Let’s not forget Sein’s greatest accomplishment in being a voice for the audience when he said that Fern and Stark should just start dating already. Man was the only socially adjusted person among a group of awkward kids who had no idea how to properly communicate with each other
This happens alot. I personally favour "semi-alien minded" characters more. I just like exploring them, especially when they are well introduced and written in the beginning. Examples are the Hollows/Arrancer in Bleach, or the Demons in Frieren. Everytime I saw one of the great Demons die which many chapters centered around, I felt pretty depressed. They are just to cool and filled with potential to just kill them off. But I guess the autors of many such works are afraid to not keep the consistency of intrigue up with them and just decide to throw them out of the story cause keeping them up to "expecation" is too difficult. With Sein I was only worried he might fall of a cliff and die from his own foolishness. 😏 If no one is nearby to safe him he might die fro the most foolish of things.
funny enough Frieren actually reserved the spot of the Party's Healer for Sein and she always awaited for him to return back to the party, that is why she hasn't recruit any new healer since Sein left to search for his childhood friend Gorilla.
@@DarthMalgusSith_Lord indeed, even if it takes a decade or more, that's how she perceives it. So what if you're going on a personal journey of a lifetime? That's like...practically tomorrow, see you soon!
Sein is undeniably a great character, and his moment when leaving the group to other direction to continue pursuing his friend is shockingly sad yet truly respectable decision.. and him immediately feeling lonely after that while smiling is the cherry on top,, such a great writing 👍
I love how they allude to Sein at the end of the final episode of the season. Where Fern asks Frieren why she doesn't formally say good-bye when parting with the people she's met along her travels, and we learn via flashback that Himmel did the same because he'd feel awkward if they did eventually reunite. It neatly contextualized how lowkey Sein leaving the story was and for us in the audience that a reunion is always possible.
Dude appears, sinking in a pile of mud. Saves Stark's life. Follows the team around for a few months, saves everyone's lives again later, mediates conflict, ships Stark and Fern. Dips to find his childhood buddy. BASED
I feel like this also works when as a DM you make such a deep background for NPCs along the way and the players recognize that and latch onto them, inviting them to join and the DM now has a reaccuring character for a few sessions before eventually it is time for something new to happen and for more of the story to continue without that character.
I think the reason frieren was reluctant to recruit sein is not that he was a genius but because he was like her before. He was a painful reminder of her apathetic past, which is why she quickly swung towards recruiting him at any cost, because it was painful to see someone wallow in stagnation, just like she did.
I also think there's the recurring theme of "It's what Himmel would have (and has) done". Frieren's journey is to understand Himmel better, so acting as Himmel might be the most direct way of achieving that goal.
I SAID SEIN! HOLY CRAP! When you asked us about our favourite character in the poll, I said Sein. He wasn't even an option, but he just is my favourite. And now this video comes out. I'm so happy x)
I never really considered Sein as weird. The 'weird' feeling I got was more because I felt that his struggle was even more relatable. When he got the push to do what he always truly wanted to do it didnt change his entire outlook on life. He now went with his dream but because of his past regret continued to be lost in thought and contemplainting if he chose correct this time. And this regret is what defined his character in a way where the viewer understood his point of view. Whatever he did in the group, he did so they would not regret their time. In a show with Frieren, whilst having human problems, is so far from human, or Fern being so cold often times, I think the weird feeling was understanding Sein so well. Everyone has defining past experiences that change someones outlook and we got to expreience his.
I totally agree. Sein’s relatability as an adult who feels like it’s too late to chase his dream really adds refreshing representation. In the show, you see Fern and Stark who are kids starting their journey or the original “Hero’s party” going on an adventure, but Sein has not taken any initiative or action to start his journey and he regrets it so much. He feels stuck in his place in life and thinks that the opportunity has already left when in reality, nothing is stopping him from starting now. It’s kinda like a 30 year old regretting not going to college at a younger age.
I was so sad when Sein left the party, but the confidence and commitment to the choice is incredible. Most stories wouldn’t be that brave, but it was an incredibly impactful choice that they didn’t renege on. This is part of what makes Frieren a true modern masterpiece.
Corrections: (1) Frieren doesn't fall for mimics. She chooses to take the risk when it's safe to do so (ie, outside of battle situations) because she doesn't lose anything of value (and because the mimic-check spell is only 99% accurate). Specifically, she loses a little time while in the mimic and then later when fixing her hair (but she doesn't care about that because she has practically infinite time), and suffers a little reputation damage (but she doesn't care about how others view her all that much). On the other hand, she may gain something (eg, maybe the shaved-ice spell shown in the flashback in S01E06). In summary, she loses nothing and may gain something so why not try them all? (2) Sein's brother didn't actually study under Heiter as far as we know. Heiter just visited their village as part of his bishop? duties to select Sein's brother for a higher position in the Holy Capital of Strahl. (3) Frieren's aversion to Sein is not because Sein is also a genius, but because Frieren sees the state he's in (ie, the sunk cost fallacy and not moving on with what he wants to do in the bottom of his heart) as being eerily similar to how she was before Himmel convinced her to journey with them. It's like looking in the mirror or something.
spoiler warning for s1 of the anime: 1) You're right that Frieren doesn't fall for mimics but would rather take the 1% chance. However that's a pretty big moment and spoiler for the later part of season 1, unless I choose to give a total spoiler warning I didn't want to include that as I'm approaching the series episodically 2) Umm I guess so? Seems like a semantic debate but I think I get what your point is 3) I don't think so. It's explicitly stated that Frieren's aversion to Sein is because of his genius, the reason she chooses to help him is because she sees herself in his situation. Just go back and rewatch the episode where Sein is introduced, it's pretty heavy handed
@@PeyTalksAnime (1) Sure, but I assumed that everyone has seen the entirety of season 1 before watching your videos. Though I can edit my message if you feel that it's necessary. (2) Ok. (3) Where is is explicitly stated? I have just rewatched the episode and checked the manga again. In Ep13 around 9:40 or manga chapter 27 page 14 we have: Frieren: "It's an aversion to my own kind, I guess. / I hate how similar we are." Stark: "What is she talking about? / What are you talking about?" We, just like Stark, don't know exactly what she means by saying that at the time. Then, we have the scenes from 11:27 to 12:47 in Ep13 or manga chapter 27 pages 17-19. They clearly show that Frieren hates how Sein is saying that "it's too late now" similar to how she behaved when she was initially approached by the heroes party. Finally, as a bonus check Ep17 from 9:45 to 10:50 or manga chapter 35 pages 14-16. I don't think I'm mistaken here, but would be happy to hear from you or anyone else. :)
@PeyTalksAnime Re OP's point 2, I don't think it's a matter of semantics. Heiter visiting Sein's village as part of his bishop duties simply indicates Heiter is Sein's bro's boss. Them sitting at a table doesn't mean Sein's bro studied under Heiter. The fact that you work for your boss from your company's HQ doesn't mean you studied under him. To my knowledge, I don't believe it was explicitly stated nor implied in the episode.
