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Frieren | S1E12 REACTION (Full-Length, Early Access) (Patreon)

Published:
2026-10-08 14:00:14
Imported:
2026-10

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  • 759168660.mp4

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Content

Season 1, Episode 12 | 'A Real Hero'

Frieren: Beyond Journey's End

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Comments

WanderingBecauseLostLol

Low key this is one of my favorite eps of season 1. The idea that "fate" told Himmel he was not "the hero" via the failed sword pulling, but not letting that slow him down from charging towards his goal anyways. I have a theory about that sword but I don't think it's right to share it just yet.

Brandon the Cannibal

Love this episode for Stark, heartbreaking that even as a kid he would have fought for the people he loved while being terrified and only ran away cause his brother told him to, and just seeing the guilt he clearly carries with him because of it.

HalcyonSerenade

Do be careful with internet dives related to anime, because usually the source material (be it a manga, or light novel, or whatever) will be significantly ahead of the adapted material in story, so you may face-plant into some spoilers as people discuss things that haven't been put into the anime yet! I've accidentally spoiled myself a couple times on things by not being careful enough about what Iook up, including a little bit of both Frieren and Demon Slayer spoilers 🥲 Some people who read the source material don't really have a lot of care in regards to whether a plot point has already been adapted and will discuss freely even in comment sections of anime videos 😔 I personally like to be as "cold" as possible when I watch/experience a story, so I can feel what it's like truly to discover everything raw. It doesn't always work out that way since we sometimes need to be enticed to watch/play/whatever with trailers, so I try to actively avoid making that worse on myself. Even random statements of stuff like "new character X gives known character Y a run for their money" feels bad, because I would've wanted the shock of seeing that unfold for the first time myself, and now that kinda loses its edge with that pre-knowledge. It's especially bad with stuff like "current status: deceased" labels on wiki pages and such, totally spoiling that a character will die during the story. It's different when a story is complete and I jumped the gun on looking stuff up... that's on me. But if I'm just "behind" because I'm watching the anime but most in-depth discussion online is talking about the manga, then looking up *anything* becomes a minefield of information I would've rather discovered from the story instead of from an internet page 🥲 Not everyone has the same threshold for what a "spoiler" is, either... some people consider only explicit plot events as spoilers, and will freely drop "hints" that clearly affect people's expectations for plot events but will claim "not a spoiler" just because they didn't say anything specific. As someone who likes to examine the storytelling craft and themes of a work, I think even stuff like that colors my opinions in ways that I would rather have formed independently instead. Even "no spoiler" discussions are... let's say, ~unreliable~, in terms of where they draw the line on "spoilers."

GardeninTool

The action episodes of Frieren may have given it attention when it aired. But its episodes like these that cement its lasting impact, allow it to reach beyond the screen and etch into our hearts.

HalcyonSerenade

It's kinda one of the themes of the show, too -- the big moments get people talking, but the *little* moments that aren't so flashy or exciting are what sits in the heart. The series' own storytelling and popularity seems to follow that same principle.

Raptor

I've watched frieren so many times, and there are episodes like this where I always cry. It's such a beautiful show, truly. So you're not alone in ugly crying to this, don't worry.

Pilot2b

That ring you noticed at like 19:15 she was fiddling with in Episode 1. I’ll say no more.

Silver

At this point, raw dogging Frieren without tissues is a choice. Just some puzzle pieces you’ve noted that I’m filling out below for you. Himmel- A fake hero Heiter- A corrupt priest Eisen- A cowardly warrior

HalcyonSerenade

The bit about the Hero's Sword is one of my favorites. One of the story's major themes is the how small moments can have a big impact on us -- and by extension, how "small" people can have a big impact on the world. Himmel's struggle with the Hero's Sword is an expression of that theme in the context of a "chosen one" trope. It's not just that the show denies the existence of a "chose one" -- it explicitly has a prophecy that's explicitly measurable, via the sword that can only be pulled by the destined hero. So a "destined hero" *does* exist (or "will" exist, I suppose). And Himmel is *not* that hero. They're basically saying "there *is* a chosen one; Himmel is NOT the chosen one; but look what he did despite that." It's using the familiar fantasy trope of a "chosen one prophecy" to make a statement on the agency of everyday people to make a big difference. That you, me, and everyone else are just a few decisions from being just like Himmel. That his goodness and virtue are attainable... and not *just* attainable, but attainable *by anyone.* The story often sees characters use the line "it's what Himmel the Hero would've done" to describe their reasoning for a particular good deed, like with Heiter preventing a young Fern from diving off a cliff in despair. In Taiwan in May 2024, train passangers stopped an assailant trying to stab people with a knife. One of the passangers who stopped him was a big anime/manga geek, and -- no joke -- said "it's what Himmel the Hero would've done." Maybe he would've made the same decision regardless of what he saw with Frieren, or maybe not... we can never know. But nonetheless it was on his mind enough to say, and it's amazing to see these powerful messages of agency and helping others take root in real people.

