Uncut AOT 3 x 18
Added 2025-03-15 19:55:33 +0000 UTCComments
Mikasa's cries, specifically, break my heart. Every time I hear her sobs, I immediately get choked up 🥺🥺 This was such a tough dilemma. I agree with Hange wholeheartedly in the next episode, but mostly that they shouldn't be put in these situations at all. I remember feeling a bit of pity watching Bertholdt's demise, but ultimately nothing because I was so drained by the events of that single day. The bitterness of the moment completely overshadowed the tiny bit of sweetness (Armin's salvation)
Violet
2025-03-26 16:45:52 +0000 UTCI think even if I thought Erwin was the better choice I’d still have to pick Armin with almost no hesitation if only because he’s like a 15~ year old child and letting him die would be such a grave sin (to me).
Merry
2025-03-20 00:16:49 +0000 UTCvery agree. some channel finish the whole story but still not get what The author's intention
Zarayut Ziri
2025-03-19 03:13:49 +0000 UTCIn my opinion, why Levi choose Armin at last second. it's because Erwin rise the hand up and talk about question he always doubt, it's the Main goal of his life. But I think the time when he said the question of him. because when Eren, Mikasa v Levi, Floch a moment ago he still can hear them. so that's why he rise his hand. cause He need to tell Levi. his goal already successfully proof about outside the wall is still Humanity. cause he knew Zeke, Reiner, Betho.. and Grisha from the otherside of the wall. but just another proof is basement and he accept it's already that he ok with it to die without go to basement at the discuss with Levi in ep.16 so Levi understand the Erwin intention. and he heard about the Armin dream about the sea that Armin and friend not success. then He change the last moment to Chose Armin, and other cause it's support Levi decision is for Eren, cause Eren is still child, if Armin gone. no one know how it gonna be happen with his Motivation, Mind, Or Other if His best friend gone. The child that facing the biggest broke mind and hearth will response too. no one know the outcome. so Levi choose Armin is also for Eren Stable too. that's all my opinion <3 can't wait to watch along next Season. it's mine Most Fav.
Zarayut Ziri
2025-03-19 03:11:03 +0000 UTCHey, if we're gonna play the guessing game and gloat about being correct let's keep it fair. That's all I'm saying. As we've seen, and as you've pointed out in your response to me, you've been correct multiple times in this show. Trying to predict things is your thing, right?
Ray
2025-03-17 23:16:34 +0000 UTCI agree Historia is kind of a figurehead. The bigger point is after the fake king was removed nobody was actively trying to kill the Scouts and they were all on the same side for the time being.
Raul Iggynashow
2025-03-17 16:23:01 +0000 UTCeep, looks like this posted as a root comment instead of as a response as I intended :/
draeonic 🪼
2025-03-17 14:51:06 +0000 UTCI mean we can, but do you really believe the experienced, high level military commanders are taking orders from a 15yo soldier with no political training?
draeonic 🪼
2025-03-17 14:49:34 +0000 UTCWe can agree to disagree on that.
Sophie Anders
2025-03-17 14:10:05 +0000 UTCHistoria being in charge of anything remains to be seen. She's a figurehead; Erwin's coup effectively put the army in power, not her.
draeonic 🪼
2025-03-17 13:03:33 +0000 UTCHow is that different from Erwin though? They both wanted to live, but came up with a plan that meant their death, and accepted it. The only major difference is that Armin wasn't willing to sacrifice anyone but himself.
draeonic 🪼
2025-03-17 11:50:46 +0000 UTCsortof, annie asked him about that in season 1 and he said he doesn't want to die, he also said that jsut before sacrificing himself to bring down bertholt so it might just be a fassade but it seems clear he's... sortof willign to die if absolutely necessary but not really
HAL
2025-03-16 20:18:48 +0000 UTCThe biggest thing Erwin may have accomplished that a lot of people don't mention was pulling off a successful Coup D'etat. Erwin non violently removed the fake king and Rod Weiss out of power and installed History as the new ruler. In my head now that Historia was in charge I have the luxury of picking Armin over Erwin. But if the fake king were still in charge and they needed someone to remove him out of power without starting a civil war I think Erwin with his friendships with other military commanders is the only choice for that job and I would have picked Erwin over Armin under those different circumstances.
