Attack on Titan Season 4: Episode 28 FULL LENGTH Reaction!
Added 2022-04-12 13:00:06 +0000 UTCLINK TO REACTION IN YOUTUBE VIDEO DESCRIPTION!
*Headphone Warning*
If Isayama is bound and determined to make us be absolutely HEARTBROKEN for our main trio by the end of this episode and season...mission accomplished! I feel for Mikasa, Eren, and Armin among our crew in this season finale, as we teeter between Mikasa and Eren's perspective.
I truly feel Eren is one of the more tragic and layered characters I've read in a story -- there are parts of him in this episode that I immediately empathize with, and parts of him that are so heartbreaking and frustrating...very "human," right?
I can't believe I MADE IT! I'm all caught up and now on the Struggle Bus with you all as we wait for the FINAL season of this incredible series. It feels surreal.
Thank you for watching with me and for all the support!
Comments
Oohhh, yeah, this scene got me quite a bit. Yeah, Eren’s not the father. Or he shouldn’t be if he was. There was a bit of gaslighting going on and I was not here for it. Whether he actually WOULD or not, it’s still a REALLY low move to even threaten to wipe her memories and is probably one of the most sore spots I have with Eren currently; because of how cruel he is to his friends…to save them? What are they going to think of you once you “save” them if you’re this awful to them now? :( The scene really irks me with his character and the fact that he is willing to manipulate his friends to get his way…it almost undermines the whole reason he’s saving them, right? Just…UGH. It’s frustrating, hahaha!! I do like that idea that Historia regains SOME form of agency in making the decision to get pregnant; to help him but also to spite him? There’s at least THAT, but still…I agree, I’m not particularly happy with Historia’s relegation this season. It makes sense with the narrative he’s created, but it’s still so frustrating at times; the theme of this show, hahaha, but we love it, right? And YES, I absolutely agree that from a writing standpoint, Eren is so much more of a nuanced character and so much more complex…but “better?” This dead-inside man with tragic resolve and seemingly nothing to look forward to but four possible years in the same realm of people he cares about, but with no idea of how those people will even view him after this is over? Yeah. No. It’s friggin’ heartbreaking and I’m nearly sick to my stomach writing about it, here. I’m not sure I’m ready for the ED – I’m waiting for the recap to watch/listen to the lyrics. #_# Great choice, right? Eren’s self-harm is especially hard to watch, too. It’s just putting yourself at the bottom of the barrel and being satisfied; there is a selflessness to it, but it’s just misery at this point. And there’s a lot that I want to say Eren could have changed by choice, but his resolve is so strong and his will to achieve his goal so great, that it’s almost like any other option was never going to work; again, frustration. So many **sad choo choo** noises… NO apologies needed!! :) Wow, that callback to episode 1, huh? INSANITY. And thank you so much for the kind words! I love all our discussions we’ve had with this series and ooooohhh boy…I think I’m going to need the break between now and Part 3, to make sure Whiteboard-kun and I are ready. MORE pain…surely…surely not, right?! @___@ **sad…choo choo noises?**
Romaniablack
2022-04-20 19:02:38 +0000 UTCComment Reply Part 1 -- sorry it's taken me SO long to get back to you -- I've been organizing comments in order of episodes for the recap, so I'm getting to Episode 28 last. :) Oh, and I could NOT pick any other image for this final episode…the three of them together? TOTAL HEARTBREAK. Honestly, I am REALLY excited to watch with you all week-to-week (not ready for the stress of the cliffhangers and the long wait), and Mapp definitely did a great job with this season, so I’m excited for them in Part 3. This season has made me physically sick to my stomach and heart watching…but….that means it did its job, RIGHT?! :) It’s really sad seeing our crew have brief moments of happiness and wonder at the “newness” of Marley, only for Eren to bring back the reality of their mission to crash it all down, at least at the port. The Clown/Levi scene was…OMG. I could not. But then, yeah, memories