2026.01.02 about halfway through
2026.01.12 for more than the first half i didn't watch the opening and closing other than the first time.
now i watch both. the opening is light, and not spoilery at all. then closing is something different.
this is not a spoiler, since i don't know, but my theory about what the closing credit sequence means.
frieren lies on a grave. her tear, or some bit of jewelry, is the the only bit of color, red against dull colors (and there's also a red ribbon from a child - fern?), which drips down beneath the earth, taking frieren with it. frieren searches underground, finally finding some flower, and the butterfly symbol - which is well established as fern's symbol. was that fern's grave in the beginning? frieren opens the symbol releasing fern. this ends with frieren lying on the grave again, but now instead of the headstone its fern, with frieren's head in her lap. there's no motion, but frieren's eyes are open.
Does Frieren bring Fern back from the dead? That seems like the obvious answer. The endgame, though it hasn't been mentioned again for most of the series, is for Frieren to go north to heaven and speak to her old dead friends again, especially Himmel. I have some other theories, some more or less of a stretch, but I'm guessing Fern will die in Frieren's service, and Frieren will get her back. The way she's lying there in Fern's lap may indicate Frieren will take her place, which would be a very solid ending to this story of Frieren reuniting with her original group. But, I think there's at least a season more of the anime, or at least the manga, so that's probably not it.
Also, why is it claymation looking? Is that something sometimes done in anime I'm just not aware of? Curious choice of art style.
2026.01.18 Done with season one.
* * * spoilers * * *
I was so sure the closing credits would have something to do with the end of the show. Something to do with their mission to visit heaven, visiting the land of the dead, maybe resurrection.
Instead, the show just continues on in the well laid tracks it has established: not much usually happens, but there's lots of talking, analysis and reminiscing, and some characters gain some knowledge about themselves or each other.
It's a pleasant format, and it keeps the story moving. I'm not quite disappointed, but I shouldn't be so surprised that the show just kept on being what it is. So why did it keep offering me a glimpse of something else?
Maybe this underworld rescue scenario is still being foreshadowed. Season two just came out. It looks like I'm finally going to get a Crunchyroll subscription, since it's not on Netflix.
I've avoided spoilers, and will continue to do so through season two, but I couldn't help but see some hints that the manga this story is based on doesn't go any further, and the author is unwell.
This story might not have an ending. It might just keep on going down the road, traveling and having adventures, but nothing really happens. And that's OK.
2026.01.23 Assembled some screen shots showing some of the story points of the end credits. It feels meaningful every time I see it. Some day I will learn more.