Ivan

Frieren is the show for the heart. Think the older you get, more it hits you. Story of loss said in such a way that it makes me a 40 year cry XD

Vincent

On the topic of doing a big discussion episode after you finish the 2 season: Please do a manga read reaction once you get to the end of s2 or s3 This is my fav episode of Frieren by far. So many incredible parts starting with the flashback to the party talking about the sword. Such a beautiful memory. Those 3 plucks of the harp at the end of the memory fill me with such a sombre joy getting to see the days they all spent together and how idyllic Frieren thinks of them now. I like how you notice the themes. I totally agree with the theme about Himmel being an underdog. I think that makes perfect sense cuz Himmel is the most heroic person ever and what would a truly heroic person do when faced with the seemingly irrefutable evidence that they are not The Hero. They would still do their best to try and help the people of their world. Frieren's statement about the true nature of the person disappearing as people romantisize them also reinforces the themes around Flamme and Himmel that have been present in the previous episodes. She worries what happened to Flamme will happen to Himmel and she will end up being the only person who remembers his true essence. We see Stark falling victim to romantisizing Himmel too much. He says "I bet Himmel wouldnt have run" when he remembers how he abandoned his family. We see how Himmel's story has already been changed to one that Himmel wouldn't want. He would want his story to be one that shows anyone can be a hero who can change the world. I also love how the episodes of Frieren play where the flow of the episode distracts most people from certain setup. An example of this is when Stark is looking at the cave and it flashes back to Stoltz and their burned village. The show doesnt give us time to process that before the adorable village chief is saying "im hella grateful" and we get whisked off to another part of the story. Kind of like how Frieren being 1000 years old is clear if you really focus in the Aura episodes but because of how the story moves you along you might forget it as you absorb the dialogue then by the time Frieren is saying "the mage standing before you has lived for over 1000" everything starts to click. THE POTION FROM EPISODE 3 FINALLY COMES BACK! Fern did actually tell Frieren to return it in that episode. I also like that e3 and e12 are linked by that potion because they are both birthday episodes. Its adorable that Stark wanted to share the boobs and turd clouds with Fern. I love him. Of course the major heartwrenching crux of this episode is why its my favorite. The themes around Stark his story are so powerful. I can totally see Frieren thinking about how humans romantisize heroes in a few hundred years when Stark is long dead and people have changed his legacy so that he was never afraid. Its brutally sad that Stark still carries the weight of what happened to his village even after his brother told him to run. That moment when Stoltz says "Stark, run" is usually my fav part when watching reacters because everything the episode has been setting up just falls into place and everyone crumbles into a crying mess when they realize. My theory has always been that Stark will eventually pull the Hero's Sword from the stone. I think this episode makes it fairly obvious that he will when you see him looking back at the sword and thinking of his brother. I believe once the party gets to Aureole, Fern will reunite with Heiter, Frieren will reunite with Himmel, and Stark will see Stoltz where he will breakdown and apologize to him for how he was a coward. At that moment Stoltz will set him straight with love telling him he saw the greatness in Stark all those years ago and he knew Stark had to live. This experience will finally lead to Stark letting go of the weight he has been carrying since childhood and he will change from a Warrior class to a Hero class. All his family in the village use swords and his brother was training Stark to use the sword in the flashback. I think using a sword is tied to Stark's trauma around that event. In the last image of the flashback, he drops his wood sword and runs. Holding a sword probably reminds him of that horrible memory. I think the party will be informed about what the calamity is once they get to Aureole. I assume it will be in the Southern Lands because that is where Kraft seems to be headed (opposite way of the party) and their next journey is making it back down to the Southern lands to face the calamity. On the way Stark will pull the hero's sword to defeat the calamity the way Himmel defeated the Demon King. I was crying the entire time i watch this episode anytime i watch it. Let the tears flow, its Frieren.

