How 4 Anime Episodes Gave me an Existential Crisis... - Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End

Today at the Mystery Shack, we delve into the beautiful tragedy turned wholesome adventure that is Frieren: Beyond Journey's End and how it gave me, a grown man, a literal existential crisis.
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Timecodes
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00:00 - Introduction
00:43 - Time & Perspective
04:26 - Reconnection
08:39 - Regret & Painful Reminders
12:34 - Losing the Present
15:30 - The Next Chapter
16:52 - Outro
#frieren #frierenbeyondjourneysend

[@wafagdplqs4421]

Fieren has to be one of the most interesting and profound anime/manga in recent years.

[@kirbyjoe7484]

I'm not sure I would go quite that far since there are some seriously deep manga out there like Shimeji Simulation, but Frieren is certainly a top-tier story. It's right up next to Heavenly Delusion for my anime of the year.

[@stine4132]

@@kirbyjoe7484 that literally changes nothing with this person's statement. Frieren's themes are one of the hardest hitting ones out there, and one of the most relatable to. A show can be as deep as it wants to, but if it cant connect with the audience It's not as impactful. Frieren's is elevated to the top for many because time is such an important thing

[@kirbyjoe7484]

@@stine4132 It kind of does change things since the poster was claiming Frieren was one of the most interesting and profound manga in recent years and I merely pointing out that although it is a top-tier story it's not exactly one of the most profoundly groundbreaking manga in recent years. Don't get me wrong, I love Frieren and it's one of my favorite manga. but it doesn't change the fact that it's not exactly breaking into new frontiers outside of the fact that it's perhaps the first story I've seen with strong mono-no-aware themes that has achieved truly mainstream appeal. Mushishi and Girl's Last Tour are probably the only other manga I have seen with mono-no-aware vibes that have even come close to going truly mainstream with thier anime adaptions. That in and of itself is a great accomplishment when the majority of anime fans are into shounen battle-power fantasies. Frieren is a great manga. I'm not saying it isn't.

[@taurenrogue]

@@kirbyjoe7484 you pointed out one other anime/manga how does that diminish the fact that frieren is ONE of the stories you are arguing about. even if you listed 10, frieren would still be one of the most interesting and profound anime/manga in recent years

[@micaann7974]

“What you may have thought was a minor event was actually the others’ whole world” very well said

[@TrampMachine]

I dropped outta high school at 17 and started hopping freight trains around the country. I had a lot of friends that I'd see for a spell then we'd move on expecting to run into each other again. The train hopping community is like that you'll meet someone in San Francisco, and randomly run into them again a year later in some small town in North Carolina or something. But as happens there was a lot of drugs and drinking. Most died of overdose, plenty died of liver failure in their 30s from hep c and drinking, some died from falling off trains, some were murdered, some went to prison. I'm not exaggerating when I say I have more dead friends than living ones. Eventually I met a girl, got married, had a kid and got divorced. All my remaining friends are scattered around the country and I don't know if I'll ever see them again. Now I'm watching Frieren with my 9 year old and while she's unphased Frieren totally fucks me up.

[@jaxd7206]

Thank you for sharing your story. I hope and pray you and your kid live a long healthy and lovely life.

[@TheDahaka1]

No other story has ever had this much power over me. With just one sentence or one thought, every episode manages to break me and heal me shortly after. It's an incredibly beautiful and somber story about giving a chance to experiences you never even thought of wanting. It's about growing stronger from the pain, and learning to treasure the good things, no matter how small and fleeting they seem. It's about staying true to yourself even while you're changing, keeping the good, accepting the bad and living more fully from now on, even if only by one little step at a time. This anime came into my life in the moment I needed it most, and I'll do my best to treasure those small sentences that make me feel so vulnerable, yet so understood every episode.

[@antiheroo26]

So well said ❤

[@danielhandika8767]

yeah, growing up with naruto, bleach, one piece, dragon ball, and mostly action shonen story, frieren is such a breath of fresh air for me, it taught me to just slow down, chill, and appreciate small things, and more importantly, time.

