Grace Notes: Hating Frieren

The latest episode of Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End featured a scene that will surely become one of the year’s most memorable. The titular character, known for rarely showing emotions, thinks back to a “scary” tantrum she once threw, one that lasted three full days.

Scary indeed

It was yet another highlight from an anime that’s been full of them. But most of the conversation about the series on social media the past few days doesn’t seem to be about this silly scene, or the impending date between Stark and Fern, or even about where Frieren’s party is headed next in this short arc; it’s about how wildly overrated Frieren is. There’s been an aggressive back-and-forth between Frieren haters, who say that the relationships are superficial, the anime’s flashback structure has lost its charm, and Frieren herself isn’t a particularly compelling character, and champions of the series (myself included), who are responding with a fierce devotion to the show.

There are valid criticisms to be made of the anime, and honestly, they’re similar to the ones I mentioned above. The pacing is slow; the emotion doesn’t hit as it did at first; the relationships aren’t joyous or incredibly dynamic. But because this is social media, there’s little elaboration on these points, so what results are superficial criticisms about superficiality!

The truth is, most of the haters don’t hate Frieren because of these points. In fact, many of these critics don’t seem to have watched many episodes of the show, while others obviously haven’t watched with enough intentionality to understand the depth of the work. If they’re being honest, they’re hating on the series for one of two main reasons (or likely both): 1) It’s the top-rated anime of all time (according to MAL and other rankings), and they don’t believe it’s earned that spot; and 2) it’s become a beloved series of right-wing anime fans, particularly those with very extreme viewpoints.

It’s that second point I want to sit on (though the first is worth an entire post on its own). Critics are attacking the message based on the messengers. And for a series that’s all about love and remembrance and friendship and community, those criticisms then feel personal, hurtful, misguided, and almost sacrilegious. Why are you attacking such a beautiful show when what you really hate are the people who are appropriating it for their other ideals?

The vibes I’m getting from all aren’t new, though. They remind me of the struggle right now that’s even more concerning—that’s, in fact, critical.

It’s been said that “I like your Christ; I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” That quote, often attributed to Mahatma Gandhi, would certainly be in place in our current conversation as well. Christians are not thought of well by those outside of the Church, coming across as being loud, angry, and political above all else. While there were times that Jesus, too, became loud and angry, and engaged in political conversation, the gospel message is about grace, mercy, forgiveness, humility, and submission to God; those ideals have gone missing from the picture of Christianity in the current landscape.

If we could somehow flip and switch and be better Christians, would people then actually engage with and “like…Christ”? I’m not convinced they would, but at the very least, the door would be cracked open; we wouldn’t be standing in front of it, like gatekeepers, blocking the way until people agree with all our demands.

Meanwhile, the message—Jesus Christ himself and the Gospel He brings—is being treated like Frieren among anime fans: They know a bit about it but don’t know it intimately—except through how its loudest advocates act. And that’s all they feel they need to know. Their response to our faith is the same as with Frieren: “This isn’t for me” or “I don’t like it.”

What a tragedy that is! So many people—those whom God loves—who are turned off by his love before even encountering it. I think to show them the way—how sweet and beautiful and true it is—we must live it out in all its appeal, in the full spectrum of Jesus’ mercy and strength and justice and wisdom and compassion. They will see the full Jesus in us and, like a hothead Frieren fan who takes down all his controversial memes and ceases his cruel talk, instead acting more like the characters in his favorite series, say:

“Oh…maybe Christians are like their Christ.

Maybe I do like Christians.

Maybe Christ could be for me, too.”

My interview with Cristina Vee drops on Wednesday. In preparation for the interview, I bought a Puella Magi Madoka Magica poster (she voices Homura), which I put behind me (you can see it during the video). And that had me thinking…when does the next Madoka film come out? It has been pushed back time after time, but I remember hearing last year that it is now set to premiere in early 2026.

Oh, wait. Puella Magi Madoka Magica -Walpurgisnacht: Rising- is releasing in February 2026? That’s…this month??

Anyway, that’s the last bit I saw, and that’s a Japanese release date. The official site still has “coming soon” listed for the release date. But we are close. Oh, are we close!

Until then, I encourage you to sate your appetite by watching my interview with Cristina! No exaggeration—this is an amazing interview, for nothing I did. Cristina was just very forthcoming and open and kind, and revealed so much about herself and dropped a lot of wisdom during our time together. You’re going to love it, and if you don’t already, you’re going to love her.

Join us on Wednesday.

Here’s my current watch list.

Yes, I’m already behind! But I intend to catch up on most of these episodes this week…I especially need to watch a couple of episodes (at least) of Journal with Witch, else that’ll fall off my log entirely. That can’t happen, as it’s potentially the best series of the season!

Have a wonderful week, friends. See you again soon!

Twwk
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