for Eren have always seemed to be a “negative” thing, which I find FASCINATING, because usually you look at nostalgia with a positive light, but Eren doesn’t get that luxury because of his father’s memories inside him. And YES! Those words by Levi are probably my biggest frustration with Eren’s character – in many stories, the protagonist relies on his friends as a means of support, to share in those simple moments like with the shell and the ice cream. But Eren doesn’t think that it’s possible to even HAVE those moments, so he shuns them away. And it’s friggin’ heartbreaking. Eren is incredibly lonely and should not BE alone, but it’s a loneliness of almost his own design, so…I just want to shake him, haha! But yes, the drinking scene is just emotional damage on a mass scale; showing us these great moments, only to have the weight of what’s to come? T__T And yeah, it’s again, so frustrating that Eren’s the one to reach out first and trust the refugees; maybe because he already knew from the “memories” that they were fine? I definitely agree that Eren hates more the “system” and the way society is constructed in general, which you can’t BLAME him for…but then, just burning it all to the ground with no escape for the innocents caught up in it…well….*sighs* I definitely get why he looks wistfully at Armin and Mikasa in this scene and how he’s gone through the 5 stages of grief with his decision, but it still, again (Isayama why are you so cruel) frustrates me to no end that Eren knows these people are ALL going to die under his decision, but he’s enjoying himself in this moment…I’m glad for Eren to get a moment of SOME normalcy, but knowing that he knows what’s to come? It’s bittersweet and leaves me so sour with Eren’s character…he can be both selfish and selfless, but there are so many characters like that in this series…*SIGHS* Isayamaaaaaa…. I didn’t notice the red tie being a connection to the scarf (MORE PAIN, YAY), but definitely a red string of fate! And YES! Eren doesn’t get that Mikasa can just love him for who he is, because he doesn’t think he’s worth loving…UGH….I want to show him Carla’s flashback with Keith over and over, hahaha! But it’s so damn tragic. I also wanted to shake Mikasa from running away from her answer, but like you said, these characters haven’t had a childhood, much less the time to mature and grow emotionally proper, so her answer makes sense, but still….*rolls on floor in frustration* The conversation with Zeke is so damn tragic, too, because Eren doesn’t believe she could just LOVE him…and poor Zeke, matchmaker bro, just views it as a chance to grow closer and give some advice to his baby brother….*hits hands against wall* Honestly, until this episode, I wasn’t on board with the Eren and Mikasa ship, because I hadn’t seen enough of Mikasa’s thoughts in relation to Eren (she’s so quiet in the anime, which has me excited for her in the manga), but now, after this episode, I want her to take the stupid scarf, march up to that Billy Eilish lookin terror, and confess her love to Eren regardless of the consequences…
Romaniablack
2022-04-20 18:37:41 +0000 UTCMy friend gave me that mug for Christmas many years back and I honestly don't use it ENOUGH. That may need to change, but yessss, now the WAIT. @_@ I can't believe I've caught up! And seriously, we get the briefest of happy moments to just be reminded of PAIN halfway through. Eren's journey has been insane and leaps and bounds where I thought he'd be as a protagonist in this series from the start. I love how "ensemble" this cast has become for the series, and it's honestly NEEDED at this point. Thank you for the playlist links, too! That's awesome! As much pain and trauma as there were for Eren and Mikasa this episode, it was nice for Conny and the others to get moments as well. And seriously, I'm sour with Zeke, but I do miss him from the series...him and Floch have an...odd place held in my heart, that's for sure! And SERIOUSLY, someone just give Reiner a hug NOW and get it over with. :) But yeah, they all need hugs. And ahahahaha, I mean, I will probably still stay away from fan art and fan fic unless it's Levi x Erwin or Kenny x Uri, because...most of those characters are dead, so no spoilers there, right? *nervous laugh* Thank you so much for the kind words and comment!
