Now we’re getting somewhere. I suppose Hajime Isayama conceived the first two seasons of Attack on Titan (and whatever the equivalent book #’s in the manga) to attract audiences with action. They were satisfactory. Season 3, however, engages with political and historical intrigue, and I am now engaged. S3’s info dump advances the AOT story further than anything presented within seasons 1 and 2 combined. In fact, there’s so much plot development that I would recommend dividing s3 into three acts for discussion.
S3A1, ep1-10: I wouldn’t argue if some fans consider ep10-11 as part of act 2. Ep10 “Friends” and ep11 “Bystander” are interludes after the Scout Regiment defeats Rod Reiss as a Pure Titan and before reclaiming Wall Maria. “Friends” adds additional detail about the Reiss royal family through Kenny’s perspective, while “Bystander” adds additional detail to Grisha Yeager’s origin within the walls, though the act 3 episodes render its revelations deficient if not completely irrelevant. So far, “Bystander” is the closest to a “filler” episode I’ve experienced through my AOT watch.
S3A2, ep11-18: I also would not argue if fans consider ep18 as part of act 3. Ep18, “Midnight Sun” places an exclamation mark on the season. While I consider ep17 “Hero” season 3’s climax, I view ep18 more like ep17.5 if such a thing exists; Bertolt the Colossal Titan dies so Armin can live. The Beast and Armored Titans escape to fight another day.
S3A3, ep19-22: Finally, we get to investigate the basement! And indeed, it’s no wonder why Isayama withholds this information until season 3. The Eldian King Fritz Professor X’ing the minds and memories of his kingdom, suppressing the cognitions of a revenge war against the Marleyans. For the last 100 years, Mareley has conscripted Eldian prisoners as soldiers in a proxy war against what remains of the Eldian nation, and for almost as long, Eldians in the Scout Regiment defended themselves by killing Titans, unknowing they are their own people until now.
Diabolical.
How Mareley keeps Eldians underfoot parallels more than the treatment of Jews in Nazi Germany. Indeed, the arm sleeves correspond with WWII Star of David badges, but Marleyan erasure of Eldian history likewise resembles how the US conditioned African slaves and assimilated First Nations. Eldian Restorationists channel both the Underground Railroad and an imagined revolution where the indigenous, rightful heirs to the land collaborate to overthrow their oppressors. Or this seems to be Isayama’s grand design based on the disclosures thus far.
However, it remains unclear to me how Mareley subdued Eldia when the latter wields the power of the Titans. I am content with waiting to see how Isayama brings everything together. For now, Grisha inherits the power of the Attack Titan from the Owl and uses that power to usurp the Founding Titan from the royal family tracks. The royals—that is, the Reiss line—are subject to King Fritz’s Will, which prevents them from using the Founding Titan’s power to liberate Eldia. If the person who possesses the power of the Nine Titans dies after 13 years, it makes sense that after Grisha commits regicide, he passes along the power of both the Attack Titan and the Founding Titan to Eren.
I’m somewhat satisfied with the explanation that King Fritz deterred Mareley from pursuing the Eldians by concealing Titans within the walls. I’m sure there will be more to come of that, but I now know that another royal family exists: the Fritzes. Dina Fritz in Titan form eating her husband’s new wife is a line that might satisfy a scorned divorcee under normal circumstances. Here, it’s grotesque (and still diabolical).
I don’t care about this whole interconnectedness of the Titans. I do not look forward to Isayama making sense of how the Owl—Eren Kruger—knows that Armin and Mikasa exist, or will exist. Or have existed. AOT has lived up to the hype so far, and I dread watching it trip up on some convoluted narrative.
At least I know from where Eren got his name. Ymir, too, technically, though why she shares a name with the First Titan remains unclear. Addressing her further, AOT reveals that Ymir was a feral Titan before she ate a member of Reiner’s group which included Bertolt and Annie. When she absorbed the memories of those who possessed this unnamed Titan’s power, she decided to just go into hiding. Abstain. Reject the idea that “with great power comes great responsibility.” But overhearing the Wall Priests discuss a bastard royal joining the Scout Regiment piqued her curiosity. Meeting Historia spurred her to take action. Hopefully, Isayama will insert more retrospective narrations involving Ymir in s4 like he did with Annie in s3 so I won’t feel tempted to search wikis and end up spoiling myself while filling in the gaps.