[@TheDahaka1]

@@danielhandika8767 The important thing is to not dismiss something just because it's not your favourite genre. There are tons of good stories out there even for shounen fanatics like us 😉

[@Sinful_Fool]

The worst thing about the best moments of your life is that you don't know that it is the best moment as you experience it. You only learn the true value of something after you lost it.

[@hcook1023]

This series actually hits me pretty hard. I only talk to 2 of my childhood friends, and only one reliably. My old college roommates made plans to meet up 5 years ago, a meeting that never happened one moved away and the other died. Later I moved across the country so I only see family once a year in the first year away my parents sold the childhood home and my dog died. This show more than any other makes me rethink of my life and missed opportunities, even more those taken for granted

[@ButterDragonFly]

You too huh? I’ll need more episodes to be able to get all my thoughts together about this show but, it really has hit a deep chord in myself. It’s that feeling of remembering a lot of the good times that happened so long ago now and how it might’ve only been a short amount of my life but they are memories I will get to keep for lifetime. Especially memories of those who have fallen away after just time, distance, and circumstance. Frieren really might become my all time favorite show for the melancholy it brings forward of the constant march of time and what it leaves behind. But that all depends on how the rest of this season comes along (but I have high hopes)

[@Koroto]

it do be like that 😭😭

[@SJNaka101]

My favorite line in the office is when Andy says "I wish there was a way to know you're in the good old days"

[@susbedo9258]

Frieren is a masterpiece and is the epitome of Beautiful. The first few episodes hits really really really hard. I shed a tear everytime I watch the first few episodes. Edited: came back after 14 episodes. Omg. The anime actually got even better as each episode drops.

[@LuisSierra42]

You convinced me, I'll be watching this series, looks really interesting

[@REMARKRISSCASTILLANO]

Hos was it?

[@LuisSierra42]

@@REMARKRISSCASTILLANO It's pretty good, but it's more like a slice of life. There's essentially no plot and the main character is OP so she's rarely challenged by obstacles

[@chemreal]

to be fair it is the end of a journey so you would expect her to be incredibly powerful

[@boshwa20]

Its refreshing to watch a pure fantasy after months of watching isekai

[@Koroistro]

"If I am busy they must be at least as busy as I am, right"? That struck a cord, and even worse I am the kind of person that tends to activelly tends to feel guilty to reach out, I feel like I am imposing. Which is terrible and very isolating.

[@moonchaser5595]

Tolkein's Silmarilian had an interesting take on the immortality of the Elves and the burden of rememberance 'Thus you escape, and leave the world, and are not bound to it, in hope or in weariness. Which of us therefore should envy the others?’

[@jamavra]

Makes you think mortality is more worth it than just fading away endlessly

[@nurlindafsihotang49]

And make me think Himmel and Frieren are the junxtapose of Aragorn and Arwen, which in this anime, Himmel that gave the sacrifice by not tying Frieren to marriage or love (altough low-key also tied her in memories of him by making sure his statue are everywhere. If she cannot be his, Himmel made his damnest to make Frieren cannot forget him forever).

[@TheSteeltec]

I'm caught up on the manga and waiting for my partner to come around next to watch the anime I completely forgot it was out until now, I've absolutely loved the manga, I have absolutely NO idea how this story has gripped me so hard in my chest, nor how it made me feel like I genuinely miss a character like they're someone close I haven't seen in years, and they did that with showing Himmel I feel like as little as possible! I don't know how they did it. Literally every tiny little flashback of Himmel almost always makes me tear up and get emotional. This story makes me cry often and I love it so much.

