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aotopmha · 2 years

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Same Historia anon here. I would have definitely preferred a subplot where they look for Historia, as you mentioned, instead of the one we got with Connie, his mother, Falco, and Armin. And yes. Just like you, I, too, liked the idea of Eren turning to Zeke, instead of Historia, to activate the Founding Titan. But I also wish rumbling the world was Zeke's idea first, with Eren reluctantly agreeing next, and they make the choice together.

This would feel more sensible than him seeing a predetermined future fate that motivates him in chapter 90. That kind of feels like a plot hole, considering they already tried unlocking memories that way offscreen before then, but still after the touch in the crystal cave, but got nothing out of it. And Eren could have remained wide awake and in full control of himself and in full cahoots with Zeke instead of essentially asleep and automated by Ymir Fritz or something.

Heck. The secret of the royal titan touch could have even been kept secret between those two until it first happens or something. And Historia wouldn't even need to eat Zeke to become a titan. Historia could have become the new Jaw Titan instead of Falco. Otherwise, even if freckle Ymir would have still been alive, becoming the new Armored Titan in Reiner's place wouldn't have been too far off the mark either.

Though I am also a Reiner fan and sympathize with him so well, and it would crush me emotionally to see him sacrifice himself even for such a potential noble cause. I would also mention Annie, but she was kept absent for so long that bringing her back just to kill her off would feel like such a wasteful slap in the face. I'm also surprised no one proposed the idea of Historia eating Armin, although I would absolutely hate that with a passion as a big Armin fan too.

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I mostly disagree with these ideas for two main reasons I will elaborate on:

1) I want Eren's negative character arc to be kept within the 'agency' he gets because I think there's a specific point in a specific way made through it.

2) I don't want any other characters' arcs to be cut short because of Historia.

I'm going to start by elaborating on point 2.

I think Connie's subplot is absolutely fine, you can just add Historia's to the mix – have occasional cutaways to Historia evading the military and have her join in as just another soldier by the end; I think any point where everyone comes together, but before they make it on the ship would be the perfect place.

She's still willing to fight and put herself on the line, but she doesn't do so by perpetuating the Titan curse or by being pushed into another role. She chooses her own way to fight.

I think it's just *this* easy. You *can* even do the pregnancy thing by making it a coverstory/using a fake pregnancy.

I think the reason the pregnancy happened was because Isayama wanted Historia had to make some sort of sacrifice she couldn't run away from and it had to be something that wouldn't let her become a Titan (the 'if you can't sacrifice anything, you can't achieve anything' and perpetuation of the Titan cycle themes) and he needed something to keep her away from the plot for specific stretches of story.

And I agree with you on there being several other much more optimal ways to do this, as I said in my previous ask.

It's not like her pregnancy is portrayed as a positive thing, either. It's framed in a pretty horrifying way, as another version of the perpetuation of the cycle the Titans pushed on the Eldians and it is at least relieving to see her okay and become free of being a baby machine in that sense. She doesn't have to be forced to suffer for the good of her people anymore.

In my eyes, it's just that her entire plotline is just so uncharacteristic to the entire series and really messy/confusing for her character, specifically.

I'm not sure if her choosing to become a Titan would still be a better option either because it would also go against the meaning of her choice to deny the syringe in the cave and what that meant.

*Technically* the Titan curse is removed anyway by the end, but the Titan curse also does have thematic meaning. So going with something she denied so strongly before is still a contradiction unless you write around it, which in this case could be the possibility of her deliberately becoming a Titan to oppose Eren and not becoming a baby machine.

I think it would still be thematically wierd, but is probably better than her being a mute baby machine.

In that case, I think Porco or Pieck would definitely be the options to go with for smaller losses and you could definitely do something with this – you could even write out Falco and Gabi at this point because their arcs are basically done just a little before the Rumbling happens.

Historia would essentially get Falco's role and in that sense I'd be okay with that.

In all of these options there are a bunch of details to consider, but the point would be to keep her an actual character.

But tl; dr I'd take the escapee human/fake pregnancy option because it seems the most consistent on a theme and character level even if you might also criticise it for other reasons like making the military a little more incompetent for a little bit.

As for point 1, I think one reason I want Eren's agency kept the same is because Zeke's unique perspective and how chapter 137 gives it a counterargument.

