You damn traitors!" What an episode! Set in only one location and hanging only on the words of the characters, this episode shows how simple it is for Attack on Titan to unveil a revelation and allow its fans to go crazy. I received a comment on last week's review that pointed out that Ymir was not dead, due to her Titan abilities - I thank you for your correction. Now with four known Titans already revealed in the series, how many more could there possibly be? It's a terrifying thought that's on every character's mind. Who could be next to betray them?
As is usual for this anime, the episode is a slow-build, covering lost ground and reminding us off long-forgotten information that could all be clues to discovering traitors in their midst. Hange's letter a few weeks ago revealed that their were two people who were in cohorts with Annie and still at large (pardon the pun), but that was rectified here. But, we also get reminders of the scouting mission that went horribly wrong in Season One, involving the Female Titan, who somehow knew where to go to find Eren, and stop him from completing his mission. All these revelations are a lot to take in, but it's the impact that they carry when Reiner and Bertholdt are finally revealed. It explains their interest in Ymir, and also explains the flashbacks that they had in previous episodes. But regardless of their true identities, the selling point here is that they were genuinely nice people (or acted like it), and convinced their so-called friends that they were friendly. It's that writer's trickery that reinforces the impact and ensures that this cliffhanger is more frustrating than it needs to be. So we know the Female Titan, Armoured Titan and Colossal Titan - so who is the Beast Titan? Elsewhere, Historia's verbal plea to exonerate Ymir was touching. Her reasoning is sound, despite the fact that we know she's bias towards her close friend. But the truth is, the show has introduced a different type of person. Someone who appears to be masquerading as a Human inside the walls, but is actually someone who has escaped from her own civilisation to hopefully live a "normal" life. All the marks go to the final couple of minutes though, as everyone turns their eyes on the two traitors, practically confessing their true identity to Eren. Coupled with some evocative and poignant music, in the final moments, where Mikasa attempts to shield Eren from harm as Reiner and Bertholdt begin their transformation, it is a defining moment in the series. We're looking from conflicting perspectives, one where the enemy is outside the walls, and one where the enemy is inside them. What happens next will determine either the beginning or end of a new era of Attack on Titan - one where no one can be trusted, and the stakes are even higher than they were before. I am tremendously disappointed though that we're already halfway through the season when it should barely be a quarter. 8.5/10
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AuthorA very passionate Welsh nerd... Archives
October 2017
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