Evan Call is bringing it
He’s doing the music there? That alone help me put Freiren in my PTW (the music from the trailer is LOTR-evocative). I’m planning to watch St. Cecilia actually, but should I watch this instead of that?
A really good start to the series. It’s dark enough so that the eventual light to come is clear by contrast, yet not too dark to feel overwhelming. The presentation is great, particularly in the silent montage as Miyo leaves home. Reina Ueda is giving one of her best performances as a beaten-down woman who still has the possibility for life and love. I was looking forward to this series and I think my expectations will be well rewarded.
I didn’t know it was possible for me to hate a character voiced by Ayaneru but here we are. This is the best first episode of the season so far. Looking forward to episode 2.
Really good 1st episode. I wished it continued for a bit longer 😭. Gimme my drama
At first impression, this feels like the kind of shojo television series and manga that is consumed almost solely by men who fetishize the idea of saving an abused, overly demure woman from a bad situation. It’s like if you take Cinderella and remove any semblance of personal agency from the main character of that story. Don’t get me wrong, I like me a nice woobie character, but dial it back, story.
I agree, this episode was all setup, hardly any payoff. Miyu was written as a completely passive observer of the world around her and the unfortunate personal dynamics in her life. Her father is almost the same way; he’s either incredibly busy to be inattentive to the child(ren), or just a milquetoast that lets his second wife have whatever she wants. I do give him a point for the way he “invited” Miyu to the family conference, and hope it’s a foreshadowing of future 1-1 interactions between the two.
The only two story elements that are bringing me back are the period this is set in, Mejei year 30, an era of rapid social and economic change. We’re starting with arranged marriages, traditional clothing. Even her friend Kouji transitions from traditional to western clothing mid-episode. Hopefully this will foster a similar empowering of Miyu. The other thing is that Kiyoka is a smoke show.
Glad to see she got out of that shit house with a shit “family”, but damn am I worried with where this might lead. Just reading the shows description gave me anxiety.
Also, fuck that dad. Who the fuck lets their daughter get ostracized by their new wife/daughter? That shits despicable.
I can already feel a love/hate relationship with this show. Fuck you, I’ll see you next week
