AoT — Season 4 Part 1
Episode 60–64
I would just like to come out and say: I was completely lost throughout the first episode. Granted it had been almost a month since I watched the end of season 3, but to immediately get thrown into a WWI-esque trench warfare between Marley and the Ottoman empire(?) whilst featuring and all-new character lineup was a bit disconcerting to say the least. So for the first time since my systems & control class back in uni, a rewatch was needed. A second viewing of this episode and episode 57 (the one about Marley’s history through Grisha’s backstory) later, I was up to speed 😎
So there is now a time-skip of 4 years (at first I thought we were in a flashback lol) and Marley, a world superpower thanks to its Titan assets, is coming under threat from other countries with their ever-improving anti-Titan weaponry.
At this point I was a 100% Gabi-stan. The energy of Eren fused with the skills of Levi; what’s not to like?. Of course this was before it was clear she is actually one brainwashed little (ga)bitch.
A word on Reiner, the character with one of the most depth in this series. Just like all Eldians from Marley, brainwashed from the moment they were born with the belief that every single soul on Paradis Island are devils, encapsulated in the scene where he was recounting his time on the island to his family. When asked about the worst behaviour he came across all he could muster was: Sasha not sharing her potato 🥔👑. Probably he wasn’t being serious, but also knows that his family would never accept a contrary answer.
On rewatching his reveal/betrayal scene from season 2, his lines take on a completely different meaning now. Honestly though this show’s rewatchability is off the charts, I’m sure there are A LOT of other scenes — from season 1 & 2 especially — that will feel completely different on the second watch.
Episode 65–67
Eren’s reveal – the interaction with Reiner– was so well done. Technically Eren appeared earlier in the season (as Kruger), but of course I didn’t realize it even though the dude repeatedly said keep moving forward *sighs*
So much of Eren’s growth as a character was shown in that sit down, we see how this once childish, whiny kid has become a calm and focused man. He knows what the situation is, what the stakes are, acknowledging Reiner’s plight and correctly analysing that there are good and bad people on either side of the ocean. Just when I thought I’d be an Eren Jaeger fanboy…he goes on to commit war crimes.
“You’ve done things that can’t be undone” – Mikasa
As far as weapons of mass destruction goes, I am a big fan of the War Hammer Titan; very well balanced. Good mobility, can conjure up a hammer out of thin air – like Thor – , and it even looks good which is a novelty as far as Titans are concern.
The first big battle of the season happened, even though the world-building aspect of the earlier episodes were really insightful, it was nice to have a change of pace.
I thought our heroes all looked great post-timeskip. Didn’t actually recognize Armin at first; must be that stupid hair that got me confused with Yelena. Sasha looked the best. But then she got shot so…
It was the way Mikasa totally broke down that got me, after all she was her only real female friend. The first death from the original gang.
Biggest plot-twist: Zeke turning traitor and betraying Marley. Or so I thought.
Episode 68–72
This seasons’ MVP: Mr. Braus (Sasha’s father). Dude is just exemplary, we were able to glean so much about his character from that interaction with Niccolo at the gravesite. Here is a Marleyan — the group responsible for her daughter’s death — and instead of joining the military man in trampling Niccolo to death, Braus actually defended the guy and accepted Niccolo’s offer of friendship. Previously he also adopted Kaya, led the rescue mission in season 2 and straight up changed his family’s livelihood from hunting to farming just so that he could feed more people.
The whole flashback scene on the cart where our Original Five were discussing who should get to eat Eren was so heartwarming yet. These flashbacks also highlight how different Eren has become. The conversation with Hange in the dungeon was so dark. Hange probably was trying to get the ‘old Eren’ back when she was making fun of Eren talking to himself, and was visibly taken aback when she realised how cold Eren had become. Horrible for Mikasa and Armin as well, talking to their best friend feels like talking to a stranger now.
Survey Corps (I’m in the Survey-Corps-subtitle-group btw) in disarray, I feel like this wouldn’t have happen had Erwin still be around. He would have found a way to better handle Eren. Amazing how Erwin’s presence, or lack off, is felt even tough he wasn’t mentioned even once this season.
Eldians: *breathes*
Gabi: IS THIS THE WORK OF THE DEVIL?!!
At this point I’ve completely given up on Gabi. The way she tries to justify the atrocities that befell on Kaya and her family showed how far down the brainwashed rabbit-hole she is in. In a way they are parallels of each other, both underwent extreme tragedy but only one of them is blaming it all on every single stranger in her path.
It’s amazing seeing the contrast between Gabi with Falco (who should be protected at all costs), they both had the same upbringing, but Falco is able to understand and see that Eldians are just normal human beings like everyone else. He seems too smart to be a titan candidate. Gabi’s worldview just keeps on collapsing the more interaction she has with people, will be interesting to see how her character develops.
Episode 73–75
I have never seen a character death done in a way that Sasha’s has. She was never the main character of the story, but the way her character was developed after her death; her affect on plotlines, the impact she has had on the growth of other characters is truly remarkable. It’s great that Sasha keeps appearing in flashbacks, just to remind us the viewers that she’s dead. In case anyone forgot. This Isayama really likes to stick the knife and twist it too.
I’m completely done with Eren. Being a dick in general is one thing. Beating the shit out of Armin, I can let that fly. But making Mikasa cry? That is where I draw the line 😤
And during the whole sequence was Gabi, for all the big talk of wanting to kill Eren, when the moment came she just sat there completely frozen at the table. Glorious.
Dialogue-heavy episodes in this show are usually top-tier and Zeke’s backstory was no different. You know the writing is incredible if it can make you feel sorry for Zeke Friggin Yaeger. Even tough his euthanasia as a way to save humanity plan is completely, we understand where he’s coming from. I’m 99% confident Eren is bluffing; no way he is OK with Zeke’s genocide plan, it would be so out of character. And the cause of all this mess? Bad parenting.
Zeke thinks he understands Eren because they were both brought up by Grisha, what he didn’t counted on was the possibility that his father had learned from his mistake. As opposed Zeke, Eren wasn’t forced into anything he didn’t want to.
Season ended on a cliffhanger. Can’t wait for the final season (starts next week!).
