#frieren beyond journey's end spoilers

[sevi007]

@fortythealien

Oh that one was fantastic. Let me put that under read more because of spoilers AND it got long:

I mean, the "reveal" of the illusion really hit me like a slap to the face. This was both extremely beautiful as well as cruel, and it hits you all at once that this might ACTUALLY work on one, or both, of them.

Because, I very much doubt that it was Grausam who thought out the details of this particular illusion. As we learned very indepth by now, demons cannot understand human emotions. I don't see how Grausam could look into Himmel and / or Frieren and understand that this - a wedding - could be a good way to trick them.

So, imo, Grausam's ability rather reaches into the subconsciousness of the victim and draws out what the victim itself secretly wishes for, and then paints that world for them. For this, Grausam does not have to understand emotions or relationships - he lets the victims create their own illusions.

Meaning, this is something Himmel or Frieren or both wanted, deep down.

There was actually a moment where I was worried they would fall for it and maybe Heiter will have to wake them but of course I underestimated them:

Like, how. How are you HUMAN Himmel. Grausam himself stated that there is no way to tell the illusion from reality, but Himmel just goes and does it anyway. I feel like Heiter when his friend keeps going above and beyone here.

But still, look at his face before he stops Frieren. There is this hint of sadness again - we have seen that one before,for example in the flashback with the mirror lotus ring. I think it's the face he makes when he really briefly gets close to having this with Frieren - a life, love, relationship, whatever you want to call it - before he catches himself again because he knows it's not quite possible. He lets this illusion play out for just one beat longer before going back to the matter at hand.

Also, how gently he stops her nearly made me cry. No grabbing her, no holding her at arm's length, and he does not even ask if she realizes this is not real. His trust in her is implicit! He knows she knows, and will get them out somehow.

Also also, Frieren was into this too, you can't tell me otherwise. This was a trap for both of them, and it WORKED on both of them for a beat.

And to really put emphasis on how impossible it should be for Himmel to see through this all, Frieren confirms this once again:

(But in a way, maybe this shouldn't surprise us. It is a great callback to the illusion the beast "Einsam" created early on in the story, where Himmel appears in front of Frieren. Frieren recalls that before meeting Himmel, Flamme had appeared to her instead, and THAT apparation had begged for mercy / help. Himmel's apparation, though? Told her to "shoot me, Frieren". Not even an illusion OF Himmel was going to hurt Frieren, Himmel INSIDE an illusion obviously can break free.)

And when I said before that Himmel's trust in Frieren is implicit, I would like to point out that this goes both ways:

I mean, look at this stuff. Not only does Frieren not even TRY to break out of Grausam's spell (she knows she can't) but she instead trusts Himmel to fight despite it. She is entirely helpless in this situation, but instead of fighting or panicking (which, fair, is not her usual behavior) she instead asks exactly one question, and then quite literally puts her life in his hands. She gives no orders, no pointers, she just says "you can move right? Then move (like you always do)".

This trust, man. This (literally, hah) blind trust just gets me.

Also. When I say I forget that Himmel and party are terrifying, THIS is what I mean:

Himmel never woke up. He is still inside the illusion, eyes closed, and fighting a Great Demon (one and a half, since Solitär is giving half-assed support) blindly right then and there. Not only that, but he is putting Grausam on the backfoot even.

Now, of course, Grausam's illusion magic is probably what he relies on the most, so you could argue that he is not much of a fighter otherwise. But I don't think one becomes a Great Demon without some serious skills beyond one spell, especially considering that such an illusion which relies on the victim being intrigued by it probably does not work well on demons without feelings. To be acknowledged by his kin, he has to have SOME fighting skills beyond that of a normal demon. So this is still a seriously cool (and terrifying) feat right there!

(Also, even eyes closed, Himmel is protecting his friends - look how he destroys Solitär's sword as it goes for Frieren!)

See, now you made me teary-eyed again guys. Himmel even acknowledges - in front of Frieren! - that this was an "euphoric dream" for him. He wants / wanted this, with her. He never pushed for it, maybe because he knew it was not what Frieren wanted, or because of their differing lifespans, or whatever, but he wanted this so badly, it even pops up in Grausam's illusion. He should have fallen for this. That he did not is a testament to his skill, iron will, and his trust in and how well he knows Frieren.

Also, Frieren is really just imprinting this moment into her memory before going.

And:

The one thing Solitär - who is a master at manipulation with words, as Frieren has acknowledged - has to threaten Himmel is not "I will kill you", but instead "I will destroy Frieren's future". That's far more likely to get Himmel to let them go than anything else.

