Some might call this episode filler. I call it a fantastic example of world building. Most fantasy stories have simple rules that all characters accept at face value. They lack a character that thinks critically about how "magic" or "the force" or other facets of their world work, because their presence would force the story writers to flesh out rules that they themselves haven't given much thought.
Not so for this story. The presence of a character like Hange forces the audience to think critically about the world presented to us and the logic underlying it. This is a risky move, but because the author did the work to construct a world build upon consistent rules, her presence deepens immersion further and allows for plot developments that would not be possible with a more shallow set of rules.
In other words, this episode illustrates why more fantasy and sci writers need to be brave enough to interrogate the worlds they want to create. They need more characters like Hange.
Not so for this story. The presence of a character like Hange forces the audience to think critically about the world presented to us and the logic underlying it. This is a risky move, but because the author did the work to construct a world build upon consistent rules, her presence deepens immersion further and allows for plot developments that would not be possible with a more shallow set of rules.
In other words, this episode illustrates why more fantasy and sci writers need to be brave enough to interrogate the worlds they want to create. They need more characters like Hange.