Not all heroes pull swords from stone

[@eclips_total2215]

Himmel came in a era of anti-heros to remind us that utter kindness has its place.

[@BloodFrostX]

❤

[@Ataximander]

You could say, there's a star man...

[@strayorion2031]

I like that he is the ultimate culmination of the stories of heroes like spiderman or superman, instead of directly seeing them do their good everyday actions like spiderman going to visit a kid with cancer or superman stoping someone's suicide, we see that after their deaths, everyone remembers them for those relatively small actions, rather than the time spiderman saved the multiverse or when superman stopped darkseid, everyone talks about that time that spiderman helped them with their homework, or the time that superman helped them with their cat stuck in a tree

[@plumbum715]

@@Ataximanderor you could jist say nothing at all and stfp

[@absolstoryoffiction6615]

It's funny when the Sword actually does work, but the Demon Lord to activate the condition of the Hero's Sword has yet to surface. And its name is Excalibur... Avoid that Sword like the plague.

[@twelfthknight]

That "It's what Himmel would've done" became a trend in Japan is quite endearing. I think the strength of Himmel's character is his altruistic actions are framed as how to live a rich life - one that impacts people and is remembered - rather than something imposed upon him by his role, society, or religion.

[@klaou9154]

Wait really?that's amazing😭

[@iiiiKID]

There was a dude in Taiwan that quoted this after stopping a stabber.

[@warptify]

greatest saying of all time

[@dishankgupta8171]

It's similar to the I have no enemies and Starman memes.

[@swordmain1880]

A madlad from Indonesia brought a Himmel poster with that saying to a protest here, the words of Himmel the Hero is far reaching

[@mdtaj7563]

Himmel was truly one of a kind. the legendary heroes sword didn't choose him but he still managed to defeat the demon king and saved the world with his companions

[@functionatthejunction]

To me that's a huge let down and bad writing. Didnt like it.

[@Grim_Bud]

​@@functionatthejunction Not liking the outcome and bad writing are 2 separate things. The sword pulling hero saving the day can also be called typical or lazy writing as well. Whats important is what does pulling the sword or not implies and imo it was a worthy message to convey as well as nicely done in the context of the story.

[@absolstoryoffiction6615]

The only thing is... Maybe that's the wrong Demon Lord??? The Hero Sword does work, but no Demon Lord as fulfilled the condition to awaken it.

[@bobabubble3628]

What makes it better is how that also ties into Starks own development since he is the one who learns the truth about Himmel.

[@_zurr]

@@functionatthejunction Could you elaborate on why? I personally really appreciate the idea that you don't have to have third-party/divine approval to do the right thing and succeed.

[@Arkyl9602]

I actually contend that Himmel’s “vanity” was a cover. For example, he has all the statues made of himself, but there is a section where he indicates a desire to make sure that Frieren isn’t alone in the future. The statues (and perceived vanity) take on a whole new perspective when taking this into account. He’s leaving reminders of himself and her other friends for Frieren when they are gone. He wants them to get his good side because he’s trying to be presentable to the woman he loves in a future he cannot see. So while he may have some “vain” tendencies. I think what is perceived as vanity is in many ways an expression of love for Frieren.

[@being47]

I though this was clear to everyone, he was making those statues for frieren obviously

[@poobs2361]

Was going to chime in on this as well because I feel like the video almost got there and then blueballed me! The reveal of Himmel actually being vain for the benefit of Frieren, who would far outlive any of her companions many lifetimes over, completely subverted my expectations in a very pleasing and unpredictable way. I mean it's not as if he could have uploaded some pictures onto some cloud storage that frieren could have access to in the future, making a statue was the only way to preserve his feelings and the time they spent together. It was incredibly sweet and endearing and the reveal was one of the most memorable moments in the series for me.

[@pketr5]

My interpretation is that he was vain to begin with. You would need some vanity to want to become a hero in the first place, especially if you are not going to do it out of a sense of justice. Eventually, the self-serving vanity Himmel eventually had a useful, if not heroic purpose. His desire to be remembered not only helps inspire others to be heroes like he was, but it would eventually help Frieren to remember him. A reminder that they were real.

[@vanzeralltheway8638]

@@pketr5 Nah, a real vain person only ever helps for brownie points, they are actually a selfish bast@rd. Himmel, like stark, really do likes to help people out of their good will even for no rewards. Maybe the idea of building statues, esepecially in all the towns where they went through, popped out right after he realize "wait, if i die tomorrow would frieren eventually forget about me?"

