Frieren Did Nothing Wrong – Demons Are Evil (2024)

While the majority of today's fantasy stories are chock-full of morally gray characters, Frieren: Beyond Journey's End returns to the classic portrayal of good vs. evil. The anime and manga boldly depict demons as creatures who deceive and mercilessly feed on humans. This choice goes against modern trends popularized by franchises like Game of Thrones and Disney films that retcon established villains into sympathetic characters.

The way demons are portrayed in Frieren: Beyond Journey's End seems to have recently sparked countless online debates, with some heavily criticizing it, even going as far as labeling Frieren as the anime's true antagonist. It's clear that the fan-base is split, and each side deeply believes in their perspective. In spite of this, the characterization of demons as evil in the anime is far from a flaw. The irredeemable nature of demons in Frieren adds weight to their threat, raising the stakes, and justifies Frieren's uncompromising stance toward them.

Demons in Frieren: Beyond Journey's End are Deceptive Mimics of Humanity

Demons Use Human Beings' Own Compassion Against Them

In Frieren, demons are not misunderstood beings or victims of circumstance like some fans proclaim. They are intelligent predators that mimic human behavior purely as a means of manipulation. Their use of language and their ability to fake emotions are tools designed to deceive and kill. One haunting scene in the anime involves a young demon who cries out for her "mother," only to use the kindness of those who spared her life against them. She eventually launches a lethal attack on the entire village, leaving none alive. Frieren herself makes it clear: demons are incapable of empathy or moral reasoning. To them, humans are prey, and their words are weapons, not means of connection.

This stark portrayal is key. By setting up the demons as irredeemably evil, Kanehito Yamada, the mangaka behind Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, justifies Frieren's actions. Her decision to kill demons on sight is not an act of cruelty but of necessity — much like someone extinguishing a fire before it spreads. The world of Frieren is one where humanity's survival hinges on recognizing the true nature of the enemy, and the demons' inherent evil leaves no room for compromise.

Both Demons and Sauron are Masters of Deception

The depiction of demons in Frieren echoes J.R.R. Tolkien's portrayal of Sauron in The Lord of the Rings. While critics of Frieren would liken the demons to the orcs, it is very clear from the lore that demons, much like Tolkien's Sauron, manipulate and exploit humanity's compassion, which they view as weakness. Lord Sauron is the quintessential deceiver, a being who seduces and manipulates others to further his own ends. Like the demons in Frieren, Sauron's evil is absolute — he does not seek redemption or understanding, only total dominion over Middle-Earth. Tolkien avoided the idea of moral ambiguity in his work, writing a story where good and evil were distinct forces stuck in eternal conflict.

This type of deception reinforces the thematic power of Frieren: Beyond Journey's End. By denying its demons any shred of redeembale humanity, the series taps into a universal truth: not all evil can be reasoned with. In both Tolkien's and Yamada's worlds, recognizing evil for what it is and confronting it with resolve is an extremely important aspect of what being a hero means. Frieren's role as an elven mage who has lived through centuries of battle with demons and ultimately defeated the Demon King, makes this even more concrete. Her willingness to act decisively, even mercilessly at times, against demons is not a failure of morality, but a testament to her understanding of demons' nature.

Frieren’s Bold Stance on Evil

Why Some Villains Don’t Deserve Redemption

While the rise of morally complex villains and anti-heroes in recent fantasy brought depth and nuance to the genre, it also led to an overreliance on morally gray characters. Franchises like Game of Thrones thrived on exploring the gray areas between right and wrong, but not every narrative needs to follow this blueprint. In fact, most classic fantasy tales don't follow that at all. Sometimes, the most compelling conflicts arise from the clash between good and evil. Frieren daringly embraces this, and she's not the only one that does.

Anime like Jujutsu Kaisen, Kaiju No.8, and even classics like Dragon Ball and Saint Seiya have clear lines of good and evil. Each of these series has very well established characters whose intentions are unmistakable. Those who are ruthless, merciless, and after power, dominion, and couldn't care less about the loss of innocent life, are very clearly the villains of the story. Yet, you don't see fans of these anime rising up in arms about how the villains are mistreated by the heroes.

Demons in Frieren: Beyond Journey's End are not tragic figures that deserve sympathy or redemption arcs. They are existential threats whose defeat is necessary for the survival of humanity. This simplicity does not take away from the story's depth but rather enriches it by providing a clear moral compass. The certainty of the demons' evil lets the anime focus on other thematic elements, like the bonds between characters and the emotional weight of time and the journey ahead.

Frieren the Slayer Did Nothing Wrong

Demons are a Threat to Everything Frieren Stands For

Frieren's actions against demons are not just logical and pragmatic, but deeply ethical within the context of the story and the world around her. She understands that sparing a demon, regardless of how innocent and harmless it may seem, only opens the door to tragedy and violence. In episode 7 of the anime, Frieren refuses to negotiate with demons who claim to desire peace and want to live in harmony with the humans in the village. She recognizes their words as lies, designed to buy time for their next act of violence. While this gets her temporarily arrested, she is ultimately proven right.

By portraying Frieren's actions as unflinching and necessary, the anime reinforces the value of moral conviction. In a world plagued by beings who exist solely to destroy humanity, hesitation and mercy are luxuries that humanity cannot afford. Frieren's unwavering stance, down to forcing a demon to behead herself, is not in support of cruelty but an act of saving humanity.

In a genre that is constantly trying to shift away from the absolute nature of good and evil, Frieren: Beyond Journey's End stands out as it holds on to this classic duality. The fact that demons are characterized as evil, is in a way an homage to the traditions set by the father of fantasy, J.R.R. Tolkien. Frieren's actions are not only justified, they are absolutely necessary. This portrayal of evil is far from being outdated and only makes the anime and manga better.

Frieren: Beyond Journey's End

TV-14

Anime

Adventure

Drama

An elf and her friends defeat a demon king in a great war. But the war is over, and the elf must search for a new way of life.

Release Date

September 29, 2023

Cast

Atsumi Tanezaki , Kana Ichinose , Mallorie Rodak , Jill Harris

Main Genre

Anime

Seasons

1

Creator

Tsukasa Abe, Kanehito Yamada

Production Company

Aniplex, Dentsu, Madhouse, Shogakukan, TOHO animation, Toho