Raul Iggynashow
2025-03-16 20:06:37 +0000 UTCArmin was also willing to die though. To be fair
draeonic 🪼
2025-03-16 20:04:28 +0000 UTCConny saved Armin's life by making a comment a few episodes back that by inhaling the steam from the Colossal Titan it burnt his throat. Armin remembered this so he kept his mouth closed the entire time infront of Bert, when a normal reaction maybe to open your mouth widely and scream in pain as loud as you can, preventing his lungs from being torched and allowing him to live just a little longer, enough to be injected by the serum.
Raul Iggynashow
2025-03-16 19:51:13 +0000 UTCI mean I did back in Ep 14 said that Levi may have to choose who to use the serum on :)
Sophie Anders
2025-03-16 19:43:05 +0000 UTCI find most people have a dearth of sympathy to those who commit evil actions. A more perfect world would have every person be happy and moral. So, evil people are unfortunate in that they will never achieve any higher form of happiness. I saw a video on Reddit of a young guy terrorizing an old man, who hid in his locked car. Even when it was revealed that the young man was homeless, and having a mental breakdown after losing his dog, the Reddit commenters celebrated his death (he died less than a week later.) It is hard to look past even minor crimes, and harder to forgive someone for “heinous” crimes such as assault, r*pe and murder. (Bert has led to the deaths of millions of people, personally.) To feel sympathy for the evil and fallen is evidence of a higher level of consciousness.
Adam Young
2025-03-16 19:38:02 +0000 UTCI mean just strategically, helping and protecting someone willing to research and enemy yo udon't understnad in depth is the right thing to do but I think there was some genuine care in it, certainly makes it an even more tragic story
HAL
2025-03-16 19:32:17 +0000 UTCerwin was already willing to die, armin still has his whole life ahead of him and can actually think beyond their current fight
HAL
2025-03-16 19:26:21 +0000 UTCmoblit is the underrated best boy
HAL
2025-03-16 19:17:09 +0000 UTC"Sophie's Choice" refers to an extremely difficult decision a person has to make where no outcome is preferable over the other. As a reactor named Sophie I find it funny you did not predict that AOT would pull a "Sophie's Choice" episode on us, your namesake. Hahahahaha
Raul Iggynashow
2025-03-16 16:59:19 +0000 UTC*Hugssss* I totally agree with you that Levi made the right call. Erwin was carrying so much guilt over the “mountain of corpses” he’d built chasing the truth, and you could tell it weighed on him. By making the decision for Erwin to lead the charge while he went after the Beast Titan, Levi took the burden off his shoulders of the idea that he was selfish (which I don’t think he was) and the burden of having to sacrifice the lives of his comrades (being a necessary “devil”, in Floch’s words). It really touched me when Erwin smiled and thanked Levi for making that choice for him. 🥺🥹🥹 I hope you won’t cry over the next episode. But if you do, I totally feel you. This season is so cruel yet so beautiful!
tonkatsu
2025-03-16 16:43:29 +0000 UTCThe parallels between Armin and Erwin have been striking : ▪️Erwin sacrificed his entire squad to give Levi the opportunity to kill the enemy ▪️ while Armin sacrificed only himself to ensure the survival of his comrades. And I know (to be fair with Erwin) two completely different scenarios that can't be compared in the slightest. Armin and the others inside the walls were not about to be obliterated by machine gun rocks any second.🤕💥🜸🜸🜸🜸 Erwin and the squad had nowhere to run, with probably just minutes left of cover. So they could either try to flee (over open field and no cover, it should be noted) and most likely all be killed of. Or fight head on and most likely all be killed of, but with the added bonus of a small chance of getting the Beast titan. If they decided to flee, the Colossal titan would instead focus his attention on Armin and his squad instead, never giving Armin the chance to strike with a proper well laid plan. Armin and Eren's victory over the Colossal titan, and Levi's victory over the Beast titan was only possible because of Erwin and the young recruit squads sacrifice‼ The situation was different for both ✋ BUT ...let's remember that Erwin took his time to tell Levi about his plan, instead of doing it as soon as he thought of it ⏳ Because his wish of knowing about the basement was stopping him. He had to had Levi ask him to give up his dream, actually, to move on with the plan. Armin instead, he just went and sacrificed himself as soon as the plan came to his head.🙇🏼♂️🗣 Paradoxically, in their ultimate plan, Armin lies to his best friend Eren while Erwin tells the truth to his squad. I love both Erwin and Armin and so many parallels between them.