[@Yoshihara72]

Pretty sure it's a mix of both. Sure, he did explain it away that it is for Frieren (and it most certainly also was), but his desire to do so initially came from his desire for vanity. What's great about it is that there are multiple layers about this, that intentionally never got fully explained. How much of it was truly his initial desire, how much of it was for Frieren's sake? On top of that, what's most interesting about all of this: Despite his giant effort of leaving memories of him in the world, long past his death, he still never actually properly confessed to his love and died single. Which again, highlight's his initial desire of vanity: He is content with being remembered by the woman he loves.

[@Blackferret66]

You get the feeling that the Hero Party's journey took 10 years to complete their quest because they went on all these tangents to help people in various ways. And it was because all of this tangential heroism that they are remembered so well, and inspired others to become heroes themselves. If they had just bee-lined for the Demon King, they would never have touched so many lives.

[@Arby631]

Himmel embodies the difference of “my hero” versus “a hero”.

[@TheSpeep]

Judging by both Himmel and Frieren's approach to dungeon clearing, I suspect you might be right.

[@ryanpratama5635]

Himmel is us when we played an RPG. Finish all the side quest, explore all the dungeons, then proceed to killing the demon king.

[@tableryu7557]

I think this is exactly why Flamme told Serie that both of them wouldn't be able to bring an era of peace. It takes more than just defeating the demon lord to accomplish that.

[@nurlindafsihotang49]

@@ryanpratama5635 especially because our Frieren is a loot goblin 🤭

[@mdraj5655]

Another valuable message from frieren. Unlike most fantasy and Isekai anyone can be a hero in this series long as they have the right mindset. If fate doesn't choose you just have fate in yourself

[@chikitronrx0]

If fate doesn't choose you just have fate(faith) in yourself.

[@argetlam05]

Himmel wasn’t chosen to be a hero, he chose to be a hero.

[@dareka9425]

Himmel has the typical anime protagonist's unshakeable resolve trait but did it in the opposite way. He showed his kindness and resolves through his acts and only explains his action in the humblest of manner after someone else inquires about it. I've grown tired of the typical shonen characters who SCREAMED their resolves all the time. Naruto, Ichigo, Tanjiro and many more just screaming about their ideology at everyone. Himmel just shared his thoughts with his friends while traveling or over a big steamy plate of hamburger steak.

[@tiosevenstars]

You still need strength, but a bit on the lesser degree than you need heart.

[@vanzeralltheway8638]

@@chikitronrx0 yours is better, but the original comment is amusing enough that i believe a lot more people will accept it as it is, lmao.

[@alyenTry]

3:26 "Frieren as mage" shows her using magic "Eisen as warrior" shows him in warrior-act "Heiter as priest" *shows him drinking*

[@nurlindafsihotang49]

@@alyenTry well, catholic priests are known for their drunkard antics....heck, even protestant reverend too.

[@breakout8904]

What drink does Jesus turn water into?

[@liamli1807]

@@breakout8904noice

[@leyrua]

​@@breakout8904 Heiter can turn _wine into water!_ That's close enough, right? 😂

[@Vertutame]

What's wrong with that? Fern told me it's healthy.

[@bobislav85]

Himmel epitomizes what Gandalf say in The Hobbit :“I have found that it is the small everyday deed of ordinary folks that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love.”

[@pabloruansabino3933]

Exactly, the anime without say a word can sinthetized a bunch of religion concepts (special budism and christianism) to the main public without evoke for herself any main religion. All that fleerting with nihilism and even atheist concepts.

[@wamaschawama5178]

Himmel defying fate is easily one of the best aspects about him

[@DreamingBloodfiend]

To break it down to you Hummel defeating demon Lord is already predestined which is sucks

[@Chrono_Mitsurugi]

@@DreamingBloodfiend the one who can pull the sword is destined to defeat the demon lord. himmel could not pull the sword, but defeated the demon lord anyway. himmel defied destiny.

[@DreamingBloodfiend]

@@Chrono_Mitsurugi spoiler Himmel was prophesied by Hero of the South to defeat the demon king it all was predestined all of it. To meet Heiter, Eisen, and Frieren to defeat the demon king. The sword was never meant to be pulled out in the first place

[@Chrono_Mitsurugi]

@@DreamingBloodfiend yeah, but that felt like a accidental retcon. if it was the intention all along, it clashes with the message of Himmel.

[@JuaniAlva]

​@@Chrono_Mitsurugithe one to pull the sword out is predestined to save the world, and there may be many instances where the world needs saving, it wasn't specifically about defeating the Demon Lord, there may come a future event which was the destined save the world moment in which the sword gets pulled out of the stone.

[@holderian0]

It's not that Himmel wasn't worthy for wielding the sword. The sword wasn't worthy of being held by Himmel.