Romaniablack
2022-04-19 18:03:51 +0000 UTCOoohh, thank you for the links to the OST! :D :D
Romaniablack
2022-04-19 17:49:08 +0000 UTCOH MY GOD....a tiny attack titan bony booty...this cannot be unseen, Sascha! ^^ And oooh, I really like that idea of how "time" is viewed from both Mikasa and Eren's perspective -- safe to say that Eren's concept of time and his narrative may be a bit more warped (whether intentionally to keep him moving forward or not). Interesting! I'm glad you pointed that out! Sorry for the wait getting back to your comment!! Thank you for pointing that out!
Romaniablack
2022-04-19 17:46:41 +0000 UTCRight?! And so our watch begins, eh! Sorry for taking so long to get back -- I've been trying to organize my comments for the Recap in order of Episodes (26, 27, 28, so I'm getting to these last). :) But YES, being able to watch in REAL TIME with you all is going to be such a TREAT (while simultaneously nerve-wracking)! Ooooh, yeah, the ranking of these episodes is going to be....hoo buddy. And the RECAP. Yeah, I'm going to need the entirety of AOT Jr. High to help plan for that! :) But I'm soooo excited to watch it and then dive into a new series while we wait until the manga/Season 4 Part 3 reactions! :) Thanks for the comment and kind words! Let the hiatus begin!
Romaniablack
2022-04-18 14:16:02 +0000 UTCPart 2 of this season is DEFINITELY a mixed bag, I agree! MUCH different than the first part, which was a solid, fluid narrative -- here, things get...complicated, just like the paths, right?! For me, and I'll talk about it in the recap, I feel Isayama is trying to make ALL parties in the right and wrong, and to be justified and also be doing actions that can cause someone to view them negatively -- it's like he is actively trying to tear his audience into factions based on who we support, leading to some moments that are uncomfortable, nearly intentionally! I agree with the "can't quite put my finger on it" feeling, and I have a suspicion it's going to get worse as we go towards the "climax" of this series! I do appreciate that we concluded with enough material to fill in some of the gaps that were absent this season! And yeah, rounding out the season showing some happiness with our crew...before we cut back to the doom and gloom! T_T Thank you for the comment!
Romaniablack
2022-04-16 21:01:53 +0000 UTCYesssss, the timeline is THERE and now I just get to piece it together for the recap, ha ha ha! @_@ Should be fun, right, but the flashback, getting into Eren's head space, everything...it was such a build up and we still have SO MUCH left to cover! @_@ Insanity! I can't wait, but now we HAVE to wait...I'm on the struggle bus with you all! The wait is going to be killer, but will be so worth it! :D :D :D Thanks for the kind words!!
Romaniablack
2022-04-16 13:52:11 +0000 UTCHAHAHA! That would have been the BEST cut to the OP! XD Fantastic! haahahaha
Romaniablack
2022-04-15 14:26:41 +0000 UTCThank you so much!! It's been INSANITY, right?! And its not over...oof...And so our watch begins! ;)
Romaniablack
2022-04-14 22:29:39 +0000 UTCI was wondering that, too -- some of the commenters were talking about Mikasa and Co. committing war crimes by killing the Jaegerists, and if that's the case, I'd have to lump in Falco with that as well *shrugs* :D
Romaniablack
2022-04-13 19:40:30 +0000 UTCI would still argue he hasn't though, seeing as though the Jaegerists are combatants in the midst of war, but I still have to look up the whole willfull killing thing
Maia Brodsky
2022-04-13 12:52:28 +0000 UTCYeah, I was including his actions as the Jaw Titan, killing the Jaegerists! Hahaha, before then, I'd say we could have argued he hadn't.