Did you notice that the beginning and end of episode 13 can also symbolize Sein's state. Specifically; (1) He's initially physically stuck in a bottomless swamp, which can be a metaphor for how he's also living his life, while being stuck. (2) When Sein says that he'll accompany the party near the end of the episode, Stark (and Fern) manage(s) to catch a fish, which can be a metaphor or how they helped fish Sein out of his situation.
It wasn’t the genius aspect that made her averse to him joining, it was the same as what drew her to helping him. The feeling of being too late for your dreams.
The character that comes to mind when I think of Sein is Boromir, just without a Dark Lord/Demon King threatening his home and without the One Ring. They're both the most normal members of their respective groups, neither wanted to leave their home to go somewhere far off, and when they eventually _are_ convinced to go on a journey and join a group (not necessarily in the same order), they make it very clear that it's only for a time and they _will_ part ways if the larger group doesn't follow their specific path. It's actually a wonderful bit of storytelling from both authors to show that this character, while a part of the Main Character's group, was not born for the role, is not obligated to be part of it, and has a life outside of it that they want to get back to, even at the expense of the group.
Interesting. As soon as their paths diverged, Sein leaving the party was the only viable solution I could see. The scale of the map is never clearly indicated, but I could tell just from how they were talking about it that it would have been a substantial detour for either side to stick with the other. By that time, Sein had already emphasized in several episodes that finding Gorilla Warrior was his primary goal. And it didn't feel like a fake out to me, because of how his backstory has been presented in flashbacks. It wouldn't have made sense for him to be like "eh, I'll find him eventually" and follow Frieren. So like I said, the only possibility in my mind was them going their separate ways. That said, it is indeed really interesting that the story was willing to have a temporary party member like that. I'm having trouble coming up with another similar example from a work of fiction. The closest analogue I can think of is when a guest player joins a D&D show for a few seasons, has a short character arc, and then they and their character leave the party again.
@@lenamasou8066 I never felt like Vivi was a real contender for the crew. Everyone up to her had something unique that set them apart. Vivi was a mostly ordinary person who was just really well liked.
But why it's a detour at all? Isn't Friren's party heading like straighr north, like where Sein also needs? To me it shoud've been the other way around (Friren goes north to tur and Sein to aurbest)
@@volkem7985 Auberst was a mandatory stop to get the first-class mage certification to actually go into the deep north. I'm pretty sure that was already established by that point, unless my memory fails me.
Hey Pey, I don’t have disposable income but these videos are a genuine joy to watch and so intriguing to ponder and listen to what you talk about, the format and using one of my favorite anime’s as a source and outlet for narrative and other topics is really cool!! Btw, watched frieren with my mom and she loves it! We often rewatch it 😂
Heck yeah! Also you watching the videos is more than enough support. I'm glad you enjoy them and even watched the show with your mom! Don't worry at all about throwing money my way. things are starting to be more stable on my end
I came here expecting one of those anime compilation things, but instead I got this very interesting dissection that I can't help but respect. Your delivery is flawless and it make one think about one own story and hope it will be as good. Thank you for subvert the expectations. :) (sorry I'm English Second Languarge)
Wait a minute I just found out after watching these videos over the last few days that you’re pey, as in the singer I’ve been listening to all year! It’s crazy to me that not only do you write incredible songs, but you also create great short form content like this. If you ever play in Nashville I’ll be one of the first to get tickets!
And he left the party in the episode that had a new opening in which Frieren stands up after reading a book, smiles and walks toward him and Stark and Fern behind him....
This is like having a friend join your D&D party late in the campaign just for fun who not only turned out to be a great player, but also a great roleplayer who jived really well in the party but had to leave the campaign after only a few sessions.
Funny thing is, i remember every characters from frieren even the minor folks that have only a line or two. Thats how awsome frieren is at fleshing out the most minute of detail
So glad to get a video on possibly my favorite character in the show! My man Sein needs some love, hope we get to see a reunion and some future adventures with Gorilla Warrior :)
It really makes the world feel more real to have characters going through their own lifes and stories, completely unrelated to the ones of the main cast. Of course he left, he had his own adventure to live, he had his own goal to achieve because being the main characters doenst mean they are the center of the universe
The word Sein means being in German. (Please look up the meanings of all the names of Frieren in German, they all fit extremely well) Sein embodies this. He is. He exists and his arc also explores what existing means. It's to touch the lives of people until it's time to leave and then touch the lives of different people. Some people stick and some people don't. Some you fit with but have to leave and some you find again but you never know. This is exactly how they treat him as well. It's also an extra layer to Frieren's exploration of longevity since, for her, the lifetime of people is just like this meeting. You meet, spend a few months together, and then everyone goes their separate ways.
IMO, Freiren is also about moving on. It's is a very unique story because its built off of not the adventure but after the "happily ever after" line we see in most stories. Its the "end of an era" saga. We see torches being passed. We see heroes and villains who rose, die. But the world still goes on. It really experiments with perception of time and the effect it has on storytelling.
Video Idea: How to write a symphatic pervert. Examples are Sein, Sanji from one piece and Mineta from my hero academia. Sein being the best, Sanji being good with flaws and Mineta being just bad.
i also like the line where they're like "wow, he's not even turning back to wave or anything" or something along the lines of him not looking back or seeming reluctant to leave, and frieren's just like "he's an adult. he knows how to give a proper goodbye." something about that line stuck with me
I am so happy to see so many people appreciating Sein. He’s my favorite and I’m starved for more writing/art for him. He balanced the party so well! I loved that Stark and Fern AND Frieren at different points went to him for help. Having a “proper adult” in the group was such a nice way to naturally encourage additional interesting group dynamics. I MISS HIM SO MUCH.
Another awesome Essay! I think you danced around an aspect of storytelling I feel really strongly about, which is that tropes are not bad! Frieren as a show is a great example of the way tropes can be used as storytelling shorthand. We’re primed as an audience to expect frieren and fern as mages to be intellectual and analytical because that’s the trope. So, the show says “yeah!” trope makes sense, no reason to overcomplicate-they are analytical. And because the show plays into the trope we don’t need to be told explicitly “frieren is very smart and intellectual” and instead they have the time to explore interesting Nuances. I think it’s interesting you described it as subverting tropes because in a lot of ways I don’t think frieren fully subverts tropes (like Himmel being Vain isn’t really subversive, he’s still an archetypical hero) BUT the show does explore nuance within the tropes and makes interesting characters within those archetypes.
Frieren is so good. And it has character dynamics & arcs that are this good, and yet people get hung up on demons having emotions, but still being monsters that instinctively want to kill.
