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This EPISODE encompasses TWO MANGA chapters »
VOL.1 #009: “The Hero Of The Village” / #010: “Northern Barrier”
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.
In this Episode at timestamp [2:58]Lost in translation: Stark’s scar and his fight with his master.
The English dub is a bit obscure on this one: the argument with his master was all about our red-haired warrior not wanting to fight monsters. Something that, to this moment in the story, he’s never done.
Eisen probably wanted he to start taking against real foes, and not only train in private practice. Stark was not fond of the idea and, as the “good coward” he is… probably refused hastily.
Of course, lack of praise from his master left our boy totally confused about what the dwarf really thought of his strength, talent, effort and potential.
In this Episode at timestamp [3:25]Unexpected encouragement from Fern
This words and showing of encouragement from Fern in this first conversation they have alone, taking his hands, will be of great impact for Stark.
WARNING: MILD SPOILER OF SEASON 02 from the MANGA (click to reveal)
We’ll see how much Stark appreciates and treasures this encouragement in EP01 of Season 2 of the show.
In this Episode at timestamp [3:47]Fern’s training and why she shows more confidence than Stark.
She was more than capable to kill that monster, but it all came down to control her fear. A psychotherapist and ex-military states this about combat situations: there are usually three typical reactions for a person in these scenarios… 1) Fight 2) Flight or 3) Freeze. Fern exhibits those latest two until mustering the resolve.
(See his reaction videos to Frieren in his channel).
We’ll learn in EP.09 that Frieren has delegated (more and more) the task of killing monsters to Fern, due to her fast “Zooltraking”. So she has gained a lot of XP (pun intended) in fights.
This is the reason she feels superior to Stark at first, but of course, she has to take into account that the “boy” has only faced one monster until now, and it was A DRAGON. A terrifying first experience.
When did really Fern killed that monster? MANGA vs ANIME…
The Anime clearly shows Fern wearing her butterfly hairpin at this fight. That would make this scene happen sometime AFTER her 16th birthday. That put this only half a year (or so) before meeting Stark, if that’s the case. But Fern & Frieren seem to remember it from much time before —in their recall of the event, on the previous and present episode.
The MANGA though, does not show her wearing that accessory at the time. For us, this time the MANGA is probably right and it is an honest mistake from the animators. It makes more sense that Fern has already faced such a foe long before being sixteen. She has been travelling for some years with her master, it is not reasonable to think that Frieren has not let her pick some battles against monsters before, especially as she is so fast with her Zoltraak.
In this Episode at timestamp [4:30]Trust the process, Stark.
His training wasn’t going to fail him, true.
Although lacking a parring partner, Stark hasn’t neglected his training: using his Lightning Strike with all his might against the fissure!
In this Episode at timestamp [4:50]Extraordinary frames: why Eisen is so scary…
A very short memory of his master with his bloody fist clenched in front of him, suggests that Stark had this last view of Eisen before deciding to flee away. Goosebumps! (Not shown in the manga).
In this Episode at timestamp [5:16]Who doesn’t love the views and sceneries on this series?
The Riegel Canyon and the city alongside it reminds us of all the love the artwork in Frieren gets from people like Seiko Yoshioka, the main Concept Artist at Frieren season 01 and 02! You can see many of his beautiful frames in his X account here: Seiko Yoshioka at (Twitter).
In this Episode at timestamp [6:03]The strength from being the village hero!
Stark has several reasons to be this courageous now. He wants to leave and move on, but he cannot flee abandoning these “happy people” to their fate.
What TRACK of the OST is played during the next scenes?»
“Fear brought me this Far”
Episode at timestamp [6:37]Trembling at those moments…
We don’t know much about this monster or where they faced it. It might have been in a nearby place of of this Riegel canyon area, at the beginning of the original party’s journey. But we know this much: It is the first of many times that Frieren observed how Eisen’s hands trembled.
In this Episode at timestamp [6:50]Great quotes on this episode:
“Being afraid isn’t a bad thing. Fear is what brought me this far” —Eisen
One of the GREATEST QUOTES in Frieren, stated with the very music named after that phrase.
In this Episode at timestamp [7:00]Dragon fight: how much did this scene cost to make? Who is to be credited?
