REVIEW: ‘Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End’ Premiere Is Perfect

There was a terrible Demon King who once threatened the land. But, thanks to the bravery of the hero Himmel (Nobuhiko Okamoto, My Hero Academia) and his companions, Heiter the Priest (Hiroki Tôuchi, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners), the brave Dwarven fighter Eisen (Yôji Ueda), and the Elven mage Frieren (Atsumi Tanezaki, Spy x Family) the lands were saved from the cruelty of the Demon King. But now their adventure is done, and while the rest of the party settles into a more somber life, Frieren continues her journeys. But with the promise that she will return to view a special meteor shower with her companions a scant 50 years later. After all, what is 50 years to an elf in Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End from Madhouse.

When Frieren returns to see her friends, she is surprised by how much they have aged while the years have not touched her. Their reunion brings many elements of their journeys together to her mind. The decade they spent fighting the minions of the Demon King was but a blink of an eye to her, and now she sees how much time has weighed down her companions. These realizations set Frieren on another journey, one to learn about a lifetime she hardly noticed.

The retrospective that Frieren investigates as she sets out on her new journey is the core element of Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End. Accompanied by her new apprentice Fern (Kana Ichinose, Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch From Mercury), the mage searches the world for new spells and a deeper understanding of her old comrades.

Within Episodes 1-4 of the series, Frieren’s search for knowledge largely takes the form of revisiting places that she and her old compatriots had helped when they were adventuring together. With the years growing longer, there are fewer signs of their presence, but some of the most profound marks they left behind are still there. With each spot visited, a memory is relived, and a glimpse into her old life is shared. Getting to see how they impacted their world, even decades after they passed through it, gives permanence to the seemingly short lives of her comrades—evoking a deeper meaning to life that stretches beyond the end of the life itself.

The story rushes nothing in Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End. Mimicking the patience of its seemingly immortal protagonist, the series relishes in the quiet moments while never becoming boring. Fern’s youthful impatience often questions her master’s priorities and how long she will spend on any task, no matter how small. The question of whether or not a powerful mage could spend her time better is brought up repeatedly but happily never answered. Instead, it feels left up to the viewer to pass final judgment. Though full disclosure, I highly doubt Frieren will care what we think.

As one would expect of a tale focusing on a pair of mages, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End sees its protagonists sling a few spells throughout this story’s beginning. While the combative moments are few, these are depicted with spectacular visuals that Madhouse uses to powerful effect. Magic is a terrifying force in this world, and its power is put on epic display as magical blasts are exchanged and countered.

But while the combat delivers the most jaw-dropping moments of magic, they are not the most impactful. Madhouse imbues more tranquil moments of magic with an elegant majesty I rarely see. Simple acts of magecraft like levitation are treated with grace, making the spectacle of these moments take the viewers’ breath away.

This visual elegance is complemented by a musical score that only enhances every magical moment and emotional story beat. Composer Evan Call (Violet Evergarden) delivers an amazing work of musical art throughout the story. As much as the cast delivers their dialogue with skill and excellent emotional emphasis, the show wouldn’t hit its high half as well as it does without Call’s sublime auditory work.

The opening chapter of Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End delivers an introduction that is breathtaking in its elegance, thought-provoking in its reflections, and charming in its cast. After witnessing the beginning of Frieren’s journey, the thought of not seeing it through is upsetting. I need to know what her tale will bring to her in the end.

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Season 1 is streaming now on Crunchyroll.