[@upg5147]

Very Himmel coded explanation lol

[@airplanes_aren.t_real]

I always interpreted as the sword either being just a random sword that got stuck there by coincidence and then was later on mythologized to have magical properties or The sword itself is the test, it makes sure that every hero that tries to grab it fails so that they prove they aren't doing what they're doing for pride and glory but by a genuine sense of goodness

[@meijinx9673]

I like the theory that Himmel couldn't pull the sword because the Demon King wasn't the prophesied world ending calamity. The war went on for at least 1000 years. We don't have many details, but it doesn't seem like he was trying that hard to destroy the world despite eliminating all of the elves early on.

[@user-pm2b47ar8d]

​@@airplanes_aren.t_real i feel like only a paladin can pick up the sword, since the sword probably has magic that prevents every one to pull it out of the rock. Himmel is a warrior class and cannot conjure magic spells.

[@absolstoryoffiction6615]

Yes and no... The Demon Lord is rather weak even for the previous one.

[@Flaris]

I love that the legendary sword is there. Because it does allow Himmel to forge his own destiny as a hero. He wasn't a man chosen by destiny or great powers. He simply made the choice himself on what he wanted to do and went out to do it. And he left a wonderful impact on the lives of those around him as he lived. It's an interesting twist that the lie is told that he claimed the legendary sword and went off to defeat the Demon Lord with it. Because that's just easier for people to process.

[@nurlindafsihotang49]

And i love how he made his decorative copy hero sword, become real hero's sword. at it's own right.

[@pyrflie]

Yep, that's what's so crazy and awesome about him he wanted to be the hero of legend, but wasn't. When he faced that he didn't become bitter or vengeful, he said "OK I'll be the hero fate didn't see coming".

[@grimmturd]

Not really related to the theme of this analysis, but "The Hero's Sword can only be pulled from the stone by the hero who will drive off the great calamity bent on destroying this world." There's no doubt that Himmel was a hero but it still could mean a great calamity, worse than the Demon King, has yet to come.

[@Blackferret66]

That's what I was thinking. There has obviously been more than one world-shaking threat in history. Kraft and his partner saved the world, but they are forgotten. There were probably others. It's likely that the calamity was not the Demon King. Or perhaps the Sword is waiting for a Hero that will actually need it to succeed, whereas Himmel did not. In that respect, the failure to pull the sword would not be a judgement of Himmel's unworthiness, but a validation of his own ability and strength.

[@ronkinium8382]

@@Blackferret66That is… an awesome revelation my dude The legendary sword is there to “lend” its strength to those who have the will to stop world-ending calamities But will alone is not enough, hence the existence of the sword But what if a hero already has both strength and will? The sword would no longer be needed, nor will it have itself be needed by such a hero, hence it stubbornly remains stuck in the rock One might even argue that the sword would end up hampering the strength of these types of heroes (such as Himmel), since they might end up relying on it more than they would rely on themselves Kudos to you for pointing that out my dude!

[@OhmIsFutile]

Underrated comment. The sword very well could be a Chekhov's gun... or it could be a way to subvert expectations and leave a wholesome message... it could even be both.

[@Raoul.]

Nah

[@ロンマル]

​@@Raoul. yah, because if you caught up... spoiler warning.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . In the time travel arc there is a demon that didn't show up yet as she stated that he wants to remain silent until the thing is ready, it could be a time gathering bomb or something else but i think thats the greatest calamity that Frieren and others would face

[@ruthlesshunter9187]

I love a hero who goes around and instead of just fixing the world, they make it better. The things that are wrong, the tyrants and injustices are fixed, but something like a common illness or a smashed building is rarely given a second thought in fiction. I think even more traditional heroes like superman and batman could be so much better if they spent a teeny bit less time searching for petty criminals, and more time making the world better.

[@sour4292]

There’s a manhwa I like called “Overpowered Sword” that’s briefly touches on this concept. Basically the hero’s mentor/master talks about how a demon king is easy to defeat and asks the MC things like “Can you slash poverty? Kill disease?“ (not an exact quote but it’s similar) and similar stuff like that. It’s meant to be a teaching moment where the MC realizes that defeating the demon king is not the end of his responsibility as the chosen Hero nor is it even really the hard part. His job is simply to make the world a better place. Of course the series goes on to almost completely ignore this idea and almost only focuses on big fights with strong enemies but what can you do ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@klaou9154]

​@@sour4292that sucks I really wanted a story that followed that narrative

[@sour4292]

@@klaou9154 I think the main problem is that the concept of the hero not just fighting off strong evil guys is that it’s hard to make an interesting story out of. As far as I’ve seen Frieren is the only story that gets remotely close and even then it still focuses more on action and how the world affects characters themselves rather than how the characters affect the world. At least the modern day ones like Stark and Fern, you do get to see a little bit of how the Hero’s party affected the world but from my memory it’s not super extensive

[@klaou9154]

@@sour4292 you are right tbh..another story that I really like which kinda follows that narrative?Is Vinland Saga. At first of course it's all about fighting,...however,in the second season,Throfinn learns that a real warrior isn't one who fights. The second season manages to be extremely intresting even though it's all about small acts and no big fights.. I actually preferred it over the first one at some points.

