Jan 22, 2025
Frieren is a prime example of overhyped mediocrity masquerading as brilliance. Its sky-high ratings on MAL (9.3+ at the time of writing) suggest that its fanbase likely consists of viewers who are either new to storytelling or have not yet been exposed to genuinely well-crafted narratives. The anime attracts a crowd that mistakes repetition and surface-level sentimentality for depth and emotional resonance.
The central theme of the story revolves around Frieren, an immortal elf who spent 10 years adventuring with a group of humans but never fully grasped the significance of time or the bonds she formed along the way. For her, time passed in the
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blink of an eye, while her companions aged, lived full lives, and inevitably approached their end. The narrative’s core conflict lies in Frieren coming to terms with the fleeting nature of human lives and confronting the regret of not valuing the moments she shared with her companions while they were still alive. It’s a story about realizing, far too late, how much those relationships mattered, and how she should have appreciated them more deeply.
On paper, this concept has potential. However, the execution is so clumsy and repetitive that it often feels insulting. The writers seem to assume that their audience is incapable of understanding the theme without constant reinforcement. As a result, the show spells out the same message in every episode—sometimes multiple times. For instance, Frieren frequently remarks, “Oh, this will only take a mere 10 years” or “This six-month trip is nothing,” and the human characters always respond, “That may be short for you, but it’s a long time for us.” This exchange, meant to highlight the difference in perception between the immortal elf and the mortal humans, is repeated ad nauseam, as if the writers know that their viewers are dumb, and they might miss the point. It’s lazy, patronizing storytelling at its worst.
What’s worse, the pacing of the anime is painfully slow. While I understand that the series is attempting a reflective, slow-burn tone, there’s a distinct difference between being “slow” and being “boring.” The problem is not just Frieren herself, but the entire cast of characters. Every one of them feels emotionally flat and uninteresting. They’re hollow, without any depth or meaningful development. Frieren, as the central character, is emotionally detached to the point where it’s difficult to care about her journey, but the supporting characters are just as empty. Their interactions and supposed growth are so subtle and drawn out that they barely register as change at all. The narrative meanders through low-stakes scenarios, recycling the same thematic beats repeatedly without ever offering anything truly engaging or profound. It’s as if the writers are more focused on making the story “slow” than actually building characters with depth or providing compelling narrative tension.
Additionally, the anime’s fans tend to be overly enthusiastic, praising it simply because it looks polished and has a certain atmospheric quality. The animation and music, while serviceable, are used as a smokescreen to cover up what is, at its core, a shallow story disguised as something deep. This is a classic case of style over substance, and the MAL echo chamber amplifies these flaws by mistaking surface-level polish for groundbreaking content.
Ultimately, Frieren feels like a dumb person’s idea of a smart anime. It’s not thoughtful or profound; it’s repetitive, predictable, and self-indulgent. If this is what many people consider the best anime ever, it speaks volumes about the state of popular taste.
Reviewer’s Rating: 5
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