There are just some anime we can’t help but rewatch. They are often short and sweet series, some with rich lore, while others are just comforting. For me, it’s Bungo Stray Dogs, Haikyuu!!, and The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. I often revisit various arcs in One Piece, too, to catch new details. Although I knew the events, I couldn’t stop my tears.
There’s another anime series that gives the same effect without being 1000+ episodes, and it’s Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End. One season is longer than the average season, with 28 episodes, but each is worth your undivided attention. Fans will always find Frieren’s journey an emotional rollercoaster, no matter how many times they watch it.
What makes Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End the perfect anime to rewatch, aside from having a short number of episodes? It’s a rare series that makes us tear up from the start, and it only gets better from there.
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End has small details you will miss if you just watch it once
The first time I watched Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End was already enough. It was a masterpiece from one watch, but the second time, I was astonished by how much I missed. Most details were so easy to miss, but thanks to social media, fans helped each other catch these nuances added in the anime adaptation.
On the surface, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End might seem like a typical fantasy series, but it’s much more than that. The titular protagonist regrets not getting to know her companions before it was too late, especially Himmel. After all, her perception of time is different, and ten years was nothing to her.
It’s especially upsetting since he loved her so much. This fact itself made our eyes well up, despite not knowing her for long. It wasn’t easy to watch her tears, and being prepared for it didn’t help this fan on Reddit.
i knew what would happen, i watched the anime, yet i still teared up
byu/Supdograinbarff inFrieren
Himmel is a great example of how a rewatch makes Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End better. When we first watch it, we focus on the titular protagonist’s journey and her emotions.
However, the next time, we begin to notice how ingrained Himmel’s presence is, despite his death. The way Frieren pauses to look at his statue, how his ring was there early on before we saw him giving it to her, and the subtle ways she’s learning to love through him. It’s all so nuanced and beautiful.
Rewatching Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End solidifies how Fern and Stark have become her family
At first glance, Fern and Stark are just companions who joined Frieren on her journey. However, when you revisit the series, it’s obvious how they’ve become family. She opens up to them, making sure not to repeat the same mistakes, and even shows how much she cares for them through small acts of kindness.
What makes the dynamic between the three even better is how Frieren trusts them to fight. I wondered why Frieren didn’t save Fern and Stark from the demons, but I realized it’s because she trusts them to be strong enough. They are co-dependent on each other, which makes it realistic.
So if you thought watching Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End once was enough, think again. A second rewatch left me in shambles, and I never knew a slice-of-life fantasy series could ever do that to me. The soundtrack only heightens the experience, too. The more you watch it, the more you’re convinced it’s a modern masterpiece.
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End can currently be streamed on Crunchyroll.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
