Sousou no Frieren 450https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1002466780507279362/1083210251182022716/latest.png Sousou no Frieren is the kind of story where simplicity is everything. This after all is the core of the entire Iyashikei genre whose work is included where its translation and meaning is to provide a kind of cure for the soul or relief/relaxation works that end up focusing more on the mundane and its unique atmosphere. . For some people I believe that this type of story is not very pleasant after all they are not works in which the protagonist has something to fight in search of his desire to achieve something nor is it something that answers all the questions he raises as usually happens. in classic design works. Sousou no Frieren Girls Last Tour Yotsuba To and other works of the Iyashikei genre are of a specific kind of plot whose objective is exactly the simplicity of everything that is exaggerated within the classic design. They are made to be simpler but obviously in a way that still pleases the reader and that he is fulfilled when consuming such a work. The Starting Point https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:720/format:webp/03Txp1CGWqgSnwxcq.jpg Frierens story begins with a group of characters that make up the Group of the Hero. A typical RPG group that you can find anywhere and in any era be it games books series or movies We have the Priest the Dwarf the Hero and a Mage. For a usual Fantasy world derived from RPG Mesa or the old Final Fantasy these are the 4 typical characters who set out to defeat the evil and vile Demon King that torments the world. The existence of this as well as the misleading premise of an adventure in a fantasy world against the Demon King should be seen as a convention of the RPG genre. After all to judge how Cliche depends on how this convention will be used among other issues. However Frieren starts by surprising us with the break in expectation or in this case with the break with the typical usual convention. A group of heroes setting out to defeat the Demon King. Here the story already begins after such events after all the adventure conflicts relationships everything has already been progressed. The story starts after the prime of life for each of those group members or at least most of them and so what will they do now? Our protagonist Frieren the groups mage and an Elf will be our eyes during this postjourney journey. The girl is practically immortal having lived so long that she is unaware of her own concept of death at least by natural means. Even if the peak of her companions lives is a 10year adventure to go against the Demon King that time for her is short and tiny compared to the scope of her life. But the same is not true of her friends who are merely human. Frieren is oblivious to the concept of time not only is she ignorant and brutish about emotions without being able to understand them very well. Before the group disbands a promise is made to reunite after 50 years a suggestion made by Frieren. https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/1002466780507279362/1083214682845876264/1gHTgMQ8uJqBVvcSH0nLHw.png?width=536height=547 It is somewhat usual for works whose story is made through simplicity subtle details and that could go unnoticed in a less attentive reading even if it is as obvious as it is now. Notice how Frieren doesnt understand the reason for Hammiels sigh in some translations laugh. She acts like this from the beginning of the story already doing her characterization and character reveal to the audience so its clear from the first look that Frieren didnt consider 50 years to be too long. Its as if she said Well meet here in a week. Himmel understands this and realizing that this trait hasnt changed during her 10 year adventure with them that she still cant understand that 50 years isnt just too long how any one of them could be dead in that time. Just after a few pages of the chapter we see the promise of 50 years being fulfilled. https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1002466780507279362/1083214942951448628/0IFH1Z87YEDg5Alx.png But time forgives no one but the elves in the world of Sousou No Frieren. So the trigger for the whole story and the key point for Frierens character The Death of Himmel. The regret of not enjoying the time with her friends before time took her away from it. Regret for wasted time and understanding the importance of ties. After all Himmel valued Frieren after all for him her friend was something precious someone who spent 10 years by her side. Himmel understood the value of experience and the gift. Frieren on the other hand doesnt understand this because she has a long life so she didnt value his friend as he should and cries in regret. https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1002466780507279362/1083215279326236692/1TgFfBMb2Ha6ujoC7IywhQ.png From here Frieren decides that she will embark on a journey to learn to understand what life means to the humans around her. In the end those 10 years of Adventure which Frieren called tiny compared to her life just one hundredth completely changed her life and we go from here on a journey to find meaning in human life. The Kind of Story that is Sousou No Frieren Hope or Nilism? https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1002466780507279362/1083216139699634186/FrierenPortadaHanamiDango.png And when I say Nilism I am referring to a radically skeptical and above all pessimistic view of interpretations of reality which annihilates values and convictions. Even if Nietzs words and philosophies are different it is this commonly known definition that I am referring to. With the kind of questions we might encounter during Frierens journey Ties Life Death Forgetfulness Regret Moving Forward Religion Personal Growth etc. It is common in this type of work and therefore in Frieren for some of these questions to go unanswered. Frieren is still being released and even so I believe without a doubt that the end of the work will be open. Most of the questions raised by the work will be answered but several other questions will not leaving a trace after the end which will pass the task of answering them to the viewer after the end. Things are already being done even at the present moment. Although it seemed that the work ended with a question mark an open ending does not mean that the work stopped halfway leaving everything undefined. All questions must be answered and that will determine what kind of Frieren story was for you. If you understand the questions and your answer is positive that even despite our short time we must take advantage do the best for those around us etc. So it is certainly a positive ending but the opposite is also possible a nihilistic ending where this perception is a clear notion of the issues of the work life and death ends up highlighting the lack of meaning in life. https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/1002466780507279362/1083216449885179924/16pgnOeG5FfoibY4WvHNx6w.png?width=532height=547 As much as the work seeks to answer your questions and in a relatively positive