Romaniablack
2022-04-13 11:59:16 +0000 UTCSamuel Kim's AOT Season 4 Soundtrack (My most played I just put it on when I'm cleaning & it makes cleaning feel more epic)😂⭐https://youtu.be/AQKqTI5a4_0
Nyjae
2022-04-13 03:02:20 +0000 UTCSamuel Kim's AOT Epic Music Collection⭐🙌🏽😎 https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9PLUrw0CbcRbxo9kzgkbe0rB9CjvigOI
Nyjae
2022-04-13 02:59:20 +0000 UTCI NEED THAT MUG!!🙌🏽⭐It's huge!! Yay you've caught up!! Let the wait begin😅This was a beautiful journey ptsd included. Ngl this season was very hard to watch especially seeing how happy they were in the flashback knowing that isn't how things are now😭Eren's journey has definitely been one of my favorites in the series. I never thought his character would be where he is & it's just amazing. Sad but amazing that this is the character we've been following & that he's been this way from the start. Of course with the traumatic experience only enhanced that but honestly all of our characters have grown so much. I especially loved the focus on Armin, Mikasa, Jean & Conny. Even Keith. So many POV that held so much weight. The cast, VA were amazing, soundtrack was stunning. Now that your caught up with the anime I highly recommend checking out Samuel Kim's AOT Covers. Specifically his playlist. He updates daily as the anime is on air & the combinations of mixing songs from Season 1 to now. He's amazing. I would send a link but Patreon can be iffy when I send links idk I'll probably try later. This finale was so much more. I just wanted an update on Eren & the rumbling & we got this fluff💙while the tension was building with Eren in a daze. I loved seeing Mikasa's regrets & her perspective of seeing the signs in the first half of the episode & over to Eren's pov in the second half with all the tie ins we had questions about but never thought we'd see. I'm very excited to see aot junior high, I keep forgetting to check it out so it'll be fun to watch it with u & the recap is going to be insane lol wishing you all the luck in breaking everything down. My mind is breaking thinking about every character. Here's to part 3 in a year or so. Also Jean & Conny were huge highlights for me especially Conny. I've loved Jean since the beginning so to see how he's grown has been a light to see but Conny, I've been waiting for more of him & made peace with him possibly not getting more development. Isayama really gave it to us!!! I'm so happy for Conny & Conny fans. I mean he's going through it rn but I've been wanting more with him & he's honestly become S tier for me this season. The frustration, Pain & hopefulness he felt in Part 1 was only enhanced this season. I'm just so happy he's coming into his own & the rest of the gang. Amazing. I have so many thought about everyone but I'll probably go more into it in the recap. Never thought I'd like Zeke & now I like him (Just a bit lol I'm still sour about him killing majority of our scouts) but I loved his dynamic with Eren in him genuinely wanting to protect him which I never thought I'd see that side to him. Including the scenes with Eren & Grisha. Huge highlights. Amazing season & Finale. Hopefully Reiner gets a hug next season. They all need one. I love them all so much. Also yay you can hesitantly read fanfic & see fan art lol😂😎alrighty have a goodnight/day.
Nyjae
2022-04-13 02:53:53 +0000 UTCMight still be true actually.
Maia Brodsky
2022-04-13 01:39:51 +0000 UTCI don't hink Falco has committed any war crimes. Edit: I meant prior to episode 27 lol, that's a whole separate debate.
Maia Brodsky
2022-04-13 01:33:19 +0000 UTCI think the woman in the vision was wearing Garrison stuff though, and Nifa was in Hange's squad, so she was definitely a Scout.
Maia Brodsky
2022-04-13 01:26:08 +0000 UTCThe Implication of a Little Booty The vast majority of Eren's form seems to be his ribcage, with us seeing his hanging front half. And though we cant be sure, assuming this is a full titian form, it implies that there's a little Attack Titian booty hanging at the back end. With that possibility we must ask, does it wiggle as he tries to move forward? We may never know. Alright back to seriousness. One thing that I think is fascinating, that you didn't bring up in your review, is the implied perspective on time through Eren and Mikasa's contrasting retrospectives. Mikasa reminisces almost entirely linearly and from her own perspective. While Eren appears to take His and Ymir's memories equally, while remembering events totally out of order in a way that makes a coherent narrative for himself. It makes me wonder how actually conscious he is at this moment, and if the founders full power is a lot more difficult to use then just a command. That maybe the only thing keeping him going is that narrative he's telling himself over and over again through stitching together his and others memories.
