Shingeki no Kyojin: The Final Season – 04

「手から手へ」 (Te kara Te e)
“From One Hand to Another”

Whatever one can say about SnK, one cannot deny the show knows how to put on a spectacle. Especially the kind that is slow to wind up before unleashing total hell. Yes, it was another “slow” week for Titans and friends, but do not let that fool you into thinking it’s all going to be rainbows and ice cream here. As new faces and old acquaintances indicate, there is definitely trouble building on the horizon.

After the big tease last week, anyone doubtful can rest easy: yes, that guy is Eren, and oh yeah, he has a purpose for his current state and location. What that is will naturally come out soon, but for now suffice to say Falco isn’t sending Eren’s greetings to family and that meeting with Reiner isn’t a minor social call. Given it’s been four years since Eren and friends beat back the invasion of Paradis you can bet planning and strategizing, much like with Marley, has not been forgotten on the good guy side and that something is afoot to ensure Paradis remains free of any outside influences.

Nevertheless, there are hints towards what’s coming, and the first is the appearance of Marley’s true and secretive ruler Willy Tybur, the patriarch of the War Hammer Titan family. The interlude does a good job of explaining the Tybur family for the uninitiated, but I also think his actions do well to highlight the Tybur position. By exclusively holding onto the War Hammer Titan for example, the Tyburs retained leverage to prevent what happened in general to Eldians happening to them. Conversely though, Willy in particular is not blind to what Marleyan policy could mean to his family going forward; his family is safe and powerful now, but what happens if Marley starts growing too arrogant and all those newfound subjects decide Tybur is equally to blame for their suffering? Enter the planning to ensure that doesn’t happen. It’s anyone’s guess right now what Willy’s festival is designed to do to help ameliorate the deteriorating situation, but given Eren’s presence it likely isn’t something Paradis will be approving of.

And as we all know by now, Eren sure doesn’t take it well when someone starts threatening his friends and home.

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