Last Updated: Nov 24th, 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).
All images © of their original ANIME right holders, used with the FAIR USE in mind. Suggestions to: guides@reactguides.com
This EPISODE encompasses a bit more than TWO MANGA chapters »
VOL.2 — Chap. 15: “Dhrat” (part 2); Chap. 16: “Sentinel Slaughter” and 17: “Frieren the Slayer”).
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 [0:55]Is really Frieren unable to nullify the magic wire?
We don’t have a reason to think otherwise. Again and again, we see that our elf mage needs time to analyze unknown powerful magic to find a way to defeat it.
Now, she does not have the luxury of time to make that analysis. So, she is going to do what she usually doesn’t: attack and win by BRUTE FORCE.
In this Episode at timestamp [1:38]How unexperienced might be Draht?
As much as “inexperienced” for a demon can mean, that is. He’s probably been with Aura “only” 50 years or so. His battles are probably simple exercises of beheading unaware knights, or to finish the job for Lügner and Lady Aura. He hasn’t fought much against great heroes, warriors or mages apparently —only mid-term adventurers and soldiers.
In this Episode at timestamp [1:51]What kind of spells does Frieren use to defeat Dhrat?
Spells that cut through various objects or flesh are not that uncommon. We’ll see Laufen use one to take down a tree in EP. 21. Übel specializes in cutting magic too. Apparently they are short-ranged spells, but in this case we are in a close-quarters combat situation.
Also, even without her staff, Frieren and other experienced mages are able to cast closer-range offensive magic: kind of a “concentrated Zoltraak”. That might have been what she uses for her killing blow.
In this Episode at timestamp [2:32]Why does Frieren decide to escape instead of talking to the Graf?
As she’ll explain later, demons and monsters disappear in a mana cloud when killed. So a dead guard decapitated with magic — beside her cell— yeah, is probably a particularly difficult situation to explain. Or so she thinks. Graf Granat is more discerning than usual, but Frieren experiences with city rulers in the past might have not been always so positive… hence her decision to flee.
OPENING TRIVIA: more than one show title!
Did you know that the title of the series has varied during the initial phase when translated?
“Frieren at the Funeral”
“Frieren: An Ageless Elegy” or even
“Frieren: Remnants of the Departed”
Those are some of the translations that you might encounter, although the one that has stayed in place ultimately in English is “Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End”
But be aware: the other ones are mentioned sometimes, especially in unofficial subtitles or in some manga editions (!)
What does the original name of the Manga and Series mean then?
“Sousou no Frieren” the original title, has a wordplay in its Japanese meaning.
The word “sousou” can be translated as “funeral” or “attending a funeral” but also the wording makes it possible to mean “send to the grave” or being an undertaker, which could refer to Frieren being the gravedigger, slayer —or reaper— of demons.
In this episode, at the final phrase of Lügner in Japanese, he’ll start saying exactly that: “Sousou no Frieren”. The One that has sent more demons to their graves than any other…
A terrifying double meaning!
In this Episode at timestamp [3:07]Curiosity about cats (again)
Frieren authors and animator show their favorite animal pretty often: they prefer CATS to any other pet!
In fact it is RARE or almost impossible to see any dog in this world. (We did hear them in one episode but couldn’t spot a single one on-screen).
In this Episode at timestamp [4:33]The always “dutiful citizen” Fern (encore)
Fern also senses the situation will be dire for the city if they don’t do something. She’s been growing to be the voice of reason like a “Jiminy cricket” for the new party.
Later on, she’ll keep reminding her master that they can’t abandon the people around them.
In this Episode at timestamp [5:03]Why did Lügner stop to observe Frieren for that long?
“The more an opponent is powerful, the more he/she observes her foes”. That though from the second-class mage Edel (EP.24) applies here to Lügner. He was carefully observing Frieren and sizing her up, her intentions (and probably her mana too) as a potential enemy.
In this Episode at timestamp [5:25]Is that a BEER what you’re drinking and spilling, Stark? You’re not even 18 years old yet…!