[@iamwhatitorture6072]

I highly recommend that you revisit the first episode after the first season is done. It doesn't have a reframing like AOT, but it gives just more emotional context on what her group meant to her and how these mere 10 years had such an effect on her. And one thing that will become increasingly important is how she has a different outlook on the journey she now has with Fern (and as of ep 5 also Stark). Fun Fact: You can just put the name of every character or city into a german to english translator, because they're all just regular german words, which gives it a quite funny angle.

[@Koroto]

The slight reframing in episode 5 was already daggers in my heart, I don't think I'll want to revisit the show for quite some time lmao 😭😭

[@vincentlalyman1008]

@@Koroto I hope you will produce more videos as the re-framings pile on :)

[@ckay11002]

This video hits even harder with the current arc of the manga

[@Koroto]

Don't scare me like that.....

[@nurlindafsihotang49]

@@Koroto no, just it will grind your heart to dust for himmel and if you have unfullilled love story.

[@WutTheMatt]

Your scripts are so well put together. Well done

[@Koroto]

🙇‍♂️

[@whitecat1226]

I can relate a lot to Frieren, I have the same thinking as her when it comes to my relationships with people. I have a few close friends back in elementary and high school but totally no communication with them after graduating. Like we are friends because we are together but after that certain connection is lost I also lost communication with them. Thankfully my college friends stick with me, even though I barely communicated with them with social media and group chatting I can still get involved

[@jiaxihao1847]

Same as how for you, your dog is a few years, but to your dog, it's their whole life

[@griffinriku]

When you read a comment comparing humans to frieren and the humans to your pet dog when it comes to time. You may feel that 10 minutes is short but to your dog it may feel like years... When you feel like you could've spent more time with them before they're gone...

[@digitalramyun]

I’m thoroughly hooked on this anime, to the point where I’ve bought Vol 1 of the manga (my first-ever manga book). Regarding the point that Frieren can never recapture her friendship with Himmel: perhaps not in the same way as it was, but one thing we may be overlooking… where is Frieren’s ultimate destination in this quest of hers? The land of Aureole, where she believes she will find Himmel’s soul and talk with him once more. I wonder how long it will take for her to get there…

[@PatchesOJO]

Why you gotta make me think about my late grandmother, and friends I have lost making me cry in the first five minutes of the video

[@aurora-jp4ck]

This sentiment hits so hard. During my exchange i met someone who i only talked to a few times but completely filled up my heart.while at home i have been struggling with abuse, this person just accepted me for who i am, without any criticism-even if just for a few hours. To them it must have been just another day out with somebody from our dorm,but to me, it has already become a cherished memory,no matter if we get to talk again with each other or not-i have quiet frankly never been able to connect with somebody this much and, while it might have been nothing to them, it literally means everything to me.thanks for making this video

[@user-oy8bs9xx3b]

It's amazing how the right person at the right time can leave such a huge impact. I vividly remember the kind man that talked to me on a flight when I got seated away from my parents as a kid. I remember that he had a cable knit green sweater. It has been 20 years now, that flight was 2 hours. But I saw him put his book down to talk to a scared kid and I'll never forget that. I think of him when I bring extra gum on planes specifically to give to other people.

[@tjjordan4207]

Even though my time with my parents and brothers hasn’t yet ended, it dawned on me a year ago that it will one day end. So, I’ve taken steps to spending more time with them and enjoying the time that we have left as a family before my brothers and I begin to go our separate ways. It gives me anxiety that such a day will come but until it does, I’m not going to let it keep me from enjoying my time with them.

[@hcook1023]

The first time I was a teenager and matured enoug to really grasp the age analogies I had an actual panic attack then an existential crisis while layer working fast food

[@RedShadowAMV]

Thank you for covering Frieren 🙏 I've been a huge manga fan and glad to see the anime is getting traction

[@AlexA-eg7gz]

Your analysis is so underestimated. Thanks for vocalising my thoughts and adding much more! U got a new subscriber

[@yenyankee]

Love this anime. After watching the first eps that I realized "what happens after?". Most of the time we mostly see them part ways after defeating enemies and that's it. I never thought of them meeting again or do they communicate or something. that it's new to me. and I love it. Just like you said it also made me think about my life. you finished school then that's it. made me realize I only saw my friends in sm and only talked to them like once a yr. I don't meet them bec. of how far we live fr. each other, depends on our work and if your married or not. I def. have to at least try to make more effort not just to them but to my family too. The scene where they're helping an old lady clean Himmel's statue is my fav. even when most people forget you it would be fine as long as there's this one person who does. actually, I love all of the it. simple/ basic things/ moments can def. impact a lot.