Vincent

100% thats a great observation

Vincent

And Frieren: a disgraceful mage

HalcyonSerenade

Right? If she ugly cries at every episode from here out, she'll be in good company 😅🤧

Vincent

Its very important to show everyone how anyone can be a hero because far too often humans believe that there will be 1 person to save us from the situation we are in. Many humans feel that way about climate change. They think 1 person will come along and figure out how to get rid of this problem then everything will go back to normal. That thought keeps people from doing the thing that needs to be done to stop or even just challenge climate change

Matthias

Translator note : about the "Hella gratefull" the village cheif says in japanses "Maji Kansha" -> kansha mean gratitude, appreciation, recognition, so on that the gratefull part is a wrap. What's interesting here is "maji" まじ, maji is a way to say "really". There is two word for "really" the one we see here "maji" and another you might hear more often "hontou" 本当. The later one is the more common and formal way of saying really, the one you'll hear most of time (for exemple tanjiro who is proper in his way of talking will use that word when asking if someone is serious, really mean it etc....). "Maji" is a slang word, it's often used among friends in a more familiar way. In modern english slang you could maybe apparent "Maji" to something like "for real " or simply "seriously" (with a bit of attitude). So here since the chief quoting her grandma who must'been more familiar when alone with her grand daughter and pissed off at the monsters coming to the town and them having to wait for frieren the lazy, "don't mind if I take a few hundreds year" elf and so used a term like "Maji". Hence to reflect that familiriaty and surprising way of speaking coming from the mouth of some old wise village chief the translation used "Hella". Bonus round : "Maji" is derived from "majime" a word that means "serious" often linked to a studious, proper, dutyful way. For exemple a highschool kid starting summer break and doing all of his homework first (in japan school start in like april, summer break are not the end of the school year, so they have homework) instead of going out with his friends or relaxing and doing nothing would be called "majime".

Not Eric Talbott

I consider it a gift when any form of media can make me feel enough to cry. I'm a grown ass man I'll tell anybody this show made me cry so many times and still does any time i watch it. Also Himmel was indeed an orphan.

Anthony

It's okay lol I'm a 30 something year old truck driver in Dallas and it makes me cry too 😂

John Masteller

We are together in this. You won't be the only one crying for sure.

aloekayeANIME

I'm so excited for you to share your theory!! 💛🙌 and I agree this was ABSOLUTELY a favorite of mine (but then again I feel like I've said that for every ep of Frieren lol). No but so similar to what you said, I know I felt that very deeply in terms of unlearning a lot of the distortions/limiting beliefs I personally used to have about myself for a long time, based on things ppl or society had told me or just that I'd seen, etc. Incredibly powerful message in this ep, loved it so so much 💫✨

aloekayeANIME

This is comforting you guys tysm 🥹💛😭 Always happy to hear I'm not the only one bawling my eyes out bc I feel so strongly ab Frieren ✨ I am interested to see when I rewatch how it'll affect me the second time around (like you mentioned rewatching it still deeply moves you). Honestly before I do that final discussion/analysis vid I'll probably rewatch again. Season 3's out Oct 2027 I think I saw? 👀👀

aloekayeANIME

No this is my FEAR!! For this reason I haven't been really looking up anything at all (except now just double checking my pronunciations lol) Very good to know about manga being ahead I wasn't aware of that! I just definitely know Reddit has spoiled me for movies/shows in my past so I've stayed away from everything going into this channel. 'Minefield' is a very apt way to describe spoilers haha I like that. And that's a good point about how more nuanced hints/innuendo-type spoilers may affect people. Depending on if that person is a chronic overthinker/pattern recognition type viewer (as I know I am, will think myself to death and assume endings which I've accidentally 'spoiled' movies like that before), small details can spoil for some ppl but not others potentially.

