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THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS

Story
The story of Frieren is delightfully refreshing. The biggest threat has already been long defeated, and we follow Frieren continuing on with her overwhelmingly long life. It's such an interesting twist in a genre that is oversaturated with heroes venturing to defeat the [insert generic big bad evil guy here] without giving us a long look into how the world is changed by these actions. We already know that Frieren alone is powerful enough to deal with any threat she might encounter, which means the stakes feel pretty low. However, in spite of that, every fight feels thrilling as it further establishes ... how much of an anomaly Frieren and her companions are. The portions of the story without action are still entertaining, as it's a joy seeing the main trio interact with each other and with the people they meet during their journey. Admittedly, the story can feel slow at times, but not to the point that I would consider dropping the show. If you enjoy slice of life like I do, the "lulls" in Frieren will likely be tolerable to you.

Worldbuilding
Frieren easily has some of the best worldbuilding in any anime I've seen. Through Frieren's travels, we see so many different settlements and groups of people, from the most renowned mages in the world, to a villager who just wants to decorate a monument to Himmel the Hero. Regardless, all of these people and places have been impacted by the efforts of Frieren and her party, and it’s great to see how they were affected in various ways. We actually get to see how the world has developed over time, from the age in which the demon king ruled, to several decades after the demon king’s defeat. From an age where magic was a rarity, to one where most everyone can utilize it. One example of the evolution we see in the world is the spell Zoltraak. Invented by the demon Qual, this spell was literally unbeatable during the war against the demons. Yet in the present day, Zoltraak has become known as “ordinary offensive magic”, which is easily blocked by mages with basic knowledge of defensive magic.

Characters
Frieren, to me, is a character-driven story. It's about Frieren learning to really appreciate her journeys and the companions she makes along the way. The series does an excellent job of making its characters interesting and complex, with relatable traits and issues.

Stark, while being the member of the main trio with the least focus in season one, still has a moving backstory that clearly establishes reasons for his character traits. He grew up in the shadow of his prodigious brother, leading him to doubt his own abilities, even when acknowledged by the great hero Eisen. This is likely a flaw most people can relate to; doubting yourself despite evidence of your abilities.

Fern, while being permanently monotone, still subtly shows development over time as she becomes increasingly similar to her master. She starts off as someone who just wants to become a mage in honor of her early caretaker, but grows into a mage with Frieren’s appreciation for niche spells that most people would consider useless. However, she struggles to convey her emotions, leading to repeated conflicts with Stark and Frieren.

Even the side characters have been developed and compelling enough to seem like more than just side characters. Sein was only with the party for a few episodes, yet I had expected him to stay as a main character because of how well he fit in with the group. He once felt a burning passion to become an adventurer, but lost his drive over time and felt guilt over his brother sacrificing his career for Sein’s sake. He wants to venture out and find his long-lost best friend, but that guilt and feeling of obligation to make his brother’s sacrifice worthwhile keeps him chained down in his hometown.

The noble Orden had it all made for him as a ruler, but took his family for granted and parted ways with his son on bad terms, only to end up being forever unable to make up with him. Yet he continues on with his life and comes to terms with his mistake by essentially adopting Stark as his son for a period of time, giving Stark the fatherly attention that he lacked as a child.

The characters in the exam arc are on a whole different level. They all get development, but not in an overwhelming amount. When it's relevant, they have a flashback or are analyzed by a separate character, giving us another piece of the puzzle. For example, Wirbel initially appears to be a cold-blooded killer, but his hesitation in killing during the mage exam suggests that there’s more to him than just that. We later see him assisting an old woman with picking up her spilled produce, having been influenced to do so by the acts of Himmel.

And of course, there's Frieren herself. She lacks social tact and rarely expresses any significant emotions, but we still learn so much about her and what makes her tick. It's fascinating to see how Frieren, one of the most renowned and experienced people alive in the setting, still acts like a fletchling adventurer whenever she sees treasure. But what sticks out to me the most about Frieren is that her whole motivation is just that she simply loves magic. Many mages in the world learn magic for political power, combat prowess, or wealth, but Frieren just wants to learn any and every spell she can. Even in the exam arc, in the midst of what could be the greatest threat she’s encountered since the Demon King, she smiles and expresses enjoyment in being able to strategize with her group. I honestly envy that her passion motivates her to such an extent. And it’s wonderful seeing how, whether she intends it or not, her passion rubs off on those around her, helping them face their own demons and grow.

At the end of the day, I love character-driven stories, especially when the characters have noticeable and relatable flaws, and this series excels in that regard.

Sound
The soundtrack in Frieren is phenomenal. It so perfectly encapsulates the feeling of a grand, fantastic adventure, and the songs that play during fight scenes make them feel so much more epic. Normally when I’m watching a show or movie, I struggle to pay attention to both the audio and the visuals. However, this was not a problem at all with Frieren, which to me speaks to the quality of the soundtrack. The music was so good that I was able to pay attention to it while admiring the beautiful animation. Aside from the music the sound effects are wonderfully crisp, giving the spells a real sense of "oomph" or impact.

Fanservice
… or lack thereof. Frieren strays away from the usual fanservice that plagues fantasy anime, which is a wonderful thing. For example, in one scene Frieren is laying on Fern’s lap, her face towards the sky, but she finds her view obstructed. While many other anime would focus on this excessively, Frieren doesn’t even mention it; we simply see the look on her face as she realizes this difference between her and Fern, and she sits up. This is an anime you could show anyone without worrying about them being turned off by overly-revealing outfits or physics.

Art and animation
The art in Frieren is simply stunning. So much detail is put into the many landscapes we see, making them feel real. The world is incredibly vibrant and full of color. And the animation is consistently fluid even in relatively unimportant scenes, such as Frieren jumping off her bed to dig through her luggage. This smooth animation makes it very easy to follow along with the dynamic fights, even as the combatants fly through the air and rapid-fire spells.

Conclusion
Watching Frieren weekly was truly a magical experience (no pun intended), and I can’t wait for season two. I went in knowing nothing about it and having no expectations, and came out with a new favorite anime of all time.