[@weeblekeneeble8018]

Older hero comics had a lot more community kindness acts in heroism. In fact there is a saying for those who write Batman. "If you can't imagine your Batman comforting a crying child you drew Punisher in a funny suit."

[@maunabesanika]

something i've read on the internet before "Himmel is not the chosen one, He chose to be the one"

[@pabloruansabino3933]

Its exactly that !

[@zendur9086]

i absolutely love the choice to make himmel not pull the sword from a writting perspective, the fact that you can hear in his voice at first that it did impact him, but that he decided to still go on this journey even after failing to pull the sword, how his voice goes from shakey to firm and decisive, perfect scene

[@qualitytikoyproductions]

A lot of viewers complain that Stark did nothing in the last arc. But during the last episode all the goodbyes from the city were to Stark, not to the pair of mages who accomplished many great things. To these people who live in the city of magic, it didn't matter what amazing things the powerful mages did. Stark was there for them, walked among them, and shared in their lives. He will be remembered.

[@tiosevenstars]

Oh wow really? I must have missed it. I should've paid attention

[@DibbzTV]

I see the Fake Sword as being a story of Himmel showing true grit and unyielding determination. The imposter syndrome he must've had while still fulfilling his journey is aspiring. The fake sword is one of the coolest reveals I've seen in all of anime. Beautiful

[@KennyMcGavin]

Reminder that Himmel is so well written that a helped inspire a Taiwanese man to stop a knife attack and probably save someone's life. “It’s what Himmel the Hero would have done.”

[@vanzeralltheway8638]

A show so good it incites heroism in real world !!

[@Mahfy1]

@7:50 I just want to give a counter point. Himmel maybe a narcissistic and very self aware, but he never a "image oriented". the whole reason he often make a statue of him self is back to (i think) episode 7, where frieren talking about her master flamme and she said she probably the only one who remember flamme face. You can see clear in this background, himmel face changing expresion when frieren said that. and, on chapter 13 on manga (the same chapter the merchant stuck in landslide road), just few page after that scene, himmel him self said "so you won't be alone in the future" when frieren said himmel make a lot of statue of him self. i know the point is stark is more a subtle, while himmel is more vocal but, himmel is "image oriented" for a very different reason.

[@magic_cfw]

It can also be seen as his greatest fight. The fight against the demon king is nothing against time. This is probably spurred on by Frieren and Flamme. Flamme revolutionised the world but she was forgotten and became a legend, less a person to revere greatly but a being like Hercules or similar legends in our cultures. Himmel defied the expectation of the chosen hero, being a false hero with a false sword. What he will continue to fight is the passage of time, a hero who defied fate challenging time.

[@arandomdiamond2]

I feel like Pey was implying that but he just wasn't giving spoilers. Or maybe I was just remembering the pure awesomeness that is Himmel having a cool reason to make statues.

[@Aaano]

Pey has definitely mentioned this exact point in previous chapters of his deep dive, just, as said before, he doesn't want to spoil it. In that scene, it's such a gut punch of a realization that he didn't want to cheapen it with a fraction of the context it deserves in a short 10 minute video.

[@Blackferret66]

I actually wasn't sure if Himmel's reaction was about how she noted that Flamme was forgotten, or a realization of how old Frieren must be to have known her personally.

[@spiritvdc5109]

Himmel wasn't narcissistic, a narcissist is 100% self-centered and doing it exclusively for their own indulgence, bending people's perception of them for the sake of reveling in it - Himmel clearly stated (and lived out the fact) that his entire persona as a hero, from the flamboyant statues to the self-mythologizing, was all to give the people watching him a hero to look up to and to be inspired by for generations to come. He made a big show of it when people were watching, but in private he didn't take himself too seriously, and when his time was done he quietly slipped into obscurity, because inspiring others to stand up and be like the heroic story he wrote with his quest was his only real wish the entire time.

[@todayontheinternet9576]

The scene of Stark coming to terms with Himmel (his hero) not pulling the sword from the stone is fantastic.

[@DominickRoselli]

I love to say it's not the amount of tropes in your story that makes it good or bad, but how they are executed.

[@meijinx9673]

I agree. Tropes become tropes for a reason.