Sascha
2022-04-12 23:53:50 +0000 UTCEren: Mikasa, what am I to you? Mikasa: Youre ... family. RUMBLING OP PLAYS
Matthew B
2022-04-12 21:42:24 +0000 UTCYey, congrats on catching up! What a good point to end Part 2 at, when I initially found out that it will end a chapter earlier than expected I wasn’t quite sure of the impact that’d have but my expectations were exceeded. The long wait commences… and the hiding from spoilers continues :( the exciting part is that you will be catching up with the manga at some point and that will be a nice build up to Part 3. It’s hard to choose a favourite episode from this season as a whole as it’s just been outstanding but this is definitely top 5 in the list 😀 from S4 overall. I really like your commentary on Eren’s character and there is a lot to talk about when it comes to him and how his current behaviour has been foreshadowed quite well since the beginning. Interesting to see the recap which oh boy 😀 I suspect will be long and detailed! Great reaction and discussion as usual, looking forward to AOT Junior High for some fun times and of course new and exciting reactions
Paco_Stil
2022-04-12 19:04:57 +0000 UTC“You can. Because you’re the “worst girl in the world” who saved me back then.” Alright. *crack knuckles* now to talk about THAT Eren and Historia scene. If anyone needed confirmation that Historia wouldn’t pick Eren to be the father of her child.. this scene is it 😂 Not that I ever really took the theory seriously while I was reading the manga but this chapter definitely confirmed it for me. Yeah … if anyone thinks that Historia would pick this man who is heavily manipulating her and gaslighting her. SUUUURREEEE. Holy moly. Big yikes. It’s kinda heinous and cruel what happens in this scene. This scene proves why Eren did not tell Armin and Mikasa and co. because if this is how Historia reacted to plan than you can imagine how the rest of them would if Eren had just told them. Like I said he had to manipulate and gaslight her to go along with it. Reminding her and of the things she said back in 3x7 “I’m starting to hate humanity! Let ‘em get wiped out by the Titans!”. “I’m the worst girl who ever lived.” But she even says herself “Th-That’s was only ‘cuz I got carried away” in 3x11. She said that in the heat of the moment but he still used that statement against her. He’s almost making her semi responsible for the path that he is on and making her take partial ‘blame’ for what is about to happen. And when she tries to bite back he threatens her with taking her memories away so she could be more ‘at peace’. It’s really awful stuff. To be honest though it would be heavily ooc for Eren to wipe memories. I think it was more of a threat to Historia alone. Particularly as he needed her quiet up to the point that he could unleash the Rumbling. Its’s more dangling that thought in her head. Eren needed her cooperation in this Rumbling plan because if she decided to go along with the military’s plan than Eren would have been fucked. We don’t fully know how much of the future that Eren had at this point but I think we can definitely say that he NEEDED Zeke alive for it. It’s interesting how much he values freedom when he is willing to take and trample on the freedom of others. “Rather than letting someone steal my freedom. I’ll steal theirs first.” - 4x20. Even if it’s a friend like Historia. It’s such a tragedy for Historia as you can tell she is trying to live by what Ymir told her to do. To live a life that she can be proud of. That’s why I do like how they adapted her final line. Her expression and tone has this sorrowful acceptance and even a bit of determination. It’s like she’s saying “Well if I can’t stop him than at least I can have some kind of agency in what I should do.” And so she goes and finds someone from her childhood. It finally explains more of why she has been in the shadows. A part of me is still not completely happy with Isayama’s decision with Historia. We’ve talked before about this trope of a female character having to become pregnant in the endgame and then just gets pushed aside in the narrative. To be honest though he would have had to completely rewrite his story to put her into the ending so I can understand the decision. It makes narrative sense. I personally have always felt that her character had her arc/conclusion in the Uprising arc. But still it’s a shame none the less. “When did it all begin? Back then? No…It doesn’t matter.” A line that was missed out in the anime for Eren was “set in stone”. So yes it did not matter when it first began because his path was always set in stone. By himself. By his choice. We’ve constantly brought up the fact that Eren is the least free person in this story and it’s really cemented here. The