Frieren Episodes 7 + 8 Early Access - Demon Slayer

A fun bit of foreshadowing from before that pays off this episode: We learn that Frieren's "Zoltraak" has been modified to kill demons specifically. Back in episode 3 Qual, as good a magician as he is, recognized this in his dying moments. His last words "...my magic..." weren't meant to convey "How could you use my magic against me?" but "What have you done to my magic?".

The casting in Frieren has been absolutely top notch. Suwabe as the monologue loving Lügner? Choice!

Fun fact, the word sousou doesn't mean Slayer in Japanese, and I'm sure this will be plastered all over the comment section eventually, but its more akin to funeral bringer, or undertaker. Hence why the manga was translated as 'Frieren at the Funeral'. And also probably why that other sub version translated the title as an Ageless Elegy, because funeral stuff. Although I hate that subs interpretation lol.

Weirdly appropriate timing for the funny title lol.

I like the translation I saw in the manga when Fern and Stark were clearing the road (Stark asks her to be more casual) "I see... I understand. Stark, get your lazy ass over here and help me." (So rude! I'm sensitive, etc.) whispers "What a pain in the ass..." "You said ass again!!" It's maybe not as accurate, but it made me laugh.

i really find it fun that Lugner literally means Liar. lol. i love our introduction to the demons. as far as we know, demons deceive and destroy - that is their nature, but who knows what we may encounter in the future? let's ponder it for a minute - if driven into a corner, would demons change to survive, or at the very least, pretend to change? and could they pretend long enough to share space with humans? if so, would new generations exposed to humans and their emotions be affected, be altered...evolve? in any species, you can find outliers, mutations... it could only take one weirdo demon that feels a feeling...

as much as everyone loves these 4 episodes they are the only episodes of Frieren that I dislike. I know I'm opening a can of worms (given all the discourse that is already out there about these episodes) but I think I would love Teeaboo's insight given a different perspective. Unlike the usual arguments I've read on these episodes my issue is on the take away of this. What is the actual message a show like Frieren, that is often showing human emotions in a bare form, imparting? Can the only message be that there are some who speak and act a certain way but must never be listened to or treated as anything but monstrous? I know that many will say no, it's a representation of evil, that's it. But I think that narrative have a responsibility to be measured in their messaging or at least be prepared for criticism for it. If this wanted to be just a "demons are evil" show then they had 2 choices that would not deliver a basically racist message. 1. show all the demons as mindless therefore eliminating any comparison with humanity or 2. never point out the fact that ALL demons are a certain way. Up to this point we assume that that is the case and the assumption is all you need, but once you point it out you are making that the message, that is the take away. If these demons showed up and Frieren was suspicious of them and they attacked it would still be a fine episode, because just like the assumption is that all demons are bad, there's also a human part in our brain that says, well ALL the ones in the show, but there is the possibility of some of them being good. Just that unstated possibility is enough to just enjoy the show without issue. But when the show makes it a point to talk about how ALL of the demons are this way and you shouldn't believe their lies even though they can obviously think and are intelligent, that loses me in the worst kind of way, because I now have to figure out WHY would a show want that to be a message that I take away. I've seen the whole show. The first 4 episodes had me crying every episode, even this episode's first part I thought was inspired... but this mini arc is not my jam and I can only hope that in the future, (I haven't read the manga) they do something to reverse this is some way. Maybe Frieren needs to meet a demon who just wants to be left alone in peace or something. And people may say that a story in which there is some humanity in evil things is trite or cliche but all I hear from that is that you want the bad message. No one says "a story that doesn't murder kittens is trite and cliche" You know why? because giving us the one that murders kittens is not what we want to be condoned. I would hope that a story that promotes talking and understanding people as a whole is never trite or cliche.

Love the discussion. Just a heads up next week episode 9 and 10 pair well together

happy frieren day :)