First Impressions / Shingeki no Kyojin

「導く者」 (Michibiku Mono)
“Guides”

Now that’s a way to herald in change wouldn’t ya say? Assassinations, jailbreaks, and considerations of surrender all rolled up into one bite sized package – and we haven’t even found out what Eren specifically plans on doing just yet. The pieces are finally moving in SnK, and the results will prove explosive.

As promised a few weeks prior, Eren was never going to stay locked up for long. Per Yelena’s reveal of secretive discussions he was always a man with a mission who was simply waiting for the right moment to put his schemes in action. I’d simply wager few had any inkling said mission involved offing the head of Paradis’ military and securing the loyalty of a good chunk of its members to boot. Is it a little strange Eren of all people has resorted to such action? Certainly, however it makes sense considering the climate of fear at play and those who chose to join with him—i.e. young recruits and radical anti-Marley volunteers. In the Yeagerist camp you have those who’ve only seen their rulers either poisoned through deleterious fear and uncertainty or directly inhibited by others from taking life-saving action. They just don’t trust their leaders to do what’s right by them and Paradis, especially now that the truth and consequences of defeat are known far and wide. No matter what Armin believes the time for words has ended; in this environment, the winner will be decided through blood.

How much blood gets spilled though is the open question, and it’s one likely to take a bit to answer. As Pixis highlights the more level headed aren’t ignorant of the current situation; a prolonged fight over what strategy to utilize will only ensure Marley has negligible resistance to face when it attacks. Under such conditions why not just give Eren the win? He has the Founding Titan after all, and killing him (because eating him would likely prove problematic) would only eliminate the Paradis’ final card to play. Except you know that isn’t going to happen, at least right away. So long as Zeke and Historia remain outside Eren’s control, the potential to stop Eren before he can enact his plan exists, and you can fully wager the likes of Hange, Misaka, and Armin (among others) will use every minute to do just that.

Best keep the popcorn handy boys and girls, because the real fun of this season starts now.

 

Preview

10 Comments

  5. I’d say Eren has stopped being interesting to watch last couple of episodes. He’s just a function now. I violent all conquering will to win – but nothing else. He’s shallow and lifeless in these episodes. He’s keeping all his thoughts inside. To such a degree that us viewers start doubting – does he have any at all? Or is he really a remotely-controlled Zeke’s puppet?

    I liked the prior Eren – with internal struggles, with moods changing, with conversation for God’s sake!

    I appreciate this is sort of a plot device and we’ll hopefully see him being human again – shedding a tear, being in contact with emotion. But right now Yelena and Gabi are a lot more human than him.

    BTW it seems Yelena is emerging as an even bigger villain than Gabi

    Anton
    Reply

    1. Funnily enough you’re right on the mark, Eren is just a tool at this stage. For SnK it’s no longer about characters, it’s about sides, with everyone most serving to push their desired side and objectives. Thus the morph to Yeagerist in place of Eren alone as a representation of where things are heading.

      As a bit of a spoiler this will change down the line once the showdown commences because there’s a few characters like Armin and Misaka who are about to get some major crises of confidence.

      Pancakes
      Reply

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