Season 2 of fantasy anime Frieren: Beyond Journeys End is officially coming in January 2026. That means you have about 303 days to get caught up on season 1, then ponder the ephemeral nature of your own existence, and be forever changed.The titular character of Frieren is a gifted elf mage who was once a member of a heroic adventuring party that defeated a great evil. The party promises to meet up again in 50 years. Thats just a blink of an eye for Frieren, who doesnt bother keeping in touch with the rest of her friends. But when she shows up, its clear that the rest of them have aged. While they enjoy their little meet up, it ends sadly as the main hero dies the next day.Even more time passes before Frieren sets out on another adventure, reluctantly taking on a protg. She treks through places shes seen before, and comes across villages she once saved, only to find shes a distant memory now now. Its something that shes accepted, having already lived for hundreds of years; no matter how legendary, all heroes fade, even when they insist their greatness will spare them this fate.That could be a real bummer, but the show emphasizes that just because time is fleeting, that doesnt mean it cant be enjoyed. Frieren has outlived all her friends and she will definitely outlive the two young heroes in her current adventuring party. But that doesnt mean it isnt worth getting to know them and enjoying the time she has with them.That elegiac edge is what makes Frieren so special, but even without the existential overtone, its a damn fine fantasy show with interesting world-building and some gorgeous animation. The back half of the first season really dives into the worlds magic system, but in a way that still tied into the overall themes of the show. Frieren was there when humans started using magic, and shes seen how it has evolved over time. So, showcasing the new generation of mages powers juxtaposed with Frieren and her protg Fern highlights the inevitability of rapid progress.Nearly a year after I finished the first season, Im still thinking about Frieren. Its a show that gets under your skin and really sticks with you, one that uses everything at its disposal to drive home its big ideas. All episodes ofFrieren: Beyond Journeys Endare out on Crunchyroll now. New episodes will arrive next January.