[@therandommusicguy4773]

Man I'm currently only 16 and don't have any extra money, but I wish I could support you. Listening to talk about the subtleties of this show from your own point of view is genuinely one of the most enjoyable parts of my week. Thanks for all the thought you put into all of your videos :)

[@PeyTalksAnime]

Watching the video is more than enough. I'm glad you like the videos. Someday you'll have means to support someone just starting out. Don't worry about me I'll be fine

[@TripleExposurePhoto]

He is my favorite depiction of an unreluctant hero, who isnt literally still perfect

[@esm6049]

I actually love that subtle commentary on construction of collective and historical narrative that comes from this episode. Himmel was content to be known as a "fake" hero who defeated the Demon King, because if he could do that, the narrative of a hero sword won't matter to his legacy. He defies the superimposed heroic narrative. But what instead happened is that now him not pulling the sword out goes against the narrative of Himmel the hero that was created around him and so it becomes a carefully guarded secret, one people are willing to risk their village's safety for. So instead of accepting reality that challenges the dominant narrative we get people bending reality to reaffirm this narrative... I adore the subtle genius of Frieren's meta commentary.

[@Nokyyyyy]

"I'm the chosen one. I chose myself" - Himmel

[@femstac]

Thank you for all the indepth analysis so far

[@ObiwanNekody]

11:32 Indeed. Frieren got on those dead horse tropes and rode them like the Lipizzan Stallions they were at one point.

[@aobiya]

Thank you so much for this in-depth analysis of frieren that you have been doing. It has really made me so much more thankful that i gave the show a chance and also finding out new things from different scenes through your analysis. Thanks for this pey and i know your channel will keep growing and your hard work will be recognised by many 🎉

[@mohammadabdelrahman786]

I'm a simple man, I see Pay posted something, I watch it

[@realkivlov3038]

The reason was unable to draw the sword wasn't because he was unworthy. It was because as bad as the thousand year reign of the demon king was, humanity still hadn't reach the necessary absolute apocalypse of despair that the prophecy had foretold.

[@Blackferret66]

Yeah. Goddess: "You want the sword? Why? It wasn't created to fight the Demon King. Besides.... you don't need it."

[@absolstoryoffiction6615]

​@Blackferret66 Me: "Oh hay, Excalibur. Good to see you in this world. But without a User. I'll have my fun with this temporary World."

[@Azriel_MR]

​@@absolstoryoffiction6615cringeeeeee

[@absolstoryoffiction6615]

@@Azriel_MR And what are heroes in a society we see today? When righteousness is marred in corruption. Or do people forget how fast things can go into Hell? Reality is more fictional than fiction but such is humanity's very nature.

[@slightlytsun4414]

I see this theory a lot and it completely misses the actual point; or rather theme of this subplot.

[@Hugo2Me]

0:26 want to talk moments that hit hard? This intro.

[@chris1549]

I love that you're talking about frieren in a series format. This video is fantastic

[@Spaniardface98]

Thank you for making videos about ideas that matter. You find the tid bits that capture something important and expand on them very elegantly.

[@prince_locke]

the "It's what Himmel would've done" trend genuinely makes me want to cry sometimes because of how wholesome and kind and fundamentally human it is. his story is one we only see told through the lens of the past and the memory/impact hes made on others, but it was enough to spark real, genuine warmth in people doing good in a time that almost rewards people for being jaded and nihilistic. small acts of kindness mean more than grandiose gestures because its the constant decision to do good by others

[@charchar0607]

Thanks for consistently offering fresh insight on shows i love! They give me a new facet through which i can appreciate them

[@corrinflakes9659]

I actually have a character in a story I’m writing who couldn’t pull the sword because nobody could, the sword was accidentally too mechanically snug inside the stone, but his hand was capable of holding it. So he instead carved around the stone, and uses it as a hammer head ala Link fusing a rock in TOTK.

[@DnoFM]

Like the idea. Do you make him stubborn and resourceful? Also, full of himself. The character reads like that through this one action. He believes he can decide himself to be "chosen", regardless of pesky reality that stands in his way.

[@Kennethfng_]

You have a way with words that truly touches and reveals depths of things shown, but to most are unseen. Thank you for creating this. I’m happy to subscribe

[@angelodescordo8455]

Based on an article I've read, the manga author originally planned to make this a classic shonen story with Himmel as a typical heroic protagonist. Frieren is supposed to be a shounen manga after all, it's tagged as a shounen. Apparently the author changed their mind somehow and we got this whole subversive approach instead. I'm certainly thankful that they chose this sophisticated route. Who knows how it would have turned out...

[@1Applee]

6:06 yes someone finally mentioned this scene, I really love these scenes of stark

[@MirecU]

As I was looking forward to every new episode of Frieren when it was airing... I now look forward to every new video pey uploads :)

[@PeyTalksAnime]

lmao what a nice thing to say! I hope I keep delivering and thanks for the comment

[@marcsorrentino2868]

I've watched three of your videos in less than three days over several sittings and they're all sparking so much personal growth in me, its getting a little uncanny

[@kirayoshikage7441]

I really loved that Himmel couldn't take the sword because it showed that Himmel wasn't chosen or prophecized to be a hero he just became one.