boy chased freedom without realising that it was not tangible for him. Even if he performs the full extent of the Rumbling he only has four years left. This choice of his IS his own agency at work but the fact that he is BOUND to it almost. Bound by his own self. You almost can’t call it free will. It’s the absolute tragedy of him as a person. I will never fully understand people who think Eren is ‘improved’ at this stage of the story compared to his younger self. Although from a purely literacy level I do agree because I’m literally writing an essay about him in your comments right now 😄 He’s much more complicated of a character now … but as a person? This sad, lonely teenage boy? THIS is an improvement? It’s nothing but sad to me. I would disagree with you on the crying side of Eren. Eren was known as the crybaby protagonist for a long time. He was incredibly emotional and passionate and I miss that boy. I mourn him in a way. That’s why the ED for this season and it’s lyrics fuck me up soo much. Anytime I see young Eren it makes me cry. Also interesting note but the young thief was in fact in his memory shards in 4x19 and he seemed particularly curious about him in this episode too. What saddens me greatly is the scene of him taking his leg and gouging his eye out. It’s just another layer of his self worth at work. The mutilation of his own body almost feels like a punishment. His self loathing turning into self harm. It also greatly reinforces to us the absolutely terrifying resolve he has. This is somebody who could break his friend’s hearts and turn himself away from them. All for their freedom. But what about yours Eren? I’m really realising now how long this is! 😂 I sincerely apologise but hey we’ve got a year to wait so might as well finish this off with a bang! The fact that this episode ends with the music of season 1 (particularly episode 1) the flashbacks of the smiling Titan, the shot of 3 soldiers backs looking up at the colossal titans, and the shot of a huge shadowed figure looming over a town … we really have come full circle from the very beginning of the show. Same imagery but soo much more terrifying. Speaking of same imagery .. once again we have an identical timestamp of 23:13! Both in 1x1 and 4x28 it’s the shot of Eren looking on at his mum getting eaten. 👏 CINEMA PEOPLE 👏 Also love that Mappa continued with Isayama’s tradition with his art in this lil flashback. Isayama has a habit of drawing Eren in flashback moments in much more twisted almost grotesque detail as the manga goes on. As if the events, moments and Eren himself are getting recontextualised as the story reaches its end. I’ve said this before but it’s been a real joy going on this journey with you! Personally cannot wait for those manga discussion! If you thought my comments were long now 😄 and hope whiteboard-kun is ready for part 3! Because … oh boy it’s gunna be pain. But what else can we expect ay!
Sacha
2022-04-12 17:53:26 +0000 UTCBefore I start THANKS for my emotional damage caused by that thumbnail. This trio really messes me up 😭 Annnnnnd you made it! 🎉 Now you just have the gruelling task of waiting for the final part. Mappa have absolutely exceeded my expectations with the adaption of Isayama’s work and I have complete faith that they will continue to do an amazing job. Season 4 part 2 is actually the first time I have given the AOT anime a 10 on MAL. All the others have been 9 (apart from season 1 and season 3 part 1 which I gave 8). I was waiting for how 4x28 would go but I was pretty sure on my score going into the episode and I was proven correct! You should of seen the crying mess I was watching this episode and the giddyness that I had at the end part with how they adapted it. Still had a few issues with this season but overall this part 2 is one of the best experiences I’ve had with anime and adaptations. Now…. Where to even start with this incredible episode. “Stick with the group. Especially you.” The first half of this episode really feels like the spiritual successor of 3x22. The beach scene. Everyone is enjoying themselves and trying to live in the moment … and Eren just … can’t. This whole first half feels incredibly bittersweet just like them at the beach because they have been deprived of this. The fact that they are soo giddy at cars and ice cream is on one side heartwarming but it’s always with that bitterness because they are 18 years olds who were never able to have ‘normals lives’ and never had these simple pleasures. As for the adults .. well Levi now has a phobia of clowns I suppose 😂 and at least Hange had a moment to be the absolute goofball that they are. But for Eren *sigh* …even ice cream is a symbol of oppression for him. The ‘newness’ of everything has been tainted