As mentioned in EP22, and using information from the manga too (covers of chapters 40 and 46 in Volume 4), we know Stark does NOT drink alcohol. It’s orange juice what he prefers, in fact!
So NO… he’s not an “underage drinker”!
In this Episode at timestamp [5:45]Does Stark think the count will defend Lügner whatever the case?
Maybe it’s an excuse not to intervene. But he really doesn’t know of the real Graf intentions and thoughts at this point.
In this Episode at timestamp [5:58]Sometimes Stark has great poses too!
Our red-haired warrior has so many gestures and poses we love…
How comes no one does propose to make a cool statue of him later on, as they did with the Hero?
Episode at timestamp [6:18]Linie is a living Mana tracker?
Linie has a great ability to detect mana from a long distance, more the merit of Fern to evade her senses later in this episode.
In this Episode at timestamp [6:35]Can Lügner read the human language?
Apparently so: Lügner takes that book and might be able to read human, not only speak it. Very nice ability to find valuable grimoires, too, like the one that supposedly contains the instructions to lower the barrier of the city.
In this Episode at timestamp [6:53]Keep me waiting and I’ll pay you back!
The blue-eyed demon will resent that the Graf has them waiting for so long. And will use that same tactic against him later. What a vengeful creature, don’t you think?
What TRACK of the OST is played during the next scene?»
“Ancient Magic”.
In this Episode at timestamp [8:00]Manga vs. Anime: Draht was an idiot?
After the perceptive reasoning of the Graf, Lügner will blame Dhrat as a “fool” for ruining the plan, although resorting to violence is a comfortable situation for the demon. (We love this panel in the manga where he unleashes his blood magic in front of Granat).
Also, notice that the demon controls when his blood solidifies —hard as a rock– while at times it’s flexible and swift.
WARNING: MILD SPOILER OF SEASON 02 from the MANGA (click to reveal)
We’ll meet another demon in season 2 that can make something similar with his mana.
In this Episode at timestamp [8:25]Curiosities: Where is Linie during this fight? (Incredible)
Calmly sitting in that armchair!
As she’ll confess in the next episode, his “captain demon” Lügner does not like that she interferes unnecessarily on a fight… his arrogance being probably part of the cause.
In this Episode at timestamp [8:39]VISUALS: the “visible hair behind” drawing style.
The visuals of the anime feature sometimes curious frames, like this close shot where we can see the eye’s and eyelashes’ outlines behind the hair — stroked, but without the matching color fill. Stylish!
In this Episode at timestamp [8:55]Words are weapons, swords are too
A great analogy from the “executioner”: words can be as dangerous as swords and weapons —when it comes to hurt and deceive with them.
In this Episode at timestamp [9:05]Hurt in the flesh and in his soul too
The furious cry from the Count is a reflection of the pain for his deceased son, whom Lügner has just called “weak” (unjustly so) to anger him more.
Adding insult to injury, literally. Totally cruel words, that hurt like daggers.
In this Episode at timestamp [9:43]Have you noticed how accurately can already Fern detect her master’s mana?
Though briefly, it seems Fern is able to detect a trace of mana flowing out of the hooded figure passing-by and who it belongs to. (She clearly didn’t see her face). When Frieren holds her power completely, she only releases a tiny bit when she’s moving —that’s why she does not move at all to capture the Stille at EP19. But this also shows how much Fern has improved at this skill! (Lawine and Kanne couldn’t detect that small trace).
She will be able to detect, even more incredible things, at the end of the first-class mage exam —with Serie.
In this Episode at timestamp [10:00]Frieren: a back-alley addict
This is another of those times when we see the elf-mage slip into an alley to hide and talk.
Why is she so often in trouble, even when doing nothing wrong?
In this Episode at timestamp [10:15]Why do clothes disappear too, when a demon like Draht dies?
There are some possible explanations to this phenomenon. One: demons create their clothes with magic, imbuing mana onto a “fake fabric” that also serves to fool humans and make people more empathetic towards them. Probably, that explains why they don’t change their appearance very often. They don’t need to, and it takes quite the power to create those “magic clothes” —and maybe some mana to keep them working.