[@timmyturtle4026]

i subed to this channel for well edited aot and have a good day whenever you now post anything. keep up the great work!

[@Koroto]

🙇‍♂️

[@Northwood420]

This ironically become a life lesson And it hit especially hard for me because it hit too close to home

[@bruce0816]

Found out of Freiren from the manga youtuber Boogiesnacks and fell in love with it instantly. Highly recommend reading the manga and watching the anime

[@InfernalLuminary]

literally thank you for this video You have my gratitude. Everything you have said is how I feel about Frieren, I am sharing this video.

[@DoubleDee_Dayan]

Personally, this video is timely as it's synced in to me that my mom is diagnosed with a terminal illness that is rapidly weakening her everyday now. I haven't been bonding with her or as close with her as when I was a kid for years since most of college and working quite far from her. And now that she's more in my life recently, it's now forced upon me to realize all the years we could've set aside to communicate more and be in present in each others lives could have been.. now it's just trying my best to cope and staying by her side as often as I can til the clock runs out. So yeah, try not to miss that sunrise.

[@ErinSmith-jo8td]

I felt this way during both of my army deployments. I miss the people I was with, who I was at the time, but our lives continued. There were good and bad experiences, and some of us changed a little, while others changed much over the years since they’ve passed.

[@MrJeffreyrichards]

its the same with me looking back to a time where my friends were still alive before we joined the service and or the time I was a kid and how magical that time felt I look back the most on the family christmas gathering at grandmas house were every one was still alive and we all would go to grandmas for chrstimas dinner and open the gifts. now my grand parents are gone my father i have only 1 aunt left and my mom i find myself looking back on those times a lot.

[@1Kapuchu100]

I hope you enjoy the rest of the story. It rapidly grew from a manga I just heard of and checked out, to my all time favourite.

[@mj38365]

I love it so much, you know. Some anime came to you at a perfect time. They made you realize something you have known all along but somehow overlooked. I cry for this, not only because it's sad, but mostly because it is so beautiful. ❤ I wish this had a light novel actually

[@Dr.Mcstaby]

Frieren is one of the few show that broke me so fast and that ending song put the last nail in the coffin, been awhile since a show did that, another was the last episode of the 2nd season of SAO "Mother's Rosario", Along with the ending scene of "More Than a Married Couple, But Not Lovers" just the showing of time as it goes knowing you can never get that time back puts me in a depressed state.

[@angeldude101]

When talking about the youth camps that you looked back on fondly, my most memorable moment from that kind of camp is easily the time when my tent got crushed by snow and I woke up with the tent roof less than a foot in front of my face leaving me too scared to move. There are other moments, but they usually tend to blur together and feel more like reconstructions based on what I think happened rather than actual memories. One thing I can remember happening on multiple occasions at camps like those were group activities that I missed because I was off doing something else, I think usually with someone else, but I can't remember who from any of the instances. Missing once-in-a-lifetime experiences with people because I was off doing my own thing... Well gee, doesn't _that_ sound familiar‽ It's only one of Frieren's most defining character flaws. (I should add that I hadn't thought about those moments at all in years until watching this video.)

