Eren, listen. You've always been at my side. Thank You. You've showed me how to live with purpose. Thank You. And you...you wrapped this scarf around me. Thank You." With a resounding cry, Attack on Titan ends its second season with more blood and desperation than ever before. I would easily call it the best episode of the series, period - simply because it is the culmination of all the pent up emotion our characters have experienced, and here they are making their final decisions and their final discoveries. In my opinion, Eren has actually come out this end of the season looking much better as a character - he has calmed and he has become wise to the fact that not everything is performed on impulse, it must be carefully prepared with consideration and patience.
Star of the show was Mikasa as usual - someone who is usually straight in the action, but this time resolves to showing her love and gratefulness to Eren, which ultimately led to his resurgence as one of the most formidable weapons the allies have. Her outpouring of emotion, in front of some of the best compositions the show's had to offer was effective in the truest sense. Whatever effect it had on us, it was more than suitable to change Eren's perspective on the situation and gave him that extra power to fight back. The episode wasn't short of emotional moments - the pinnacle of which resided with Hannes' death - someone who was at the forefront of this show from the beginning, and had a great relationship with Eren, Mikasa and Armin. To see him devoured by the same Titan as Eren's mother, was heartbreaking, and yet in this show, despite knowing its danger, we are in a state of disbelief as to who could be next. For it to be Hannes is a cruel ending - and the fact that Eren could do nothing to prevent it was even worse. But, in general, the Scouts were on the back foot - Erwin had already lost his arm, Jean was dismounted by the onslaught of Titans and futilely protected by Armin in a nearby forest. But, character development-wise, seeing Ymir choose Reiner and Bertholdt over everyone else was an interesting turn of events, seeing as she exhibited herself as quite a neutral person in the whole scenario. What this might mean long term is hard to predict, but it's clear that there's more to this outside world, and more that these Titan-shifters can tell us. After the initial battle, which was possibly, in my opinion, one of the best action scenes the animators have ever depicted, we transition back behind Wall Maria, as everyone tries to get to the bottom of how they managed to escape. Eren's newfound power is hinted at by Reiner - something he refers to as the "Coordinate", which could be related to controlling Titans by will. As usual, Armin shows his mental ability by working this out by himself, but with all these sudden revelations, it's interesting to see how these things transpire eventually. I would like to see more Levi - he has a certain aura about him that shouts wisdom and capability, but he's unfortunately been rendered injured recently. But with him now contemplating Hanje's discovery about Connie's old home, and the entire population transforming into Titans, he could be anxious to get back into the battlefield. A fitting end to the second season, in what was a revelation-heavy period of twelve weeks. the emotional side of this series is its greatest strength - the way it can enhance its characters through the use of morality is impressive, and puts it up there with the quality of Game of Thrones' character development. As always, the intentions and motives of each character are logical and understandable, and it makes for all the more entertaining stories. With more lore and history, we could be looking at some exciting new revelations in the coming third season in 2018. 9.5/10 Season 2: 8.5/10
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I'm out of time and room in my heart to care." Some of the most edge-of-your-seat minutes in this superb episode. I might go out there and call this my favourite Attack on Titan episode to date. It competently amalgamates the release of emotion between characters, while also ramping up the action and preparing us for an inevitably high-stakes finale of season two. It's also great to see that everything that we've learnt so far this season has culminated in this entire battle.