But if they die, their mana dissipates and their “magic clothes” vanish with them.
Other possibilities include the fact that their clothes are made from spells that stop working when they die. Or are they illusion magic? Anyhow, the main idea revolves around that, somehow, they are magical and sustained by their mana too…
And yeah, it would be weird for them to be naked… and their dressing style adds to the story, right?
In this Episode at timestamp [11:00]Great quotes from this Episode:
You’re not going to fight them because they’re strong? —Frieren, to Fern & Stark.
Why has Frieren so much confidence in them?
Does Frieren know something we don’t, about Fern’s and Stark’s power and abilities? Probably she has observed the demons’ mana, and is aware that they strong, but not as much to be an unsurmountable threat for them.
Also, she has seen Stark defeat a colossal solar dragon, and Fern kill dozens of monsters readily in the span of minutes, like “a chore”. Do they lack confidence and only need some push to grow as adventurers?
In this Episode at timestamp [11:23]The always comical phrases from “Stark the coward”…
In the English dub Stark says such funny phrases as:
“You can’t leave us to die Frieren!”
“Steel yourself… “ (to Fern)
“I don’t want to be demon foood!” 😂
In this Episode at timestamp [11:55]What’s on your mind Frieren? You scare us with that evil smile…
This Demon sage has enough mana to show off, that it can be sensed from that distance (10 Km » 6.2 miles). Aura too has the ability to detect others’ Mana, like their executioners, from afar.
Frieren knows she has to deal with the very Sage of Destruction that menaces the city. And knows exactly her flaws and strategy, from her latest encounter with her (over 80 years ago). So she is “cooking” a precise plan to kill her swiftly, rest assured. (That would explain the smile on her face, even if she dislikes fighting against powerful opponents).
WARNING: MILD SPOILER OF SEASON 02 from the MANGA (click to reveal)
Aura is one of the last remaining survivors of the 7 SAGES OF DESTRUCTION. What happened to the rest of them? We’ll learn some more on EP.02 of the second season, and in the second cour especially. But Himmel and the party of heroes were “only” able to kill two of them during their adventure —one of them was Böse the Inmortal, mentioned in EP.28. Aura escaped at that time, but now her end has finally come.
[Chapter 17th from the Manga starts here]
In this Episode at timestamp [13:30]No one guarding the Palace…?
We suspect all guards were killed by Lügner and Linie to keep secrecy: but we don’t know for sure.
What TRACK of the OST is played during the next scene?»
“Deep in the Dungeon” a musical theme that will also be featured, well… in the Dungeon test of course.
In this Episode at timestamp [13:36]Fern and the magic to open doors and windows!
Same as in EP.02, Fern moves small objects with a “telekinesis” spell that might be the same or related to the one that floats objects. With it, she opens the window from inside. This magic is not so common between mages apparently, but Fern learns it from Frieren, and even uses it to recover her fallen staff in the next episode.
In this Episode at timestamp [14:17]Magic experts, but not magic teachers…
Indeed it is NOT the first time we learn that demons specialize in one magic all their life, observing, trying, refining it. Qual was the same.
We can make the educated guess that they don’t share that magic, not even with their fellow demons. So their research usually dies with them. It’s so different an approach from humans, that the contrast is striking!
In this Episode at timestamp [14:48]The magical barrier in action
A winged creature falls when touching the barrier: proof that this kind of magic is indeed a genius defense that probably has protected for generations some places from being devastated by demons or monster!
Even our white-haired mage admires the genius of her master, that probably learned this kind of spells from Serie and perfected them herself.
What TRACK of the OST is played during these scenes?»
“Great Mage Flamme” her very own and only theme for Frieren’s master. A musical masterpiece too: listen to it till the end here:
In this Episode at timestamp [15:10]Where and when does this scene happen?
This seems to be the sapling that becomes the huge tree in the Voll Basin. For almost 1,000 years ir protected the place where Flamme kept her notes on Aureole. Astounding!