[@dontworryhouston]

I'd love if you talked more about this anime. The later episodes are straight up mind blowing

[@Natediggetydog]

Man, why’d you have to go and make me feel things? But thank you, I feel motivated to reach out to some of my classmates

[@exsharpe3948]

helloooo love your content so much its so well made

[@loayzc10]

Love this show, it's very comfy

[@Koroto]

A very good mixture of comfy and awfully introspective 😅 Definitely one of my favorites in recent memory though

[@RossGosling]

The title alone convinced me to watch it all ahead of this video, the show is phenomenal while often hard to watch

[@MirecU]

And then they had the second ending, where Frieren lied on the grave of Fern and was reminiscing...

[@konrad3]

You're not alone! I've been totally destroyed for a week after watching the first Episodes of Frieren

[@pinkshade9216]

I didn't think this video would make me cry ..

[@magnaremora]

I'm in my 30's and the existential perspectives Frieren portrays is bitter sweet, nostalgic and beautifully tragic. I'm at ep 14 atm and the way the story is woven is incredible.

[@Hetsu..]

great art made you make this great video. Damn

[@davidvasquez08]

Wanna know a hack to always give Frieren headpats without complaints?

[@vazak11]

Great stuff!

[@JasperAyeee]

tysm for this excellent video

[@artgatherer3477]

Great video! Maybe the best on the subject!

[@tymion2470]

Thanks to this anime and this video I just texted my buddy I didn't have much contact since 4 year, thank you

[@JohnSmith-gm4fj]

I think what your are describing is very common for people who were in the military and engaged in "adventures". The difference is that one tends to romanticize their former time while forgetting about all the stuff that sucked or was horrible or frankly traumatic. Frieren doesn't do that, she never over romanticizes anything, she tells it the way it actually happened like a living library bearing witness to events that other people know of only second or third hand. She has a certain clarity and truth to her that cuts to the heart of memories she has of her former companions.

[@sebastianvasquez4175]

Man, why did you have to go and make me cry?

[@nulls5408]

For me, my life is very liminal. Where it’s common for others to say that their life is static and boring, mine is like a never ending roller coaster that I’m not allowed off. So I have alot things and people I care about come and go constantly. The idea of wanting to see some of those people or things has long past me due to just how much that’s happened, with it turning to just savoring the times my life isn’t going a mile per minute. And making sure I enjoy the time I have with those people and things, knowing eventually that it’s going to come to a end. Which just makes them all the more precious.

[@Chymistry]

Thanks so much for the recommendation

[@Koroto]

Glad you enjoyed it 🙌

[@nicholassd6393]

ohoo ho you don't want to know what happened to fern in the eclipse, the tone change drastically

[@marlonb.4017]

You better make another video about episodes 5-10 because that arc is very different from the beginning and somehow even greater than the start.

[@dcincco]

Ahhh, yes, my weekly dose of existential crisis.

[@wpelfeta]

This made me cry

[@Dominic69420]

I CANT wait for El Dorado Arc to get animated

[@CaedmonOS]

I'm only 23. Why do I barely remember anything that's happened to me? How have I not truly noticed this? Why don't I remember the names and faces of anyone I went to school with?

[@pfeilspitze]

After ep3 I knew this was going to be something special, but then after ep10 I think it's on track to be the top anime of the last *ten years*.

[@Kaylakaze]

Watch it again in 20 years.

[@KingLAO2964]

As a German, those names of the characters always kill me

[@theuneditedunusual203]

Reminds me of the comment Eisen made to Frieren about how that one one hundredth of her life had changed her.

[@michaeltrinh4394]

Frieran is literary fiction making a comeback!

[@Getcakedieyoung23]

Started watching Frieren today because of this video 👍

[@FOGRedemption]

This kind of stuff would make GREAT cosmic horror honestly LOL.

[@FanOfMinatozakiSana]

i can relate to someone who has few friends but as time goes by, i decided to not make contact to them, as far as avoiding physical contact to them(btw i still live in our community) because of them having these great future where they have families of their own, work and others, while me still trying to figure out what am I doing with my life. I dont have work, I dont have a wife and kids, yeah i feel like I am the worst, that is why i decided to cut ties. I dont even have an active social media. yeah that is the story of my life.