for him due to getting Grisha’s memories. It just another thing to add to the list of things that have been taken from him. You want him to at least try and enjoy these moments and he does come round to doing that later in the day but it’s just too painful for him. The ice cream feels like Mikasa’s seashell moment. She is finding joy in the simple things that she has discovered and tries to bring Eren into that joy. The quote that I used for this section from Levi feels very appropriate. Eren is incredibly lonely in season 4 and in an ideal world he would confide all his fears to the group and stick together … but it sadly can’t be. But you know what is PEAK emotional damage? It’s the drinking scene. I have been waiting for this to get animated and it did not disappoint. Bringing back the track ‘MAHLE’, the same one used at the post credit scene of 3x19, was a stroke of genuis. The final moment of happiness for our 104th before everything fell apart and splintered. I was an absolute mess at this scene and I’m getting kinda emotional again writing about it now. What’s also beautiful about this moment is that these refugees have lost their homes but they welcome these outsiders into their space to thank them and to just enjoy a moment of time with them. A celebration of just living and meeting new people. A new culture. They don’t speak each other’s languages but that doesn’t stop everyone here from having a good time. It’s usually the people who have less that know the value of giving to strangers. Because they more than anyone understand having nothing. Funny how that works. The fact that people who have more are less inclined to welcome people into their space or lend a hand or in this case a celebration. I love how it’s Eren whose the most trusting and accepting of these new people and is the one to take the first step. It just illustrates that his hatred is not centred around a particular group of people or race. His hatred to the outside world and humanity is far larger and more complex than to be amounted to races. Which I think some people get confused by thinking that he hates Marleyans when the events of season 4 part 1 prove that that isn’t true. And so he chooses THIS particular moment to finally enjoy himself, after he talked with Mikasa which I’ll get to in a bit. He chooses to enjoy it rather than be depressed by it. It feels like his entire journey these 3/4 years after kissing Historia’s hand have been the 5 stages of grief. Denial ,anger, bargaining, depression and finally acceptance. And so he looks on at Armin and Mikasa and accepts that he is doing this for them. For all of his friends. To live long, happy lives. THEY are the ones most precious to him. Why would he ever make them accomplishes to genocide plan? He couldn’t let them follow down his path with him. To turn them into monsters. Look at the way Eren looks at Armin and Mikasa here. He is both selfish and selfless and that’s the beauty of Eren’s character. It’s beautiful and cruel. “Mikasa. Why do you care so much about me?” “What am I to you?” MORE EMOTIONAL DAMAGE. And the fact that instead of Mikasa’s red scarf we instead have Eren’s red tie … just keep giving me the red string of fate references for them. Cruel and beautiful once again. What’s incredibly sad about this moment is that Eren has no self worth (something that has been ever present since the beginning) and only sees his worth through his actions. While Mikasa loves him unconditionally for who he really is, which he can’t bring himself to understand. This is the main source of their miscommunication. His self loathing leaves him unable to view Mikasa’s affection as genuine. The fact that he actually has to ask her “Why do you care so much about me?” highlights just how low he thinks of himself. The fact that he knows what travesties he is going to cause “Nothing yet.” And needs to ask Mikasa this question is heartbreaking. The fact that he knows he is going commit world level extinction and still can’t understand why a girl likes him just goes to show how much of a child Eren at heart is still. The world they lived in didn’t give anyone in the 104th (or any of our cast) the emotional maturity to deal with feelings that will inevitably show up. They’ve spent most of their life trying to get their home back and have come to the realisation that those childhood days together are gone. They’ve had to grow up far too quickly but in doing that it has stunted them and given them no chance to consider romantic love. And so since they haven’t had that time to develop emotional maturity means that Eren just puts her on the spot looking for escapism and worthiness in the eyes of someone he loves. And in turn Mikasa in her shock avoids the question and her