[@firoerblaze1033]

This series has a chokehold on my KZbin page, I forget about this, and the second that happens I see a good looking video explaining story telling tropes, I click on it and realize it’s another part of this ( I like this series I’m just baffled it has such a grasp on me

[@Death_star01]

This anime was a breath of fresh air, reminded me of my I started watching anime in the first place.

[@AchanCham_]

Your passion for the show is wonderfully evident in the videos you make. I think at times the script can wander a bit, but I greatly appreciate your exploration and examination of themes. Thank you for your hard work!

[@RpgJas]

That is what himmel does well, Vanity is not necessarily a bad thing.... its human to want to be remembered, to leave a mark especially to someone you know and love but will out last you for many more decades and centuries. He is self centered but not selfish, he is flawed but he is grounded. He was not fated... But he choose to fight and defy fate. Because to him it was the right thing to do. I think the main point of the sword in the stone is... its just a damn sword on a stone... a thing not used, only living in a legend. It is contrasted to himmel in a way... because unlike the sword who lives in a legend waiting to be pulled... Himmel moved and fought on with his own sword. The sword's vanity is different to himmel's vanity.

[@f1fi]

Great video! Frieren is a breath of fresh air , i haven't watched such a great and deep story in a long time. I love how you can explain what's so amazing about it while i often can't put it into words.

[@Keith.Harvey]

I really loved Frieren the first watch through. Going through the series with you as the captain has really made me appreciate and love it even more!

[@Lohpezhoh]

My boy Himmel couldn't pull the sword but he said "fuck it, don't care, lame sword, imma teach you what a real hero actually is" and went and done it. What a hecking gigachad. That little scene made me recontextualize Himmel quite a bit. From seeing him like a very likable but narcissistic dude to a pure hard worker perseverant resilient chad. Imagine trying to prove the meanie (Heiter) you are not a fake hero because your fake sword but failing to fullfill the hero prophecy anyway making you look like an idiot but still have the willpower to go against all this preconceived bs, which btw it's also quite a common trope on protagonists saying "I'm not special, i'm not the protagonist or anything", and trace his own path when most (including myself) would just say "oh well, I'm just not talented enough" or "I'm not special so it's a given I can do it". I Loved it because I know from experience how hard is to break this barrier of self-doubt (and in my own experience something unbreakable) that comes when you are faced with that type of situation that when seeing how he endured it and the context of everything that went down it filled me with admiration towards him (even tho I was already ok with his character). Then, adding the "proposal" scene.. just chefkiss of a character, what a GOAT. PS: 10:22 I see you 👀. Sneaky connection there with Heiter and Frieren's conversation from later. Appetizer for a future theme maybe? PS2: Sorry for the wall lmao, I love your videos so much because they put into words a lot of my thoughts or give me even more perspectives that make me love Frieren even more than I already do.

[@chris1549]

Your videos are SO coherent. I absolutely love it! I am in love with your content right now

[@kariin8313]

You are doing a such good job. I love your content. English is my second language and watching your videos helps me learn and understand even more words. Thanks you pretty much.

[@emce1624]

Hey, shout out to you making these video about freiren, i finally start watching freiren beyond journey's end yesterday. I was engrossed by your video analysis. ❤ Keep it up

[@vryso8322]

One part of why I think Himmel focused so hard on making statues, was that he knew Frieren would be around for thousands of years to come, and wanted to remind her of him. During some of the flashbacks it becomes pretty clear that Himmel loved Frieren, and she's only come to realize it after traveling with her new party, after she's come to begin valuing individual moments day by day. Of course Himmel is still vain, but the motivations don't seem to me, atleast, as purely selfish.

[@SnowRaver-p2v]

Didn't himmel literally say that was a reason...? Or did I interpret something he said wrong lol

[@nurlindafsihotang49]

Yep. He secretly want to haunt frieren too.

[@toiletpaper8963]

This series has been amazing. Keep it up

[@soysaucerb]

I don't know if this is as a result of the prompt I suggested, but I'm happy to see it anyway. Thank you for your insight.

[@KaitoBravo]

For some reason, I can't subscribe to anyone anymore, but I do make sure to come back to watch and like every one of your videos!

[@HiHi-eo8cr]

"A hero is simply someone who fights for their beliefs." I don't know the exact quote or who said it, but this quote fits with the point of the video. Not every hero wears a cape or has superpowers, but by simply being there and being willing to step up, anyone can be someone's hero.

[@astraha.]

Your videos are really relaxing and very engaging to also think about the stuff you talk about. I feel like my attention is at its peak which is great. Your topics are very interesting.