The director of this Episode was Toru IWASAWA (by the way, he won’t be in the production of season 2). He was action director for the whole season 1, but on this episode he was responsible for the key frames of this battle (see the Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Production Notes 05-10 on Sakuga Blog). Many animators contributed to this scene and chapter, like: Keiichiro Watanabe, Shingo Yamashita, Tatsuya Yoshihara, Yutaka Nakamura and Hironori Tanaka.
Also, freelance legendary animators like the German YEN_BM were hired due to their experience on battle scenes (see his channel with his extensive collection of top-class anime scenes, including part of the dragon battle in Frieren). The number of freelancers on a project does in fact increase the costs associated with these kind of scenes.
One typical action-packed anime episode might cost 100,000-180,000 dollars, depending on the length of those battle animations. And most of the % of the budget goes to financing those scenes. Not much from the point of view of a cinema production, but it is 2x or even 4x the cost of animes that lack such intensive action sequences!
By the way, this shot of the dragon’s here looking to Stark while he was perched to the scales of his very face is A-MA-ZING. [On minute 8:50]
What TRACK of the OST is played during this fight?»
“Dragon Smasher.”
In this Episode at timestamp [8:13]Stark is an awesome warrior!
Remember how in EP.17 Fern is scared of the force Stark applies on her shoulder?
We can imagine: if he was angry and tried to struggle with Eisen during this verbal fight —with all his strength— the dwarf’s bodily reaction to hit him was regrettable, but understandable..
Also, in this MANGA panel (not adapted into the anime) we can observe how Stark probably ignited that reaction, by protesting with all his might on that fight. His genetic heritage, frustration and pride, being from a warrior tribe (as shown on EP.12) intervened.
In this Episode at timestamp [9:10]One “Lightning Strike!” and the dragon is “cooked”!
In this Episode at timestamp [9:20]Let’s reflect just a minute, on how great a teacher Frieren can be.
That gesture to Fern, to not shoot or interfere, is not only meant to let Stark gain fight experience. She knows the dragon is dead. But it is a silent expression of “now, I want you to own your victory, boy”.
Not only he has beaten the beast, it has been all BY HIMSELF. Even his ‘Lightning’ technique is in fact not copied from his master, so he must be proud of himself. That victory alone, should give him more confidence for the future.
Of course, as it takes more than one win for a coward to quit being one: we’ll learn why that he needs to keep steeling his resolve and hear more encouraging words, in the next few episodes.
In this Episode at timestamp [6:49]Frieren resents being called an “old hag”…
…and for a long time!!!
In EP.18 Fern will ask “How long ago was that?”, over a year after Stark has yelled it here… and with Frieren sulking about it in a carriage near Äußerst.
WARNING: MILD SPOILER OF SEASON 02 from the MANGA (click to reveal)
She will even count the times Starks mentions similar thoughts during Season 2!!
She really doesn’t like to be called the “old names” by others, only by herself.
In this Episode at timestamp [8:43]“Now this hoard of treasure is miiine… at last!” (Yippee in 10 languages)
Frieren’s excitement for magic treasure is so contagious. It’s one of the few times we see her cold elvish blood get heated enough about something… that she literally sings!!!
We recommend you this video, in which you can compare the gleeful yelling and singing of Frieren’s in different languages (dubs). A feast for your sight and ears in ten languages!
(We definitely love the English and Italian dub in this scene, so joyful and “bella!”)
In this Episode at timestamp [10:34]Magic trinkets make our elf mage so gleeful!
Ah, magic knickknacks make Frieren so happy! It’s the same kind of stuff she rubs against her face in the dungeon in EP.22, to the very surprise of the first-class mage Sense!
In this Episode at timestamp [10:55]What happened in this dungeon, and where was the ice spell found?
As Himmel says, it happens at one of their first dungeons together: as suggested by the Hero’s words, how is he looking at a map, and the surrounding walls. It might have been found inside a “mimic” (a true chest) that contains a great spell, a first time for Frieren in a long time, maybe?
For Eisen this is a waste of time, but Himmel really gets a kick out of raiding this places as told in EP.22. Shame they don’t seem to keep much real treasure from them. But hey, do they even expect to come alive from the journey so, why care so much about riches?
