「義勇兵」 (Giyuuhei)
“Brave Volunteers”

Did you have fun the past few weeks? Better have, because it’s denouement time. Or as SnK likes to call it, flashbacks with foreshadowing. Every burst of action needs a little downtime after all, particularly when the next wave of violence intends on overshadowing what came before.

Given how last episode ended with shockers all around, it’s not too surprising those jaw droppers became the focus of this week. The main one is naturally Zeke, who likely in surprise for some anime-only viewers had the plan to defect and sow the seeds of Marley’s destruction via the Rumbling several years in advance. And not just him either; Yelena and Onyankopon (among others) are actually Marley defectors, disgruntled conscripts just a tad annoyed their native lands found themselves under the Marleyan yoke who leapt at the first chance to get revenge. The success of Eren’s Paradis’ attack on Marley (outside of certain sacrifices) is thus not too surprising, as when you have inside knowledge and the enemy is wholly unaware of what’s coming, the results tend to be what you’re after.

The big thing revealed this week though was in how the future will play out, and that namely is Marley itself. Building off of the cycle of violence brought to the forefront previously with Marley rage at Eren’s (and Armin’s) rampage, we got the Paradis side of the coin here as many are shown understandably doubtful and/or outright distrusting of changes in loyalty. For our protagonists Marley has been the source of everything life threatening: they’re the source of the Titan attacks, the raids into their walled lands, and the attempts at fully eliminating everything they hold dear. Considering prior actions—i.e. Zeke—and knowledge held—i.e. Yelena—it’s not illogical for the likes of Pixis and Levi to doubt anything Marleyans may say or do. There are always exceptions to stereotypes as some have learned and Armin yearns to further develop, but when your very survival is at stake where one wrong move can mean certain death it’s incredibly easy to reject such thought in favour of simple black and white as personified. It’s not simple breaking the cycle, especially for those who’ve only know the effects of its motion.

If you think the Survey Corps and Paradis in general are united best start reconsidering those thoughts, because with Paradis on a timer before the 500-pound Marleyan gorilla comes knocking, the strategy for securing victory—and the price willing to be paid—will have to be decided soon. Very soon.

 

Preview

15 Comments

    1. > Where can i find myself a girl like Yelena, that’s best wife material i’ve seen

      Certainly much wiser words than what you typically hear say on “Darling in the Franxx” reddit: “oh I want to find a gf who is Zerotsu”. Mind you, simple mind, I wish you never do!!

      Guess some patience and looking around carefully will drive you a long way to your goal, may good fortune be with you 🙂

      Anton
    2. > Where can i find myself a girl like Yelena

      eee.. hold on! did I misread? I thought you meant the potato girl! Yelena? These nerves of steel and iron-cast determination? Hmm.. Okay.. It’s your life mate you decide what you’re going to do with it..

      Anton
      1. If someone with personality like Yelena’s exist i’m waaay out of her league, that’s what i think, tomboy, straightforward, knows exactly what she wants, no unnecessary drama or emotion, perfection.

        John
  1. > It’s not simple breaking the cycle

    Being a little repetitive.. but

    – was there at any point of the story any chance for paradisians to break the cycle?
    – was there at any point of the story any chance for residents of the internment zone to break the cycle? a chance that didn’t mean all their loved ones get killed/rot to death?

    Anton
    1. You’re approaching from the wrong angle – i.e. that both sides have the same ability to throw revenge to the side at all times. You are correct that Paradis cannot break the cycle now, but that is because the last opportunity was with Marley to do so. All Marley had to do was not attack (and not keep attacking) Paradis and leave them be after Fritz withdrew to the island. When that failed (as it was likely to do with the fear and powers involved) we got the situation we have right now where Paradis is now lashing out to get back at Marley’s attack for the sake of survival. And with both sides stuck in the figurative stage of flinging fists at one another, neither can broker an end to the violence until both are exhausted and open to listening.

      Similar to the internment residents. Make no mistake, they do have a choice, albeit that choice right now is fight or die. Under that circumstance no shocker the residents choose to live and do whatever is demanded of them. This just hearkens back to the above though where it was originally on Marley collectively to not lash out at the Eldians in order to avoid further troubles down the road. Now realizing such thought is impossible and will be until exhaustion and attrition kick in.

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