I've heard two conflicting theories on the 'tropes' of Frieren. One is that it subverts tropes, and one that it fulfills them. I think Frieren's writing lay in the fact it fulfills its tropes perfectly. The show does not rely on the "This person is X....but really they're Y!" Frieren in a multi-millenial old elf...but really........! No, she acts and behaves that way outside of the comedic moments. She fulfills her trope more than pretty much most elves in modern fiction.
I feel like the biggest "subversion" is that the characters are not just empty tropes, but are coherent and have substance beyond the tropes. Frieren is a multi-millenial old elf, acts and behaves that way and has to deal with the natural consequences of that. Himmel acts and behaves like a hero and embodies the trope of a true hero even more because he does everything out of his own will instead of just being chosen by destiny. The characters fit in their tropes, but also manage to be their own characters besides that, which many generic fantasies don't accomplish.
@@nikx i feel one issue is we make it seem like playing an arçhetype strait is somehow bad. We have to be insincere about it. "Yeah they're a hero...buuuuuuut..." Sincerity seems to be a good word.
@@Pangora2 I think this comes from the oversaturation of shallow characters in those archetypes. With so many fantasy works existing, it is hard to come up with new unique ones. Imo it can be great to put a twist on the classic concepts and I think of it more as further exploration of the archetypes rather than denying the straight version of them, since the straight concepts just don’t fit in every story.
Absolutely love seeing your videos pop up on my notifs, like I just know I'm about to have the best Frieren anaylasis to add to the rest of my collection
Hey man, thanks you for this video! I really enjoyed it. You have such a beautiful and calm voice, I really like it. And the fact of you going this deep in the story amazed me. Thanks!
@ 00:05 "The overly vain hero" My guy... WTF are your standards? Himmel was a laid-back and amiable man, effortlessly getting along with others and forming strong interpersonal connections. Despite challenging circumstances, his unwavering dedication to protecting people made him a beacon of bravery and inspiration for his companions. His selflessness and willingness to go above and beyond to help others left a lasting impression on everyone he encountered. Though known for his heroism, Himmel did have a *slightly* narcissistic side, ***playfully declaring himself handsome*** and taking great care of his appearance, even in his older years. This added a touch of lightheartedness to his otherwise serious demeanor. The story makes it clear WHY Himmel did those things. It was NOT because of his vanity. It was for *the love of his life*.
I relate to this to a very deep level.. one of my dreams was to become an animator, but I wasn't really good at drawing, and I was already 23 years old, working as a teacher in a primary school, i used to code characters in a game when I was a kid, idk what went wrong and why I gave up on that as well, but it felt weird for me to start chasing any dream at that point, but my love grew toward art seeing how animation was made sooo.. I started a journey where I record every single day, the more I drew the more I get the hang of it, which made my dream grew more and more each day, and I felt ALIVE , a feeling that I lost in a while , I didn't have much friends and I wasn't the type of person who go outside and have fun with them, true that it is taking most of my time if not all, but I ll never regret it hopefully, chasing a skill that felt so far away, out of reach, and actually getting close to it, really does change someone's life.
Fun fact, as all characters in Frieren, 'Sein' is a german word... in english it would translate to "to be"... which thinking about his story arc (regrets vs 'beeing'/living in the moment') fits actually really well.
I was so surprised when he left the group, he fit in well and he filled a part of the teams weakness. I think it's one of the rare times where I've been caught offguard.
i just came up with a good drinking game, take a shot everytime an anime essayist says the word "character", you guys keep on giving us not just quality contact but fun games as wel haha. Keep it up mate!
man i love your vids, many times you describe things in the show exactly how i feel about them, now you made vid about sein, and god damn this is so well made, he is amazing character in such weird "normal" way and i love it. might as well support this channel with more than a sub and like ngl.
You know what really makes Sein feel so interesting? Is that he as a character is just so REAL. There are tons of people you have met and interacted with during a brief time, that then go on their separate ways because their life takes them in a direction that yours doesn't follow. They still have an impact, they still are there with you for a time. But eventually their life calls them left and yours right. I think it was so interesting to see because we are so used to the typical character arc of "new guy is met, new guy is acquired". Every character that is given introduction is integral to the journey of the party, and they stick around to achieve this greater goal, even at compromise to their original purpose. But Sein does not do that. Sure he travels with them, he helps them. But when he is pushed to make a decision, he says "thanks for the ride but I need to find my friend". Its such a refreshing realistic outcome in such a wonderful show like Frieren that really just makes you go "Man i love this show"
Having an existential crisis and dealing with it is perfectly fitting his name „Sein“. It’s literal translation is „being“. But it has more meanings than that.
Seeing Sein's story literally changed my life. I saw this character, his choices, and thought how silly he was to cling to regret to the point of not doing what he dreamed; until I realized that he was a reflection of me. I've lived differently ever since and have this amazing show to thank for starting that progress.
Your video actually makes his name more fitting for me. I didn't really understand why he was called "Sein", which means "to be" (even though i am german). And now, while watching your video my mind just went "oh~ it's because of 'to be or not to be/sein oder nicht sein'." Because his name is supposed to indicate the question "will he or won't he be part of the group". Really, there is some amazing detail work going on in this story.
This might be my favorite video of this series. Sein is literally so real of a character it gives me goosebumps. At this point Anime becomes something closer to literature imitating life so well it really pulls you in.
I think it was Brennan Lee Mulligan I heard it from, but it was something like “a good story is one that surprises you with its twists and turns, yet also could not go any other way”. I think that’s what you seem to be trying to express in this vid
What striking to me, all the characters are German words: Aura = aura Blei = lead Böse = evil Denken = to think Draht = wire Dünste = mist/haze Edel = precious/noble Ehre = honour Eisen = iron Falsch = false Fern = distant/far Flamme = flame Fräse = mill Frieren = to be freezing Gazelle = gazelle Genau = exact Glück = luck Gorilla = gorilla Graf Granat = count garnet (could also be a few other types of stone) Grausam = cruel Heiter = cheerful Himmel = sky/heaven Iris = iris Kanne = pot Kanone = cannon Klematis = clematis Kraft = strength Land = land/ground/country Länge = length Laufen = to run Lawine = landslide/avalanche Lernen = to learn Linie = line Lore = lorry/trolley Löwe = lion Lügner = liar Macht = power/force Methode = method Minus = minus Neu = new Qual = torment/agony Revolte = revolt Richter = judge Rivale = rival Routine = routine Scharf = sharp Schlacht = battle Schritt = step Sei = to be Sense = scythe Serie = series/serial Solitär = solitaire Stark = strong Ton = sound/tone Tot = dead Übel = sick/evil/ill Wehrlos = defenceless Wirbel = swirl Wolf = wolf
When you subvert expectations often you start to create the expectation that you will always subvert it, and that opens up the possibility to just not do that, subverting the subverted This truly is the Megamind of Anime!