We begin by reviewing the current situation - Ymir has just captured Historia in her mouth and is escaping on Reiner's Titan back alongside Bertholdt who has also captured Eren. The Scouts are hot on their heels as they attempt to free their comrades before they can escape into the unknown wilderness beyond the walls. Considering the fact that they're roaming a mass Titan territory, around every corner there's a chance of being swallowed whole. But, at the same time, you have people like Mikasa who are in no mood for delaying and just want to finish the entire affair. There's a great moment between Christa and Ymir as they attempt to explain their perspective in the world - Christa desperately wants to save Ymir from Reiner and Bertholdt, while Ymir wants Christa to be safe in the outside world instead of being trapped inside the worlds to be inevitable destroyed by the Titans, and never to be loved by her kin. Ymir's intentions are noble, but her means are less desirable by making an alliance with two people who have consistently lied about their identities. The entire situation quickly falls into chaos as Mikasa and a group of soldiers attempt to free Eren from Bertholdt's hold, whilst Erwin concocts a half-mad plan to lead a horde of Titans towards Titan Reiner and halt his progress to give the Scouts time to save Eren from his clutches. Similar to some of the onslaughts in Season One, there's some truly awe-inspiring music accompanying a massacre of soldiers. Because the attack is so desperate with only one desirable conclusion, the Scouts have nothing to lose. Thus, even Erwin's fate is left in the lurch as he's man-handled by a hungry Titan to be brutally mutilated. It's uplifting to see Mikasa and Armin play a huge role in saving Eren as they distract Bertholdt from his captive. However, despite this whole plan working perfectly, the Scouts are left scattered and disorganised. Mikasa may have freed Eren, but she has been badly injured after being in the clutches of a Titan. The directing is so well done, that everything seems to be falling apart, as the Scouts suddenly realise how vulnerable they are. A lot of their comrades have already been devoured and they've petty much come to the visceral conclusion that they're next. Plus, Reiner hasn't been completely stopped as he starts using Titans as ammunition. It's the final shot of a familiar Titan that's most shocking though and hopefully we'll get an answer to its appearance next week. A gritty, relentless and dramatic instalment of Attack on Titan, that treads the line between excitement and despair. It's testament to its strong characters that we are so invested in them and find their possible fates so gut-wrenching. The hint that Erwin may be in deep trouble is most disturbing seeing as he is that incredibly skilled Commander that everyone has been falling behind since the beginning. But, as he stated, saving Eren is the priority of Humanity if they are to survive this entire ordeal. I foresee this finale is going to be painful to watch for many particular reasons, but the most important is that it will bring us to the start of another hiatus of this wonderful show. 9.5/10 I would never lie to myself again." This week's Attack on Titan is very Ymir-centric, and was much more busy than last week's pause for breath. Here, we get a glimpse of what Ymir's life was like before she became a Titan and before her 60 years of turmoil. It's interesting to see what kind of world there is beyond the walls and to see what type of society dwells there. In fairness, it seems almost as hostile as life inside the walls. Ymir was taken in by a community of people as a child and chosen as a representative of the people, with the blood of the King inside her. This peaceful community is quickly dismembered when armed troops attack and punish those who falsely claimed relation to royalty. The most important factor, or revelation, in this episode is, of course, that punishment for this crime is to be transformed into a Titan.
The masterstroke for this episode was that in the story that Ymir tells, all the hanging threads are tied together, linking her childhood with her eventual imprisonment in a Titan body, to accidentally meeting Reiner and Bertholdt and killing their friend. After finding a way to be free of her body, which isn't exactly explained, she decides to change her life for the good, setting her on a course to join the training corps inside the walls and ultimately meeting Christa, someone whom she sees as her equal, someone who has chosen to hide her true identity and stop lying to herself. The internal struggle that she has with her own mindset helps to add the emotion as she finally decides to side with Reiner and Bertholdt, as long as they allow her to capture Christa. Elsewhere, the Scouts almost get their hands on Eren and his captors, but they are foiled when Ymir betrays their trust after taking Christa and fleeing with her new allies. Mikasa's anger is obvious, but it's Hannes final words that ring of foreboding. Even they pull off saving Eren and capturing the traitors, the whole operation seems worthless anyway, as they haven't hit a blow against this hidden enemy of theirs. If loads die in the process it could be even more hopeless. I really thought Ymir was going to remain on the good side, but perhaps she really is all about her own gain and doesn't care for anyone else. Whilst most of the episode relied on great action scenes, the opening scene was more crafty as we return to the former home of Connie and the Titan with short legs. In the process of looking through the village and identifying Connie's parents, one of the Scouts makes a unsavoury discovery after turning the portrait upside down. The trapped Titan bears a striking resemblance to his mother - a key plot point in what could be a big reveal coming soon about the true origin of these Titans and what explicit connection Humans have to their physiology. Especially now with Ymir's past life being revealed along with a village that exists outside the wall, the writers have been hinting at revealing some new information for quite a while. But, with only two episode remaining, I find it difficult to see how they will be able to answer every question. 8.5/10 You guys aren't even human anymore." An all-round quieter episode this week, that concentrates too much on emotional interactions rather than plot-movement. Indeed, emotions are running high as each individual character has to deal with new revelations, each attempting to understand their own circumstances in this ever-mysterious world. With all eyes on Reiner, Bertholdt, Eren and Ymir, here we have a clash of perspectives, one who is entirely lost, one who is only partially ignorant and two who may appear to be in control, but still feel vulnerable in this Titan-infested land.
