Attack on Titan reviews: “Savagery” and “Sole Salvation”

A pair of terrific Attack on Titan episodes tell us a lot more about Zeke Jaeger, but we’re still a bit in the dark about what’s driving Eren.

Recap

Following a delay due to an earthquake in Japan last week, Attack on Titan released not one, but two episodes this Sunday. The first episode, “Savagery,” saw Zeke Jaeger’s grand plan begin to unfold, while the second, “Sole Salvation,” gave fans some insight into Zeke’s upbringing, and how it shaped his mission to “save” Eldia from its suffering.

“Savagery” opens not with Zeke, but with Eren finally speaking with Armin and Mikasa. The conversation doesn’t go as smoothly as the pair had hoped, with Eren telling them that he’s always despised their inability to think for themselves. The interaction leaves Mikasa in tears and Armin on the floor bleeding, marking a turning point in the relationship between Attack on Titan‘s main trio. How this will play out as we head into the anime’s big finale remains to be seen, but things don’t look good for anyone hoping Eren will have a change of heart.

Nearly as painful to watch is Levi being forced to slaughter his men after Zeke’s spinal fluid — carefully placed in the wine they’ve been drinking — turns them into Titans. Zeke attempts to make his escape while Levi fends off this new group of Titans, but the Captain catches up to him, giving fans a second round of Levi vs. the Beast Titan. Like last time, Levi makes quick work of his opponent. Unlike last time, Pieck isn’t around to save Zeke from his fate.

As Eren and Zeke contend with all of this, Floch shows up to one of Shadis’ training sessions and convinces some of the military recruits to join the Jaegerists. The recruits turn on Shadis and obey Floch’s command to beat him, leaving Shadis unconscious and Hange stunned as the group moves on to meet Eren and Zeke.

“Savagery” ends with Zeke tied up and being tortured by Levi, unable to transform. This doesn’t bode well for his chances of meeting up with Eren, but it does lead into the following episode rather nicely.

“Sole Salvation” picks up inside of Zeke’s memories, giving fans an idea of how Grisha Jaeger’s first son was raised and how his background factors into his present-day actions. Over the course of the episode, it becomes clear that Grisha and his first wife raised their son to be an Eldian revolutionary. It made for a painful and traumatic upbringing, and that’s on top of all the hate Zeke and his family received at the hands of Marleyans.

Zeke’s one solace was playing catch with the previous bearer of the Beast Titan, a man named Tom Ksaver. Ksaver became a father figure to Zeke; he’s also the reason Zeke outed his own parents to the Marleyan military to save himself and his grandparents from being sent to Paradis Island.

Ksaver made the decision to pass down the Beast Titan to Zeke, whose plan is revealed during one of their catching sessions. It turns out that Zeke is hoping to euthanize all Eldians by using the Founding Titan’s power to change their biology and render them incapable of having kids, which would rid the world of Titans and make it so no future generations of Eldians would have to suffer. It’s a disturbing plan, and another flashback suggests that Eren has agreed to it…unless he has is own end in mind, of course.

“Sole Salvation” ends with a return to the present, where Zeke escapes Levi’s bonds by triggering a thunder spear. Will he get to enact his plan with Eren after all?

Review

Following a few slower episodes of Attack on Titan, both “Savagery” and “Sole Salvation” were welcome additions to the anime’s fourth season. “Savagery” is a bit more exciting as far as action goes. Between Eren’s argument with Mikasa and Armin and Levi’s fight with Zeke, fans will no doubt find themselves on edge throughout.

Eren’s behavior brings up all kinds of questions heading into the story’s final chapter. The ambiguity around his decision to cut off his friends and destroy whoever crosses his path is well done. Even as you’re cursing Eren’s actions, you have to wonder what he’s really up to. Because this turn couldn’t have come out of nowhere, right?

Pretty much any fight sequence featuring Levi is heart-pounding. The anime captured his hesitance to kill his own men well. Watching Levi and Zeke hash out their problems with one another is always fun as well, since their feud has gotten increasingly more intense as seasons 3 and 4 have progressed.

“Sole Salvation” slows things down a bit, but it’s nearly as compelling as “Savagery,” making viewers feel for Zeke even as he reveals a plan that will make their stomachs turn. It’s difficult not to hate Eren’s father after watching what he and his wife put Zeke through as a child, and it’s easy to understand why Zeke might become a villain, especially with someone as kind as Ksaver supporting his choices.

Although Zeke’s childhood won’t make you root for him, it will certainly give fans a means of understanding him, something we want with any good villain. Again, viewers aren’t granted that same opportunity with Eren in “Sole Salvation,” begging the question of what he’s actually up to this season.

Heading into the final episode of the season next week, “Sole Salvation” also set fans up for a suspenseful installment that leaves the fate of Captain Levi — and all of Eldia — in the balance. Needless to say, next Sunday can’t come fast enough.

Episode Grade, “Savagery”: A

Episode Grade, “Sole Salvation”: A-

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