Hello folks, and welcome back to Wrong Every Time. Today I\u2019d like to return to the ramblings of Frieren and her companions, as we arrive at the presumed conclusion of our party\u2019s battle with Aura the Guillotine and her duplicitous envoys. This arc has frankly not been Frieren at its best; dubious thematic implications aside, enemies that are simply \u201cborn evil\u201d do not result in interesting drama. There is no motivation to tease into there, no grappling with the infinitely complex range of conflicts that can pit multifaceted characters into mortal combat without a clear sense of right and wrong. And what\u2019s more, such enemies do a discredit to the heroes they face, forcing them into the frustrating moral binary of \u201ceither I execute these creatures mercilessly or I am simply a naive fool, hoping for a redemption that is beyond their fundamental nature.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s a rough storytelling choice, one entirely lacking in the nuance that has characterized Frieren\u2019s exploration of nostalgia and finding purpose in life. My only consolation is that, in spite of the author directing her demons to explicitly state \u201cwe are evil and there\u2019s nothing else to it,\u201d their general actions have clearly demonstrated they actually <\/span>do<\/span><\/i> have personalities, individual values and passions that define them. Truly \u201cdriven by pure malice and nothing else\u201d characters are actually kind of hard to write, being so far from the genuine experience of any human being who has ever lived. Thus Frieren\u2019s insistence that they be exterminated feels frequently undercut by the text, either intentionally or accidentally implying it is not that her world runs according to \u201870s DnD logic, but that she herself has embraced a conveniently simplistic perspective that doesn\u2019t actually account for the world\u2019s complexities. That\u2019s of a piece with Frieren\u2019s overarching personality, and it is the main hope I cling to as we return to the field. Let\u2019s get to it!<\/span><\/p>\n Episode 9<\/b><\/p>\n We begin again on Lugner recalling that it was Frieren who became known as \u201cthe Slayer,\u201d having killed more demons than anyone else in history. This actually does feel like solid, coherent texturing of Frieren \u2013 it is no surprise that her generally unfeeling nature and utterly task-oriented approach to life would make her a terrifying warrior, lacking in the sympathy or self-doubt that might still the hand of a human soldier<\/span><\/p>\n It also fits with her original approach to memories. Before Himmel taught her to regret missed opportunities and to some degree live in the past, she was always looking forward, never bothered by things in the rear view. This would also make her an excellent killer, carrying the weight of her former slaying far more lightly than you\u2019d expect<\/span><\/p>\n If the takeaway of this arc is \u201cFrieren is just as frightening as the demons,\u201d I\u2019ll feel greatly relieved. As I said, awkward real-world implications aside, the biggest issue with truly evil races is that they just don\u2019t result in interesting stories<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cOne of the geniuses I despise.\u201d I also like this characterization of Lugner\u2019s feelings. His hatred for Frieren\u2019s natural abilities points to a full-scale conception of value and virtue, one based purely on validating diligent effort. This unique \u201cmoral code\u201d is something quite distinct from simple evil \u2013 he has a morality system, it\u2019s just alien to our own. You can construct plenty of rich drama out of such contrasting virtues<\/span><\/p>\n Stark and Fern rush Granat to a healer. This show\u2019s character art pays such attention to physical weight; I\u2019m impressed by how Granat\u2019s hair hangs limply yet with great specificity over his cheekbones, conveying a real sense of his body\u2019s gaunt form<\/span><\/p>\n Granat explains his family\u2019s debt to Frieren and the heroes as we cut to the battlefield. Aura greets Frieren with a cocky smile, again demonstrating that demons very much possess emotions and distinct personalities<\/span><\/p>\n They obviously have to employ CG for this entire army of animated suits of armor, but I appreciate that they switch to traditionally animated models for direct sparring with Frieren. One of the worst ways to double down on CG necessities is through trying to contrast them with traditionally animated figures, which practically always creates a sense of aesthetic dislocation, like the two objects aren\u2019t actually existing on the same plane<\/span><\/p>\n Frieren frankly assesses Aura\u2019s magic as far beyond the reach of humans. Given her total lack of emotional affect, their exchanges provide a natural counterpoint to her words \u2013 who is she, who has only recently started to express any emotion at all, to judge the feelings of the demons? Perhaps it is only her lack of empathy that makes her capable of assuming the demons have none themselves<\/span><\/p>\n Aura possesses an item called the \u201cScales of Obedience,\u201d which forces others to obey her will<\/span><\/p>\n Ooh, love the color design for this sequence explaining how she bends others to her will (with Granat\u2019s son serving as example). The scales\u2019 mechanic seems to echo Lugner\u2019s philosophy: her mana is weighed against her enemy\u2019s, and whoever is found wanting is forced to submit. An ability that exemplifies pride in effort and acquired strength, and which contains within it a promise that if its wielder should ever falter in their efforts, they will rightfully be destroyed. So demons are basically like Spartans, or any other strength-based culture<\/span><\/p>\n Aura has apparently been a Sage of Destruction for five hundred years. Her perspective seems to emphasize the road Frieren could have gone down, or <\/span>was<\/span><\/i> going down before Himmel \u2013 when you\u2019re living at that scale, it\u2019s hard to place much value in the brief lives of humans<\/span><\/p>\n Frieren\u2019s magic used to dispel the force controlling these suits of armor provides a sharp contrast with the violet-and-black energy of the demons, appearing like brilliant flashes of light briefly adorning her staff. It\u2019s similarly a very smart use of post-processing; as with the demon magic, the digital overlay of these lighting effects feels ostentatious, like an intentional intrusion on reality. Through this, the lack of visual continuity between the characters and their magical effects is turned into a meaningful in-universe aesthetic flourish<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cSuch powerful dispelling magic must expend a considerable amount of mana.