An Open Letter

I need to preface I mean shitty as in the quality of the review, but not the show itself. I decided to watch Frieren because of the edits I have been seeing along with the overwhelming positive reviews from several different people. I expected something incredibly intense, and something inspiring through sheer power and prowess of the main character, but I instead got a subtle almost slice of life anime about someone experiencing grief in a very unique way. The show actually subverted my prior expectations several times, with Frieren choosing peace and a calm life with virtually no ego. I think this was a very strangely refreshing thing to be exposed to, since a lot of media that I inadvertently consume are things that fuel the inherent desire I have to be great at things. Frieren instead was someone who was great at something, and never did it. Not in a humble sort of way, but out of freedom to not have to do it or hide it from fear of perception. She is someone who is both publicly understood to be incredibly powerful, but not once has she ever shown it or done anything of the sort necessarily. She didn’t play a hero, and had no savior moment like I know plenty of others also fantasize about. Instead she led a life unburdened by performance, and was able to live unapologetically and learn for the love of experience. I think I’d like to live like that. I don’t know if I can put a number on a show like this, since it wasn’t anything like I expected – but I’d highly recommend giving it a shot if you just want to sit back and watch something calm.