This episode had one of the strangest starts to an episode. We have a new character named Sein tell his life story. Well, apparently he did that because he was drowning in a bottomless swamp and asking Frieren for help. Sein is a priest, and much like the joke with Heiter goes, he can be called a corrupt priest. Though he aimed to be an adventurer. It’s quite interesting that his brother calls him a genius, and we see that when Sein heals Stark after he got poisoned.
Despite Stark being the one pushing to recruit Sein at first to be their priest, it is more Frieren who is determined to recruit him. This is because she sees the old her in Sein. As there was a time after Flamme’s death, she just stayed around the area and didn’t do much. Sometimes just staying in one spot can poison the mind. Of course Frieren could fight demons well, but her mind more so held her back until Himmel pushed her. As sure as the past is the past, what are you going to do in the present?
For Sein his friend said he would be back in 3 years, but it has been 10 years. It is clear that he is making excuses for not wanting to go. His friend is probably dead, or his brother stayed for him. Of course his brother is furious because he knows how much Sein wants to be an adventurer and regrets it. In comparison, his brother loved being a priest and his family. There was no regret in his decision. As Frieren points out about Sein regretting it later in life, much like she was regretting now getting to know Himmel given his human life.
I really like how, after all that, Sein chooses to join them temporarily without much delay. Unlike the case of Stark & Fern, where they are kids still figuring things out. Sein knows he has to stop lying to himself, and at the very least the logic that Frieren & his brother use is too sound to argue with. The series treats him like an adult.
This episode covered chapter 27, which wrapped up volume 3. As well as adapting chapter 28 as well. Not too much to comment on, as it was a very well-adapted episode.