Whilst I can't criticise Eren too much, as he is completely ignorant in everything concerning the origin of Titans, but he doesn't make his life any easier by shouting. Annoyingly, he spends most of his time in this episode, screaming angrily at Reiner for refusing to explain his plans, but more importantly, for harbouring no remorse for the deaths of so many people. What was interesting was looking thoroughly into the psychological effects of Reiner and Bertholdt's long game as they masqueraded as Scouts, but also sometimes caused chaos in Titan-form. Seeing Reiner struggle to control these two different perspectives gives me hope that he and his friend could be exonerated in the future, but at the moment they are fighting for their lives. Ymir, on the other hand, doesn't seem very perturbed about anything, despite being in a position with only one arm and one leg. However, she does feel motivated to go along with Reiner's intentions when he refers to saving Christa - someone who means a great deal to Ymir following their close relationship during training. But, I see Ymir now as the sane member of this little group. Eren is careless, Reiner's struggling to grasp his identity, Bertholdt doesn't have the capacity to take charge. But Ymir has all the right questions, especially when it comes to that Beast Titan - a Titan that hasn't appeared for a while now, and one that could be vitally connected to the Armoured and Colossal Titan, seeing as its capable of speaking. The big question is, who is it? Elsewhere, the Scouts are making good ground, now that Reiner and Bertholdt are resting (heaven knows why). Erwin has organised the typical formation for the Scouts and it seems a full-scale rescue is at hand. Also, Hange, despite her injuries, has locked onto a new target - a Titan found back at the decimated village, that was unable to walk. Could she be on the verge of finding out more secrets to these elusive Titans? Let down by the fact that there's not many (if any) plot changes, Opening is more a springboard for the final three episodes incoming. If the Scouts manage to get to Eren and Ymir before Reiner and Bertholdt have a chance to escape, it's going to be interesting to see the course of action for their punishment. Clearly, they'll be vital to finding out more information about their world, and this hometown that they keep referring to, but considering the level of treachery, a lot of the Scouts will be reluctant to take them back into their walls for fear of them causing more destruction. 7.5/10 It's a different time and a different place, but you kids are doing the same thing you always have." One of the most uplifting scenes from Attack on Titan has got to be Hannes describing Eren's tenacity and personal relationship with Mikasa and Armin. Mikasa's love for Eren is unconditional, ever since he saved her from those terrible men during her childhood and offered to become her adopted brother. Armin's love for Eren is also based on his childhood experiences - someone who would go as far as to get himself into trouble just for a few stolen loaves. Their small family and bond has been constant even after the Titan first broke through the outer wall and devastated Shinganshina. Eren may not be the only reason why the Survey Corps are conducting a mass search beyond their territory, but he's one of the most important, and that's what makes that final scene so compelling.