Similarly, the barrier in the Granat city was probably put in place in the same way almost a millennium ago. Instead of a grimoire to manage it, we learn in EP.11 that there is a spoken spell to deactivate it temporarily. Also, this barrier just holds off monsters, and does not affect elements like air or rain, nor humans and animals.
In this Episode at timestamp [16:10]“Making someone wait it’s a diplomatic tactic…”?
More like a way to retaliate —for making you wait before, Lügner…
In this Episode at timestamp [16:50]Why does Granat think, that Stark’s entrance was his son coming…?
Lord Granat is so worn out, tortured and hopeless that for a moment he believes his dead son is paying him a visit to take him away to the afterlife with him. But no, it’s only Stark, the adventurer that was with Frieren that very morning.
In this Episode at timestamp [17:23]What’s the issue with that rope, Stark?
Some objects imbued in mana with a spell are more resistant than usual, even if they appear as normal ropes or other objects. Probably the cage for the Stille in EP.18 is infused with a similar power, as it cannot be broken by those strong birds. Or the bind that Frieren uses in EP.21 with Denken and Laufen.
What TRACK of the OST is played during this moment?»
“Phantoms of the Dead”
In this Episode at timestamp [17:23]The family crest
Again we this medallion with a Granate (Granat), a symbol of the family that also will be spotted in the controlled corpse of his son.
In this Episode at timestamp [17:49]What are the Graf’s intentions here?
As he explained in EP.11, Granat wants to scare Stark away: not only for him to escape from the powerful demons, but also to help evacuate the city. He hasn’t talked about the barrier secret yet, but demons might torture him enough —or find someone else that knows how to deactivate the barrier— and then the whole city will be in grave danger.
In this Episode at timestamp [18:36]Why does Graf Granat try to save Stark so hard?
He is terribly afflicted and, as he couldn’t save his own son, it’s likely he feels responsible too to try save our boy from harm. Also, he might be able to alert the rest of citizens before it’s too late.
In this Episode at timestamp [19:15]Linie on the bench (again)
Again, Linie is waiting quietly for his superior to deal with things on his own terms or order her to do something. That explains her apparently passive behavior at times —during the next episode too.
MANGA vs. ANIME
We don’t see this first attack of Lügner towards Stark in the manga, but is a nice and logical reaction for having his blood spilled.
What TRACK of the OST is played during this scene?»
“Demon’s Bane” (a recurring musical theme, used in EP.20 for instance).
In this Episode at timestamp [19:42]The frontliner distracts, the mage attacks!
The plan that never fails: a font-liner creating an opening for others to sneakily attack… even if it costs him to get hurt!
A strategy Fern undoubtedly learned from Frieren and Heiter, and that the elf mage practiced and perfected during his 10-year adventure with the party of heroes.
In this Episode at timestamp [20:28]Linie, stay back…
She asks for permission to attack, and is denied. Probably a mistake, as she is in close range from Fern. But Lügner is so arrogant to think they’re still in control that is only thinking of satisfying his curiosity about the modified “Zoltraak”.
But hey, Linie will only fight with the explicit approval of his superior, or to protect him.
In this Episode at timestamp [21:48]Do other demons know how to use Zoltraak?
At this point of the story, we do not know for sure…
WARNING: MILD SPOILER OF SEASON 02 from the MANGA (click to reveal)
We’ll indeed meet demons that know and use Zoltraak (apart from his creator Qual) later in Season 2. They did so, after noticing that humans used it a lot, so they probably started to learn, train and deploy it.
Remember that decades ago many were still in hiding and were being hunted by humans? So it was a logical choice to learn any magic that could help them survive, apart from their specialization. Also, they revered Qual and had them as one of the greatest magic sages.
In this Episode at timestamp [21:25]Why did Lügner asked Linie to take out Stark and not Fern, if warriors have usually advantage in close combat against mages?
He was not thinking strategically but, once more, motivated by his wounded pride and revenge instincts.
We see him regenerating his side and arm, with solidified blood, a strategy that lets him survive some “Zoltraaking” too. But yes, he’s underestimating Fern’s power, mana and battle experience, big time!