[@edgbarra]

Great series man! Your essays are quite interesting and fun to watch

[@MEDelekates]

I've watched frieren 10+ times, maybe here i will find answers why. Thanks for the video!

[@dajcomputer6514]

Been a while since I've watched Fierren, but your videos have me hooked every week. Your writing is impeccable and you're doing a fantastic job with presenting your ideas and analysis. Keep it up, hero :)

[@shrijatatapudi5002]

Tbh love this about HImmel's story and character. He wasn't 'worthy' enough to pull the sword from the stone but that didn't stop him in any way.

[@akantorman1]

I just love the fact that Himmel is portrayed as the perfect hero in so many ways. Even taking into account that „perfection“ simply doesn‘t exist, so they still show some seemingly unimportant sides of him showcasing his natural imperfections. This is the closest thing to a real perfect hero I could imagine.

[@Martin_McFryy]

What a masterful introduction

[@aidan1000P]

To whoever reads this. You should play in stars and time, it’s probably the best game ive ever played. Story synopsis: You play as Siffrin who is a part of a classic rpg party as they go to take down the King who has been trapping the country in time. You are at the end of your journey and are finally at the castle of fight the King, but after entering the first room you die to a trap. You wake up the day before and spend the remainder of the game trying to get a good ending while slowly watching siffrin devolve into insanity. The world building is very well thought out and color direction is used masterfully, as you slowly unravel the mysteries of the world.

[@ni412]

I love how his vanity could also be taken as kindness, the statues were, if im not mistaken, in part to have something that last for frieren to have and so other people also remember, to make her feel less lonely

[@chaoticcar6231]

when it was revealed Himmel didn't pull the sword and his reaction was; "nah, if I beat the demon king then it doesn't matter" it hit a sweet spot in my little funny brain goblin because it aligned so neatly with that "fake it till you make it" aspect I've got

[@GitGudWO]

thank you, thank you for this video

[@SirRebrl]

Frieren does a really excellent job of emphasizing the little everyday things, drawing that point out finely with the exploration of Wirbel's motivations. Big, flashy heroics that are the stuff of legend are obvious. Fame, glory. But the adults around Wirbel growing up loved to share their stories of Himmel's small acts - because the small acts truly display a care for the world he was looking to save. "Save the world" is an easy goal to identify. But does the hero care what that means? Himmel cared. He presented himself vainly, but as much as he cared about the image he presented the world, he wanted to give the world an image of a hero worth remembering.

[@hearthearter]

Before I watch the video, the concept here reminds me of how much time was spent focusing on Stark and the Sword in the Stone. Really made all my senses go wild everytime we focused on the two during the episode.

[@Darkrift666]

I've been looking forward to another one of these

[@jwb2894]

You make wonderful videos about a beautiful show, thank you. Your videos are some of the only videos on you tube that I watch at a normal speed, they're paced so well.

[@Cr3zant]

This was a pretty good video that helps accentuate how Frieren is such a deep and inspiring story, but I feel like I didn't really get an answer on how Himmel's vanity was considered heroic or beneficial instead of simply being a humorous flaw in an otherwise great human being.

[@jokeyeetsy-dy4jn]

I love why they put the statues in, they didn’t want them to feel alone after they died

[@insertnamehere2104]

I dunno what it was, but this video almost brought me to tears. Even if you aren't making a real living off of these videos, I think you're doing something right. Keep doing what you love.

[@jacobhamel1583]

Your videos are so calming, please continue making them :)

[@someonefromsomewhere3922]

Idk if you made this to seek attention, but I'm glad you made it and I could watch it. I don't have anyone to talk about the anime, so it was nice to have someone talk about it, this deeply, to me.

[@blankjello6491]

This should be a podcast

[@raincleod]

This video was absolutely wonderful. Thank you!

[@colfdralegend]

Maybe this is off topic, and I forget who and when it was, but there’s a moment when someone says they’ll always accept rewards so the people they’re helping doesn’t feel they owe anything (it may have been Frieren when they were cleaning the lake). The idea really stuck with me, and it’s really made me consider how I view gratitude and such interactions

[@PeyTalksAnime]

Im pretty sure youre right, that it was after frieren recieved the Flamme tome for clearing the beach. Also totally agree

[@BadPurse]

This is kind of spoiler for an anime-only, but that is Himmel's phrase from chapter 77

[@colfdralegend]

@@BadPurse OH yeah, that chapter too. Man I love Himmel

[@salt7532]

have been waiting for you to do this episode

[@OhmIsFutile]

