Episode Synopsis:
Just as Sein is deciding whether to stay with the group or leave to find his friend, a blizzard strikes, stranding them inside for an extra month. Afterwards, Sein splits up with the group, which continues on to Auberst. On the way there, Fern comes down with a fever, so Stark and Frieren journey to find medical herbs that can cure it.
Episode Review:
This episode is another lovely slow-moving one, broken into two parts. I don’t have too much to say about the first part, although it’s funny to see Sein shouting what so often is reserved only for audiences.
Also funny: Stark reacting to having a cold hand touch his face.
So despite an overall somber moment, as Sein leaves the group to pursue his reason for traveling, the moments of humor leaven things nicely.
The second half covers some interesting emotional territory. Fern is sick with a fever, as is required for all anime according to Da Rules. Frieren, who has practically raised her, knows what is needed (besides the herbs) – for Fern to have her hand held.
Fern is happy to accept – until Frieren describes it as being a behavior Fern has had since childhood. Then Fern rejects Frieren’s hand and turns aside, embarrassed. As Stark and Frieren hunt for the herbs, they discuss this, and Frieren thinks back to a similar time with Himmel, when she was sick. She also felt embarrassed and didn’t want to be treated like a child, but Himmel answered easily:
“Emotional support is for everyone” is a really nice message from the show, even if I find it hard to believe that Himmel was this mature.
Lastly, I wanted to point out some particularly nice backgrounds that appeared this episode, showing that Frieren still looks as great 17 episodes in as it did when it started. Nice work, artists!
The Con Artists 
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