I always love when perspectives you usually consider really horrible or screwed up are given empathy and understanding, but not agreement (Eren's goes under this, too) and I think Zeke ended up being an amazing character because so many stories usually make his type of character the ultimate enemy or the 'violent' manipulator.

This is the reason why I like Floch's presence and the dose of cynicism from Annie and Pieck at the end of chapter 139.

You could argue Armin's response can come across as mansplain-y (and naive), but I think it's good to have this cynicism in there.

(Also this is an example how I think some people read Pieck pretty badly, too. She didn't suddenly start agreeing with everyone else just because she said it would be interesting to learn more about Eren.)

There clearly are balancing viewpoints in chapter 139, the biggest one being in the extra pages where Mikasa's kindness might just lead to another cycle, it's just that the cynicism probably isn't strong and loud enough.

For example, I think at least a few words of frustration and dislike with what Eren left them from just one of his friends would've gone a long way.

But to go back to point 1, I'm also okay with how Eren's memories were handled on a plot level.

They were always gradually revealed.

The very first one in chapter 1 was just a dream. The second happened because of the key he got, as a literal 'key item'. Then through wierd dreams (his first memory with Frieda), then the combination of key locations and royal blood. It feels gradual and natural to me, caused by key elements like the locations he's been to or visits and the information he gains.

In the case of touching Historia's hand after returning from Shiganshina, he had a lot more additional information and context.

So in your suggestion, Zeke would be the one to suggest the Rumbling and Eren would agree with him instead of it just being Eren's plan and I feel like this would perpetuate a rewrite of Zeke. If not a complete one, then at least a partial one.

For him to support the Rumbling, his nihilism needs to be more aggressive, but to me that's pretty fundamentally not Zeke.

As wierd as it might seem in light of Shiganshina, Zeke's violence is reactive. He gained the perspective he has because of the things that happened to him.

His solution would be eugenics.

I also think Eren is an active participant at the end.

He's the one to set the rules of the battle.

If Eren's perspective wasn't one that said everyone is free, the Alliance would be dead.

The only reason Eren is killed is because he decides to let everyone fight and I love that because it's another refutation to what I consider bad interpretations of his character – him suddenly being a stone-faced genius.

The entire thing happens because of who he and every other character in the series are as characters.

And I think his 'defeat' in the face of who he views himself as and his circumstances is a part of it.

Eventually he just gives up and lets it happen.

And the strongest argument against this is, I think, the idea that Eren would be stronger than that.

And I think it can be just as impactful and interesting to show someone who seems strong isn't as strong as you think.

I don't want a fantasy where I feel safe.

For a very long time, I've personally found comfort in truth and reality much more than I've found in a fantasy.

When I face a problem, I want to fix it, not escape it to find peace.

And I think this is actually a pretty rare perspective.

So I find comfort in how Eren's death and participation in the final battle is handled because Mikasa essentially denies a pretty fantasy.

It's painful and she'll mourn who Eren was for a long time.

But that scarf will forever be there. The good things will never fade.

And I find comfort in Eren accepting the consequences and facing the consequences, however symbolic or empty people argue it is.

Whatever problems I have with the story, Eren isn't one of them because Mikasa does end up doing the right thing for the greater good.

And I think it's absolutely fair if people thought Eren's turn was handled poorly or should've never happened.

Or whether the entire conflict was contrived.

Or whatever else people might take issue with in the story in general.

I just see value in this ending I don't often see in others even with the issues I take with it.

Thank you for the ask!

#Eren Jaeger #Eren Yeager #Eren #Historia #Historia Reiss #Attack on Titan #Shingeki no Kyojin #AoT #SnK #Asks

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miscellaneousramblings · 3 years

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Down here, salt is a way of life.