Ah, this video really captures what pulls me back to this channel time and time again. The bit about yourself caught me a little off-guard but I've found it really relatable. People used to tell me I was selfish and arrogant. I've spent most of my life feeling like I had to prove them wrong and looking for the limits of healthy pride, confidence, and self-respect are. Frieren really tackles those themes in unique ways over and over with Himmel, Serie, and a lot of the participants in the mage exam. On a different note, since you asked for feedback in the community post, I thought I'd mention this: this video really held my attention quite well, but at the end I had this "hey, wait a minute" moment where I realized you didn't discuss the actual sword trope that much. I don't feel like the video was clickbait by any stretch of imagination, but I kinda wish you went a little deeper on the possible interpretations of the sword in the stone. I personally think it might be a bit of a Chekhov's gun where someone, Stark maybe, will pull it out at some point... but in a way I think it'd be more inspiring if they returned to the sword at some point and didn't even try to pull it. This would really hammer in how people don't need prophecies or some kind of divine help to be heroes, that heroes are just people who care and do their best for the people around them. In fact, despite the sword being real in the story, I would respect and perhaps even commend the author if they actually chose to never revisit it. The sword never mattered.

[@justacatwithasadface2692]

I always go back to the Monogatari series's conclusion on 'fakes'. "In the fake's effort to become real, they become more real than the genuine article (sic)". I feel like that applies to a lot of things irl too

[@HamyHaxxor]

You're right my man. If people could own their mistakes and grow from them, the world would be such a better place.

[@juicebox01]

You covered it so well, I was having goosebumps when you made me realize that I too despised vanity and that in fact, himmel is a positive aspect of such vanity that I hated for so long. It's not the personality but how it impacts the people around them, how they choose to go with their desires with others in mind.

[@mentalpopcorn2304]

Part of why i love this series is that ive seen the heros jounrey many times, ive never seen a story make its focus on what happens after.

[@bcoon2446]

In comparing the real thing with an indistinguishable fake, which is worth more? “The fake is of far greater value. In its deliberate attempt to be real, it's more real than the real thing.” ― Deishuu Kaiki, Monogatari Series

[@lemirsot3244]

intro song: Le Vieux Chien de Marseille - Magnus Ludvigsson you´re welcome 👍

[@TytanR3x]

Hello Pey, I just finished binged watching the Exploring Frieren series. I thought it finally ended my peak receptors were tired, but another episode dropped; why must there be so much peak.

[@zandertalbot1087]

This was a beautiful and profound explanation.

[@alana925]

The editing on this video caught me off guard when I suddenly noticed it half-way through. You do a spectacular job editing transitions and putting scenes together, and the music playing in the background was beautifully captivating me. I had to re-watch a good deal of it because, once I noticed it, the skill in the display was breathtaking Edit: your voice is also perfectly suited for these types of videos and the way you can notice and articulate all of these things is amazing. I never thought this deeply into it before and I'm loving watching your videos and seeing what I missed

[@stewievengeance]

when you went on about growing up and your older brother would say you were attention seeking, it reminded me a lot of my childhood and i honestly do remember being a big attention seeker. i wanted to be the one that stands out, heck i still do. but as a kid, I've heard "stuart shut up" "stuart go away" "stuart knock it off" so many times, that I've grown out of trying. Now i just want to help, however i can, and if i make friends along the way then great. if not? oh well. If i stand out that's great. If not? oh well. I'm me, my friends love me for me, and that's what matters. And following immediately after that, when you mentioned himmel saying "if i kill the demon king with a replica, then what does it matter?" I immediately teared up. I'm going to watch this show now. Thank you.

[@ColeWilliams-f6y]

Absolute literary genius.

[@kishou07]

"What would Himmel do?" as a way of life.

[@pacificnebula4899]

That thumbnail title is so creative it gave me chills! "Not all heroes pull swords from stone" is deeper and sounds much more profound than "Not all heroes wear capes."

[@jcmillzmusic8768]

Thinking of the little people and considering how their actions will affect them after they leave, is a great way to make the world feel more lived in.

[@crunch1216]

Not directly about the video but you talking about attention seeking made me think about how I and others are "attention seeking". And now I feel better about myself

[@1Applee]

Himmel isn't a picture perfect hero, but his flaws and authenticity while also helping people makes him the perfect hero

[@LemontheWeeb]

As someone who is very cynical and hates people because of his crippling social anxiety and deep rooted distrust in humanity, I wish I could be like Himmel! Confident, cocky (in a good way), happy, deeply caring and understanding, wanting to do what’s right to make random strangers happy, wanting to make a difference and to be remembered if only for a little while! He’s everything I wish I could be, but will never be able to be!

[@yourbluewaffle]

Himmel played the part of the hero because the world needed one and he wanted to be one. He wasn't chosen to be the hero but still acted as one. He did his job very well to the point that the common people mostly forgot about him because there was less danger in the world. But the few folk that do remember him in little towns remember him fondly.