Last Updated: Oct 1st, 2025 — NOTE: these guides have been written by Humans, not AIs.
Please support us to continue doing so, using the links and methods in the Support section (or down below).
HIDDEN ITEMS MARKED WITH THIS ICON, MIGHT CONTAIN MILD SPOILERS FROM THE MANGA. To show them, just click to expand (they’re hidden by default). They won’t ruin the experience of watching next seasons but might make them less surprising.
OPENING CHALLENGE:
Can you spot all the times FERN appears during the intro song?
Hint: each time she appears on a different pose, size or age counts. Answer at the end of the GUIDE.
In this Episode at timestamp [1:30]What did Frieren include in Fern’s training?
Fern needs to improve her base mana level and strength, but her control is quite advanced.
We’ll see her training that mana during the years using Frieren exercises based on what Flamme taught her.
Montage during this episode [2:25-3:30]WHAT SONG IS PLAYED DURING THIS MONTAGE? (Click to show).
“The Precious Moments We Share”
[2:51] Frieren seems so fond of reading magic books and grimoires everywhere, even on a pool!
[3:05] What is that circle for? Can you guess?
Yes, to train Mana suppression inside a radius: just like Frieren learned from her master! (see EP.10)
[3:10] Another “minor” flaw of Heiter: being picky with his food, specially about vegetables.
Episode at timestamp [3:36]TIMELINE: How old is Fern when Heiter collapsed and became bedbound?
Around 13 years old. Frieren has been 4 years trying to decipher the grimoire of Ewig the Sage.
When she first met Fern, the girl was about NINE years old.
As she confessed to Sense in EP.23, Fern was devoted to progress in magic because of Heiter. She progressed so much in those first four years with Frieren so much because she was on a mission to hit the rock, and almost all of her time was dedicated to train and take care of Heiter.
In this Episode at timestamp [4:18]TIMELINE: How old is Heiter here?
He’s lived 24 years more than Himmel who died around 77. So he is probably over 100 years old. So it IS a MIRACLE that he’s been able to stand around for that much time, especially as a former alcoholic.
What TRACK of the OST is played during the next scenes?»
“The Precious Moments We Share”
In this Episode at timestamp [5:10]CURIOSITY: Magic photos.
These kind of portraits, such as like the one Sein has of his friend “Gorilla” at the beginning of EP. 16, are usually taken by itinerant mages.
In this Episode at timestamp [5:11]HISTORY: When did this war happen…?
The southern lands wars took place over 10 years After Himmel’s Death (AHD), and devastated many cities. Fern’s parents died in the conflict, probably trying to protect her.
(See the note of EP01 about the Geography of the Southern lands for more info)
How old was Fern when she lost her parents and how much did this affect her personality?
Fern is probably no more than 7 years old when she decides to end her own life (!).
She probably felt depressed for a long time after that. So this tragic loss DOES affect her mood and personality in this series.
Which makes her so apathetic sometimes, but it’s not a lack of character: but the result of his childhood trauma.
In this Episode at timestamp [6:12]
CURIOSITY: The mage photographer
- This brief scene is NOT depicted in the MANGA. An itinerant mage takes a magic photo of the family standing still —like vintage photographers did at the end of the XIX century.
- Incidentally, the mage looks a LOT like the second-class mage Land (blond hair, cape, glasses and a similar staff), but that is just a coincidence …or is it?
- Fern is a little girl that we barely see beside his parents. (Compare the pose to that of the photo and you’ll see that it checks.
In this Episode at timestamp [6:45]
Does the manga explain better Fern’s motives to become a mage?
She wants Heiter to feel fine, and know that she can care for herself and repay him for saving her. That way, she would have been “worth saving”. Of course the first it’s true, but Heiter does not doubt for a split second that he did the right thing.
In this Episode at timestamp [7:00]What TRACK of the OST is played during the next montage?»
We don’t know, it wasn’t included in the Soundtrack for some reason. But we love it! (hope we can get it some day into an extended OST).
In this Episode at timestamp [7:07]
Fern training continues
Again, Fern trains her mana suppression surrounded by beautiful blue jays that land on her.
After that, we see her briefly training also the flying spell (first time we see her levitating).