I saw online someone once said Sein was "born too late to meet Flamme and left too early to meet Methode." So unfortunate for him to miss the opportunity to finally find the oneesan character lol
_RE: the bit about being old._ I'm 35. After a decade spent meeting my educational and career goals, ambition mined and burnt out in the vicious fires of work-sleep-work with my hobbies turned to smoke, I said screw it and _made_ the time to do all the things I've always wanted to do that I'm still capable of. I've caught up on years of anime, manga, manhwa and manhua, games - so much that I've missed. I started writing, drawing, taking the risks: trying that new recipe above my skill level; running that extra few meters further; opening the small business of my dreams. You can do it. Go do it. Have fun while doing it, because life is genuinely short and it waits for no one, and no one has enough of that life to waste it on regret.
the thing about frieren and their characters is, that every character feels human. they all have their own goals, ambitions and hopes. 'Sein' is german and means 'be'. Great video keep it up!
I agree with you, this decision was amazing. I think it adds a new depth that you don't expect from the tropes. For me, I thought he was going to stay in the party for the foreseeable future. That is trope and generally what you expect from a fantasy party like this. When he left it showed he wasn't in the party because of plot but he had his own goals and aspirations. I think it really helps with the world building and the depth of character of Sein. Idk this is just what I though when I was watching the vid. Could be obvious but... this anime is just so good.
when you breathe so much depth into your characters that they feel truly alive you can't trap them into a simple plotline. Sein subverting that trope is a great example of life not being a story. It comes at a perfect time in the plot to be a validation that this isn't just a color by numbers good story^tm but a genuinely great work of art.
Haha there are a lot of unexpected moments. People are written in a pretty complex way. They don’t just have one defining trait but layers of personality shaped by experience that molds them into who they are and drives their decisions. I’m reading the manga and I’m over 100 chapters into. It just keeps being amazing.
In Freiren the world is also a character and when we are introduced to characters that weave in and out of Frieren's life we can recognize how large and realistic their world is. Sometimes people go their seperate ways to pursue their goals, sometimes people stay in the company of friends, and most of all people grow from what they experience with another person be it short or long.
I've often looked at Frieren's storytelling from the lense of a roleplay focused D&D group. To me, Stein leaving the group felt like when a new player joins you table and meshes super well, but real life forces them to stop coming. Leading to a brother sweet fair well
Great video, my exact feelings. I knew he was leaving and yet him leaving them in the end felt so sudden. And then I remembered that, in this anime as well as in life, people come and go. No matter how short was our time with them, they were an important part of our life.
Let's not forget that this story talks a lot about human nature, interaction, life and relationships. And sometimes, people just leave. They just have another path to go. And it doesn't matter how well it would fit in a story or set structure or how much you think it would make narrative sense for them to stay, life is not made by those rules. People just go, and do their own things. In a story you are following a single person's perspective and they are the main characters, the world around them is there just for that person. But in truth, there is no mais character, life is not made FOR YOU, you just so happen to be seeing it through your perspective. And I think in a story about life an it's flow, having a character act not as a perfect element in a planned story for a specific narrative, but as a person with their own life and flow, it was really the best way to demonstrate life For that story, the best way to go was to not act like a story at all.
I think he's an allegory to the friends we meet along the journey, and then go our separate ways to different ends. I've had many. He was my favourite side character. I wanted him to stay. Every party needs a cleric, right? :)
@@milansamasama9021 I personally don’t remember it being popular but that’s not what I meant when I said it’s underrated. I think it may be one of the most well written anime ever, especially the first 3 seasons.
I always thought being around 30-40 is too old to pursue sports..But my mom proved me wrong. She is nearly 40 now and got invited to Malaysia for a throwball competition..She is also part of the state team.
On the topic of why Frieren hesitated to consider Sein for the party, I reasoned that if she was reluctant based on his talent, then she’d act similarly about Fern too. Instead, I thought it was because she already understood that he was like her: resistant to making decisions after so many years. He’d already exposited to her his story at that point, and I think Frieren was already comparing herself to him and getting upset since they were so similar. On top of that, I don’t personally take Frieren as the type to care about how talented her party members are (as long as they can hold their own)
You may want to include something in your title to make it clear your videos are essays. When I saw the thumbnail and title of this video, I expected it to be a collection of clips, so I was pleasantly surprised to find such deep analysis.
Let’s not forget Sein’s greatest accomplishment in being a voice for the audience when he said that Fern and Stark should just start dating already. Man was the only socially adjusted person among a group of awkward kids who had no idea how to properly communicate with each other
"He won't leave the party! He's too well developed to actually let him leave the party!"
*leaves the party*
"Sasuga Frieren..."
This is like 3 memes combined into one and I'm not sure how to feel about it
This happens alot. I personally favour "semi-alien minded" characters more. I just like exploring them, especially when they are well introduced and written in the beginning.
Examples are the Hollows/Arrancer in Bleach, or the Demons in Frieren.
Everytime I saw one of the great Demons die which many chapters centered around, I felt pretty depressed.
They are just to cool and filled with potential to just kill them off. But I guess the autors of many such works are afraid to not keep the consistency of intrigue up with them and just decide to throw them out of the story cause keeping them up to "expecation" is too difficult.
With Sein I was only worried he might fall of a cliff and die from his own foolishness. 😏
If no one is nearby to safe him he might die fro the most foolish of things.
funny enough Frieren actually reserved the spot of the Party's Healer for Sein and she always awaited for him to return back to the party, that is why she hasn't recruit any new healer since Sein left to search for his childhood friend Gorilla.
@@DarthMalgusSith_Lord indeed, even if it takes a decade or more, that's how she perceives it. So what if you're going on a personal journey of a lifetime? That's like...practically tomorrow, see you soon!
@@DarthMalgusSith_Lord She also seeks for a spell to give her a mature body so she can be the onee-san he craves.
( LoL )
Sein is undeniably a great character, and his moment when leaving the group to other direction to continue pursuing his friend is shockingly sad yet truly respectable decision..
and him immediately feeling lonely after that while smiling is the cherry on top,, such a great writing 👍
I was genuinely bummed he didn't stay in the group. He had great chemistry with everyone, and was like the ultimate mediator
Clerics max wisdom. :)
He could return later.
When parting, you don't say a formal goodbye because it'd be awkward if you ever reunited again later.
Don't mourn the chemistry you had, look forward to the chemistry still to come.
But then their funny rapport would cease. Can't have that
he might come back, spoiler warning but it’s kind of implied sein might (emphasis on might) return to the party later on
I love how they allude to Sein at the end of the final episode of the season. Where Fern asks Frieren why she doesn't formally say good-bye when parting with the people she's met along her travels, and we learn via flashback that Himmel did the same because he'd feel awkward if they did eventually reunite. It neatly contextualized how lowkey Sein leaving the story was and for us in the audience that a reunion is always possible.
Dude appears, sinking in a pile of mud.
Saves Stark's life.
Follows the team around for a few months, saves everyone's lives again later, mediates conflict, ships Stark and Fern.