Lol, so I’ve read the updated version of those SnK leaks for the last volume and its bonus pages and like... what. I don’t see why I as a reader should accept a poor, nonsensical, edgy ending such as this one and with a smile as well! Fuck that.*

The actual last chapter as published last month was already poorly executed but at least I could sort of get what the author went for. I thought that maybe the bonus pages could actually help me swallow the pill by adding meaningful dialogue or events (Armin being shown Paradis’ potential destruction by Eren isn’t a meaningful event, it just adds more fuel to my long-held belief Paradis isn’t worth the destruction it’s causing. The moment they started becoming oppressors the way Marley did, they lost the right to just claim self-defence for their ensured survival. I’ve always thought that Zeke’s plan was the better option compared to the Rumbling and I haven’t changed my mind, far from that. Maybe, had the Rumbling been treated differently and killed way less, it could have been different. Maybe). Eren’s treatment was horrifying in the last arc, but at the very least I could get over his death, and let Mikasa live on in my imagination. She could just live a simple life with her beloved friends visiting her and some pets she would adopt by her side, happily tending to her garden, cooking, reading, maybe even meeting some new people and making friends with them. As an ace woman, I know women don’t have to get married to a guy or even love anyone romantically to lead a worthy, fulfilling life, and yes, I was more than happy to project on her. Mikasa could be happy on her own. The ending was open-ended enough for readers to believe whatever they wanted as far as surviving characters go, and this was fine.

But now, this. The idea she *has* to get herself a man and some kids to “move on” is so backwards and frustrating, I just can’t. This is literally the exact same scenario as Historia’s treatment post Ymir’s death. Isayama really said “I’m going to develop YH and EM and make people fall in love with them, then kill one of them off after terribly dissatisfying farewells and then boom, timeskip, the surviving members of the ships ~moved on~ with Faceless Man 1 and Faceless Man 2.” If you’re gonna show your MC “getting over” their love for the other MC, the one that’s been built up in the entire goddamn manga, then at least show it on-screen, give us some hints. If the husband is supposed to be Jean, then at least show his face instead of a vague silhouette. Isayama is degrading his series, which is his own problem, but he’s also insulting his readers’ intelligence, which I won’t stand for.

Once again, what the hell is he trying to say with this? I’m not talking about some kind of moral message, I’m talking about the way love is depicted in this series. Love is something to be sacrificed, discarded and then replaced (offscreen). I am pissed off by the ultimate treatment of women in this series, especially after the promise they showed pre-timeskip. Also Annie is lucky Bertolt died because at this rate she would have ended with him despite not loving him is2g.

I will wait for the actual volume to come out in Japan and if this nonsense is actually confirmed (Mikasa being married to some rando while Paradis becomes an industrialized nation thanks to global genocide), I’m selling all my manga volumes. Luckily enough I have some rare editions so i should be able to take my money back entirely.

I am disappointed and done.

PS: Life footage of me reading those leaks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KquFZYi6L0

*If the leaks are fake I’ll gladly accept I am a clown, and will shut up about this series forever, but I do remember a chinese leaker (I’m assuming the same person) said volume 34 would be the last back in early/mid-december, and this was confirmed in the preview at the end of volume 33, which was released on January 9. Soooo yeah, I’m pretty sure this is legit, unfortunately.

#people who tell disappointed fans to enjoy the ending go to hell challenge #anyway yesterday I was just looking up twitter to see if perchance Isayama's interview had been translated #and instead I was greeted with THIS #since i've never read text leaks I'm even more stunned #what is going on in here??#why did he think this would be a good idea #there are 1001 problems with the end but nooo we have to see Mikasa hooked up with some dude offscreen #i'm so mad about this #god forbid she lives her life while cherishing Eren in her heart #(i know she can still cherish him but all of this is so meaningless)#I refuse to invest my time and pour my heart into characters that end up being butchered and relationships that get destroyed like this #not even talking about the whole yeagerist taking over thing #i don't care if it's 'realistic' i already have real life for this #and better fiction actually #SnK #Mikasa Ackerman #since this is mostly about her

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erenthecoordinate · 5 years

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How confident are you that Levi is alive? Will he be able to fight again? I’m happy he might be alive don’t get me wrong but I don’t know what else he can do?

I’m actually very certain that he is presently alive right now. I’m also inclined to believe he will remain alive for the series’ end. At the minimum, he’ll be around during the finale climax and have some sort of role in it.

Reasons to believe he is alive now:

The cliffhanger status concerning the severity of his condition shows that there is at least skepticism over his demise. I don’t recall Isayama ever doing this with another character. Ymir may be the closest example, and even then her fate was implied and the act was (sadly) offscreen. We know Levi’s whereabouts are in Paradis, and we know that he is in critical condition, so that needs an answer.

