Forget the braids, what was up with those buns??
Considering the lack of any overarching plot so far this season (fine by me), a date between Fern and Stark-sama certainly constitutes the headline of the first four episodes. It was a bit of a non-event, true. But the non-event was the event, basically. If this had been smooth or comfortable – even romantic – I don’t think it would have felt true to character. I’m not saying the two of them could never get to that point, but they certainly aren’t there right now.
Up to now, Sousou no Frieren is the chronicle of romance that never get out of the starting gate. I’m certain Heiter and Eisen didn’t entrust Frieren with the job of finishing their child’s upbringing with any intent that the two children would get together (how would they even have known?). But they certainly knew Frieren and Himmel were in love and never acted, and that she was now alone. They wanted their kids to be with her because they trusted her to protect them, but also to keep her connected to the world. There’s a certain symmetry in all this, if indeed things progress between Stark and Fern.
Given that neither of this youngsters was socialized with other kids at school and were raised by bachelors, it’s not surprising that they’re pretty awkward when it comes to relationships. There’s no doubt that the feelings are there – Fern agonizing over what to wear, Stark musing on whether Fern had always been this cute. But the vibe on their date – which they each called by name, so there was no denying it – was that neither of them really knew what to do next. Obviously asking Frieren for advice on this score was a misguided decision by Stark but who else was he going to ask?
The thing is, that worked out fine in the end. Fern was ecstatic that Stark cared enough to try and figure out how to make her happy. They ate pork buns the size of badgers and cheerfully toddled out of town the next day, Fern and Stark more or less happy with the way things turned out and Frieren with another suitcase full of savings-depleting magical swag. After a couple days trekking they reach the well-secured northern frontier, where it takes Fern’s first-class mage status to open doors for them. The lands beyond are indeed riddled with monsters, and the first “village” they reach seems to have only a father and his two kids in it. He asks them to kill the strong monster that’s been scaring off merchants in return for a night’s lodging.
That monster turns out to be pretty formidable (not as much as those buns), though one might quibble that the trio should have had an easier time with a monster of that level. The man in the village refused to leave this land because this was where he was born and raised. Himmel (and now Frieren) declined to sail around it because by going overland, they make the land safer in their wake for those who stay behind. That’s the sort of heroism Himmel represented, and it’s clear he had a profound impact on Frieren (though we certainly knew that already).