This episode may have speeded things up in terms of how long we spend on the story. But, at least now we're at a point where the goal is in sight and all our characters have a purpose in this vast, fictional world. We're still not fully aware of Reiner and Bertholdt's intentions with Eren and Ymir, but I'm sure that will be made clear in the coming weeks - indeed there's still an air of mystery around these concealed Titans who are finally showing their true selves. We had a nice sum-up of the events happening back at Trost District, as Commander Pixus awaits the return of the Survey Corps who went out to attempt to reseal the outer wall and hopefully find more answers to the Titans. Also, Erwin and Levi are back in the picture now that the Scouts have requested help following the situation involving Reiner and Bertholdt. Their contribution to the mission will no doubt be much-needed and fruitful. The flashback was another great addition to the episode, reminding us of the dangerous lives that Eren, Mikasa and Armin used to lead, whilst showing us how Hannes used to watch over their brawls from afar, knowing full well that Mikasa would be the one to sort the bullies out. She truly is an amazing character, and to see her subduing the bullies single-handedly is just as satisfying as watching her slice her way through a horde of Titans. Crossing between timelines as well, especially when Mikasa's fighting her feelings of despair for losing Eren again, is a simple way of depicting the parallels that their lives have now and the ones they had back then. The series can very easily prey on your emotions. Another step closer to finding out the truth, I hope. Whatever lies in wait for the reinforced army of Survey Corps remains to be seen, but I can guess that their plan to save Eren and capture the traitors will meet many obstacles along the way. It wouldn't be Attack on Titan without them. 8.5/10 I bet in the history of humanity, nobody's ever done anything as bad as you." After last week's massive revelation, we could expect nothing less than a brutal battle. They certainly delivered. While juxtaposing flashbacks that explain the lead in and the feelings that all our heroes have at this point in time, the episode also depicts a pretty gory, unsubtle and maniacal battle between two formidable forces. Eren and Reiner. Now that the former has learnt of the latter's deception, he's not holding back his pent up anger.
It's a visually stunning episode, with heavy emphasis on the shots of the Colossal Titan towering over the wall. Whilst this great beast is slow, the Scouts encounter a new problem in that it can excrete hot steam to protect itself from ODM gear. This is an interesting skill and forces the Scout to hang back as they watch the impending doom approach with ever-increasing calamity. Meanwhile, Eren's chances are just as slim as he fruitlessly finds himself being battered to pieces by a considerably stronger Armoured Titan. In all honesty, this may seem like a monotonous pattern of punch and punch, but it's the way in which the animators describe the movements of the Titans that's important. As is explained in the flashback, Eren is introduced to a new combat move by non other than Annie, whom we all know to be the first traitor within the walls. The fact that he uses this move to temporarily incapacitate Reiner is poetic irony, but it might not be positive definite in stopping Reiner in his tracks. Regarding that flashback, I'd be interested to know who won the competition between Mikasa and Annie; my money's on Mikasa, but that's probably because I'm very fond of her. Not much on the exposition front, except that Hange, Mikasa and Armin happily learn that Eren is slowly gaining control of his Titan, even if he's struggling to match up to his colossal enemies. Considering Hange's been working with Titan for such a long time and has grown fond of understanding their nature, it's great to see her reaction when Eren nods his acknowledgement of her order. Cruel as it is, we're left with another cliffhanger, this time with the Colossal Titan seemingly falling head first onto the bodies of Eren and Reiner. What this means is left open, but it does beg the question of how, if they do ever manage to capture Reiner and Bertholdt, what do they do with them then? If there's one thing we've learned from Attack on Titan, is that it's not easy to keep a Titan close and harmless. It will require all the manpower and dexterity that humanity possesses. 8/10 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 My real name...is Historia." As is evident with Attack on Titan already, its way of storytelling is not exactly conventional. Flashbacks can be riddled here and there throughout the content, but sometimes a whole episode or half an episode can be devoted to looking back at a past event and filling in the gaps of knowledge. In this episode we go back to a training exercise in the snow that goes a bit awry when Christa, Ymir and Daz don't return from the trek. What's great about this story is its many layers of plot. One plot concentrates on the true identity of Christa, another questions Ymir's ability to become Titan and a third continues the relationship between Scout Cadets as they learn to live and survive in this unattractive world.