In this Episode at timestamp [21:29]How does Fern not notice the mana in Lügner’s blood?
Mana imbued in objects or even blood can only be tracked by a skilled mage or demon, but might easily be imperceptible if you don’t focus enough to “sense” it.
And it can be so faint that anyone could have a hard time noticing it. In EP. 20 “Well Laid Plans” we’ll observe how only Denken and the Stille can perceive the faintly mana-infused water in the testing area of the first test.
In this Episode at timestamp [21:43]Is it sensible for Linie to try to take on both Fern and Stark?
No, but their strategy is not completely foolproof either, as we’ll see in the next chapter. “Next time we’ll be the ones surprising them” it’s probably their only thought after this skirmish.
They keep calling them “children” and showing little respect for their skills. So dumb of them.
In this Episode at timestamp [21:55]How was Zoltraak modified, when and why?
Humans saw the need to help fight the remnants of the Demon King’s army after his defeat 80 year ago. It made sense to specialize in making it deadlier against mana-based creatures than against flesh and blood ones. Probably it took some decades to come up with this variation, so most demons didn’t know about it until it was too late… but when Fern was a kid, it was already “a classic” among human mages and was considered old-school even.
In this Episode at timestamp [22:09]When did Frieren first shoot Lügner, as shown in this flashback?
We don’t see undead warrior corpses in this scene, only demon mages and warriors. Also, another hint is that we see Frieren flying over, a magic only known 40 years ago.
So the probable explanation is: some years before Himmel’s death, Frieren was near the northern lands and met a bunch of demons, killing most of them with this “new” variant of Zoltraak.
Pierced by it, Lügner likely faked his death and regenerated slowly after that. (While Frieren was distracted killing others of his peers). Later, he went north and joined Aura as one of his executioners.
NOTE: We see how he was seriously wounded, more clearly in the manga. He still would have been able to regenerate, as he did after Fern’s shot.
As Frieren didn’t know he had that ability, he was probably spared —specially if he faked to be dead then.
Only the very young Linie was confirmed in the Manga+Anime to have been with Aura when the party of heroes first fought against her the first time. Other non-canonical materials claim otherwise, but we think it’s a plausible mistake. We don’t know about Draht, though.
In this Episode at timestamp [22:29]Why don’t we hear other mages talking about the contributions of Frieren to the analysis of Zoltraak?
OUR THEORY
Our long-lived elf is not usually keen on taking credit for things, so she probably passed all the information collected to the magic schools and human researchers, encouraged them to recreate it, and let them take all the merit.
In EP03, before facing Qual, she even acknowledges that they did better than she expected: quicker, and even creating awesome defensive magic. So yes, human mages were the key players and she was merely relaying information to them.
When Frieren meets a new magic, she always uses some time to observe, process and analyze it. That skill in itself is very valuable: as it can be used as a basis to create counter-measures, or find a way to recreate it.
Still, it likely took decades to process what Frieren told to the human mages and perfect the spell.
Lügner probably knows about Qual and how she sealed him (although he doesn’t know he’s dead), and that she was involved in killing the Demon King and many other peers afterwards, so he logically exalts her and attributes to her a lot more credit than what she really deserves.
What TRACK of the OST is played during this scene?»
“Demon’s Bane” (its last part).
In this Episode at timestamp [22:40]Is Frieren a genius nonetheless?
YES: breaking Serie’s barrier in EP.21 in itself was an incredible feat!
WARNING: MILD SPOILER OF SEASON 02 from the MANGA (click to reveal)
She just needs and takes more time than humans do, to research things… but we’ll see her doing amazing things in season 2 —not telling you what, sorry. Things worth of her being called “the last great mage”.
END of EPISODE'S #08 GUIDEED CHALLENGE. Try to spot all the moons during the ending!
Remember that moon (seen though the window or in the sky) we have seen during this episode a lot? Now it’s your turn to locate every time it appears during the “Anytime, anywhere” song!
PLEASE: support us on our Patreon or Buy Me a Coffee to make possible to keep writing these guides!
Wait for the GUIDE of EP09: Next week.