aloekayeANIME

Love this 💛✨ It reminds me of in ep 3 with how that ep was balanced (between half the ep being Freiren getting Fern that hair ornament for her birthday/other small details with the OG four heroes, and then half the ep defeating Qual). I just found so much beauty in how Frieren places equal value on the 'small' moments as it does the 'big' moments. Very beautiful thing to take notice of within our own lives 💫

aloekayeANIME

I looked back and you're so right she was fiddling with it, it's so funny the details they have early on that finally connect later, or might not even connect until you're rewatching again ughhhh I love this show you guys 🙃🥹

aloekayeANIME

I really enjoyed this character building for Stark. 💫✨ There's so many people I've known throughout my life who are the funniest/goofiest humans like him who also have such a tragic past you'd never expect. Reminds me of that Robin Williams quote, "I think the saddest people always try their hardest to make people happy because they know what it's like to feel absolutely worthless and they don't want anyone else to feel like that." It's really been visible to me in learning more about Stark how, like you said, he's carried that distorted view of himself for such a long time... this view of himself clouds who is actually is/what he's capable of in reality... I do also see that he's starting to rebuild his view of himself w each ep I think tho 💛

aloekayeANIME

Why do I love this so much 💛 So many layers related to the themes within how you both have worded this 🧅🍰 Love it

aloekayeANIME

@HalcyonSerenade The 'chosen one' trope is exactly the phrasing I was trying to describe in my own words, but didn't know the term. From what we saw, I felt Stark's brother as being portrayed similarly to that 'perfect hero'. But up until this point I think Himmel was described in a similar vein too (very purposeful I think how Frieren is unraveling each of the characters' stories ✨). This aspect of Himmel's story just like you said brought such a vulnerability and accessibility to him and how we view heroes. I like how you said 'that his goodness and virtue are attainable...*by anyone.' And that phrase 'It's what Himmel would've done' I love and have seen so much in comments under videos. 💛 Almost crying rn at that story from Taiwan 🥲 The power within Frieren astounds me every day. @Vincent I really appreciate your perspective as well. Honestly this concept is transferrable to many things not just climate change (although that's a major one), but also for many other issues globally and even in the day-to-day in terms of ppl expecting someone else to be the hero/stand up for what's right. There must be some human psychology term for that...

aloekayeANIME

I've seen ppl in comments describe Frieren as a form of therapy, unlocking things in ways they didn't know could be unlocked. Truly such a gift to experience, thank you all again for being here with me 💛💫

aloekayeANIME

I don’t feel like I can fully express how much joy it gives me to read all of these comments and your own in-depth reactions to the shows like this. It really gives me so much life, never stop. > First before getting into your remarks on the ep, I don’t know what a manga read reaction would entail. I’ve never even heard of that, but I can absolutely look into it. > I also adore the theme you mentioned of this kind of underdog + integrity combo in terms of doing what’s good for the world despite of what the world has told you you’re whole life. > But this is really interesting your point about legacy regarding Flamme and then paralleling it to Himmel… Honestly the way you described how a person’s legacy can become warped (even if for the ‘better’ so to speak aka putting them in a good light) and then how that legacy/image can negatively impact how a person in realtime then perceives their own image and capabilities…. this really has me in some deep thought rn. > Your note on the flow of Frieren I know is also something that has almost been jarring/hard for me to process with how suddenly it can flip from a major scene to a casual one, making it hard for me to process. That’s honestly why I have to stop bc my brain wasn’t done processing something I found so crucial and impactful from a scene. But also in terms of my crying in my reactions, there’s been times I can even see watching my reactions back where I felt I almost had to process quickly/couldn’t break down more bc the show had already shifted to a new ‘vibe’ so to speak. > I didn’t read all of your last paragraph theory lol bc I don’t feel I’ve reflected properly/enough regarding who I think might pull the sword from the stone. I was too focused on what it meant to me that Himmel failed to but still carried on anyway. I honestly, Frieren popped in my head just now as someone who I could see pulling the hero’s sword. I’m going to end my train of thought there for now tho lol. So fun and insightful to read as always Vincent, tysm 💫✨

Conzi

My best friend passed away last week and all the emotions are coming out in a positive way re-watching this show with you. Thank you <3

