Sousou no Frieren: Fern branded 'toxic and unbearable'

On social media, recent criticism of the character Fern from the "Sousou no Frieren" franchise (Frieren: Beyond Journey's End)" has sparked a debate among fans of the series. Fern, known for her mature and motherly personality, has come under fire for her grumpy and controlling behavior in various situations.

Described as a young woman with unusual maturity for her age, Fern takes on the responsibility of taking care of the main characters, Frieren and Stark, performing tasks such as waking them up, feeding them, and maintaining order in their environment. However, despite her mature attitude, Fern is not without childish behaviors and anger when things don't go her way. Her habit of making pouting gestures and trying to control those around her has generated mixed opinions among viewers.

Some critics have expressed concern about the potential negative impact of Fern's personality on her long-term interpersonal relationships. They point out that her controlling and grumpy behavior could lead her to become a toxic adult, unable to maintain healthy relationships in both her personal and professional lives.

However, other opinions seem to focus on superficial aspects of his character, such as his physical appearance. Some viewers seem willing to overlook his negative behavior due to his physical attractiveness, which has led to additional criticism about the superficiality of certain segments of the audience.

On the other hand, some fans have defended Fern, highlighting her development as a character and noting that her actions are motivated by a genuine desire to protect her friends. They argue that his grumpy attitude is simply a facet of his complex and multifaceted personality.

In short, the criticism of Fern from "Sousou no Frieren" reflects a broader debate about the representation of characters in anime and the way their actions and personalities are perceived and analyzed:

• "It's not that I'm being unreasonably grumpy, it's just a matter of how she expresses herself. It's not just exploiting their needs one way or another."
• "I think he's the kind of person who puts up with it and then explodes. She is usually so patient and loving that she is considered a mother, so I can forgive her for this."
• "You can tell from afar that she's an impossible bitch to please."
• "I wonder if the kind of person who would say to Fern who is 'grumpy and tries to control people' is a saint who leads a very respectable life on a regular basis."
• "Fern reads like emotionally immature because of her special upbringing. It's more of a trade-off for being a good magician and a prodigy from her childhood. Therefore, she is more of a "pretty girl" than a good woman. In short, she's still a kid for her age."
• "Don't you forget that big boobs are just a secondary stage? The secondary stage is encroaching on the main stage."
• "If you keep aging like this, you'll soon be a jailhouse bitch."
• "The reality is that all you're left with is a disgusting case of ugly, unhygienic and grumpy."
• "I would love to be in a relationship where this kind of naivety is allowed, but I wouldn't want to be in a relationship with someone like that in real life."
• "Well, I think there's less representation of this kind of thing in the more recent installments of the series. Is it because Fern is already in her 20s?"
• "I suppose you wouldn't normally call a 16-year-old girl who is losing control of her emotions a 'grumpy and controlling type.'"
• "In real life, cute women can get away with these kinds of behaviors."
• "I don't care if it's a bit annoying or not, I'd forgive Fern. I would allow it."
• "It's Fern's expression of frustration because she's somewhere between Freelen's scrap metal and 'boy' Stark, but there are people who can honestly be harmed."
• "If you slowly get used to it after the initial over-clogging, you might get a little bit of distance again because you've become too familiar with it."
• "I think it's more of a pseudo-familial vibe, and that she's portrayed as spoiled by her 'big brother' Stark."
• "It's not because they don't like Fern's bad mood per se, but because it reminds them of people they don't like in real life."

Source: Yaraon!