The best part of Attack on Titan season 2 is its first five Eren-free episodes.
And then in episode 6, “Warrior,” the Scouts have a conversation with Eren similar to the one that takes place in season 1 episode 24, “Mercy: Assault on Stohess, Part 2.” In S1, the Scouts suggest that Annie is a Titan, and Eren vehemently denies the accusation. Of course, we know his Titan fight with Annie is season 1’s epic conclusion. Season 2 begins by re-introducing audiences to a different Scout contingent that includes characters briefly introduced in season 1, except for Ymir; she’s new, and at least for S2, serves as a conduit for audiences to learn more about Krista and her true identity, “Historia.” Unfortunately, as with Eren’s basement and Annie’s crystalized state, I will have to wait at least another season for AOT to unveil the connections.
By the end of S2, Ep4, “Soldier,” Ymir transforms into a Titan to fight other Titans, led by the “Beast” Titan. By the end of S2 Ep5, “Historia,” Hange Zoë’s Scout contingent arrives to save Ymir in Titan from being overwhelmed as the Beast Titan observes. After disobeying Zoë’s orders, Eren slays his first Titan via ODM gear. Most important here, is that Eren not only witnesses Ymir’s post-Titan state, but escorts the battered Scouts to the wall, who commiserate on what went down. Eren couldn’t have missed a detail.
Returning to S2 Ep6, Eren is once again part of an intervention-style conversation. Once more, a superior officer (Zoë) insinuates that infiltrator Titans besides Annie could be posing as soldiers. Eren rejects this idea again!!! Despite his awareness that his ability to transform into a Titan is not exclusive to him, Eren remains obstinate.
Okay, I now question author Hajime Isayama’s judiciousness. He has characterized Eren as a sociopath. His inability to comprehend the dynamics of the phenomena taking place around him after someone explains the trending events to him twice would be embarrassing to those who are not neurodivergent. Eren:
-is an impulsive ragaholic who acts without considering the consequences
-is unable to form emotional bonds. Armin and Mikasa are Erin’s friends, but the level of investment in their friendship definitely does not favor Eren. (In fact, his friends enable him; Mikasa is in Manic Pixie Dream Girl territory right now.)
-lacks remorse for actions that result in collateral damage.
Eren telling Reiner in his face that he could not be the Armored Titan is so stupid that it astonishes the latter. I would call it bold if it were not so imbecilic. At least Mikasa realizes the danger and intervenes before the big fight breaks out. True to character, when Eren transforms, one of the first things he does is punch the Armored Titan in its face. Of course he obliterates his hand while doing so.
Dumbass.
Only after his rage fit does he remember a sparring lesson that Annie teaches him in S1, which the audience does not see in Ep4. While I enjoy flashbacks whose purpose expands on the lore, Attack on Titan habitually conceals critical narratorial elements and discloses them when it sees fit. Sometimes, the audience receives character background; other times, AOT engages in deus ex machina, such Eren “recalling” Annie teaching Eren the MMA move when he clearly cannot win a fistfight. Had we seen this in S1 when the Scouts were at training camp, Eren’s remembrance of it in S2 would demonstrate a minimal level of character growth through realizing that he can’t punch his way out of everything. Instead, the audience experiences something resembling a retcon. I find this style of hiding information and pulling it out as a gotcha or ah-ha moment, lazy storytelling. AOT gives the impression that Isayama was making it up as he goes.
The grand scale of the fight scene between Eren and the Armored Titan is supposed to distract the audience from everything I have mentioned so far, but I refuse to cheer for a rage monster. Dude yells and screams to the point of incoherence. It’s giving toxic masculinity. And yes, that means I’m watching the dub. I know that’s sacrilege for anime purists, but I’m a filthy casual who tolerates annoying anime tropes to get through.
I didn’t think a hard-headed protagonist who never learns is an anime trope, but it certainly describes Eren. After the Annie revelation in S1 Ep24, I would hope that Eren would be open-minded. Somehow, he is still married to the idea that no fellow soldiers could be traitors.
Clown.
Going forward, unless Eren exhibits a remarkable development phase in his character, I am going to focus on other characters and themes for my own sanity, and that of those who reads Blerd Beats. In the meantime, Zoë still rocks, as does Erwin Smith. Armin is a push for now.
You know who does not rock? Mikasa.
That’s right, I’m downgrading her. She was giving Manic Pixie Dream Girl vibes in season 1, when she thought Eren was dead and gave up fighting. Season 2 cements that she’s totally thirsty for Eren, and he is her only purpose to live. What a shame, what a waste. Imagine giving your man the googly eyes and he’s too busy ripping into the side of his hand. Your friends would be looking at you with stank face like, HIM? That’s the one you chose? If you like it, I love it, I guess.
Blerd Beats 