\u201d I\u2019m still unclear on the specifics of magic in this world, or whether Kanehito Yamada actually <\/span>wants<\/span><\/i> her system of magic to be definable. I tend to prefer magic that\u2019s more mysterious than mechanically defined, but systems like these Scales of Obedience seem to imply pretty hard-defined mana pools<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWhy would you use such a roundabout method? The last time we fought, you blew them away with flashy spells left and right.\u201d Frieren has since learned to appreciate what these relics would mean to the people left behind<\/span><\/p>\n It is Aura saying \u201cHimmel is long gone\u201d that prompts Frieren to stop second-guessing herself and state \u201cyou demons are monsters after all.\u201d Not Aura disrespecting some greater moral imperative, simply her taking Frieren\u2019s own obsession too lightly. We are learning far more about Frieren\u2019s conditional morality than Aura\u2019s alleged lack of it here, and I\u2019m all for it \u2013 making this arc a referendum on Frieren\u2019s continuing limitations as a moral actor is far more interesting than just \u201cwe got some demons to kill\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Dear lord, the animation of Stark simply putting his coat back on is so lushly realized, with such careful attention paid to how the force of his arms draws the fabric into place across his back. The combination of gorgeous backgrounds, luxurious character acting, and evocative tone-setting music makes Frieren a treasure of atmosphere at all times<\/span><\/p>\n As Stark prepares to leave, Fern cautions him regarding the tactical foolishness of his pursuit, to which he responds \u201csomeone\u2019s gotta do it, right?\u201d A genuinely heroic, utterly un-Frieren-like statement of moral intent, which actually shocks Fern back to her own sensibilities, banishing Frieren\u2019s perspective and prompting swift agreement. An excellent demonstration of Frieren\u2019s influence on Fern<\/span><\/p>\n Nice use of fisheye perspective to convey disappointment and disbelief as Stark demonstrates his actual plan is to beg for Frieren\u2019s help<\/span><\/p>\n The pair realize the blood on their coats is a trap moments before the trap is sprung. I continue to appreciate how swift and final violence is in this show \u2013 most fights aren\u2019t composed of copious back-and-forth, the first strike is always intended to be the last<\/span><\/p>\n Lugner actually apologizes as he approaches, stating he\u2019d intended to strike a fatal blow<\/span><\/p>\n He continues to vamp and preen, while Fern treats the situation with utmost pragmatism, saying little and perpetually weighing her attack options. A mirror of Frieren and Aura\u2019s battle \u2013 it is actually the demons who seem the most emotional<\/span><\/p>\n Fern can actually parse Lugner\u2019s feelings, stating that he felt arrogant and vengeful in the wake of her prior surprise attack. Neither side fully embodies the values they claim to hold dear, but that\u2019s of course how it goes for everyone. Our faiths are aspirational, while our actions are grounded in the morass of our immediate passions<\/span><\/p>\n Fern recalls a time when she asked Frieren if she was \u201cuseful.\u201d There is an interesting symmetry in her perspective as an emotionally closed-off war orphan, who always fears being discarded as useless, and the strength-oriented perspective of the demons<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cGirl, I have dedicated the entirety of my life to the pursuit of magic.\u201d Though he tries to stay cool, you can tell she\u2019s rankling his pride<\/span><\/p>\n Ooh, some incredible cuts with very active camerawork as Lugner and Fern spar. I like how the movement of the camera echoes the graceful flow of the characters \u2013 none of their actions are wasted, they dodge precisely as much as they need to<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cDamnit, Frieren. How did you train this girl?\u201d Fern is actually the terror here<\/span><\/p>\n Meanwhile, Stark\u2019s opponent can apparently \u201csteal\u201d martial techniques by reading the mana of their wielder. Handy trick<\/span><\/p>\n Confronted by his own master\u2019s techniques, Stark is struck down<\/span><\/p>\n But once again, he realizes it is not his opponent holding him back, but his own fear. Thus both enemies are defeated<\/span><\/p>\n And Done<\/b><\/p>\n Excellent work by Frieren\u2019s companions! That was some gorgeous boarding and animation all through this episode\u2019s last act, which made for an amusing contrast with the generally straightforward nature of the powers at play. It doesn\u2019t seem like Yamada is much interested in battle tactics, but fortunately, this episode\u2019s approach to the relative characterization of its human and demonic players seemed extremely intentional, drawing some sharp comparisons between the allegedly inhuman demons and their opponents. Frieren\u2019s final assessment that demons are beyond saving was based purely on Aura not respecting <\/span>her<\/span><\/i> feelings towards Himmel, while elsewhere, the undeniable complexity of demon morality and identity was made clear time and again. Frieren\u2019s respect for life\u2019s value has only emerged recently, and is still highly conditional \u2013 though she claims her executions are justice, it\u2019s clear she\u2019s relying on a limited framework of moral judgment to arrive at that conclusion. The clash of these perspectives has been quite compelling, and I\u2019m eager to see Aura and Frieren\u2019s final exchange.<\/span><\/p>\n This\u00a0article\u00a0was\u00a0mad<\/a><\/em>e possible by reader support<\/a>. Thank you all for\u00a0all that you do.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wrongeverytime.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/October19111527.jpg?resize=584%2C329&ssl=1\")
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<\/p>\nLike this:<\/h3>\n