true answer. Which leads well into the conversation he has with Zeke in this epsiode. Where the audience finally gets the onscreen confirmation that the table scene was all bullshit of Eren’s part. But what’s the devastating part about it is that he had to question Zeke about the Ackermans. He was soo confused that a girl could love him that he questions her free will. Like he thinks he’s such a monster that there’s no way that she can love him just because of who he is. When Zeke questions him about what he will say to her he replies “What are you talking about? I’ve got four years to live, at best” it’s soo unbelievably sad because in any other life he would of had the freedom to pursue a life with Mikasa. But because of the cruelty of their situation and this world he decides to keep moving forward with this plan. You can really feel his sadness and regret in his conversation with Zeke. Side note - Zeke is really sweet in this scene. He really was robbed of being a good, fun, big brother to Eren. It’s the first time that he looks really genuinely invested in connecting with somebody in his adult life. When it comes to Mikasa it’s incredibly tragic that she feels she could have done more. “Back then, what if I had … given him a different answer? Would things have ended up this way?” I think people can simplify this statement too much and think that Mikasa believes that if she told Eren she’s in love with them than the Rumbling wouldn’t happen but that’s not really all that she’s saying. She’s not that naive. She more sorrowful at the fact that she wasn’t true to herself, just like you talked about it your discussion, and that MAYBE the events and pain of the past year leading up to the Rumbling could have been avoided if she reached out to him. Eren’s question to her is very similar to his question at the beach. He’s looking for something else maybe… it also reminds me of Bert in 2x11 “Someone please find us”. This relationship really messes me up. I’ve always adored Mikasa and Eren together and their story really is just a big tragedy. She loves him enough to rip apart Titans for him and to see the kindness and home/warmth in him and he loves her enough to destroy the whole world…
Sacha
2022-04-12 17:52:48 +0000 UTCAnd now you have your full timeline, I know you love that stuff, and as I told you in Brave volunteers that there are some major elements to get so you have the whole trajectory.. and here it is. Also Eren’s head space finally open to us What’s wonderful is with all what has been revealed and all the falsh backs , there are still some major revelations to come.. it is not over 😄 I loved the reaction Romania, and gonna watch the discussion now before probably writing my essay comment 😂😂
Be Happy
2022-04-12 17:01:04 +0000 UTCCongrats on catching up Romania! It really has been one hell of a ride, but of course, it ain't over yet!
Loco Logic
2022-04-12 16:08:18 +0000 UTCAs I am still at work , I didn’t have the opportunity to watch you yet, but know this I absolutely thought of you when I watched the Eren/Mikasa exchange, i thought you are gonna like it 🥰 and what can I say about this episode a part epic finale for an epic season ! One of the best season of anything I have seen!! And that musical callback to ep 1 in the end!! God it was so good!! Well I am gonna enjoy watching you lose it 😝
Be Happy
2022-04-12 14:58:06 +0000 UTCI really love this episode, especially the music choices, definitely the best episode of the second half of P2 imo. I hate to say it but I've found this second half of part 2 to be a bit of a mixed bag, there's some episodes here that just feel off. On one hand I can't help but feel something isn't quite right, yet I can't deny that everything that happens still unfolds in a way that's logical and consistent with everything that's been built up. Can't quite put my finger on why exactly that is, but I'm glad they concluded this part with such a good episode. You get tons of flashback material to fill in some gaps and a lot of thematic development. Being where we currently are, it was nice to see some happiness among our favorite characters, even if it also makes things now hurt even more as a result
Albertan Motorcyclist
2022-04-12 13:48:09 +0000 UTCFOR NOW, thank goodness! Thank you all so much for joining me this far (and keeping me spoiler free!) -- I'm excited for the final part, though I'm not sure my soul will be able to take it! At least there's AOT goodness to come while we wait! :)
Romaniablack
2022-04-12 13:44:22 +0000 UTCYessss!
Romaniablack
2022-04-12 13:43:45 +0000 UTCIt’s here 💪🏼😢😢
Be Happy
2022-04-12 13:35:26 +0000 UTCAnd we're at the end (for now). Thanks, Romania, it was fun going through this story with you!
cw
2022-04-12 13:18:52 +0000 UTC