All in alll, after hitting you with such an outburst: I think this is the very best take of "protags get put under an illusion spell" I have ever seen. Once again, this manga does very well in subverting the classical tropes, because here, there is only a minimal moment of doubt, the protagnosits don't fall for it nor do they despair over being trapped, and they don't need a push from inside or outside the illusion to break free. They know basically from the start what is going on, and I quite like that they don't really break out before the fight can resume, but really just keep fighting while still being under the spell. It was a fantastic way of showing several things at once in a short span of time like:

* once more affirming Himmel's feeling for Frieren, and vice versa

* The utter trust they have in each other in this party but especially these two have in each other * How competent and strong Himmel and Co actually are

Easy to say, I was an emotional wreck after this because it was beautiful but also so painful to know they never really had this. Where's that Sein pic going "when will they get together already?!" because I need it.

Bonus in case you also need to cry a little:

Fifty years have changed absolutely NOTHING about their trust and love for each other. Okay Peace out.

[aroacenezhaanddainsleif]

(frieren manga spoilers)

so frieren really just went back in time, got stuck in an illusion alongside himmel where she was his bride, despite them never having ever talked about feelings before, and where himmel openly admitted it was a euphoric dream he could never have, and then she simply went home and didn't think about it at all afterward

[apparently-artless]

A mere thousand years. In a mere thousand years, the era of humans will arrive. The humans will overtake us. Do not neglect your training, Frieren. If anyone kills you, it will be either the Demon King... or a human mage.

I'm looking forward to it, Serie.

Sousou no Frieren Episode 25: A Fatal Vulnerability

[newmusictodayfan]

Sousou no Frieren - 18

[noisylovepatrol]

Frieren - Beyond Journey's End Special Booklet

[kaereth]

Frieren reading some niche spellbooks for a kofi request! I adore drawing vegetation can you tell? Also recently watched the anime and it is incredible - I highly recommend!

[space-blue]

Sousou No Frieren | S01E26 | Black Hole Spell (and the wildest hair animation in this century!!!)

[otogariado]

frieren: you won't be able to deny her capabilities

fern: 🧍

[komy-0o]

Frieren & Himmel 💍✨🤍

[corduroykoala]

I don't know that I can articulate just how perfect of an ending this is for the show, particularly as an adaptation, but damn I'm going to try.

I recently reread the chapters covered by this episode in anticipation of rereading the rest of the manga after this. This sequence is only about three pages long and, for someone who knows what is coming, who knows that Frieren will meet at least some of these characters again, it didn't have much of an impact on the page.

On the screen, however, this sequence carries so much more weight. The flashback is reframed to be from Frieren's perspective, the montage is expanded to include other characters from her life—both living and dead—and, of course, the excellent EP is timed to deliver the maximum emotional impact. The entire show is filled with these kinds of changes that expand on and enhance what was in the manga, to say nothing of the beautiful animation.

The thing that stuck with me most when watching this, however, was what Himmel says: "I'm sure we'll run into each other again if we continue traveling. Tearful goodbyes aren't our style. After all, it would be embarrassing when we met again." This was not just a goodbye between characters; it was a goodbye between the show and the audience.

This, I think, is the ultimate expression of this show as an adaptation. In an ongoing manga—or three chapters into a ten-chapter volume—this kind of farewell couldn't work. As the end of a season with no guarantee of another, however, the message is made even clearer.

I very much want a second season of this show. I want to see these characters again, to see their journey continue. While I am sad to see them go now, all I can do is continue on my own and have faith that I will meet them again.

[ultrakart]

If Frieren wanted to annoy Serie, she could come back to the next round of the first class mage exams.

And the next one.

And the next one.

Frieren has all the time in the universe to commit to this bit and I think she should do it.

[apparently-artless]

Sousou no Frieren E13 - Aversion to One's Own Kind

[boku-no-anime-phase]

I saw someone calling Frieren a shonen anime whose theme is reflection rather than growth, and I can't get that out of my head. Honestly, Frieren sitting quietly, perfectly still, mana suppressed, for HOURS as all kinds of dangerous beasts and animals move around her unperturbed, until her prey lands on her and she catches it, is as triumphant a moment to me as any huge, loud, "go beyond your limits" shonen fight ever was. I'm burned out of loud, violent displays of power. I loved this display of power through utter stillness, a feat of skill we're given just enough information to appreciate.

I love this show

[noisylovepatrol]

Frieren - Beyond Journey's End Special Booklet

[newmusictodayfan]

Sousou no Frieren Key Animation

[space-blue]

Sousou No Frieren | S01E26 | Hell Fire Spell