Eisen remarks about this very fact, suggesting they do not have that certainty, and later we will hear how Heiter wasn’t sure they’d defeat the Demon King either. Only Frieren and mostly Himmel were somewhat confident in the party’s destiny, apparently.
What TRACK of the OST is playing at this moment?»
“Gone, but not Forgotten”
In this Episode at timestamp [11:00]Who is the “Hero of the South” and what role did he play against the 7 sages of destruction?
He was know for being the strongest human ever to fight against demons. Yes: stronger than Himmel !!
WARNING: MILD SPOILER OF SEASON 02 from the MANGA (click to reveal)
Even if he was from the south lands, he travelled north to combat in the Great War against the Demon King. We will know all about his extraordinary skills in Episode 02 of season 2 of the show.
He died at that battle against the sages of destruction, but his death was not in vain: he “paved the way” for Himmel in a way. We don’t want to spoil anything else, but his story is AMAZING and will introduce more depth to the adventure we know so far.
In this Episode at timestamp [11:41]Shaved ice? Warm tea? Hidden references here…
We’ll, it seems that shaved ice was the only food they had in that long raid in the dungeon. Heiter keep your fingers away from it, please!
Also: the story from the manga volume ANTHOLOGY “Frieren Makes a Detour“ expands on this scene. Himmel will ask if she has something like a warm tea spell to help them gain some strength during a dungeon raid. Something she manages to get from the town chief in EP.03 of the Anime!
In this Episode at timestamp [12:00]All the village is there to say goodbye. Can you spot…?
Can you spot these characters in this crowd?
- The girl with pigtails that has a crush on Stark?
- The boy that idolises him and his Grandma?
- The cook and his wife?
The cook, his wife, grandma and his grandson, even the pigtailed girl —which might be secretly in love with him… they all say goodbye to the Hero of the Village.
Luckily they don’t have to build a statue for him, but stories about Stark will be told for a long time there, for sure! His legend begins to craft from this point on…
In this Episode at timestamp [12:09]Fern don’t pry on others’ bodies!
Fern will not to pry on other’s bodies later, and will not use the spell to see though clothes on Übel during the first-class exam in EP.21. But as of now, Stark falls victim to the inconsiderate remarks of the purple-haired mage… poor boy!
2nd part of EP.06 » Northern Barrier
In this Episode at timestamp [10:31]Geography of the Continent: the gate to the Northern Lands.
Probably is the end of summer of the 28th year AHD. We’re at the Fortress City of Wall, considered the “gate” to the northern lands.
Central lands as such, end in the Granat domains, and beyond that, we consider that the Northern Lands of the continent start. We haven’t heard much about the southern lands, except that Fern was born there and was also the Hero of the South’s home.
As we’ll learn in this second part of Episode 6, something “nasty” is happening in the north. We already know exactly what, but the reports the citizens receive seem to be confusing and not complete.
In this Episode at timestamp [13:04]Why the Checkpoint?
The zealous guard does say it’ is’s been quite time since the checkpoint to the northern lands was open. The war against Aura might have reached a truce very recently, but during 10 years it has been raging in the region, making monster appearances also more frequent.
In this Episode at timestamp [12:56]Frieren is thrilled
The elf mage is happy to stay for a while and rummage through those magic stores! (Or she might get scammed there, for all we know).
In this Episode at timestamp [14:20]Fern does not hide her discontent for a second
Fern’s dissatisfaction about waiting years in a place makes her scarier by the episode, yep!
In this Episode at timestamp [14:49]Ah, the Jumbo Ice cream!
A “berry special” dessert that holds a dear place in Stark’s heart —since his master and him travelled to this city when he was a child. Such nostalgia!
MINI-CONSPIRACY THEORY: Do you think that the desert has in fact gotten small in late years due to commercial interests or lack of supplies, and that the barman is really trying to cover for this bad praxis with his remarks about the “cruelty of the passing time”? We suspect so, truly…
COOKING HOW-TO: See this video on how to make it at home» Jumbo Berry Special Recipe from Sousou no Frieren
In this Episode at timestamp [15:50]Fern does not savor the moment
Really Fern? A glass of milk, when you can have your own Jumbo Special?
Well, maybe funds are low for them, but still, you can eat some sweet thing here, and sweeten your mood in the process (like seen in EP22 “Future Enemies”).