In this Episode at timestamp [8:52]What does Heiter offer to Frieren as a reward for helping Fern…?
Heiter likely has some secret savings from his payroll as a former High Bishop, kept in a drawer. He saved that money probably to help Fern: to enrol her in a magic school (maybe) and be taken care of, in the neighbouring Holy city of Strahl.
When he realizes Frieren is going to take the girl with her, he gladly gives that money to the elf, so that they can start their journey without so many worries about their economy.
In this Episode at timestamp [9:30]
A second big loss for Frieren…
This is the second member of the party of heroes that Frieren loses. But by now, she has managed to grasp better what death implies: and that Heiter needs to say a proper farewell to avoid that Fern has long-term regrets —similar as those she had about Himmel.
In this Episode at timestamp [9:56]What TRACK of the OST is played during the next scene?»
“Before the Light Fades.”
In this Episode at timestamp [9:56]The Hero’s legacy
Not only Frieren: Heiter was also deeply affected by the Hero’s life and deeds.
As we will learn later, the priest had almost blind faith in Himmel’s leadership and qualities.
In this Episode at timestamp [11:29]2nd part of EP.02 » 26 years After Himmel’s Death (AHD)
We skip to almost 1 and al half years later, in the Turk Region of the Central Lands. A place featuring a dense wood area.
They’re going to stay over 6 months in this location.
Fern is now around 15.5 years old. They haven’t journeyed so much, so they are relatively close to the Holy City of the central lands.
Part of the reason is that Fern stayed some months there to get her third-class mage certification (at the startling age of 14 years, no less).
In this Episode at timestamp [12:00]Two useless spells?
Two of those spells will soon prove to be very useful.
Remember: Eisen’s favorite food is sour grapes!
And many of Himmel’s statues are made of bronze, so they could clean them easily now…
Making warm tea is only mentioned in the special manga “Frieren the Anthology”. In its last story: the party of Heroes agrees that it is a pity Frieren does not have a spell like that, as she could serve them shaved ice… but not a warm drink.
In this Episode at timestamp [13:09]A heroic tale from over 85 years ago…
Himmel killing that monster happened probably at the beginning of the party’s journey, that might be 86 years ago! (26 AHD+50 years+10 year adventure)
That would make the herbalist quite old, probably on her 90s… no wonder she’s asked for help to clean Himmel’s statue and that it is in such a bad state as almost no one alive remembers this feat from the Hero.
In this Episode at timestamp [13:53]CURIOSITY: What is Frieren complaining about …?
If you pay attention, you can hear Frieren cry: “I’m hungry!!” (or “I’m going to starve” in the dubbed version) while waiting hours for Himmel to decide his pose.
By the way the music here is this TRACK of the OST»
“Handsome Pose Collection”. VERY appropriate name.
In this Episode at timestamp [15:00]MAGIC needs VISUALIZATION
This is the first time we hear that magic cannot produce results if you cannot visualize perfectly whatever you want to create. Frieren needs to see, smell and touch the Blue Moon Weed flower to recreate them. In the arc of fist-class mage exams (EPs. 19-28), we learn more about how this magic principle works.
The means, that if Serie (for instance) conjured such variety of beautiful flowers for the Continental Magic Association headquarters in Außerst… is because she has seen and studied lots of them. And then she claims that magically making appear such flowers, is “a useless spell”, right? 🙄
In this Episode at timestamp [15:8]Frieren lore: the goddess’ stones and offerings.
In the Herbalist’s home we see a kind of altar with candles, a stone with the goddess’ figure, inverted branches hanging, and some fruits and flowers (probably an offering).
We will see similar worshipping objects in other places of this world, like the cabin where Kraft stays in EP.11, or the house in the cursed village of EP.15.
In this Episode at timestamp [16:39]CUTENESS galore: “Grassy” Turtles
This same kind of giant Turtle (but more snowy) will be featured in EP.18 part B.
(The animation was “recycled” for that scene, by the way).
In this Episode at timestamp [17:00]The big cauldron trope
Frieren acting like a Witch in front of a giant cauldron is also a recurring theme that will resurface in the second part of S01-EP.17.