Hange was also quick to “confirm” Levi’s death. We don’t see them checking for a heartbeat, pulse, or breath. While they are knowledgeable about the functions of the thunderspears, the primary warning since the weapons’ introduction was that the handler’s limbs would be torn from the body at close proximity. We’ve seen flesh melting and faces blown off from direct contact, but this is the first secondary contact injury, so it’s hard to say what happens. It isn’t farfetched that the scorching electricity from the spear would fry someone’s organs, and blood around the mouth and nose can indicate internal damage in the chest and lung area, but with the eyes bleeding it can also be due to a head injury rather than by explosion. Either way, Hange makes a point of saying Levi died from internal injuries, since there is reasonable doubt when observing his superficial ones.

Hange was tense when Floch offers to check a pulse, which could mean they were offended by the disrespect to Levi’s body or because they didn’t want to reveal the truth. Hange doesn’t appear depressed or frantic when declaring Levi dead. I imagine we’d be able to see those emotions clearly.

And of course, once Zeke distracts Floch and the rest long enough, Hange takes initiative to jump in the river with Levi, which would be a wasted effort to carry the extra weight if Levi was indeed just a corpse.

I also think the injuries we do see are very prominent and intentional. The deep scarring on his face shows that this is more than likely a permanent character design change. It would be a waste to emphasize the marks with thick outlines if it wasn’t going to be a consistent alteration from here on out. It even appears on the volume preview sketch, albeit on the opposite side of the face.

His missing fingers (possibly hand) are also notable because the last thing they grab is the weapon that was going to cut up Zeke’s legs again. It’s a grim testament to his last actions before being literally thrown into this life-threatening situation. If those are the only fingers missing, he still has the fingers (and thumb) he favors for his reverse grip, which is another ironic twist to his injuries. He has that special strength but now lacks the support.

Also, there is the fact he is an Ackerman, with healing properties beyond that of a normal human being. Enough said.

But can he really fight again? Hm.

It depends on the time frame between now and the climax, how severe his injuries are, and if there will some compensation for the handicap he gained from the incident.

Time seems critical and Marley is already on the island. If the climax only involves Marley, then Levi won’t have time to heal to be of any physical support. If the climax involves international forces, there may still be time. I predict it will take at least a few to several days for Marleyan forces to attack Paradis, especially since Pieck has Eren held at gunpoint. They’re probably hoping to secure the Coordinate before eradicating the island entirely. In which case, Eren needs to stay out of their hands long enough for that to happen. But again, time is critical, it just depends how soon danger will arrive.

If he is rendered unconscious for a while after rescue, he would need to wake up before the story calls for character assistance. Fortunately, resting can speed up recovery time, depending where he and Hange take refuge. They will appear again with the main cast, but time for healing and waiting out the proper moment to evade danger is a must. If Levi’s injuries are solely superficial, such as cuts to his body and blown digits, he’ll recover fast enough to stand and be of some verbal assistance. If Ackergenes kick in for speed-healing he could be coordinated within a week (see: his leg/ankle injury and Mikasa’s broken ribs all healed within 2 weeks when normally those injuries would take longer). If there is internal damage, it’s a matter of how severe it is to continue being life threatening or how he is able to move afterward. Ackerman blood or not, they are still human to some degree.

But-- I am a sucker for the strongest characters coming out of their struggle by fighting in the end. While realistically, the possibility is not looking great, there can be compensations for his physical limitations. We know that 3D maneuvering is not impossible with a missing arm. Levi has handled single-blade weapons in his underground life; it would be an excellent callback to his roots, a time where he used to make his own decisions. Except now he has extra discipline and extra understanding of his desired purpose. There can be an on-the-spot solution like wrapping the blade handle to his injured hand or arm so that it acts as an extension of himself (this one is definitely wild wishful thinking but I’ve seen fanart haha).

Otherwise, Levi may become more of a groundwork assist than an offensive soldier. It can still work thematically, no longer having to be the big sword of the military. He would have to put his focus onto his military weaknesses along with his emotional ones, such as proper communication and teamwork. I think he would, however awkward, still be a good verbal support as well.