Here we can hear this Soundtrack piece»
“Stark the Pure”. A comedic theme that would accompany us through many funny Stark-related moments!
In this Episode at timestamp [16:32]Barriers protecting cities
This is the first time we hear about a walled city having a defensive magic barrier. From what we know, this kind of barriers started to abound when the war with the Demon King started to intensify centuries ago. Some of them like the one from EP.09 “Frieren the Slayer” were made a millennia ago by the legendary mage Flamme herself.
Normally they stop only demons and monsters, but this one is also human-defensive. As we see at the start of EP18, bandits and criminals rampage around the areas where Aura had been battling, so… the more reason to have a checkpoint and barrier that protects the city from undesired human individuals too!
NOTE: we see how one winged monster is stopped and killed by a barrier at the Granat city, on EP.08 of the anime.
In this Episode at timestamp [17:10]How bad are things in the north?
Events in the northern lands are pretty serious, with the Aura situation being one of the biggest threats, that could even escalate to this “southern” region.
In this Episode at timestamp [17:41]Montage: Stark and Fern investigate on the city slums
During this funny montage we see Stark make a “showoff” from his eyebrow scar. He looks like a badass adventurer! (Some of these scenes are even better in the Manga, including a “bunny waitress”, a shady old man, and the attack of the thugs on Stark).
Even if he’s calm enough, he’s careful with this pair of thugs that are bound for nothing good.
In this Episode at timestamp [18:31]A breathtaking view
Those in the far north must be the Schwer mountains…
In this Episode at timestamp [18:47]Does anyone else think little Stark is so cuuute?
We can’t get enough of this orphan red-haired boy being featured. Even in the OP we can see a frame of this “small Stark” with Eisen.
In this Episode at timestamp [19:04]The original party was here too!
As Frieren’s usually travels the same path the company followed, we get to know many of the places they crossed: like this city which is the “gate to the northern lands”.
She is truly on a mission to discover what those 10 years meant for her!
What TRACK of the OST is played during the next scenes?»
“Memories for my Master”
In this Episode at timestamp [19:30]The reason for his journey
Stark will often recall his personal mission of bringing “silly stories” to his master several times… like when he declines the offer from Lord Orden to live and fight with them in EP.15: “Smells Like Trouble”.
WARNING: MILD SPOILER OF SEASON 02 from the MANGA (click to reveal)
During the start of Season 02 we’ll learn about a “ridiculous adventure” that Eisen lived with the company, and told to Stark —hint: regarding some hot spring waters as seen in a visual teaser of the second season. Will he emulate his master on finding something that might be consider a waste of time (apart from the adventure itself)?
In this Episode at timestamp [20:16]What is she afraid of?
Her elf habit of hiding in back alleys is quite comical. She has just bought a magic book and has seen a guard following her. What is she fearing?
We will learn in Season 2 that sometimes the authorities of the cities she has been, weren’t so nice, tried to take advantage of them with mandated missions, or simply were irritating. So she sometimes fears that, and avoids them…
We notice many times how she is used to travel “incognito” and to not be noticed, focusing on relaxing and taking time for their magic research alone. She’s not fond of getting that much attention, really.
NICE animated GIF from this scene:
In this Episode at timestamp [21:00]No worries this time!
Well, in this case the Castellan of the City is quite charming and honors them. Also he might be looking forward to helping the northern lands get rid of the demons by permitting Frieren’s new party to pass.
In this Episode at timestamp [20:23]The heroes’ send-off
In the continuous parallels we watch throughout the series, we see how they receive a “proper send-off” much like that of Himmel’s party more than 80 years ago.
In this Episode at timestamp [22:41]
The three of them casually walking away from a city… a recurrent scene that reminds us of the very end of the season 01 of the anime.
END of EPISODE'S #06 GUIDEED Fun Facts. Did you know that the ending song “Anytime, Anywhere…?”
• … was originally premiered on September 29th, 2023, the same day the anime was first aired?
• …was composed by singer Millet and two other writers, Daisuke Nakamura and Yoichiro Nomura, and Evan Call was the producer and in charge of the arrangements?
• …won the “best ending song” at the Aruma Awards of the Japan Expo in 2024?
Next Guide for EP. 07 will be published around November 8th, 2025
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