Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Season 2 Episode 2 REVIEW – The Legendary Hero of the South Appears!
Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Season 2 (also known as Sousou no Frieren Season 2) aired its second episode on January 23, 2026. Following the season premiere, Episode 2 continued the trend of high-quality animation and excellent storytelling. This episode not only dived even deeper into the story, but also introduced an important character to the series.
Just like the first episode, Episode 2 has become a hot topic of discussion around the world. Everyone is curious about Frieren’s journey and the important new character who appeared. After watching it myself, I found that the episode gives us so much to talk about, and I can really understand why it has captured the world's attention.
Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Season 2 is truly a must-watch anime for Winter 2026. Episode 2 is an entry you don’t want to miss; in fact, you should watch it as soon as possible. For those who haven’t seen it yet, I strongly recommend watching it right now. It has everything you could want, and you are guaranteed to have a great viewing experience.
Before I dive into the details of Episode 2, I should mention that I’ll be discussing the new character and several key plot points. If you haven’t watched it yet or want to avoid spoilers, please stop scrolling and leave now—from this point on, there will be nothing but spoilers!
Source: 『葬送のフリーレン』アニメ公式 Official X account
The Hero of the South & The legendary Hero Party:
Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Season 2, Episode 2 has introduced us to a character who greatly affected the entire series: the Hero of the South. Within the world of Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, the members of the Hero Party—the human Hero Himmel, the dwarven Warrior Eisen, the human Priest Heiter, and the elven Mage Frieren—are incredibly well known. In fact, they are famous to the point that when people mention "the Hero," they are almost always referring to Himmel.
Frieren, Fern, and Stark have been traveling together for quite a long time. During their journey, they have cleaned many hero statues, but because Himmel is so famous and has so many legendary stories, the statues they encounter are almost always of him. In Episode 2, when they were asked to clean a statue again, Fern assumed it would be another one of Himmel—but this time, they came across a different hero entirely.
In Fabel Village within the Northern Lands, Frieren, Fern, and Stark were asked to clean a hero’s statue; in return, they would receive a spell to scratch an itch on one's back. It seems like a completely useless spell that shouldn't even count as a reward, but since our main character, Frieren, loves these kinds of spells, she accepted the request immediately.
Of course, a mage as experienced as Frieren knows exactly how useless such a spell is. Even if it might come in handy occasionally, she has lived for over a thousand years; it would be strange if she hadn't already found a way to deal with an itchy back. I think the real reason she accepted the request is her love for magic, combined with her appreciation for how people show respect to heroes in their own way. These small rewards prove that the heroes' deeds were never forgotten, but were instead remembered and passed down through generations.
As someone who has lived for thousands of years and is always ready to pass stories on to others, Frieren knows many tales and figures of the world—even those most people have long forgotten. Even though the younger generation only knows about Himmel and truly knows nothing of the Hero of the South, Frieren remembers him clearly. She takes it upon herself to pass his stories down to them accurately.
According to Frieren, although Himmel was the one who ultimately defeated the Demon King, he was not the only hero who fought against the demons. Many different heroes challenged the Demon King, and among them all, the Hero of the South was said to be humanity’s strongest hero. Like many in the younger generation who don't quite believe in old legends and histories, Stark felt that the claims about the Hero of the South being the "strongest" were exaggerated. However, as it turns out, he was completely wrong.
Source: 『葬送のフリーレン』アニメ公式 Official X account
The Hero of the South & Seven Sages of Destruction:
In the world of Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, the war between demons and other races isn't just a recent event; it is something that has happened continuously throughout their long history. Long before Himmel's era, humans had already suffered greatly at the hands of demons. Back then, the biggest threat was the Seven Sages of Destruction—a group of powerful demons who ruled over key territories.
The Seven Sages of Destruction didn't just sound intimidating; they possessed immense power. Each of them was capable of destroying a human nation with ease. In fact, the famous Aura the Guillotine, whom we met in Season 1, was one of them. Although Frieren overwhelmed Aura in Season 1—making the battle look so one-sided that it made Aura seem weak—the legendary Hero Party actually only succeeded in killing two of the Seven Sages of Destruction.
Himmel, Eisen, Heiter, and Frieren—the legendary Hero Party—only succeeded in killing two of the Sages. In contrast, the Hero of the South managed to kill three of the Seven Sages of Destruction all by himself. This fact alone shows that even though Himmel is the more famous hero, the Hero of the South possessed incredible power and potential. He is definitely not someone to be underestimated.
Killing three of the Seven Sages of Destruction all by himself is incredible enough, but the legendary story of the Hero of the South doesn’t end there—it continues. The Hero of the South assaulted the demons fiercely; in just one year, he managed to wipe out the Demon King’s frontline troops. The legendary feats he achieved eventually freed many people from the control of the Seven Sages of Destruction. As a result, those people still honor his memory to this day.
After learning the history of the Hero of the South, it’s amazing to realize that such a powerful human existed and helped so many people. At the same time, we can easily imagine the hope he gave those people—knowing there was a man who dedicated his entire life to fighting demons, only to eventually give his life in that struggle.
Of course, the battles the Hero of the South fought were incredible, and I am sure people will never forget them. But personally, what makes him so special isn’t just his combat; it’s the sacrifice he made for humanity and the genuine kindness he showed to everyone he helped.
Source: 『葬送のフリーレン』アニメ公式 Official X account
The Hero of the South & Future:
In Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Season 2, Episode 2, the Hero of the South revealed a secret to Frieren. As it turns out, the reason he was humanity’s strongest hero was his ability to see the future. He used this foresight to achieve his legendary status and defeat countless demons.
