The first half was some of the best anime I’ve seen. Then it devolved into a by the numbers shonen complete with a magical school and “tests” with unnecessary action scenes. I was ultimately disappointed by it because the whole season didn’t live up to the amazingly high standard the first few episodes set.
I still enjoyed it and would give it a solid recommendation but it gets worse as it goes on in my opinion.
The first half where you are properly seeing the world through the eyes of someone ageless has that beautiful sadness I don’t think I’ve seen anywhere else.
The first episodes just gave me existential dread every time haha. So I was glad when they “softened up” after a while. But in hindsight, you’re right, the end of season 1 got somewhat stereotypical. I wonder if season 2 will be better.
100% agree with you. Loved the first half and was really let down by the 2nd.
The only other show that’s given me similar vibes to the 1st half of Frieren was Violet Evergarden. Not so much for the content but in the melancholic, beautiful-yet-bittersweet vibes the whole show gives off.
I think that show greatly benefitted from the limited runtime though and would have suffered if they’d tried to push it out to Frieren length.
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
The first half was some of the best anime I’ve seen. Then it devolved into a by the numbers shonen complete with a magical school and “tests” with unnecessary action scenes. I was ultimately disappointed by it because the whole season didn’t live up to the amazingly high standard the first few episodes set. I still enjoyed it and would give it a solid recommendation but it gets worse as it goes on in my opinion. The first half where you are properly seeing the world through the eyes of someone ageless has that beautiful sadness I don’t think I’ve seen anywhere else.
The first episodes just gave me existential dread every time haha. So I was glad when they “softened up” after a while. But in hindsight, you’re right, the end of season 1 got somewhat stereotypical. I wonder if season 2 will be better.
100% agree with you. Loved the first half and was really let down by the 2nd.
The only other show that’s given me similar vibes to the 1st half of Frieren was Violet Evergarden. Not so much for the content but in the melancholic, beautiful-yet-bittersweet vibes the whole show gives off.
I think that show greatly benefitted from the limited runtime though and would have suffered if they’d tried to push it out to Frieren length.