And then we got the most important factor- plot relevance. If the story really wants to portray Levi’s lesson as a tragic one, he will have no physical use for the remainder of the series. But I’ve criticized the excessive bleakness of this manga, so I think it would be more effective for Levi to understand his emotional flaws and change his usual actions. Make him regret his choices, but then give him the opportunity to not be consumed by his vendetta. Giving him that chance instead of forcing him in a state of inactivity will benefit his character, if Isayama truly isn’t finished with his development. There is so much to work with and even in the little time left Levi can be a complete character with very little to no loose ends. It would be too boring to force him to be a benchwarmer and have him potentially seethe in his resentment. Especially since his mistake was one with no witness besides his enemy. He would be too easily validated that his state wasn’t his fault and there is a possibility for no lesson learned for him. Giving him free agency and having him decide to pull back would be great development and bring him closure from his vengeful mindset, which is the biggest counter to his heroism.

Plus, I believe Levi still has some unfinished business with some characters. If he were to die later, it’d be premature to write him off with these loose ends. Zeke is an obvious one, and I’ve mentioned it before. That’s not to mention Levi is thus far the only one from the other party to know that Zeke’s plan is euthanasia and genocide. Survival to the point of speaking would give Hange (and therefore the others) information and they would have to decide whether they can trust that Eren wants this or if there is something more going on. But it gives them a chance to come up with a counterattack or line of defense.

Levi hasn’t had proper time to react to Eren’s scheme-y actions. All we know is that he doesn’t believe Eren should be the one to be sacrificed for it. While it’s possible to get some flashback relevance from him, interaction between him and the main cast (Eren included, and probably especially) has been expected for a greater part of this chapter. Instead, we’ve gotten a bit of Levi and Zeke banter, with very little input from Levi. Reactions to seeing his state from all of them instead of word from Hange would be effective in stirring their emotions and perhaps affect their actions going forward. As for Eren, if he truly had been adamant of caring about his friends and comrades, it’d be another moment to see if there is a break in his emotional deadpanning when Zeke directly caused this damage. It’s quite different from Sasha’s death, who was killed by a miscalculation, as Zeke calls it. It is why this is lamented over up to now and so forth. This is no mistake. So will Eren grit his teeth to suppress because he has to or is he really so distanced from people that he no longer cares about their fate? Whatever the case, actually seeing the damage (unlikely to be dragged to him in corpse form because what is the point there) can provoke a response and an additional clue to the uncertain characters as well as the readers.

Also, and I brought this up when looking at this scene in ch105, but I feel like this interaction here needs some explanation. I think is could serve as some importance. Eren seems to react a tad bit and this is before he goes stone cold in Paradis. We already have other characters’ reactions to Eren post-Marley, I would like to have more input by the normally silent observer Levi.

And I’ve already mentioned a possible role in Hange’s own epiphany about themselves. But he would be the most beneficial support for them, while also realizing a sort of independence within himself. Neither would have to follow in Erwin’s shadow anymore. Release that pressure. They support each other while trusting themselves. It’s a dynamic they have always had before Hange was commander, but now with full-fledged confidence, it’ll be refreshing for Levi as well to encourage that growth instead of lingering in his past vendettas.

A greater question to “why does he need to be alive for this” is “why does he need to be dead?” He can accomplish stirring these turmoils in other characters just as or more effectively than if he were dead. Yes, he is strong, but he isn’t an answer to all their problems. He is injured to an non-measurable degree at the moment. Even if Levi has a history of kicking Zeke’s ass, they will know that having him guarded by Levi isn’t a foolproof plan. Is being incapacitated not enough? Can’t other character still step up to the plate on the offensive even if he is still living? What purpose besides “it’s a grim story and everyone dies, blah blah” is worth telling without being either dull or frustrating?

There is still potential for his presence in the story. I dished out some ideas. If Isayama does absolutely nothing with Levi’s aftermath, then perhaps I’ll have confused questions over why these loose ends still exist even at the end. But so far we can only guess (and hope) that there is a purpose yet to be shown. It’s too early to say there is nothing for him when there is still more story left.

To some degree, I expect him to play a role in taking down the “biggest obstacle” of the story (why wouldn’t you have your most popular character participate in something like that?). This can mean his physical state is still capable of externally fighting or he must represent morale support to those who will end up fighting in his place. I hope whatever ends up happening to him will be respectful to the character he was created to be. He honestly deserves it.

