Attack on Titan: Shingeki no Kyojin

[neflight86]

Add "campfire discussion" to scenes AoT has elevated to a new height within Anime.

Glad to see Jean's character growth from season 1 come back and support him when presented with an easy-way-out on a silver platter. It still made sense for him to lose it at Reiner now that all is known- if only to protect Annie.

Henge's stew?! THAT'S your lore secret of the week?!

Don't knock it till you try it, I guess. She even asked Jean "What about your seconds?" in the most awkward time possible, so you know its gotta be good!

episode 9:

I'm only 4 minutes into the episode, but I had to pause to write this: I REALLY think you're wrong here, Hanji, wtf! "I'm sure none of them would choose to save Eldians if it meant to fight the whole world". Yeah, I'm pretty sure there'd be A LOT of people who would choose to do exactly that, including commander Erwin. The scouts are the ones that put their lives on the line to protect Eldians from titan attacks, yet you think they'd betray their people just like that?

Most of them wanted to protect humanity in ignorance of what the scope of humanity was. That makes it more tragic. The common enemy (the Titans) unified the Paradise islanders and prevented the (messy) sustainment of geopolitical factions wherein the potential for war comes from in the first place. Had they known of the outside world, opinions (among the scouts) would have been divided at worst, but mostly against this genocide as they were decent people who value human life even if it is from another race, whatever that is.

These characters are way to altruistic right now and I don't like it nor buy it. It feels forced, like the author wants to push a certain message here. Just last episode, Eren's friends were in a state of "it's wrong, it's fucked up, but he's doing it for us, so it's also right. Wah, I don't know!" and that is an understandable state of mind: Confusion. Self-doubt. Doubt. And now they're sitting in a room and listening to Hanji's rambling about giving their life to stop Eren from saving Eldians and further to condemn all Eldians to die.

...

It really feels like the plot is over-dictated by the author at this point, with characters making decisions that make no sense.

...did ...did you just suggest the author wrote too much of the story? I'm joking; your wording gave me a chuckle. I think your real issue is that you think there is no room for peace or negotiation since things have gone this far.

They touched on that this episode when Yelena recounted the atrocities committed by everyone sitting around that fire, and how everyone came to terms with just how grey this entire conflict is. That they are willing to entertain talk and negotiation, even with those that hate them (like the Marleans at the campsite) is a result of the tragedies they have all suffered breeding empathy and at least some emotional maturity. The Owl said as much back in season three when he told Grisha that unless he loved someone within the walls that we would 'keep repeating the same mistakes again and again'. Vengeance begets vengeance. Like the deaths of Gabi's friends and then Sasha, you can trace it all back to acts of revenge stoking the flames of hate. It's a recurring theme of the show.

I think you yearn for black and white delineation of justification. That's not here. Attack on Titan's story outgrew that seasons ago.

The most impactful bit came from Magath. He started off the episode debating history and righteousness with Jean. I wouldn't say he has the moral high ground, but he does have some world history to base his actions off.

Fast forward to Gabi's confessing that the Paradise Island Devils were all scapegoats for the rest of the world's Eldians so they can act as Good Eldians and deflect all hate towards them. Magath realised that this is something of his doing until this point - If not personally then systemically.

That was a great scene and a fine cap-off to his spat with Jean earlier.

Its been foreshadowed for a while now, but Flock finally gets to be a mini-boss. I expect him to die next episode, and maybe a little flashback to flesh him out before (or during) him getting... fleshed out... He's been practically one note this whole season, so I'd like to see what makes the chief Jagerist tick.