Having the ability to see the future is truly an incredible power. Since it allowed the Hero of the South to know exactly what would happen next, countering every move the demons made and defeating them became effortless. While this was undoubtedly his greatest weapon, it was also what set the stage for his eventual end.
The Hero of the South could not only see the future of upcoming battles but also his entire lifetime and the future of others. Because he knew exactly what was coming, he also knew exactly when and how he would die. Although he didn’t share much about his internal thoughts, I am certain it wasn't easy to carry that burden. When you know your life is a ticking clock, it is hard for any human not to dwell on it or try to change the outcome.
Personally, what amazes me about the Hero of the South is how calmly he accepted his life and his fate. It is human nature to struggle against destiny or try to change a difficult future, yet he chose not to. Instead, he used his power solely to defeat demons and save mankind, never once using it to alter his own life, fate, or destiny.
The Hero of the South was never meant to be the main character of Frieren: Beyond Journey's End. Despite possessing the most incredible power, he was not the one to defeat the Demon King—Himmel was. Despite his foresight, he was not the one to join Frieren’s party—Himmel was. And despite knowing exactly what the future held, he was not the one to pull the Hero’s Sword from the stone, nor is he the one remembered by the younger generations.
The Hero of the South certainly had the power and the right to change the entire story of Frieren: Beyond Journey's End. However, instead of using his incredible gift for his own benefit, he dedicated it fully to defeating demons. He accepted every part of his life, and even though he was destined to be overwhelmed by demons at the very end, he still fought for mankind without a single regret.
To me, the Hero of the South isn’t just someone who possessed incredible power and legendary stories; he was also a man kind enough to sacrifice everything for humankind.
This X post might catch your interest:
赤リンゴを青リンゴに
— 『葬送のフリーレン』アニメ公式 (@Anime_Frieren) January 24, 2026
変える魔法
×
「lulu.」
Mrs. GREEN APPLE#フリーレン #frieren pic.twitter.com/nLbwVnIXZx
The Hero of the South & The future Hero:
The Hero of the South did more than just save humankind and kill demons; he also left behind a great gift for the future: the legendary hero, Himmel. The Hero of the South wasn't Himmel’s teacher, nor was he the reason Himmel decided to become a hero. However, he entrusted everything to Himmel and carved out a path to the Demon King for him to follow.
The Hero of the South possessed the most incredible power in human history; with the ability to see the future, one could do whatever they wished or even reshape the world according to their will. If he had been just an ordinary man, he might have forced Frieren to join him on his journey or manipulated the future for his own benefit.
But he did nothing to change his own fate. Instead, he guided Frieren toward the true hero, Himmel, and truly paved the way to the Demon King. He took down three of the Seven Sages of Destruction all by himself; among them was the Demon King’s most trusted confidant, Schlacht the Omniscient.
Schlacht the Omniscient was a demon whose magic reportedly allowed him to see a thousand years into the future—an ability remarkably similar to that of the Hero of the South. Once we grasp the magnitude of Schlacht’s power, we can truly appreciate what it meant for the Hero of the South to "create a path" for Himmel.
Even for a full party of legendary heroes, fighting someone with the power to see the future is an uphill battle. Foresight and omniscience are nearly impossible to counter unless you possess a similar ability, regardless of your strength. If the Hero of the South had refused his mission or allowed Schlacht the Omniscient to escape, the task of defeating the Demon King would have become nearly impossible—and Himmel might have been killed long before his journey could end.
To defeat the Demon King, someone first had to take down Schlacht the Omniscient—and fortunately for Himmel, the Hero of the South did exactly that. The conclusion of their clash directly paved the way for the Demon King's eventual downfall. Although his death was a tragedy, everything the Hero of the South achieved ultimately led to a future of true peace for humanity.
This X post might catch your interest:
『葬送のフリーレン』
— 『葬送のフリーレン』アニメ公式 (@Anime_Frieren) January 25, 2026
第30話「南の勇者」
ピックアップシーンの動画をアップ🪄
「すごくいやそうな顔してる…」
▼YouTubehttps://t.co/hJc5coxqIH
▼公式TikTokhttps://t.co/p3kFoYPuvD
今後も順次アップしていきます。
ぜひご覧ください。#フリーレン #frieren pic.twitter.com/JCDqRvraiy
Conclusion:
Personal Rating: 9.5/10
Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Season 2, Episode 2, is an incredible episode that introduces us to the Hero of the South, using a brief but intense battle as a "spice" for the series. However, to be honest, it is still a classic Frieren episode; despite the legendary revelations, it maintains the show's signature slow pacing, beginning and ending with a quiet, thoughtful atmosphere.
If you are looking for nothing but nonstop fights and intense battles, you might find Episode 2 a bit slow, just like previous episodes. However, if you appreciate a deep story and incredible character development, then this is an episode you definitely don’t want to miss. Frieren’s journey continues, and although Episode 2 has only just aired, I am already eager for the next installment. Please stay tuned—I’ll be back to share more thoughts with you soon!
Where to watch: Episode 1 Youtube
This X post might catch your interest:
『葬送のフリーレン』
— 『葬送のフリーレン』アニメ公式 (@Anime_Frieren) January 24, 2026
原作の作画のアベツカサ先生から、
描き下ろしイラストが到着しました🪄
昨日放送の第2期、第30話「南の勇者」！
アベ先生、ありがとうございます。#フリーレン #frieren https://t.co/TxQZgKyhl7
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