#levi ackerman #levi #snk meta #snk chapter 115 #analysis #theory #reply #mypost #Anonymous

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owl-eyed-woman · 7 years

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Attack on Titan Season 2 Episode Reviews - Episode 1

It’s been a hard four years. But now, the wait is finally over. Attack on Titan is back and all is right with the world. So, with the advent of a new season (and a new era of joy in my life), I’ve decided to review/recap each episode of AOT Season 2. A bit of background: I was a big fan of AOT season 1 while it was airing, and after rewatching the anime these past two days in two glorious 6 hours chunks, it’s clear that this fangirl fire still burns. However, I have not read the manga - yes, I somehow managed to repress that temptation and yes, the struggle was very real. But honestly, not reading the manga has been a conscious decision on my part. I found the twists and turns so vital and thrilling in the first anime that I wanted to retain that experience for the second season. So expect a lot of shocked reactions and enthusiastic ramblings with each revelation, and perhaps some ill-advised speculation. There will most likely be some gushing in these reviews, but I will endeavour to include incisive critical analysis, of course. Enough background, onto the review! The show begins with a wonderfully brief recap, (good work show) before picking up where we literally left off, addressing that final, tantalising shot of the last the season: a titan within the wall. This is exactly what we needed, no pussyfooting around, no wasting time, we’ve only got 12 episodes so let’s just get right to it! Before the shock can settle in, Pastor Nick begs Hanji to keep the titan out of the sunlight, which is ominous to say the least. Hanji complies with this but, desperate for an explanation, tries to interrogate the Pastor, threatening to drop him from the wall. Pastor Nick remains tight-lipped though, knowing so much more than he’d ever willingly divulge, even under threat of death. It’s a potent reminder that they’re not just fighting titans but the worst parts of human nature, be it corruption, greed, complacency or, in this case, blind faith and irrationality. As a character, Hanji has always had this intensity about her, but her personality and thirst for knowledge has been presented more light-heartedly as almost goofy. Here though, we get to see some of the frightening ways this intensity can manifest as well as their very genuine frustration that the knowledge they desperately need is constantly hidden from them. It’s a necessary reminder of the emotional depths of a character who is too often dismissed as a ‘mad scientist’; they too have seen many comrades die for humanity’s survival and are just as dedicated to the cause, willing to kill or even be killed. But even more shocking than that, in the face of this new information, Hanji, one of the most joyful and enthusiastic characters in the show, isn’t invigorated or scheming, they’re just exhausted and terrified by the depths of their ignorance. Crucial information has always been hard-won for our mains, but not only that, it’s how much they don’t know that truly terrifies and takes a heavy toll.

No time to rest, though! Further demonstrating that AOT intends to use every second of its runtime, not only is a titan attack imminent, it actually arrived 12 hours earlier and the battle is already well under way. Following this revelation, the episode flashes back 12 hours to the activities of the rest of 104th cadets who are having some downtime at the Scout Regiment barracks. Being a soldier isn’t always high-stakes, sometimes it’s just sitting around, bored. It looks like this season will be focusing a lot more on the side characters and I am very excited if this is the case. AOT has been the ‘Eren/Mikasa/Armin Show’ for a while and it will be good for the show overall to start fleshing out some of their thus far underutilised characters, like Bertholdt, Reiner and Conny, who have been sketched more vaguely in character terms. Oh, and Ymir and Krista too! Yeah, there’s a fair few I’m excited to learn more about.

As the first to encounter the incoming Titan attack, the 104th cadets are tasked with alerting the surrounding villages, but have no time to get into gear. The difficulty of prepping ODM gear is something I’ve thought about and clearly it’s on the showrunner’s minds as well with the opening featuring the gang suiting up, so to speak. ODM gear is amazing but by god does it look complicated and very intricate (I may or may not have had a dream once about frantically trying to put together my own set to fight a titan, but I digress). I’m digging this greater sense of vulnerability or even nakedness that comes with such a simple development and the ways it may change how future conflict is addressed. Not only this, the emotional stakes have been significantly raised for several of the characters as their home towns and families are explicitly and immediately at risk. The stage has been set for some tense, future moments!

