The final episode of Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End season 2, which aired last Friday, closed with small stories of the travels that Frieren, Stark, and Fern are on. And like many of the others, it conveyed stories that hold real meaning—and so were an appropriate way to end the season of such a meaningful show! But even more timely, perhaps, is that one of the tales—about Gehen and the bridge—dovetails nicely into the most important aspect of this Friday: the sacrifice of the Savior.
As Frieren’s party makes its way north, they encounter Gehen, a dwarf who, after 200 years, has finally completed a bridge crossing a chasm that would otherwise take weeks and would be precarious to go around. Frieren and the dwarf greet each other as old friends, having met previously during the journey to defeat the demon king. Back then, the bridge was still far from complete; now, it’s virtually done, though a little assistance from Frieren’s current party is needed (more on that below).
It would never have even reached this point, though, if it weren’t for Frieren’s original party and specifically because of Himmel’s help. When the group happened upon the dwarf years prior, Gehen was building the structure out of regret; demons had attacked his village and killed the residents, but if a bridge had existed, an army might have arrived in time to rescue them.
But Gehen has run out of funds.
To aid him in the project, Himmel gives Gehen the party’s reward for an adventure. Gehen refuses at first, particularly when realizing that Himmel will likely not live long enough to ever use the overpass. Himmel’s response? Frieren will use it: Make the bridge strong enough to last 1,000 years.
Himmel’s altruism and heroism—both the epic and, like in this episode, the commonplace—have famously inspired viewers to be Himmel-like themselves. I don’t think it’s a stretch, either, to see his gracious, ever-reaching love and call it godly. And especially this Good Friday, the comparison seems apt.
Himmel gives away his treasure to one whom he’s just met, for whom he feels an affection, despite Gehen not being able to offer him anything close to a fair price for it.
God, likewise, feels such an affection for us that He’s always been reaching for us, relentlessly, from our earliest days. And he offers us His most treasured gift—His very Son, Jesus Christ—so that we can live. And though our offerings may be small—prayers, thanks, donations—as with Himmel, I think He, too, feels the love from us and appreciates it.
That gift can’t be underestimated. In fact, in evangelical circles, Jesus Christ is often referred to as the bridge. The diagram goes something like this: We, having been made by God to live a life of worship to Him, fail as we go our own way. We are marred by sin, and cannot be in the presence of a holy God, so we are destined to die, unable to cross over the gap caused by our sin from the side we’re on (death) toward eternity with God (life). But Jesus Christ, holy and perfect, paid for our sins by dying on the cross for them, and then rising again to defeat death.
Once we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we start seeing the work of transformation in our lives. While we can never do enough good to reach Heaven—again, only Christ is that “bridge”—we do good because the Holy Spirit now within us encourages us to, and out of devotion for Christ.
In Frieren, the titular elf can be seen not only as a member of Himmel’s party, but also as Himmel’s follower. Like Simon Peter, she was part of the “Hero’s” party and learned from him. But it’s not until the Hero’s death—both in the case of Peter with Christ and Frieren with Himmel—that the party member truly understands who the Hero is. And thus, having decided to change their paths to follow Him, both Peter and Frieren start on the journey to transformation.
Frieren takes on her own party and imitates Himmel on her journey toward “the north.” When she reaches Gehen, she and the party complete Himmel’s work and Gehen’s project. You see, the bridge is done, but travelers cannot make use of it because giant bird monsters flap their wings and sweep people over the edge and to their deaths whenever they try to cross. But Frieren, Stark, and Fern defeat those creatures and make the path safe. Now, travelers can use it, and once again, Frieren’s party helps to bring life back to the cold plateau by opening the way for trade and making the paths safer.
We, too, as Christians, imitate Christ. We are his hands and feet in the world, delivering the good news and serving others. We are used by God to open the path to life—to show people “the bridge”—and make their ways safe, helping them avoid death, to avoid a destination without God.
What a perfect analogy in this episode, right? Not so fast: There’s admittedly a major way in which it breaks down.
Ultimately, Himmel only started the work; he didn’t complete it. Gehen physically built the bridge. Frieren, Stark, and Fern are the ones who make it safe. Then, and only then, could people traverse it.
Unfortunately, we aren’t mages with fantastic powers like Frieren and Fern, or incredible warriors who can slice through monsters like butter, as Stark does. Nor can we be like Gehen, living hundreds of years to complete an engineering feat.
We’re so much weaker and lesser than these fantastical beings.
We’re just human.
Thankfully, God knows our limitations, and the story is different for us. When Christ became the living bridge through the events we commemorate today, Good Friday, through rising on Easter Sunday, he did all the work for us. As He said Himself on the cross:
“It is finished.”
There is no grander “Hallelujah!” that can be exclaimed than when we realize there is nothing we could do to save ourselves, and yet God Himself did it all for us out of His gracious, affectionate, loving heart.
Jesus is Himmel, Gehen, and Frieren all in one—building the bridge and making the way to keep us safe on our journey to “the north,” on our journey to Him.
On this Good Friday, I encourage you to meditate on that fierce, beautiful goodness that is for you. Jesus loves you like no other. May you respond with love in turn, and may you find your way to a service today or on Sunday to learn more about him and express this gratitude for His love.
Come join us on Discord to find a Christ-centered anime community that helps you grow in your faith and even has weekly Bible studies!
Jesus Christ is risen! (writing on 5-Apr-26)
Also I think you have a typo here: “both Peter and Himmel start on the journey to transformation.” Should be Peter and Frieren I think.
Happy Easter!
And thank you—fixed!