Dips to find his childhood buddy.
BASED
Leave too early to meet Mommythode
prolly ends back up in a pile of mud
Refuses to explain, leaves.
he's also anti loli
@@claytoncallaway6412 Well, duh. He’s a normal person, after all. Of course he’d be against that kind of thing.
[Laughs awkwardly in DM, having seen this happen in campaigns when a player joins, fits well, and then has to stop coming.]
Bruh 😢, I feel you.
I feel like this also works when as a DM you make such a deep background for NPCs along the way and the players recognize that and latch onto them, inviting them to join and the DM now has a reaccuring character for a few sessions before eventually it is time for something new to happen and for more of the story to continue without that character.
I think the reason frieren was reluctant to recruit sein is not that he was a genius but because he was like her before. He was a painful reminder of her apathetic past, which is why she quickly swung towards recruiting him at any cost, because it was painful to see someone wallow in stagnation, just like she did.
I also think there's the recurring theme of "It's what Himmel would have (and has) done". Frieren's journey is to understand Himmel better, so acting as Himmel might be the most direct way of achieving that goal.
I SAID SEIN! HOLY CRAP! When you asked us about our favourite character in the poll, I said Sein. He wasn't even an option, but he just is my favourite. And now this video comes out. I'm so happy x)
haha I saw that, I had been working on the video already for awhile and thought it was fun
It's mine too😭 except I didn't write it
I agree. Sein is also my favourite character in Frieren!
I never really considered Sein as weird. The 'weird' feeling I got was more because I felt that his struggle was even more relatable. When he got the push to do what he always truly wanted to do it didnt change his entire outlook on life. He now went with his dream but because of his past regret continued to be lost in thought and contemplainting if he chose correct this time. And this regret is what defined his character in a way where the viewer understood his point of view. Whatever he did in the group, he did so they would not regret their time. In a show with Frieren, whilst having human problems, is so far from human, or Fern being so cold often times, I think the weird feeling was understanding Sein so well. Everyone has defining past experiences that change someones outlook and we got to expreience his.
This is such an eloquent and well thought out comment. :)
I totally agree. Sein’s relatability as an adult who feels like it’s too late to chase his dream really adds refreshing representation. In the show, you see Fern and Stark who are kids starting their journey or the original “Hero’s party” going on an adventure, but Sein has not taken any initiative or action to start his journey and he regrets it so much. He feels stuck in his place in life and thinks that the opportunity has already left when in reality, nothing is stopping him from starting now. It’s kinda like a 30 year old regretting not going to college at a younger age.
I was so sad when Sein left the party, but the confidence and commitment to the choice is incredible. Most stories wouldn’t be that brave, but it was an incredibly impactful choice that they didn’t renege on. This is part of what makes Frieren a true modern masterpiece.
Corrections:
(1) Frieren doesn't fall for mimics. She chooses to take the risk when it's safe to do so (ie, outside of battle situations) because she doesn't lose anything of value (and because the mimic-check spell is only 99% accurate).
Specifically, she loses a little time while in the mimic and then later when fixing her hair (but she doesn't care about that because she has practically infinite time), and suffers a little reputation damage (but she doesn't care about how others view her all that much). On the other hand, she may gain something (eg, maybe the shaved-ice spell shown in the flashback in S01E06).
In summary, she loses nothing and may gain something so why not try them all?
(2) Sein's brother didn't actually study under Heiter as far as we know. Heiter just visited their village as part of his bishop? duties to select Sein's brother for a higher position in the Holy Capital of Strahl.
(3) Frieren's aversion to Sein is not because Sein is also a genius, but because Frieren sees the state he's in (ie, the sunk cost fallacy and not moving on with what he wants to do in the bottom of his heart) as being eerily similar to how she was before Himmel convinced her to journey with them. It's like looking in the mirror or something.
spoiler warning for s1 of the anime:
1) You're right that Frieren doesn't fall for mimics but would rather take the 1% chance. However that's a pretty big moment and spoiler for the later part of season 1, unless I choose to give a total spoiler warning I didn't want to include that as I'm approaching the series episodically
2) Umm I guess so? Seems like a semantic debate but I think I get what your point is
3) I don't think so. It's explicitly stated that Frieren's aversion to Sein is because of his genius, the reason she chooses to help him is because she sees herself in his situation. Just go back and rewatch the episode where Sein is introduced, it's pretty heavy handed
@@PeyTalksAnime (1) Sure, but I assumed that everyone has seen the entirety of season 1 before watching your videos. Though I can edit my message if you feel that it's necessary.
(2) Ok.
(3) Where is is explicitly stated? I have just rewatched the episode and checked the manga again.
In Ep13 around 9:40 or manga chapter 27 page 14 we have:
Frieren: "It's an aversion to my own kind, I guess. / I hate how similar we are."
Stark: "What is she talking about? / What are you talking about?"
We, just like Stark, don't know exactly what she means by saying that at the time.
Then, we have the scenes from 11:27 to 12:47 in Ep13 or manga chapter 27 pages 17-19. They clearly show that Frieren hates how Sein is saying that "it's too late now" similar to how she behaved when she was initially approached by the heroes party.
Finally, as a bonus check Ep17 from 9:45 to 10:50 or manga chapter 35 pages 14-16.
I don't think I'm mistaken here, but would be happy to hear from you or anyone else. :)
@PeyTalksAnime Re OP's point 2, I don't think it's a matter of semantics. Heiter visiting Sein's village as part of his bishop duties simply indicates Heiter is Sein's bro's boss. Them sitting at a table doesn't mean Sein's bro studied under Heiter. The fact that you work for your boss from your company's HQ doesn't mean you studied under him. To my knowledge, I don't believe it was explicitly stated nor implied in the episode.
@@anosvoldigoat2044Agree with u bro esp on point 3. N so do 79 other ppl who agreed with nicksantos8035 who raised the same objection.
@@nvmoe objection on ur third point, appealing to popularity is not a valid argument
Did you notice that the beginning and end of episode 13 can also symbolize Sein's state. Specifically;
(1) He's initially physically stuck in a bottomless swamp, which can be a metaphor for how he's also living his life, while being stuck.
(2) When Sein says that he'll accompany the party near the end of the episode, Stark (and Fern) manage(s) to catch a fish, which can be a metaphor or how they helped fish Sein out of his situation.
I'm certain this was the author's intent.
i love reading coments of videos about this show because i always find something new i didnt notice like this, thank you for pointing this out!
It wasn’t the genius aspect that made her averse to him joining, it was the same as what drew her to helping him. The feeling of being too late for your dreams.
The character that comes to mind when I think of Sein is Boromir, just without a Dark Lord/Demon King threatening his home and without the One Ring. They're both the most normal members of their respective groups, neither wanted to leave their home to go somewhere far off, and when they eventually _are_ convinced to go on a journey and join a group (not necessarily in the same order), they make it very clear that it's only for a time and they _will_ part ways if the larger group doesn't follow their specific path. It's actually a wonderful bit of storytelling from both authors to show that this character, while a part of the Main Character's group, was not born for the role, is not obligated to be part of it, and has a life outside of it that they want to get back to, even at the expense of the group.