In a brief digression from this main action, we visit Eren who is still recuperating from his titan battle. While Mikasa sleeps peacefully at his bedside, Eren dreams of his mother admonishing him for his weakness and his constant reliance on Mikasa. Eren has always had a complex regarding his own weakness and inability to protect those close to him – I mean, AOT literally begins with Eren unable to save his mother. He so desperately wants to protect those around him, but, unfortunately, Eren just isn’t the best protector, Mikasa is. Because of this, Eren often resents Mikasa and pushes her away when she attempts to get closer to him.

So, what does his comment about buying Mikasa a new scarf signify? The scarf is a symbol of several things; it symbolises their bond as family, Mikasa’s devotion to Eren and how he grounds her, and for Eren, quite simply, the time he saved her life. So, with this comment, Eren is renewing his commitment to being the protector instead of the protected with a new scarf showing that he has protected Mikasa as he once did. It seems as though he has entirely missed the point– Eren has always been a bit emotionally dense, especially when it comes to Mikasa. For Eren, the scarf primarily and most importantly represents the time her saved her physically. But for Mikasa, what matters is how he saved her emotionally. Eren’s heart is in the right place, as he is trying, in his own way, to say he truly cares about Mikasa. But Mikasa doesn’t need Eren to protect her, she needs him to be there for her emotionally. I’m interested to see if this dynamic plays out this season and how Eren and Mikasa continue to grow. Regardless, it’s nice to have a quiet character moment in such a plot heavy episode, even if it is more of a setup for future development than anything momentous in and of itself.

But there is only one star in this episode and that is the beast titan! Miche, who volunteers to stay behind to hold off the titans and give the others a head start, is given the dubious honour of first encountering him in all his glory. The design of the titans has always been such a vibrant, varied part of the show, in one moment unsettling, in another goofy and in yet another absolutely terrifying. The beast titan is yet another example of Hajime Isayama’s keen eye for designing unique and startling creatures. So much meaning is packed into his design! His almost ridiculously stocky, square body suggests a terrifying strength. His as of yet unseen 17m height highlights the fact that he can’t be classified under our previous understanding of titans.* His fur sharply distinguishes him from humanity and normal titans but his expressive, humanoid face and piercing, intelligent eyes throws into sharp relief his connection to us, and the threat his intelligence presents. Long ape-like arms combine the bestial with the uncanny while the decision to reference primate anatomy again suggests an uncomfortable proximity to humanity and hints at the theme of evolution. The beast titan is so effectively frightening because he occupies this uncomfortable, liminal space between species, further emphasising the increasingly unstable boundary between titan/beast and human.

It’s only appropriate for this to be the titan that delivers us a bombshell: some titans can talk. AOT has always been about breaking down the divides between monsters and humans, and the implications of this are mind-blowing. This reveal is also perfectly paced, with his first line delivered offscreen as we focus on Miche’s reaction instead. The action of the show itself seems to pause, forcing us to stew in this feeling of disbelief before confirming the origin of the voice. It’s the filmic equivalent of someone saying “is that what I think it is?”, revelling in that moment of incredulous shock. They’ve chosen a great voice too, appropriately ominous and imposing. It’s fair to say I am both terrified and mesmerised by everything about the Beast titan: his design, his voice, his intelligence, the way he can control the titans and how he seems to be studying humanity. As a side note, I want to give a shout out the to the goggle-eyed, big nosed chibi titan. He is disgusting and I love him.

In the end, Miche, shaking off his shock, tries for one last, heroic attack before being devoured under the beast titan’s orders. I will miss you, weird sniffing guy. To be honest, I found this death scene a little too sadistic. While gory deaths are undeniably part of the appeal of AOT and essential to keeping the stakes high and tense, it seems to go on for just a touch too long as we see him being violently torn and bitten apart by several titans. There’s a fine line between impressing the visceral terror of such a death and revelling in the violence thus cheapening the moment. Ultimately though, any opinion on this is intensely personal and, in this case, I won’t definitely rule on whether Miche’s death is tasteful or tasteless.

And now after waiting four long years, a new wait begins for the next episode. It’s going to be a long, long week. See you Sunday!

*Yes, there have been taller titans (colossal ones even) but I think its’ notable that his height of 17m specifically surpasses the typical classifications of titans i.e. 15m titans. **I did not expect to write this much, I will try to keep things more succinct next time

#attack on titan #aot #shingeki no kyojin #snk #anime #review #attack on titan episode 26 #attack on titan season 2

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