Frieren 2×03 Review – “The Places She Would Like”

The third episode of Frieren anime season 2, titled ‘The Places She Would Like’, continued with the narrative decision to showcase two vignettes per episode. And you know what? I’m okay with that. Frieren is one of the rare anime that just doesn’t make me happy after watching it, but also nice.

‘The Places She Would Like’ opened with the trio continuing their journey in the Northern territories. Having been walking for a long time, they decided to check out a village famous for hot springs. Of course, being that Frieren hadn’t revisited said location in decades, she wasn’t aware that the village she was familiar with was no more. I feel bad for beings that have lived as long as Frieren. Time passed drastically differently for them, even causing them to not be aware of how much time had actually trickled by when thinking back to certain events. Though sad, it’s one of the strengths of a narrative that has caused Frieren to not only think fondly of her memories but also do a lot more to enjoy the present with Fern and Stark.

Due to the next hot spring village being a week’s walk away, a villager brought up the secret hot spring hidden somewhere in the Etawas Mountains. I liked how reluctant Frieren was about making such a journey. She even brought up how she wasn’t sure if that particular hot spring even existed anymore. However, I was surprised when Stark encouraged his team to go visit it. We don’t get a lot of storylines focused on Stark taking an active role. So, I appreciated such a change in the narrative. I mean, I get that the main story is still about Frieren and her relationship with Fern, but I do want Stark to occasionally get the spotlight, too.

It was clear that Stark wanted to visit the hidden hot spring because of what his teacher and Frieren’s ex-teammate Eisen once mentioned to a young Stark. Similar to Frieren, Stark also wanted to visit locations Eisen had been to when traveling with the Hero Party. Eisen had shared that the hot spring provided the perfect spot to enjoy a relaxing time with the Hero Party while looking at a beautiful view, and Stark, understandably, wanted to experience that with Fern and Frieren. I also liked how Stark was considerate about sharing quality time with the two women in such a manner, because if they had reached an actual hot spring, the three wouldn’t have been able to enjoy it together.

As for Frieren’s reluctance, from what I got, it wasn’t necessarily because she didn’t like visiting the hot spring with the Hero Party. I think it had more to do with the fact that the trio would need to pass through a territory being guarded by a three-headed lizard (the way she had to with the Hero Party). The giant creature was born with impressive regenerative abilities. All three heads needed to be destroyed simultaneously because otherwise the lizard would continue regenerating. Of course, Frieren used Stark as bait (without his knowing of Frieren’s plan), with her and Fern ready to strike the remaining two heads as soon as Stark aimed at one.

In Frieren’s mind, having to put in such effort just to enjoy a hot spring that was only ankle-deep didn’t make any sense. But hey, as someone who had basically adopted Stark as her son (or “grandson” as Stark put it, later in the episode), Frieren deciding to go along with Stark’s interest made sense.

As for the second storyline, the trio reached the fortress city of Heiß and finally got to relax in the actual hot springs. Frieren spent most of her day at the hot springs, only coming out to visit a magical store. That left Stark and Fern with nothing much to do other than to wander around the city.

Even though I’m a fan of Stark and Fern’s romantic relationship developing throughout the series, I have to say I wasn’t expecting Stark to ask Fern out on a date when she mentioned she had nothing to do inside the city, and for Fern to actually accept the offer. I knew both characters would be a ball of nerves thinking about going out together the next day. That’s why I enjoyed seeing Stark reaching out to Frieren for advice about what Fern would like to do.

The title ‘The Places She Would Like’ linked to Frieren and Stark searching the city for locations Fern would be interested in during the upcoming date. As Frieren put it, Fern liked snacks. However, the type of snacks she liked depended on her mood. She also enjoyed busy market stalls as well as quiet plazas.

Even though Frieren shared that she knew about Fern’s likes and dislikes through what Heiter had told the magical elf, wanting her to look after Fern after his death, I appreciated Stark giving Frieren credit for remembering all of the information and being a supportive adoptive mother to Fern. Even though Frieren didn’t experience emotions the way humans did, you can tell she’s grown a lot from spending time around Fern. The two love each other.

Stark mentioning how Frieren treated him as if she were his grandmother made me laugh. She really was an old woman, even though she didn’t look it.

With Frieren spending time with Stark, it was only a matter of time before Fern also reached out to her about dating advice. Even though Frieren’s been established as an asexual and aromantic (aroace) character, there’s a difference between being aroace and having no understanding of romantic relationships shared between other people. Frieren just can’t fully grasp the concept of romance and sexual feelings; thus, focusing on creating strong platonic bonds and considers certain such bonds as being similar to romance.

I related to Fern when Frieren brought up going on a two-person adventure with Himmel (to find a lost cat) as a “date” and then following that up with how she had also gone on a “date” with Sein, when the two ventured into the woods to kill a dark creature in season one.

Sigh!

Frieren’s slowly realizing that Himmel “loved” her, with how (if I remember correctly) the cat finding mission was also when he gave her a ring. It’s one of the reasons she set out on a journey to retrace her steps when adventuring with the Hero Party. But still, when all is said and done, I think Frieren will still be left not completely understanding romance and love the way humans do. That’s just how she is.

Anyway, with Fern still anxious about her date with Stark, I’m very excited about the next episode.

What did you think of Frieren anime season 2 episode 3, ‘The Places She Would Like’?

Let us know.

Author: Farid-ul-Haq

Farid has a Double Masters in Psychology and Biotechnology as well as an M.Phil in Molecular Genetics. He is the author of numerous books including Missing in Somerville, and The Game Master of Somerville. He gives us insight into comics, books, TV shows, anime/manga, video games, and movies.

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