Literally, what the title says.
Firstly, did Isayama just confirm this Armin x Annie ship? I mean, yay, I guess? He always confirms these couples at the worst timing, like when one of them has intense death flags, or you know, once one of them is dead (*cries in potatoes* *and letters containing marriage proposals*)
Mikasa and Annie’s girl talk was hilarious though. Mikasa’s absolute shock at realizing that Annie and Armin are an item was priceless. Relief that Annie doesn’t actually like Eren (proving her own suspicions wrong) not withstanding, I can’t see Mikasa as being especially supportive of this relationship. She might develop a sort of grudging acceptance, mixed with a bit of “bitch you hurt him and we finish that fight from when we were cadets and I end you”. And I guess with time, they would eventually become gal pals. If they even live long enough for any of that to come in fruition.
God, I really want the Shingeki Chuugakkou anime to have another season where they explore all these new couples. Sasha/Nicolo, Armin/Annie, heck even Gabi/Falco. And Eren and Mikasa too, right, because given the last few chapters I think it’s safe to assume that her love isn’t so much unrequited as it is unrealizable (is that even a word?) given Eren’s current mental state and destiny and whatnot.
Still, nice to see some implied independence without that scarf. How I really want their interaction to end is this – Mikasa beats the shit out of Eren and is forced to kill him, but confesses while he lies dying in her arms, giving them this infinitesimal moment of happiness. OR Mikasa just never confesses and we learn from Eren’s POV that he actually did love her and was waiting for a confession (in chapter 116 was it?) that never came, hence he gave up all hope of fighting his destiny. Imagine that. The world’s destruction would have been saved by one freaking “suki da yo”. But yeah I am looking for some sort of tragic angsty resolution of their relationship.
Also Jean. What about Jean? Why isn’t my beautiful stallion confessing? Isayama has alluded to him still liking Mikasa in multiple chapters, so I can’t imagine he will just leave loose threads hanging? I really want Jean of all characters to get a happy ending. I don’t want him sacrificing himself for Mikasa or something even though that would be tragic and beautiful in some ways.
I am also more than okay with Mikasa giving up on Eren and just moving on. Honestly, Jean is being robbed. He deserves a girlfriend. And he deserves that darn commander title. Because he is best boy. And I kind of want best boy to land up with best girl.
Literally all the main Shingeki girls have had some sort of resolution / reciprocation from their love interests at this point. It’s kind of Mikasa’s fault for chickening out on a clear invitation to confess but in her defense, Eren kind of sprung it on her out of nowhere. On an unrelated note, I do love these slow burn romances. I just want the flame to either reach a raging inferno or fizzle out entirely at some point, preferably the former. I need closure, damn it!
Moving on. Hange / Hanji. Dear Hanji. She went out with a bang just like she wanted. Fighting the Titans and upholding her one-sided love. Such an eccentric and amazing character. I’d attempt something more eulogistic but I don’t think I can do her justice, so will just stop at that.
Personally, I loved the scene with Erwin and Co. that followed. I know some people are bitching about how it takes away from the horror, finality of death, and macabre feeling that we associate with Shingeki… but for me, it’s this ray of hope and happiness that makes it so beautiful. The paradox of cruel and beautiful. The idea that no matter how f***** up the world is, if you do the right thing, you’ll have a wonderful afterlife waiting for you. And that all your beloved comrades and family will be there, cheering you on and saying ‘well done, you did your best’. It’s the kind of thing that was explored often in Naruto and it’s so beautiful and touching, and to me in no way diminishes the sense of loss and sacrifice, because these people are still dying terrifyingly traumatizing deaths.
And it also makes me feel better that the poor Titanized souls will have something better to return to as well. Cutting their necks seems to be more of a mercy than cruel, in that case.
And I know that some people argue that it was just a fever dream, not real, but I believe in heaven and I like to think that was real. So Hanji’s up there with Erwin and Mike and Moblit and Petra and Sasha… and Levi may just join them all soon too.
So many death flags for darling Heichou. I don’t know if I can deal with it. He was my favorite character for the longest time, till he was unseated by Jean the Golden Maned, Lord of the Horses. Seeing him try to use 3DMG with two fingers was just heart-rending.
The thing is, he’s Levi. He doesn’t stop fighting. So he’s going to fight, and he’s going to die. And then he’s going to join Isabel and Farlan and Petra and Erwin and Hanji and live happily ever after. I mean, all his friends are in heaven so I suppose it’s only a matter of when he gets to leave this hellish existence and join them. Given what Eren’s set loose, I guess dying is a far better alternative.
Reiner definitely seems to think that. Poor Reiner. I think Isayama is making this a running gag, on how many times Reiner tries and fails to die.
Other thoughts – hm, I wonder what is going to happen to Falco, Gabi and Annie. We have two shifters there, but against an army of Colossals, what can they even do? Also I am a bit bummed that Annie won’t be in the final battle versus Eren, but I guess it fits her character, she always has been inherently selfish. Although you’d think she’d accompany her new crush? Love interest? Potential boyfriend? Or maybe Armin will die and Annie will find out through paths and go ballistic on Eren. Yikes.
Floch. Yeah, I never understood the furor surrounding him. Neither the hype, nor the hatred. He’s dead. Okay. He was well-written and his character development and stance on things was interesting. He offered a new perspective, perhaps a realistic one, because you do have brainwashed extremists / zealots who genuinely believe that their murderous schemes are for the best. But despite his admittedly good writing, for me he was always meh. Score to Mikasa though. Nice seeing her badassery in action again.
At this point, I am most hyped for Mikasa/Armin interactions with Eren. Especially Mikasa. And I also want Jean to have more action in a way that doesn’t end up with him dead. I also really want this Jean/Mikasa/Eren love triangle to resolve itself in some sort of climactic way. I’m not asking for happy endings and sparkles and bubbles, it can be angsty. It just needs to be addressed.
OH, and the Levi/Mikasa family thing, what’s the deal with that? Is he her cousin? Her uncle? Do they even care? Would be great if we can see that addressed at some point, even if it ends up in, I don’t know, him passing on the Ackerman mantle, although I would be heartbroken if this happened. I do have a feeling that Levi will not live long. But I also have a feeling that Isayama will subvert our expectations and make him survive… which would be really sad for him, given I expect his death wish is only second to Reiner’s right now.
Ok that’s all I have on this chapter. Time to speculate and suffer for a month, till 133 releases.
#shinzouwosasegeyou
Overachieving Otaku 