorbing minerals. Given the general strength of this group (Frieren effortlessly killed one of the Demon Lord’s strongest lieutenants last season, Fern just became a first-class mage, and Stark singlehandedly offered a dragon in his first episode), this is a rare moment when they’re genuinely threatened. But more than making the audience feel this sense of danger, the episode is squarely focused on how these characters react to the situation. Freiren is hilariously calm, to the point where she manages to doze off despite the mysterious monster in the vicinity. Meanwhile, Fern, who has never been without her powers before, feels an unfamiliar sense of helplessness that leaves her shaken. Stark is similarly afraid, and while this isn’t unusual for him, given that this is his whole schtick, his fear allows him to reflect on how much his allies’ trust means to him. We see a punchy flashback, where his mentor, Eisner, similarly overcomes his dread to save his comrades from a hulking monster. Both Stark’s actions and this flashback remind us that bravery is a whole lot more impressive when it’s preceded by weakness.
The sequence similarly shows how far Freiren has come. In a moment of rare emotional openness, she tells Stark point-blank she could only sleep in this monster’s den because she has absolute faith in his abilities, so much so that even when they eventually stumbled on the subterranean behemoth that guards this place, she trusted him to get the three out unharmed. The ordeal is an important bonding moment that reminds the audience that even when this group faces grave outward threats, the greatest payoffs are often the smaller emotional moments that they share.
After finally escaping the cave, the crew faces their next great trial: Stark getting a recruitment offer from their fellow first-class magic exam alum, Wirber. This seasoned warrior notes that their army is in desperate need of more frontliners against the Demon armies to the north and that Stark would be able to accomplish great things if he were to enlist. Frieren looks unconcerned by the offer, but Fern is clearly upset—again, Freiren’s nonchalance reflects her trust that Stark won’t take the deal, while Fern’s reactions indicate how she secretly cares for Stark despite relentlessly roasting him. Of course, Stark doesn’t go through with it, affirming to Fern and the audience how much he cares about his allies. Both conflicts, the life-or-death one and the recruitment offer, reintroduce us to this group and make us reflect on how tight-knit they’ve become on their travels. While it’s just one stop on a much grander journey, this charming episode is a strong reminder of the series’ focus on characters and tone.
However, beyond narratively reminding us of the show’s interests, the visuals play just as big a role in bringing us back into the fold. Having just watched parts of the previous season, the visual style—the character art, direction, and everything else— is virtually identical, which is quite impressive given that this is one of the best looking shows of the last decade. Much of this starts with the coloring choices in this first episode back: The sky is a gorgeous deep blue, the trees are scenic greens, and, at one point, a purple sunset reflects off a lake. Needless to say, this show is pretty, something that plays no small part in why it’s so easy to settle into this sprawling, slow-burning adventure.
However, what really brings things to life is how the cast moves, particularly when it comes to minute character animation details. It says a lot that in a series featuring spectacular duels with dragons and godly magic users, the standout sequence of the first season was a ballroom dance defined by spinning cloth and fluid motion. While season two’s premiere doesn’t have anything quite as outwardly noticeable, everything from Fern foraging for mushrooms to Stark explosively swinging his battle ax against an unbreakable rock is rendered in a way that makes it clear no one involved has lost a step. While Keiichirou Saitou has handed off directorial duties to Tomoya Kitagawa (Saitou is still an assistant director), they’ve gone to great pains to successfully emulate the style he established. Meanwhile, Yuuichirou Fukushi has once again put together another impressive group of animators, further cementing his place as one of the top animation producers in the industry.
If I had to pick a word to describe this premiere, I’d choose “consistency.” While that doesn’t sound like high praise, it sort of is, given the bar set by Frieren’s previous season. This first episode back reminds us how the show’s artful visual sensibilities set the stage for an introspective fantasy series that’s much more about the journey than the destination, finding weight in every side excursion thanks to its thoughtful outlook and well-developed characters. Here, seemingly inconsequential side stops aren’t filler—they’re the whole point. As long as each weekly adventure is as beautifully rendered and pensive as this one, it seems we’re in store for much more of a great thing.
Stray observations
- • If I had to guess, the magic negation crystals will probably come back into the fold, as an item that can cancel out the protagonist’s powers is a pretty big deal. If nothing else, I wouldn’t be surprised if these crystals’ significant monetary value became relevant, given how broke our adventurers are.
- • With a cameo from Wirbel, it seems that we’ll see more of the characters from the mage certification arc, which is a smart way to expand the cast.
Elijah Gonzalez is The A.V. Club‘s associate editor.
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