I say “Reiner’s group” because he strikes me as the leader of the Eldian infiltration party before the Beast Titan—his possessor remaining unnamed—sets him straight while Bertolt, who allegedly hosts the most powerful Titan, has yet to find his spine. Since I know Marley produces feral Titans out of Eldians, what kind of leverage does Marley have over those who wield the power of the Nine such that they wish to retrieve the Founding Titan/Coordinate on behalf of Marley rather than liberate themselves? The Beast and his Quadrupedal Titan ally seem to be interested in the same goals, but under different orders and/or methodology? Again, more to come.
I still don’t understand why the government Council would send Kenny to kill Historia and her mom. Were they aware that Grisha had killed all of Rod’s children? I think Isayama intended for this story element to radicalize Historia. Rod doesn’t care for her any more than her mother did, but he returns only when his legitimate children are dead, so Historia becomes part of his emergency plan. Isayama just doesn’t deliver this retrospective cleanly.
Rod claims he must not transform into a Titan. Again, Isayama is fuzzy on the details here. At first, I considered his fear of the thirteen-year rule, but it may not apply to members of the royal family. Uri lives for far longer than thirteen years before he passes the Founding Titan to Freida Reiss. Historia calls him a coward for not performing the inheritance ritual himself. Could be an Occam’s razor moment, but that’s not satisfying. I’m also wondering why the Reiss family placed a false King Fritz on the throne instead of direct rule.
As I transition into s4, I’m now counting the Titans. Among the nine, I have seen the Attack Titan, the Colossal Titan, the Armored Titan and the Beast Titan. Ymir’s Titan lacks a name, and for now I will call the Beast TItan’s friend the Quadrupedal Titan. Technically, Eren also represents the Founding Titan, totaling seven Titans. At least two more are to be discovered!
For character updates, Commander Irwin is a G. It’s unfortunate he had to go, but considering the revelations in s3, I think the Scout Regiment and his tactical genius are now unnecessary. Eldians just out in the streets casually reading revelations found in the basement while he dies in ignorance sucks.
As for Captain Levi:
Then I’ll make the decision for you. Give up on your dream and charge to your death. Lead those crying children straight to hell.”
NUFF SAID!
Should I assume a superficially contrarian position, I would maintain that Hange Zoë is a better character than Levi. Eren’s bipolarism disqualifies him from being likable; Levi’s cool, nonchalant demeanor combined with his “Ackermann blood” makes him too obvious a choice. Hange, though, has more range. Smart. Savage. Savvy. Sexy? IDK just throwing another adjective beginning with “S” in there, but I do find intelligent women fascinating; and if Irwin and Armin aren’t monopolizing all the explanations, Hange is the next woman up.
Is Mikasa even in this season? Yeah, she is. Barely. If she’s not simping for Eren, she ain’t got nothing to say, nothing to do.Except for her startled reaction when Levi mentions what Kenny told him about the power of the Ackermann clan, she’s not even a whole character, but a shell.
In contrast to Mikasa, Historia becomes THAT GIRL. I admire her maturation from s2 to s3 after her interactions with Ymir. She decides that she’s gonna live for herself and not become anyone’s pawn. Landing the final blow against her own father in Titan form accentuates her evolution. One could argue that as Queen, she remains a political pawn, a symbol for Eldia. Her ordering the publication of Grisha’s books so that all within the walls know their history affirms that her backbone had yet to atrophy.
Armin was extra crispy, lol. From this point forward, nobody can accuse him of being a weakling egghead. Tuff!
Speaking of manliness, I forget that most of the scouts in AOT are teenagers, because when the “young men” end up shirtless, they’re all shredded. Armin’s shirtless, post-transformation scene brought this to mind, as well as his six pack despite fifth-degree burns above. Being in the military/Scout military/Regiment does not make everyone that swole. Japanese anime things where kids are rendered and behave like adults, I guess. It’s confusing and disturbing, because those who watch anime sometimes thirst after characters whose depictions are of ambiguous age. Thankfully, AOT has thus far been sexless, so I don’t feel compelled to wax about this weirdness.
Oh, I forgot about Eren. Well, he’s been upgraded to worst main character I can remember to tolerable. With direction, he’s less of a ragaholic. On the other hand, s3 provides so much exposition that Eren becomes somewhat of a background or utility character. I’d love for that trend to continue, especially now that Armin also has Titan powers.
And of course, “Potato Girl” is best girl.
Onward to season 4!
