Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End: Stark (ESFJ)

Stark from Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End is typically typed as an ESFP or an ISFP. We considered both of those theories, but ultimately saw more potential evidence for Si and Fe. Based on the information available, we landed on ESFJ for Stark, although ISFJ would also be a valid theory. Hopefully this makes sense. If you’re interested in reading about other characters from Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, be sure to check out FRIEREN and FERN.

Fe:

“Everybody needs some kind of emotional support, don’t they? No one in their right mind would push away a shoulder to lean on.”

“What do you gain by being so rude? You berate me every single chance you get. If you hate me just come out and say it already!”

“You said that you didn’t want to wait, so I’m doing all of us a favor.”

“And it wouldn’t hurt you to be a little friendlier, you know. I’m a warrior with a sensitive soul.”

“You’re not too big on the people skills, huh?”

“Three hours of trying to gauge her reactions. I felt like I was dying inside.”

“Stubborn old woman? That’s a rude nickname.”

Stark focuses on the external emotional environment, indicating that he has high Fe. The most obvious tendency to suggest this is his frustration over rude behavior. On multiple different occasions throughout the show, Stark calls out rudeness, but it’s not always during normal situations like his daily interactions with Fern or the stubborn old lady’s rude nickname. At one point, when they’re battling a beast, Frieren says that she knows he’s not dead yet, and that he needs to hurry up and kill it. Stark yells back, mid-battle, “You’re so mean! Ask nicely!”

Similarly, Stark values kind and friendly behavior. He struggles with conflict, and any behavior that seems cold or unfeeling. For instance, in addition to constantly accusing Fern of being mean, he says to Lord Orden, “Aren’t you being a little bit cold? It’s only been two months since your actual son passed away.” His willingness to say this is somewhat significant, given the fact that Stark is usually intimidated by authority figures. He also asks Frieren and Lord Orden not to fight, when Lord Orden starts to argue with Frieren over hiring Stark.

Stark focuses on keeping others happy, which typically distracts him from his own goals or purposes. When Frieren and Fern meet Stark for the first time, he has stuck around in a village much longer than he originally intended, for the sake of the villagers. Years longer. In addition, everywhere they go, Stark always seems to make friends and help random people that he crosses paths with. At one point, Fern searches around town for him, and keeps coming across individuals that he’d stopped to help.

Si:

“I haven’t had this in forever. The jumbo berry special. I was just a kid when I came here last. I actually had to split it with my master cause I couldn’t finish it alone. I feel like this thing has shrunk.”

“When I was little, my master brought me up here.”

“I’ll go on this adventure and return with stories just like the one’s he told me. If they happen to be ridiculous, that’s all the better. It’s the least I can do to repay my debt to him.”

Stark focuses a lot on his past, allowing it to consciously inform his present. Throughout the series, it’s common for Stark to reference something his master said to him, sharing it often with the Frieren and Fern. He also frequently and openly reminisces, which makes sense for a feeler with Si. He does this especially a lot within the first few episodes of his debut.

For example, when Fern and Stark are trying to find a way out of Waal, Fern asks him why he’s so eager to help her. Stark initially tries to say that he’s doing them all a favor (which is a manifestation of his Fe), but then when prompted for the real reason, he shares a story from his past. Stark eventually concludes with his desire to repay his debt to master by returning with stories to share, just like the ones his master told him. In addition, the fact that he’s focused on gaining memories rather than experiences new experiences indicates Si rather than Se.

Another good example of Stark’s Si can be seen in the way he fixates on the size of his jump berry special. Of course, he shares his nostalgic connection to it with the restaurant owner, but then comments that it seems smaller. The owner states otherwise, but Stark questions this again. He even dreams about it later, when caught in a winter storm. He can’t get past the fact that reality isn’t matching up with his childhood memory.

Ne:

“I’d like to have a ridiculous adventure too of my own.”

Stark doesn’t just want to go on an adventure; he wants to have a ridiculous adventure. Essentially, he wants wild stories to share with his master to repay his debt. This could be an indication of Ne’s desire for novelty. In addition, when answering certain types of questions, he tends to share excess context rather than just a concise, straightforward answer, such as his long-winded, in-depth explanation for why he wanted to not end up stuck in Waal for multiple years.

Overall, Stark is a relatively flexible character, willing to go with the flow. We considered ISFJ for him, but it was hard to make a case for inferior extraverted perceiving, beyond his initial fear to fight enemies, which can be explained by his lack of experience. In other areas of life, he’s relatively good at improvising. For instance, he takes Fern to some of the more dangerous areas in Waal to ask around, telling her that it was fine because he looked tough and could bluff like a pro.

Ti:

“The villagers are too nice for their own good. There’s no way I could leave this place, even if I wanted to. Please don’t leave me here to rot.”

“That makes sense. Explains how they keep the winged monsters out.”

Stark’s Ti generally manifests in the way he rationalizes how certain things make sense after hearing new information. For instance, when trying to find a way out of Waal, Stark asks if they can just float over the wall with magic. When Fern says that here’s a magical barrier, he realizes that that’s how they keep the winged monsters out.

However, Stark does show signs of having Ti specifically in the inferior position. Stark struggles to cause conflict, and upset those around him, to the point that he suppresses his actual desires and goals. When Frieren and Fern first meet Stark, he has been trapped in a village for three years, because he feels like he cannot leave. The villagers are too nice, and think he’s a hero. At this point, he sees it as his duty to be their hero, even though he had his own duty to fulfill to his master. He literally begs Frieren to save him from them, even though he could technically walk away at any time.