Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End isn’t just a story about an elf and her adventures; it’s a meaningful exploration of valuing the time we spend with our loved ones. And to perfectly present that, what could have been a better way than basing the story on an elf?
The mythical creatures that elves are represent the passage of time itself. Due to their insanely long lifespan, they often become witnesses to history, but they usually remember past incidents as mere occurrences. It becomes hard for them to preserve the emotional tranquility of the characters involved in history.
But here comes Himmel, the so-called Hero in this series, who defeated the demon king with his party members, whom we all get to love so much, and Frieren was just one of them. However, defeating the demon army wasn’t the only thing Himmel wished to achieve on his journey.
Himmel wanted Frieren to cherish the beautiful days they spent all together
Himmel isn’t a hero just because the narrative tells us so. After all, he literally dies in the very first episode of the series. But he is THE hero to us all because of the influence he leaves behind, constantly inspiring Frieren and even us, the viewers. His presence is felt throughout the series, and that says a lot about how character writing is done right.
Through the glimpses of the past that we get to see through the memories of Frieren, it makes clear how one of Himmel’s main motivational factors in his journey was his desire to be remembered. He wanted to be remembered by his friends, the people he helped, future generations, and most importantly, by Frieren herself.
He even had multiple statues of him made, just to remind Frieren that he had lived and that those memories were real; the people she roamed with were also real, and they all led meaningful lives. Himmel wanted to leave parts of those memories behind for her. This may sound awfully sweet, but at the same time, it’s also about accepting the bitter reality that Himmel is no longer with us; only his memories will remain.
Frieren portrays the beauty of human relationships in the best way possible
The way Himmel leaves his mark for Frieren and others to remember may not seem that much, but for Frieren, it means the world to her. His influence on her is even more profound; Himmel pretty much taught her to cherish every single human interaction, and this is a beautiful lesson that resonates deeply throughout the series’ narrative.
Before Himmel’s passing, Frieren didn’t appreciate the time she used to spend with the people she was with. But now, she realizes how much she missed out on by not making the most of their (Himmel and Frieren) time together. She’s determined not to repeat this mistake with Fern, Stark, Sein, and others, which itself is a valuable lesson in the importance of human connection.
The presence of Himmel‘s statues in every town Frieren visits remains a bittersweet reminder of his love. It’s heartbreaking, pure, and comforting all at once. It is as if his wish to comfort Frieren, be remembered, and care for her even in death has come true. Though death separates them, his feelings for her transcend his lifetime. Whenever Frieren sees a statue, Himmel is right there, caring deeply.
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End is available to watch on Netflix.
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