The flashback was great, and reminded me of the early episodes of Attack on Titan as we see Even and his friends attempt to learn patience and survival skills before they graduate. It never fails to remind us of Eren's hot-headed manner nor Mikasa and Armin's loyalty to him. Their solid friendship is always rewarding to see. Elsewhere we see Christa and Ymir bonding as they try to save Daz from cold death. Learning about Christa's past secrets is vital to understanding Ymir's and shows how very alike they are. It's made clear that Christa is actually the illegitimate heir of the throne who was given the chance to quietly disappear by joining the Scouts. Now Ymir's words at the end of the last episode have more meaning and remind us of the great thematic overtones that Attack on Titan embodies. Sincerely, I don't know whether to feel sorry or not for Ymir's death. Seeing Christa (Historia) distraught is tough, but with the discrimination now that following Annie's unveiling as a spy and saboteur amidst the inner wall, it's very difficult to trust another character who's been keeping such a big and dangerous secret. But, at the same time there was something different about Ymir, in that she had more rebellious notions and a non-conforming attitude to life. Perhaps she escaped this mysterious otherworld of Titans to find a better life. In that case, she is instantly redeemed. As a side note, interestingly, Reiner has a bitter reaction to finding out that Ymir is the titan who killed his supposed mate in the flashback. Call it a hunch, but I don't think we're done with the obvious mystery around Reiner and Bertholdt. The change of pace in the episode - once the Scout Corp arrived in the nick of time - was uplifting, even if Ymir could not be saved. In a row of episodes where all there is is despair and death, it's relieving it see a shaft of light in the darkness. We even get a comedic, if ignorant, moment from Eren. Seeing badass Mikasa in action again is always a positive factor. Equally, the directing was terrific, with the sequence involving Ymir's Titan pulling out bricks from the tower and throwing them at the oncoming Titans being deliciously dramatic - helped along by an epic musical piece. A sign of good things to come, perhaps? The Scouts have managed to buy themselves some time (as always, at cost), but with Even now where he needs to be, and some of the most skilled and experienced fighters of humanity by his side, they could finally be sticking it to the enemy. It's a promising thought, and not without endless doubt, but let's be honest, it can't all be doom and gloom. Needless to say, this is still one of my favourite anime. 8/10 I have no right to tell you how to live your life. So actually, this is nothing more than a hope of mine...I want you to live a life you're proud of." From the moment I first started watching Attack on Titan, I knew it would be brutal, demoralising and cruel. Much like Game of Thrones. It has the audacity to offer up characters with rich and relatable backgrounds and then throw them into a predicament they can't get out of. This was a running theme in the first season. But, what makes this series different from any other that prays on the audience's emotions is its grounding in humanity. Characters come and go like a production line, but each one has an intention, a moral reason for doing what they do and making their decisions. Their morality is never in question.
This week's episode starts off as another inconsequential , isolated adventure much like the last two week's, but it quickly spirals into something bigger and more important. A few interesting developments have emerged. Alongside the characters, we've been gradually learning about titans; their origin, their biology and their function. Connie questions something that the audience has been wondering for a while. He hypothesises quite out of the blue that the titan he saw in his village reminded him of his mother. It's an ominous thought, but an intriguing one. To add to this intrigue, Ymir reveals her capability to read another language - something that doesn't surprise Reiner as much as it should. These small oddities are teasing, but they're not conclusive, and so we're still waiting for the elusive answers, but it keeps us watching, that's for sure. But now, in one helluva revelation at the end, Ymir shows her true self; a shapeshifting capability like Eren's to transform into a titan. Revelations aside, this episode also has some brilliant character moments shared between the group. It's a clever idea of the writers to set this desperate scene and show how the characters react to the situation and each other. Reiner's near-death experience brings out a different side to him - before he was confident and decisive; near death he struggles to accept it. If his thoughts on Christa aren't enough to signal change, then I don't know what is. Even Bertholdt notices it. The flashback we get in between seems a bit nondescript, but we may learn more later. Outside, Nanaba and Gerger struggle to subdue the sudden onslaught of titans. Credit to the directors of this show, it never ceases to amaze me the effortlessness of the animation as it transitions through battle scenes - it's like a water painting in motion. And it never seems to hold back the brutality of the battle too. In a very realistic way, the scouts eventually run out of stamina, perseverance and gas, and it all comes crashing down. Losing more experienced fighters shows how desperately difficult it is for these people to live when constantly being harassed and slaughtered by an outside enemy. Questioning their morality, as Gerger does in his final moments, is all they have. Finding only a couple of drops of alcohol left in the bottle before his death symbolises their understated lives. It would've been nice to see a progression in Eren's tale this week as well, but this was a sufficient episode filled with revelations and questions. Ending on a cliffhanger like that was naughty, but it holds good prospects for the future, and hopefully a few more satisfactory answers. The world of Attack on Titan is beginning to look much bigger than originally believed, and it's all down to thoughtful, logical writing. 8.5/10 |
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October 2017
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