[@arsonistic_spoons_arts]

They were you're best friend for a short time but you were their best friend for a life time

[@danielhandika8767]

never seriously thinking about death, old age, and being forgotten before I hit 25 y/o, damn they're not joking about quarter life crisis

[@killDJuice]

I was not prepared for it

[@juniisenpai3777]

I regret 90% of my decisions in life like health, studies, friends and partner. I wish I did so much more, but its too late and I always carry that burden that I half ass everything. There's no going back, at least I'm strong enough to not end everything. Keep safe everyone and be strong.

[@antrepeyous]

Imagine Fern dying, Freiren going on a journey for revenge, Sein guilt tripping himself about Fern's death leading to suicide and Stark turning into an alcoholic. XD

[@kencanty23]

You have successfully exestenscial crisised me

[@samanthaabel1079]

My time with my parents is far shorter as I don't remember who they were

[@zam023]

Freiren's journey to defeat the demon king started more than 1000 years before the formation of the hero party. It is not that mere 10 years.

[@wolfancap6897]

Listen to the songs Father Time - Stratovarius. March of Time - Helloween. These topics are tackled on these songs.

[@jarikk333]

Not a good idea to watch this at 2 am, god damn it.

[@KingLAO2964]

Enjoy the ride of Frieren

[@TheMysteryDriver]

Being a military dependent I've never had friends or family I've seen or been around very long. In high school everyone I played football with played peewee football or went to elementary school together. Not me though. Everyone was new to me, but that was normal by that time.

[@Boxen1]

You should watch maquia when a promsied flower blooms

[@apollocasino3149]

I was writing a college essay about something that changed my point of view and you just made me realize that I missed the opportunity to write about this. :(

[@MegaJohnny74]

thx for the Existential Crisis

[@_aryan_570]

its scary how much you think like me. I want to talk to people, but something inside me says, maybe they don't want to, or I will be a burden or it will wastage of their time.

[@Chris3s]

Is it bad for me nowadays to not really search for good friends (as in more than internet friends)? In the past I tried very often, but I gave up (not the same, but a bit similar with my wife too)

[@littlemonster...O_o]

I'm nt sure wht other people think bt I dnt think it's bad. Bt thts bcuz I'm very similar to wht you said in your comment. Minus the wife part though.

[@raidenshogunwhere8285]

Frieren reminds me a lot of the Iorph from Maquia

[@someguy5261]

Nah, man, I ain't busy

[@ElBeiro]

man i love frieren

[@theinvisiableman6483]

Know them feels man.

[@purrfekt]

Group hug, guys.

[@danielsedlak812]

Now I got depression, thanks. But still amazing video :)

[@DieErsteKartoffel]

I keep hearing Deadbolt everywhere

[@fixedwithglue]

Reminding me to go play with my pets was to far man... now i'm crying and annoying my cat with to much petting, a mere ten years left.

[@ObliviouzRomantic]

I have ADHD and I am introverted. . . I have a hard time keeping up with people. Thankfully, I have two wonderful friends who understand. I would do anything for them :D

[@mr.regular589]

FIRST! LETS GO MY FIRST TIME BEING FIRST ON A KZbin VIDEO FROM THIS CHANNEL! FINALLLYYYYYYYYYYYYYY Also this series seems rlly interesting

[@Koroto]

Not actually first, but I'll let it slide 👀

[@TheMysteryDriver]

Second lol

[@LuisSierra42]

@@Koroto You should be more strict about people claiming to be first while actually not being. This should not be accepted behavior in KZbin

[@Koroto]

I solemnly swear to never allow this sort of behavior again. 🗿

[@furiousdestroyah9999]

Meanwhile people that never engage with other people so they cannot possibly regret anything 🗿

[@smallpiper2]

This subject matter is why 5cm Per Second kicked me in the chest and still does whenever i think about it.