Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Ditched Himmel and Frieren’s Past for One of the Best Aspects of the Anime

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End is on the up and up with its soaring popularity. It is a trailblazer in most aspects, especially through its articulately penned characters. Madhouse brings these elements to the fore through their finesse. 

This is especially true for the subtle and slow-burn romance in Kanehito Yamada’s series. While most fans fawn over the elf mage and Himmel’s past, they often overlook a key aspect of the series.

Frieren, the Elf Mage in a still from the series | Credit: Madhouse

Other than adventure, Yamada beautifully portrayed relationships in the most wholesome manner. This ties well with the side characters in the series. From rifts to rapture, the series projects different hues of love. 

But that is not all considering its decentering of the romance between Himmel and the Elf Mage. The series reigns supreme in capturing the profundities of love and loss in general.

Barring Frieren and Himmel, the series outlines a new romance

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End is a riveting tale of friendship, camaraderie, and adventure. It is a beautiful blend of fantasy and magic with old-school romance. But what truly sets it apart is its take on human relationships and their transience.

While it was originally fashioned as a gag manga, the series has come a long way. Its deviation from cliche shonen tropes is evident in the mangaka’s conception of a female heroine in the genre.

Stark and Fern in a still from the series | Credit: Madhouse

One of the key aspects of the series is the heroine’s relationship with her comrade. His death is more than a plot device that catalyzes introspection within her character. It also shapes her trajectory throughout the series.

Her views and thoughts about time and the frailty of human existence are of paramount importance. And though their relationship is fawned over by viewers, there’s another couple who deserves the much-needed attention.

In one of the key moments in the anime, Fern showcases her feelings toward Stark.

What makes it delightful is the shared understanding between both characters. Unlike Frieren and Himmel’s unspoken bond, Fern and Stark’s feelings gesture to a budding romance.

With Sein acting as a mediator, Yamada perfectly laid out the groundwork for a healthy portrayal of love. Other than that, her manga stands out as a masterpiece through its exploration of longing and loss.

Love, loss, and intimacy in Kanehito Yamada’s series

Kanehito Yamada’s writing of love and relationships serves as a poignant reminder of the transience of life. The impermanence of human life and relationships ties well with the heroine’s perception of time.

As an Elf blessed with a longer life span, she views moments and experiences as rather trivial. With her companion’s death, however, her notions regarding relationships were altered. This extends to her perception of loss and grief during her comrade’s death.

Himmel’s proposal in the series | Credit: Madhouse

Interestingly, Yamada’s representation of romance is far-fetched from the meet-cute trope. The little gestures such as gifts, dance, and bickering offer a rather realistic portrayal of relationships.

This also extends to the idea of loss and longing. As opposed to the melodramatic trope of longing, Frieren holds on to her identity while grieving for her late friend.

By and by, the series succeeds in creating familiarity through its characters and tropes. It is rooted in realism which makes it more alluring. The depiction of the subtleties of relationships is what tugs at most viewers’ and readers’ heartstrings.

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End is available for streaming on Crunchyroll. The manga is available for reading on Viz Media.