In this Episode at timestamp [17:09]Frieren “quirks”: curiosity entraps her.
Why does Frieren like so much crawling into tight spaces like bushes? Is she used to it, because she has been trapped into so many mimics?
We don’t know but it is also a recurrent event (and quirk) in her life… probably motivated for her curiosity of discovering and learning things related to magic and (in this case) Himmel.
WARNING: MILD SPOILER OF SEASON 02 from the MANGA (click to reveal)
In the first episode of the second season, we’ll see a scene where Frieren shows this very same quirk: there, she finds a magic-nullifying crystal hidden behind some bushes. This scene will be an important discovery for the episode.
In this Episode at timestamp [17:15]Easter eggs: Can you spot the four-leaf clover in this frame?
Fern, you just have missed your lucky finding of the day. (We LOVE how animators in this series take the time to hide some easter eggs for us to find, hehehehehe…)
In this Episode at timestamp [17:30]When Fern gets impatient.
Six moths later, Fern has over 15 years old, maybe nearing 16 even. She is probably feeling anxious about their journey getting so stale while years pass by.
In this Episode at timestamp [17:45]Can Fern use floating magic on objects outside of view?
Has Fern just used magic to open the locked door on the Herbalists house? We figure out this is the case here. (Naughty girl!).
She will also use that kind of spell to open a window and sneak into Graf Granat’s castle in EP.08.
In this Episode at timestamp [18:00]If Frieren can save whole cities, why is she wasting her time?
The realization of Fern came to be true when Frieren saves the whole Granat city from Aura. Still, the powerful elf-mage Frieren will always be fixated on “wasting time” learning small spells, collecting grimoires/magic objects… and following Himmel’s footsteps.
Also, we see how Frieren tends to think it’s best to help people to save themselves first, and is hesitant to involve herself in conflicts or troubles unless it’s strictly necessary.
In this Episode at timestamp [19:00]Fern tries to reason with Frieren.
The TRACK of the OST that sounds here is »
“From the Heart”.
This brief melody was used to tease SEASON 02 in an announcement made in September 2024.
In this Episode at timestamp [19:00]How did Frieren obtain this spell to track small animals?
This tracking spell has been created by Frieren using as ingredient the Dark Dragon horn she recovered from Himmel after they brought it from the Demon King’s castle. You can read more insights about this in the notes from the EP.01 guide.
In this Episode at timestamp [20:35]Frieren’s hobby: collecting spells
In EP05 Frieren will reiterate to Stark the real reason why she collects spells as a hobby: because of Himmel’s praise towards her (not a surprise).
In this Episode at timestamp [21:00]
Why is Himmel happy when he sees the flower of fields, but not as excited as Heiter and Eisen?
In EP27 we’ll learn that he already knows that spell and has seen Frieren use it before. He’s probably reminiscent of that moment as a child.
So he is happy and relaxed, lingering in the past likely. Also, all the flowers there are beautiful, but he misses the specific one (the Blue Moon Weed) that grows at his birthplace.
Did his late mother maybe grow it there? It well could be, which would further explain his nostalgic attitude. AND he’s probably thinking about his liking/love for Frieren (hence the flower crown that he makes for her).
NOTE: this extended scene is exclusive to the ANIME, the MANGA does not make this scene so powerful in terms of making Himmel appear so retrospective.
In this Episode at timestamp [23:18]Fern DID love magic after all…
She might have learned some from his parents or in her birthplace: like the magic that projects lights of shapes and animals (butterflies) and that she used as a girl to soothe the old Heiter. See her face? That’s surely a delightful moment for her!
NOTE: We have seen Frieren use that same magic in front of an audience, in a montage of EP.01.
END of THE EPISODE GUIDEENDING CHALLENGE.
Can you find these 7 Things HIDDEN in the ending animations?
- the SEED RATS
- the BLUE MOON flower
- the RED HAIR BOW of little Fern
- BUTTERFLIES
- a HARVEST OFFERING to the goddess
- the red EARRINGS of FRIEREN (and Flamme)
- the PUMPKINS of the harvest shown in this episode
OP CHALLENGE Answer.
How many times we see Fern appear in the opening?
Answer: SEVEN TIMES.
