this post was submitted on 25 May 2025
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Why is that sad? The depiction of demons as creatures that are incapable of empathy and exploit human compassion as an evolutionary strategy is interesting and makes for good drama and moral conflicts in the show. I'm honestly tired of the standard plot about demons just being misunderstood poor little babies that humans bully for seemingly no reason. I understand why that is a popular theme - it resonates with most of our own history after all, but it's been done to absolute death.
They are shown to have morality and free will, so there are some who can follow and believe our morality. Every time Frieren fires first she is in the wrong.
I would also enjoy that kind of story, but then the author wanted to make demons interesting and gave them free will and morality. This is what ruins the show for me.
They do have free will but where have you seen any depiction of morality as humans understand it? You also need to understand that a characters thoughts and actions are up to your own interpretation and do not necessarily reflect the authors opinions. Even if I were to disagree with Frieren the character as strongly as you seem to, then it still wouldn't detract from my enjoyment of the show. I don't need my entertainment to regurgitate my own morals to me.
The morality I speak of is the one of hierarchy and magical power. The fact that they have both a moral system and free will means that they can chose to adopt another moral system. Frieren can't know if every demon follows the same system.
That's not a moral system, that's mere survival instinct.
A (Frieren's world) demon will always do what best serves their own interests; if a more powerful demon tells them to do something they'll do it out of pure self preservation, and bide their time until they can be the one on top, or at least get away and carry on on their own.
No morality is involved, because morality as a concept (as we humans understand it) is so alien to them as colours to someone born blind.
Frieren has known many demons, including Macht. She has studied them for a thousand years. She can and does know.
By definition, if a demon learned how to feel empathy, or compassion, or anything like that, it would no longer be a demon.
But the point is moot, because it's been demonstrated that they biologically can't feel those emotions, even if they wanted to.
You either haven't watched or are making up headcanon to justify your opinion.
What disagreement do you have with what I've said? I've watched the anime and even read through the manga, up to when they defeat the golden demon.
Other people have already provides detailed examples, while you have not, in this thread AND one 2 weeks ago. I don't see any point in arguing with you because you've clearly decided you don't like the show and that's ok, but going on every thread where frieren comes up and insisting it's glorifying actual human genocide is ridiculous and exhausting.
I just want the author to think before he makes a character who unambiguously wants a genocide.
Are characters only allowed to be perfectly moral, or something?