What a phenomenal episode. It delivered on every key story segment to an extremely effective degree. MAPPA adapted the source material perfectly and really came through with this stellar animation & soundtrack, leaving me nearly in tears multiple times, and didn't at all shy away from depicting the full violence & gore. The lack of CG with all the titans and ODM gear is extremely appreciated, and it all looks fantastic, on par with WIT's work. The OST and VAs are supremely impactful, particularly Gabi's and Connie's VAs.
Even post-Rumbling, you can see how Isayama is still delivering crazy hype & meaningful story developments with amazing character developments and arc payoffs of everything that was leading up to this point. This is how you write an extremely profound & compelling story, considering how strongly it can still thrive off its side characters alone following what was arguably already the most hype climax of the entire story (which will further pay off in its own right down the line). Here we continue that flawless streak of absolute peak ficiton writing as we see the direct aftermath & consequences of all that has happened, and how everybody is processing the new reality they live in and must contend with, and the fulfilment of everything up to this point.
The S1 vibes & tone were in full force - what an awesome, nostalgic rush. An amazing sequence carrying all the weight it possibly could, with a proper send-off for the legend Pyxis, and a sequence emblematic of the crazy growth path of all the characters up until this point. That OST really sealed it for me as now one of my favorite moments of the series. I wasn't expecting it to be, but this came out to be the best scene of the episode, one I resonated with it emotionally even more than I did when I first read it. I welled up from this. It was depicted even more powerfully here, and that's a rare occurrence for me. Usually I prefer how things are presented in the manga. Also you might not have picked up on it, but Jean made a clear transition here towards stepping up and taking up that mantle of leadership in the moment of need multiple times over, which he had so many reservations & hang-ups in the past over. In any case, bet ya didn't notice the literal easter egg Saul Goodman abnormal titan ;)
The way Isayama had Annie's return occur, being inexorably tied to how the overarching plot progressed external to her own circumstances, and how it is revealed, is brilliant. While we were all awaiting her return (8 years FINALLY), very few probably made that connection about all hardening being undone until it was spelled out in front of us. This is how he still managed to surprise us by the end of this episode and deliver on her reveal to great satisfaction & hype despite her return being an inevitable & long-awaited occurrence. Superb long-term plotting. FYI for all those Annie stans out there: if you love her already, I guarantee everything that happens with Annie going forward will make you fall for her that much more and will turn countless more into stans. Isayama delivers on her character and her arc just as much as everyone else's. (That aside, I'm sooo looking forward to a panel of her that will be in the next episode, it's hot AF 🤤)
Gabi's character development arc comes to fulfillment here full-circle, with her becoming representative of one of AoT's biggest, most central, and most important themes & messages: How we can move past and end the otherwise endless cycle of hatred & violence that plagues humanity. As depicted in this episode and previous ones, she is meant to directly parallel Eren (in the mirror, continuing fighting against all odds) and Sasha (Kaya's kind-hearted rescuer) and rising to embodying the ideals of the girl she killed due to her previously blind hate & rage. That's a very satisfying arc that ties into itself beautifully, powerfully, and profoundly. She als acts as a foil to Eren's character & his arc throughout the series, showing the alternate perspectives & approach one could take even if they grew up & became traumatized under nearly identical situations & environments. She truly has a phenomenal character development arc that was all leading up to this point that acted as a deep metaphor for the series as a whole in its themes & takeaways.
It delivers on this strongly, with the speech about escaping the previously defined 'forest' and our demons that would otherwise control us, as all three come to realize how their humanity can actually shine above all the darkness that dwells within. A scene so powerful & deep it almost got me crying. That whole family group is deliberately meant to be the representative heart of the series, of how to live beautifully & meaningfully even within this vicious, cruel world, how we can all manage to get along & care for each other if we tried.
Their contributions to the story more or less end here, and I appreciated every piece of it. Even though they become no longer relevant to the plot, what they stand for certainly does still carry on, and as you'll see, becomes the central point of resonance throughout the rest of the series, the point Isayama is trying to drive home the most of all. You'll see more parallels to this powerful theme, as it gets fleshed out even further into being a viable approach for living a satisfying existence. Putting your demons to rest, not perpetuating the endless cycle of hatred, being happy with your lot & your neighbor, not vying for an unattainable 'freedom' or a theoretical better life on the other side where 'the grass is greener', being content with your life stuck behind your 'walls' as a good thing, and appreciating the time you have to spend with those around you whom you love, are the main takeaways for the series, as you'll come to see. Now that you're aware of these critical themes, you should be able to better recognize them in what you've just witnessed as well as what will come for the rest of the series.
Enjoy the rest of the conclusion to this remarkable journey.
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