way encouraging life most of them are not a statement its just a characters point of view which never REALLY comes true its something that goes from interpretation . Leaving this duality of hope and nihilism about life. The work is about understanding human life but everyone can have the perception they want from the elements of the narrative. Frieren is the type of story as well as another of its kind where the writer typically leaves us with the task of finishing the last piece of work of answering the questions left. Here both Frieren and the other characters both those who appear and those who remain on the journey with her end up dealing with external conflicts with family society the environment but the emphasis always falls on her internal battles with your own thoughts feelings conscious or unconscious. Despite the fights against monsters demons and some random quests the emphasis of the story is on the intimate side of each of those characters. How Frieren Fern Stark and each of the other characters closely relate to the events and by that I dont mean to specify the fight against the monsters itself but rather all the SoL events that occur during the journey this whole arc of going up to the challenge and overcome it which usually ends with some philosophy idea of life or spiritual restoration on the part of the characters. https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1002466780507279362/1083216988404461578/1svhhAWzv9xBrWR7iP4fcNA.png About the protagonist. Frieren is not an inert character but is relatively passive and reactive. In other words she is a somewhat passive protagonist of the story which defines the scope of her character. And naturally this type of character for being passive is compensated with a great internal struggle which is not her case or the dramatic events that surround her. Despite subtle changes to Frieren her character arc is categorized as Static at least at this point in the story. Since the Static Arc is one where the character will have little internal conflict and wont significantly change as a person although at times they may change their perspective learn different skills or gain a different role. The protagonist didnt overcome a great deal of inner resistance or anything he simply gained a new skill set or took on a new position. he changes wrought by a Flat Arc will be most evident in the cast and world around the character. Characters in Flat Arcs are often the catalysts for change in the story world around them triggering prominent growth arcs in those of other characters. Even Hammiel is also part of the Static arc and the greatest proof of this is his importance in the work and the changes caused by his actions including his occasional death as a trigger for Frierens change. https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1002466780507279362/1083217242839330836/1bHaju3XBKYZVwyCP7Zuhg.png In a typical story events are usually expressed with the principle of causality. That is how a cause creates an effect how that effect turns into a cause that triggers yet another effect. Those stories that normally use this principle use the principle of chance and thus give meaning to life. This chance gives meaning to life. However there is the opposite of this which turns out to be the case with Frieren and many other works. Coincidence. When we replace chance with coincidence thats when we place the emphasis on the random collision of things in the universe which breaks the chain of chance and leads to fragmentation and meaninglessness. Coincidence is the conductor of Frierens fictional world despite some moments of chance here is where actions trigger events that no longer cause effects which ends up fragmenting the story and transforming it into an episodic story. Conclusion https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/1002466780507279362/1083128203784241163/201.jpg?width=651height=547 For those who are more demanding about what to consume dont worry as long as you dont dislike Slice of Life which is the heart of the work theres nothing to fear. Although the episodic sequence can be uncomfortable the structure of the work is very clear and objective. Consistent within its own plot with its wellestablished elements it wasnt even hard for me to recognize them. For those who are more demanding about what to consume dont worry as long as you dont dislike Slice of Life which is the heart of the work theres nothing to fear. Although the episodic sequence can be uncomfortable the structure of the work is very clear and objective. Consistent within its own plot with its wellestablished elements it wasnt even hard for me to recognize them. The plot of Sousou no Frieren as already mentioned is a work that values simplicity and this is the style of plot that the work decided to adopt as well as several others of the same genre. Thats why I say that within the plot itself the work is extremely consistent. Just because its simple doesnt detract from the power of being a welltold story. I may even not have commented on the usual configuration of each chapter as well as the flashbacks because I thought it wouldnt be necessary. But for a special mention here at the end its great how this element connects with the works own message about memories and how precious they are. Frieren always remembering his past and the way the past contrasts with the present and directs everything to the future is something beautiful and genius on the part of the writing. And I think its amazing the way Hammiel is built throughout the story hes a character who dies in the first chapter but is present throughout the rest of the story. https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1002466780507279362/1083217964553224243/1orL0IaDV3CxMzPIaKCnjpA.png Thanking Eisen and Heiter whom they consider parents was only possible due to the change that Hammiel provided in his former teammates. It is a character that is not familiar to us but even so we know a lot about him as if we really know him apart from the fact that his existence and recurring presence throughout the work is linked to the theme that oblivion death and memory since dead people fear be forgotten but Hammiel lives from his companions and that by his influence on others and others in an endless cycle keeping his spirit alive Stark and Fern never knew him but Himmel changed the lives of young people forever indirectly and the same thing will happen in the next generations due to this change. It is an absurd metalanguage that he ends up having with the work. Sousou no Frieren is a story that searches for the meaning of human life and its questions from worldly mannerisms religion to life and death. Being the last along with time what else the work tries to understand and decipher. And with his characters we go together to selfdiscover the essence of life. Despite the apparent melancholic atmosphere it is a heartwarming work full of joys and sadness tears and smiles just like life. https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/1002466780507279362/1083128203398348921/211.jpg?width=547height=547 Thanks for reading this far.