Eren’s plans for world-wide genocide has united the Eldian and Marleyan forces, yet years of war between the parties makes reconciliation difficult. The two sides face their first challenge on their mission to stop Eren: seeing each other as allies rather than enemies. It’s an uncomfortable meal shared around the fire in “Night of the End.”
The episode starts in Jean’s fantasy, where is living the happy, comfortable life he’d have had if he’d joined the Jaegerists and allowed Eren to destroy life beyond Paradis Island. but when Hange comes tapping at the windows of the barracks, Jean joins her and Mikasa for a conversation where Hange makes it clear what the new goal is: stop Eren. Jean questions the wisdom of this: if they succeed, the outside world will continue its assault on Paradis Island. Still, the alternative is too grotesque to fathom, and Jean agrees to join the resistance.
This episode is a trial for Jean. If you remember, Jean originally joined the military in hopes of living an easy life as part of the Military Police in the interior, but swallowed his pride and became a Scout for the greater good. Now that Jean has fulfilled his duty to save “humanity,” the Jaegerists offer him a second chance at the good life, one that would be well-earned given his sacrifice. However, the greater good again demands that Jean continue fighting.
I like this test of Jean’s character. Of all the Scouts, Jean probably has the greatest fear of death, so his rejection of the Jaegerists’ offer really means something. It shows his bravery and his will; this isn’t a choice he has to make just once, but every day.
Attack on Titan gives us a quiet night in the midst of the apocalypse
Most of this episode involves the Eldian and Marleyan combatants sharing a pot of stew. They may be facing a common enemy, but it’s still hard to forgive everything they’ve done to each other. Jean and Magath each blame each other’s group for starting this mess, to the point where they’re talking about things that happened thousands of years ago. Mikasa and Annie have a dangerous exchange when Annie questions whether Mikasa and the other Scouts are truly willing to stop Eren if they can’t talk him out of the Rumbling. Reiner ends things when he reveals to Jean what happened to Marco. Jean takes the news calmly, but when Reiner insists on apologizing for it, he gets very violent very quickly.
Although there’s not much excitement this week, this stuff is important for our characters. We definitely needed some kind of reconciliation between the Eldians and Marleyans, and better to dedicate a whole episode to it here then shoehorn it in later. This is the first the Eldians and Marleyans are speaking on civil terms, and it’s not easy. However, you do get a sense that each side is willing to see the other as human beings. As Yelena lays out, each side has harmed the other; no one can play the victim here, so it’s futile to argue over who’s anger is the more righteous.
So, that’s this week’s episode of Attack on Titan. Not too bad, I’d say. Maybe not that exciting, but as far as slow episodes go, this is a nice moment in catch our breaths and just enjoy the fact that most of our main characters are in the same place again. The episode ends with the promise of action next week, and that’s good enough for me.
Grade: C+
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