It’s so shocking because we expect him to stay but it’s so natural to have him leave which makes it so satisfying, frieren is such a gem
Interesting. As soon as their paths diverged, Sein leaving the party was the only viable solution I could see. The scale of the map is never clearly indicated, but I could tell just from how they were talking about it that it would have been a substantial detour for either side to stick with the other. By that time, Sein had already emphasized in several episodes that finding Gorilla Warrior was his primary goal. And it didn't feel like a fake out to me, because of how his backstory has been presented in flashbacks. It wouldn't have made sense for him to be like "eh, I'll find him eventually" and follow Frieren. So like I said, the only possibility in my mind was them going their separate ways.
That said, it is indeed really interesting that the story was willing to have a temporary party member like that. I'm having trouble coming up with another similar example from a work of fiction. The closest analogue I can think of is when a guest player joins a D&D show for a few seasons, has a short character arc, and then they and their character leave the party again.
Vivi from one piece maybe? She traveled around with the strawhats but then stayed when there was something more important to do for her
@@lenamasou8066 I never felt like Vivi was a real contender for the crew. Everyone up to her had something unique that set them apart. Vivi was a mostly ordinary person who was just really well liked.
But why it's a detour at all? Isn't Friren's party heading like straighr north, like where Sein also needs? To me it shoud've been the other way around (Friren goes north to tur and Sein to aurbest)
@@volkem7985 Auberst was a mandatory stop to get the first-class mage certification to actually go into the deep north. I'm pretty sure that was already established by that point, unless my memory fails me.
JRPGs love to have temporary party members that only stick around for an arc or two before leaving
Your writing and narration are both TOP TIER. I just love how tender you are with the complexity of human emotion.
Hey Pey, I don’t have disposable income but these videos are a genuine joy to watch and so intriguing to ponder and listen to what you talk about, the format and using one of my favorite anime’s as a source and outlet for narrative and other topics is really cool!! Btw, watched frieren with my mom and she loves it! We often rewatch it 😂
Heck yeah! Also you watching the videos is more than enough support. I'm glad you enjoy them and even watched the show with your mom!
Don't worry at all about throwing money my way. things are starting to be more stable on my end
I came here expecting one of those anime compilation things, but instead I got this very interesting dissection that I can't help but respect. Your delivery is flawless and it make one think about one own story and hope it will be as good. Thank you for subvert the expectations. :) (sorry I'm English Second Languarge)
You are currently my fastest click.
Thank you for this, this series touched me in a way I can't explain. And you are explaining it for me so well.
Wait a minute I just found out after watching these videos over the last few days that you’re pey, as in the singer I’ve been listening to all year! It’s crazy to me that not only do you write incredible songs, but you also create great short form content like this. If you ever play in Nashville I’ll be one of the first to get tickets!
And he left the party in the episode that had a new opening in which Frieren stands up after reading a book, smiles and walks toward him and Stark and Fern behind him....
This is like having a friend join your D&D party late in the campaign just for fun who not only turned out to be a great player, but also a great roleplayer who jived really well in the party but had to leave the campaign after only a few sessions.
Funny thing is, i remember every characters from frieren even the minor folks that have only a line or two.
Thats how awsome frieren is at fleshing out the most minute of detail
So glad to get a video on possibly my favorite character in the show! My man Sein needs some love, hope we get to see a reunion and some future adventures with Gorilla Warrior :)
It really makes the world feel more real to have characters going through their own lifes and stories, completely unrelated to the ones of the main cast. Of course he left, he had his own adventure to live, he had his own goal to achieve because being the main characters doenst mean they are the center of the universe
"You call this success?"
"Worse, she called that a plan!"
The word Sein means being in German. (Please look up the meanings of all the names of Frieren in German, they all fit extremely well) Sein embodies this. He is. He exists and his arc also explores what existing means. It's to touch the lives of people until it's time to leave and then touch the lives of different people. Some people stick and some people don't. Some you fit with but have to leave and some you find again but you never know. This is exactly how they treat him as well. It's also an extra layer to Frieren's exploration of longevity since, for her, the lifetime of people is just like this meeting. You meet, spend a few months together, and then everyone goes their separate ways.
IMO, Freiren is also about moving on. It's is a very unique story because its built off of not the adventure but after the "happily ever after" line we see in most stories. Its the "end of an era" saga. We see torches being passed. We see heroes and villains who rose, die. But the world still goes on. It really experiments with perception of time and the effect it has on storytelling.
Love this series you’ve made, really relaxing to listen to.
Also I NEED her to be right about a minic ONE TIME before this show ends 😂
Video Idea: How to write a symphatic pervert. Examples are Sein, Sanji from one piece and Mineta from my hero academia. Sein being the best, Sanji being good with flaws and Mineta being just bad.
i also like the line where they're like "wow, he's not even turning back to wave or anything" or something along the lines of him not looking back or seeming reluctant to leave, and frieren's just like "he's an adult. he knows how to give a proper goodbye." something about that line stuck with me
I am so happy to see so many people appreciating Sein. He’s my favorite and I’m starved for more writing/art for him. He balanced the party so well! I loved that Stark and Fern AND Frieren at different points went to him for help. Having a “proper adult” in the group was such a nice way to naturally encourage additional interesting group dynamics. I MISS HIM SO MUCH.
Another awesome Essay!
I think you danced around an aspect of storytelling I feel really strongly about, which is that tropes are not bad!
Frieren as a show is a great example of the way tropes can be used as storytelling shorthand. We’re primed as an audience to expect frieren and fern as mages to be intellectual and analytical because that’s the trope.
So, the show says “yeah!” trope makes sense, no reason to overcomplicate-they are analytical. And because the show plays into the trope we don’t need to be told explicitly “frieren is very smart and intellectual” and instead they have the time to explore interesting Nuances.
I think it’s interesting you described it as subverting tropes because in a lot of ways I don’t think frieren fully subverts tropes (like Himmel being Vain isn’t really subversive, he’s still an archetypical hero) BUT the show does explore nuance within the tropes and makes interesting characters within those archetypes.
He left so much impression in so little time 😭 love this guy smm
Hey, just here to say you're doing a great job on the channel, man! Keep it up!
The author is just so good.
This is a phenomenal video. Reminds me of why I like frieren so much. I would crash my car into a telephone pole to get you to talk about other shows.
lmao dont do that. Im working on integrating more anime currently haha
Hey man I absolutely love your videos please never stop😭
Frieren is so good. And it has character dynamics & arcs that are this good, and yet people get hung up on demons having emotions, but still being monsters that instinctively want to kill.
