Attack on Titan Blind Review – Part 5 (Return to Shiganshina)

One of the greatest story arcs of all time

Attack on Titan has been a really great story up to this point, but this is the arc that has already cemented it as one of my favorites. This arc was everything: interesting, emotional, exciting, and so many other emotions that just sent me on a rollercoaster of a story I wasn’t prepared for. The result was an experience I can call truly unforgettable, and not only lived up the hype, but exceeded it.

The Hypest Battle

This was the most exciting arc so far, not only due to the contents, but the build up it received. Ever since the beginning of the story, this arc was built up. From the fall of Shiganshina, the teasing of the key, the reveal of the Titan traitors, and Eren’s growth throughout the series, it’s all been in service of building up to this one battle. As a result of Isayama’s planning and patience, this battle feels appropriately climatic, and it is in universe, it is for the fate of the country after all. Stakes are only as important as the audience perceives them, the destruction of a city will not seem all that important in a story if you don’t care about anything in it, where as a couple not getting together can feel like the end of the world. This battle wasn’t just high in in-universe stakes, but it was personal for our characters, who have risked everything up until this point just for a chance at seeing the basement.

Isayama absolutely nails the pacing. It devotes the first half to the battle for Shiganshina, and the second to the aftermath, such as the consequences of the battle and the secrets of the basement. This may seem bizarre, as traditional three act structure dictates you dedicate the first quarter to set up, the next two quarters to conflict, then the last quarter is the resolution, however reading this arc Isayama undoubtedly structured it perfectly. For one, the set up has already been done by the other arcs in the story, and the aftermath of the battle is so important that it deserves the time it was given.

And by God this battle was exciting. Every moment in this battle feels impactful, the strategies feel real, and its just exciting. No part of the battle overstays its welcome, and no part felt too short either. Once again this arc uses the excellent build up throughout the story and it takes full advantage. The hype Eren vs Reiner rematch, the intrigue of the Beast Titan, and the Colossal Titan’s connection to Shiganshina all come into play in this battle for excellent payoff.

Most importantly, there are consequences. The already dwindling survey corps are reduced even more, with the especially devastating loss of Commander Erwin. And the enemy isn’t completely defeated either, Levi fails to kill the Beast Titan, and the character’s sympathies allow him to take Reiner back. So not only does the basement itself change everything, but the battle itself feels monumental. In particular, I really like the episode Midnight Sun, where we get the cooldown after the climax, where the characters just have to take in the consequences of the battle now that everything is done, and make the hardest decision of the story so far. Overall, this battle was just fantastic, and got me so hyped throughout.

Scene analysis – The Charge & Levi VS Beast Titan was Phenomenal

Hero is the second highest episode of television ever, and upon viewing, yeah it deserves it. Once again I need to talk about the fall before the rise, because damn this section nails it. There’s this bleak hopelessness in the way Erwin talks with Levi. And when that happens, this story has nailed it in that Erwin and his troops are going to die, so you feel the absolute despair in this scene. Even in Erwin’s speech, as fantastic as it was, hits home the fact that it’s hopeless. It does a fantastic job of putting us in these characters shoes, that they are going to die, and this charge is suicide. So when those soldiers start dying left and right, it hits hard. It even feels real. This scene made me feel exactly what it wanted me to feel, and by the end, not only did I feel despair, I wanted to see the Beast Titan fall.

And then it happens, Zeke sees the titans have fallen, looks up, and there’s Captain Levi, and he absolutely fucks him up. The animation picks up, Matthew Mercer is going fucking hard, and it delivers the most cathartic moment I have ever watched in an anime. I definitely popped off during this scene and I am not afraid to admit that.

EVeryone at their Peak

While a well-written narrative is of course important, characters complete the package, and boy do they complete the package here. By the time this arc was done, I liked every important character in it a lot more. In fact I think the best thing to do is go through every single character and list what I liked.

• This arc might’ve made Erwin my favorite character in the show. We truly got to see the inner depths of his psychology. He’s a devil, but he’s convinced himself he had to be in order to fulfill his ambitions. And he’s convincing with it too, I was ready to charge into battle with him by the end. It’s the conflict between his selfishness and selflessness that really captivated me though, a man who is willing to lead others to his death for his own ambition, but willing to abandon his life if it means humanity’s progression. Just an awesome character.
• LEVI! Far and away the most badass character in the show. Like Erwin, he’s a devil with a dream, and damn is he interesting. Tough and merciless, but as Midnight Sun showed, he can be sentimental. Captivated me throughout, what a fantastic character.
• Armin got the most spotlight he ever has, and he uses it well. The parallels between him and Erwin are becoming increasingly Erwin, but perhaps he doesn’t have to be the devil he was (though we have gotten hints he could be even worse). His confrontation with Bertolt (another character he parallels) was fantastic, and remains one of the best fights in the series.
• Jean is really growing into his role as a leader. I like his dynamic with Armin a lot, where like a good leader, he knows his strengths but also his weaknesses. Despite his arrogant demeanor, he is actually really humble.
• Mikasa is growing into a soldier who doesn’t need to always stay near Eren. She was willing to stay out of Armin and Eren’s plan for the greater good of the battle, and I think that’s great (because God that was getting grating).
• Floch is an interesting character, because he’s right, but out of line. Like Erwin, he seems like he’s willing to become a devil if it means pursuing the truth. I’m sure he’ll get more to do in future arcs, and I’m looking forward to it.
• Bertolt really came into his own this arc. While his arc was pretty much all in the subtext, I’m cool with that, and it even makes him an interesting character. The scene where he instinctively smiles seeing his old friends before he dies, and damn that’s heartbreaking.
• Reiner doesn’t get too much, but I feel he’s similarly tragic to Bertolt. When he says “I don’t want to die” before getting shot by the Thunder Spears, I felt really bad for him.
• Zeke is such a force in this arc. We don’t learn too much about him until the basement, but up until Levi cuts him, he’s the biggest monster in the series so far. And when we do learn about his backstory, it only makes him more interesting. Really excited to see where he goes from here.

And that’s the characters that really stuck out. Others were still great, but they didn’t quite catch my attention like these did. Well there were two more characters you might have noticed, Eren and Grisha. Because it’s finally time to talk about…

The truth of the Basement

Yeah so humans outside the walls weren’t extinct. In fact they are trying to invade Paradis for their resources.

Wait what.

What a bombshell. I didn’t think my expectations for the basement could be meant, be damn was I proven wrong. It really does just explain everything and then some. And the flashback is amazing. Grisha’s life story is just filled with so much to comprehend and take in, it was mind-blowing to experience. Attack Titan? Death in 13 years? War with Marley?! Yeah what an experience.

So what did humanity gain by entering the basement? Was it hope and the light of freedom, or was it a path to even more despair and bloodshed? I have a hard time saying, because we there’s more story yet, but this finally brings me to the ending of this arc, the beach, and Eren.

Conclusion

“If we kill all our enemies over there… will we finally be free?”

I’ve mentioned the poison of Eren Yeager, and to be honest, this scene may be my favorite Eren scene. Eren’s stubborn mindset is one of his defining qualities, that’s what makes him so compelling. So how far is he willing to go for freedom? I can’t say yet, but what I do know is that I’m interested.

This arc was fantastic, from the pacing, action, twists, and incredible characters. I can’t remember the last time I’d give an arc a 10/10, but damn does this arc deserve it. Thank you so much for reading.