Vincent

I understand how the speed the show moves between heavy emotional moments and light ridiculous adventure can make it hard to process in real time. That seems like a very difficult thing for reacters like yourself. I will say that even though its hard the first time, i like that element of frieren cuz it makes it endlessly rewatchable. I feel like I always discover something new when rewatching it so im glad they pack so much into the show even if it can be overwhelming on first watch. Manga reactions arent as popular as anime reactions naturally but i saw a lot of them pop up after a ton of booktok creators discovered One Piece and fell in love with it. There is one I follow named Juliette (@julietteslibraryy on tiktok) who cuts together reactions of her reading thru the One Piece story that might serve as a template if you were interested in trying it after finishing S2 of Frieren. Imo the anime is the best way to consume the story of Frieren. The color, music, animation, VA, and direction just feel much more tight but I still think the manga is really good but it has been on indefinite hiatus for over a year. Yamada (the creator) recently supervised 2 Frieren light novels which have a smattering of stories from various characters. DONT LOOK IT UP though cuz the first volume has stories from 2 characters you haven't met and the Aura story includes a pretty big spoiler for s2. I think if the hiatus goes on for too long then the anime will use the storylines from the light novels as episodes to fill out the Frieren anime seasons.

HeyStepTaco

4th time watching this episode and I've cried every damn time. No shame. Can't wait for next episode 😭

Shiffer

its so funny how this show gives you to most heartbreaking/heartwarming moment and the ending is like: *and you alright* NO IM FKIN NOT

Shiffer

I dont even know who many times I watched Frieren between reactions and it makes me tear up everytime

Ati

Girl every time I get a glimpse of Himmel on the screen my body just reacts before I even realize. Frieren's just a tear factory im afraid 😔

Clay C

The way the final flashback contextualizes Starks view of his past and what actually happened is so artfully done, it makes me sob every time.

DoktorEvil

The whole story of Stark's journey is touching... a lot of Shonen anime play with the "Cowardly Warrior" trope, but most don't get it this right. Most of the time, the character either gets completely over his fear and it never troubles him again, or else gets some kind of Deus Ex Machina to where it's not really a factor (CoughZenitsuCough.) Stark though, is different, in the way that it explores the nature of how his fear, and his willingness to do what needs doing in the face of it, is what exactly what makes him brave. And here, we even see the roots of the psychology behind all of this, in his survivors guilt. For Stark, being a Hero is about how he carries himself every day, just doing the little good things for people, as well as mastering his fears in battle. Despite what he says to Fern, he's a lot more like Himmel than he thinks he is. Also, there's a bit here that the Manga readers catch that sets up a possible something for him WAY down the road. At least, that's my theory... we aren't there yet in the Manga.

VeggyZ

Getting all emotional with anime is one of the best things about it, especially when it happens early. This anime is great for that - but quite a few others do that stuff too. Not googling too soon is very hard - I almost never google about them. I resorted to asking "AI" - and letting it know I don't want spoilers, because there's no way I won't see them if I look it up myself - and it responds by telling me, all of them do - that it can't tell me too much so it doesn't spoil it. I guess it's doing it's job, heheh... Anyway, this anime is easily one of my favorites, it's got a ton of themes and questions that I love - and it's also pretty badass - you'll see - or maybe by the time I'm watching this you already have? I don't remember. Either way - hilarious at times, emotional at others, and awesome the next.

VeggyZ

Frieren passing out while walking might be one of the most adorable things I ever saw in anime, to be honest. Especially at that moment. That's called great direction, haha. Also, no, not quite "protective" of Frieren, though Fern is - she's also got feelings for Stark that she doesn't fully realize. Would you want him carrying her "like a princess"? common theme in anime, but no, you probably inherently wouldn't. Though in that situation, most people outside of anime would overlook it, haha.

VeggyZ

I like the way you watch anime. Pretty fun isn't it? at least, if it's good. There's ...quite a few really good anime out there too. Everyone is always impressed once they actually get into one - I have to force a lot of the older folks - but they do. How can one not? Also, Fern and Frieren are a fantastic combination... very similar in some ways, but totally different motivations. Both pretty adorable tho imo.

Aethercat21

These are the kinds of episodes people have in their head when they worry about this being one of your very first anime and the expectations it might set (which is more just a compliment to the show than a slight at other shows) I think Frieren is a masterclass at storytelling and just not top notch at setting themes up, that I think a lot of other anime cannot do with SPECIFICALLY the themes Frieren talks about. Not saying that other shows don't have good writing; just that Frieren when it comes to episodes like this; is in a league different.

Turner

Frieren picks up the ring, "What is that?". OH, you about to find out lol