I've heard two conflicting theories on the 'tropes' of Frieren. One is that it subverts tropes, and one that it fulfills them. I think Frieren's writing lay in the fact it fulfills its tropes perfectly. The show does not rely on the "This person is X....but really they're Y!" Frieren in a multi-millenial old elf...but really........! No, she acts and behaves that way outside of the comedic moments. She fulfills her trope more than pretty much most elves in modern fiction.
I feel like the biggest "subversion" is that the characters are not just empty tropes, but are coherent and have substance beyond the tropes. Frieren is a multi-millenial old elf, acts and behaves that way and has to deal with the natural consequences of that. Himmel acts and behaves like a hero and embodies the trope of a true hero even more because he does everything out of his own will instead of just being chosen by destiny. The characters fit in their tropes, but also manage to be their own characters besides that, which many generic fantasies don't accomplish.
@@nikx i feel one issue is we make it seem like playing an arçhetype strait is somehow bad. We have to be insincere about it. "Yeah they're a hero...buuuuuuut..."
Sincerity seems to be a good word.
@@Pangora2 I think this comes from the oversaturation of shallow characters in those archetypes. With so many fantasy works existing, it is hard to come up with new unique ones. Imo it can be great to put a twist on the classic concepts and I think of it more as further exploration of the archetypes rather than denying the straight version of them, since the straight concepts just don’t fit in every story.
When "El dorado" arc gets animated, we'll be getting a new bunch of amazing videos like this one, can't wait.
Absolutely love seeing your videos pop up on my notifs, like I just know I'm about to have the best Frieren anaylasis to add to the rest of my collection
Your storytelling is very beautiful and warm, my description may not make sense, but it just feels right.
"direction, something to prevent stagnation.." that hits me ..
I knew I recognized the voice and I can't believe this is how i find out pey the musician has an anime channel
lmao glad to have you here
Hey man, thanks you for this video! I really enjoyed it. You have such a beautiful and calm voice, I really like it.
And the fact of you going this deep in the story amazed me. Thanks!
watching this 2 weeks late, I love your calming voice and you deliver great content, keep it up man
Man, I hope he comes back. He was immediately relatable and he fit so damn well. Great video and I'd love to see another devoted to Sein's character.
@ 00:05 "The overly vain hero" My guy... WTF are your standards?
Himmel was a laid-back and amiable man, effortlessly getting along with others and forming strong interpersonal connections. Despite challenging circumstances, his unwavering dedication to protecting people made him a beacon of bravery and inspiration for his companions. His selflessness and willingness to go above and beyond to help others left a lasting impression on everyone he encountered. Though known for his heroism, Himmel did have a *slightly* narcissistic side, ***playfully declaring himself handsome*** and taking great care of his appearance, even in his older years. This added a touch of lightheartedness to his otherwise serious demeanor.
The story makes it clear WHY Himmel did those things. It was NOT because of his vanity. It was for *the love of his life*.
himmel defender squad
I relate to this to a very deep level.. one of my dreams was to become an animator, but I wasn't really good at drawing, and I was already 23 years old, working as a teacher in a primary school, i used to code characters in a game when I was a kid, idk what went wrong and why I gave up on that as well, but it felt weird for me to start chasing any dream at that point, but my love grew toward art seeing how animation was made sooo.. I started a journey where I record every single day, the more I drew the more I get the hang of it, which made my dream grew more and more each day, and I felt ALIVE , a feeling that I lost in a while , I didn't have much friends and I wasn't the type of person who go outside and have fun with them, true that it is taking most of my time if not all, but I ll never regret it hopefully, chasing a skill that felt so far away, out of reach, and actually getting close to it, really does change someone's life.
Another vídeo, another amazing production. Frieren its absolute peak! Thank you for keep the fandom alive❤
Fun fact, as all characters in Frieren, 'Sein' is a german word... in english it would translate to "to be"... which thinking about his story arc (regrets vs 'beeing'/living in the moment') fits actually really well.
I was so surprised when he left the group, he fit in well and he filled a part of the teams weakness.
I think it's one of the rare times where I've been caught offguard.
i just came up with a good drinking game, take a shot everytime an anime essayist says the word "character", you guys keep on giving us not just quality contact but fun games as wel haha.
Keep it up mate!
man i love your vids, many times you describe things in the show exactly how i feel about them, now you made vid about sein, and god damn this is so well made, he is amazing character in such weird "normal" way and i love it. might as well support this channel with more than a sub and like ngl.
gotta be one of your best frieren videos yet pey, thank u for this
You know what really makes Sein feel so interesting? Is that he as a character is just so REAL. There are tons of people you have met and interacted with during a brief time, that then go on their separate ways because their life takes them in a direction that yours doesn't follow. They still have an impact, they still are there with you for a time. But eventually their life calls them left and yours right. I think it was so interesting to see because we are so used to the typical character arc of "new guy is met, new guy is acquired". Every character that is given introduction is integral to the journey of the party, and they stick around to achieve this greater goal, even at compromise to their original purpose. But Sein does not do that. Sure he travels with them, he helps them. But when he is pushed to make a decision, he says "thanks for the ride but I need to find my friend". Its such a refreshing realistic outcome in such a wonderful show like Frieren that really just makes you go "Man i love this show"
SEIN IS BACK!!!
I’m always looking forward to these amazing videos.
Your videos are so well made. Thank you for sharing your passions with us
Having an existential crisis and dealing with it is perfectly fitting his name „Sein“. It’s literal translation is „being“. But it has more meanings than that.
Seeing Sein's story literally changed my life. I saw this character, his choices, and thought how silly he was to cling to regret to the point of not doing what he dreamed; until I realized that he was a reflection of me. I've lived differently ever since and have this amazing show to thank for starting that progress.
Your video actually makes his name more fitting for me. I didn't really understand why he was called "Sein", which means "to be" (even though i am german). And now, while watching your video my mind just went "oh~ it's because of 'to be or not to be/sein oder nicht sein'." Because his name is supposed to indicate the question "will he or won't he be part of the group". Really, there is some amazing detail work going on in this story.
Wow... this video was masterfully edited. The music, the flow... everything really.
Very well made ❤
Broke my heart when he left. The fact we never see him again after he left was rough. I had the same feel you did.
I always felt that Frieren's reluctance of Sein joining was due to him being a genius like her. Not many others seem to mention this.
This might be my favorite video of this series. Sein is literally so real of a character it gives me goosebumps. At this point Anime becomes something closer to literature imitating life so well it really pulls you in.
Hey Pey, are you aware that when you say "across" (around 0:10) you say "acrossed" for some reason? I think I've heard it in other videos, too.
thanks for pointing that out. Yes, it's a common mistake I make haha
I can't hear anything wrong with it, sounds like a normal end to a sentence
Its a dialect thing
I think it was Brennan Lee Mulligan I heard it from, but it was something like “a good story is one that surprises you with its twists and turns, yet also could not go any other way”. I think that’s what you seem to be trying to express in this vid
Love the analysis, I'm looking forward to more of your videos relating to frerien💗💗
What striking to me, all the characters are German words:
Aura = aura
Blei = lead
Böse = evil
Denken = to think
Draht = wire
Dünste = mist/haze
Edel = precious/noble
Ehre = honour
Eisen = iron
Falsch = false
Fern = distant/far
Flamme = flame
Fräse = mill
Frieren = to be freezing
Gazelle = gazelle
Genau = exact
Glück = luck
Gorilla = gorilla
Graf Granat = count garnet (could also be a few other types of stone)
Grausam = cruel
Heiter = cheerful
Himmel = sky/heaven
Iris = iris
Kanne = pot
Kanone = cannon
Klematis = clematis
Kraft = strength
Land = land/ground/country
Länge = length
Laufen = to run
Lawine = landslide/avalanche
Lernen = to learn
Linie = line
Lore = lorry/trolley
Löwe = lion
Lügner = liar
Macht = power/force
Methode = method
Minus = minus
Neu = new
Qual = torment/agony
Revolte = revolt
Richter = judge
Rivale = rival
Routine = routine
Scharf = sharp
Schlacht = battle
Schritt = step
Sei = to be
Sense = scythe
Serie = series/serial
Solitär = solitaire
Stark = strong
Ton = sound/tone
Tot = dead
Übel = sick/evil/ill
Wehrlos = defenceless
Wirbel = swirl
Wolf = wolf
When you subvert expectations often you start to create the expectation that you will always subvert it, and that opens up the possibility to just not do that, subverting the subverted
This truly is the Megamind of Anime!
I saw online someone once said Sein was "born too late to meet Flamme and left too early to meet Methode." So unfortunate for him to miss the opportunity to finally find the oneesan character lol
Good disection, I loved it. You got a new subscriber and thank you for the video
_RE: the bit about being old._
I'm 35. After a decade spent meeting my educational and career goals, ambition mined and burnt out in the vicious fires of work-sleep-work with my hobbies turned to smoke, I said screw it and _made_ the time to do all the things I've always wanted to do that I'm still capable of. I've caught up on years of anime, manga, manhwa and manhua, games - so much that I've missed. I started writing, drawing, taking the risks: trying that new recipe above my skill level; running that extra few meters further; opening the small business of my dreams. You can do it. Go do it. Have fun while doing it, because life is genuinely short and it waits for no one, and no one has enough of that life to waste it on regret.
the thing about frieren and their characters is, that every character feels human. they all have their own goals, ambitions and hopes. 'Sein' is german and means 'be'. Great video keep it up!
I agree with you, this decision was amazing. I think it adds a new depth that you don't expect from the tropes. For me, I thought he was going to stay in the party for the foreseeable future. That is trope and generally what you expect from a fantasy party like this. When he left it showed he wasn't in the party because of plot but he had his own goals and aspirations. I think it really helps with the world building and the depth of character of Sein. Idk this is just what I though when I was watching the vid. Could be obvious but... this anime is just so good.
The feeling of having Sein leave so soon and unexpectedly is how Frieren must feel interacting with most humans
when you breathe so much depth into your characters that they feel truly alive you can't trap them into a simple plotline. Sein subverting that trope is a great example of life not being a story. It comes at a perfect time in the plot to be a validation that this isn't just a color by numbers good story^tm but a genuinely great work of art.
This is a great example of the loss of a character in a party without killing them off.
that ad timer was clutch asf thank you
Haha there are a lot of unexpected moments. People are written in a pretty complex way. They don’t just have one defining trait but layers of personality shaped by experience that molds them into who they are and drives their decisions. I’m reading the manga and I’m over 100 chapters into. It just keeps being amazing.
Great videos! Subbed
In Freiren the world is also a character and when we are introduced to characters that weave in and out of Frieren's life we can recognize how large and realistic their world is. Sometimes people go their seperate ways to pursue their goals, sometimes people stay in the company of friends, and most of all people grow from what they experience with another person be it short or long.
I've often looked at Frieren's storytelling from the lense of a roleplay focused D&D group. To me, Stein leaving the group felt like when a new player joins you table and meshes super well, but real life forces them to stop coming. Leading to a brother sweet fair well
Loving this series, always keeping Frieren in the back of my mind
I don't know if seeing him in future seasons would be better than never hearing about him again, it's perplexing.
Great video, my exact feelings. I knew he was leaving and yet him leaving them in the end felt so sudden. And then I remembered that, in this anime as well as in life, people come and go. No matter how short was our time with them, they were an important part of our life.
Sein is the adult this group desperately needed. Well, let's hope he'll return.
Sein was probably my favorite character in Frieren. Everyone was cool in their own way but Sein was the most relatable of the bunch.
Let's not forget that this story talks a lot about human nature, interaction, life and relationships.
And sometimes, people just leave. They just have another path to go. And it doesn't matter how well it would fit in a story or set structure or how much you think it would make narrative sense for them to stay, life is not made by those rules.
People just go, and do their own things.
In a story you are following a single person's perspective and they are the main characters, the world around them is there just for that person.
But in truth, there is no mais character, life is not made FOR YOU, you just so happen to be seeing it through your perspective.
And I think in a story about life an it's flow, having a character act not as a perfect element in a planned story for a specific narrative, but as a person with their own life and flow, it was really the best way to demonstrate life
For that story, the best way to go was to not act like a story at all.
I think he's an allegory to the friends we meet along the journey, and then go our separate ways to different ends. I've had many. He was my favourite side character. I wanted him to stay. Every party needs a cleric, right? :)
meanwhile Fugo in JoJo part 5:
I would LOVE to see you talk about Bungo Stray Dogs. I think it may be the most underrated anime ever.
Its not underrated it was popular in it's time but later the Hype died
@@milansamasama9021 I personally don’t remember it being popular but that’s not what I meant when I said it’s underrated. I think it may be one of the most well written anime ever, especially the first 3 seasons.
I always thought being around 30-40 is too old to pursue sports..But my mom proved me wrong. She is nearly 40 now and got invited to Malaysia for a throwball competition..She is also part of the state team.
On the topic of why Frieren hesitated to consider Sein for the party, I reasoned that if she was reluctant based on his talent, then she’d act similarly about Fern too. Instead, I thought it was because she already understood that he was like her: resistant to making decisions after so many years. He’d already exposited to her his story at that point, and I think Frieren was already comparing herself to him and getting upset since they were so similar. On top of that, I don’t personally take Frieren as the type to care about how talented her party members are (as long as they can hold their own)
I believe that this is the correct interpretation.
Very nicely worded. :)
You may want to include something in your title to make it clear your videos are essays. When I saw the thumbnail and title of this video, I expected it to be a collection of clips, so I was pleasantly surprised to find such deep analysis.
this video has motivated me to work, thank you
I wish I could say this as well.