Mickael Landry
2025-03-16 15:02:41 +0000 UTCWhat sets AoT and Death Note (which you also reacted to) apart as unique and captivating is that certain elements of these shows can be seen as a mirror of our own reality. There's sadly countries in real life who make soldiers out of children, and then those children grow up to become the monsters the ruling class wants them to be, and it's because those kids never had the chance to know better, or be free. If it were that simple they'd all try to run away from the role. Can we not say we'd pity a child soldier born to be someone's killer? We can pity the situation of an individual without agreeing with their actions. We may not condone what Bertholdt did, but we can sympathize with the circumstances that led him to this point as you wrote. 😟
Mickael Landry
2025-03-16 13:39:13 +0000 UTC@Sophie Ahaha, I didn't realize you were a bit ahead, so of course I made sure to not mention Marley. 🤭 I kinda feel really bad for Armin aswell. He was the only one who continued to try and reach for Bertholdt when nobody else did and in the end he was ironically the one who ended up (unconsciously) killing him. Bertholdt was easily the most innocent and manipulated of the shifters. And every time he did something against his friends he was the only one that showed any remorse or regret. Eventually Bertholdt was more of a reminder of what happens to good people forced to do bad things, he never truly wanted to kill the friends he made, but he's there because as you mentioned Marley took children, brainwashed them into an ideology of self-loathing and zealous repentance through genociding their ancestral kin, made soldiers out of them, then gave them powers no sane person wants to be responsible for.
Mickael Landry
2025-03-16 13:35:00 +0000 UTCWhich is a very good way of looking at it Terry!! Also the fact that should Erwin's dream be fulfilled - what then?! He has nothing else to drive and motivate, whereas Armin is young and ambitious and deserves the opportunity to fulfil his goals in life!
Sophie Anders
2025-03-16 11:39:11 +0000 UTCMidnight Sun was a tough one to get through. I always thought Erwin's dream lies in the past, whereas Armin's lies in the future.
Terry C
2025-03-16 11:24:42 +0000 UTCThat and the more you learn in 3 x 20 the more you begin to understand the environment that the trio were growing up within and the consequences that come with 'failing' the Marleyan government. Based on Grisha's flashbacks this program is designed and peddled to children in the hope of giving their families a better life outside of internment camps by becoming Titans. They are already being manipulated and used and people expect me to sit here and think of them as evil?! What is clear to me is that they likely had no choice. If they didn't pursue this mission their families would suffer. Worse yet, if they turned on Zeke and by extension the Marleyan government, they would be traitor and their families would suffer a fate worse than death by being forced into Pure Titans. Bertholdt really has little choice. He either gives his family the chance to be free of the internment camps, or he damns them to death by becoming a traitor. It's the age old of being caught between a rock and a hard place. People are expecting a child - who was around the age of 12 when this all began - to fully understand the consequences of his actions and what it would result in. He would not have had a clue as to the magnitude or severity nor would Reiner or Annie. They have been thrust into this as weapons by the Marleyan government and therefore the blame is entirely with the Marleyan's. We can condemn the act that resulted in the deaths of thousands without condemning the child who was manipulated and traumatised into performing said act. They have always done what they've felt they needed to do in order to get home. They are no different to Erwin who has sacrificed many in pursuit of the truth. They are no different to any of the others who have killed people now too in an attempt to protect themselves. They are all victims of circumstance and a society hell bent on seeking revenge for a history many are not old enough to understand. Bertholdt, Annie, and Reiner are victims of their upbringing and trauma of the Marleyan government and it breaks my heart that people fail to realise that. Victim and perpetrator are not opposing terms. One can be a victim and a perpetrator and that's what we see here. I've done far too much research into transgenerational trauma and the replication of violence amongst children in divided communities to condemn Annie, Bertholdt, and Reiner as evil because that's far too simple.
Sophie Anders
2025-03-16 11:06:09 +0000 UTCTHE PARALLELS!! I completely forgot about the parallels!! You're 100% right. Both died in an identical way and both deaths were entirely preventable if they had just talked. Marco begged to talk and he died as a result. Armin begged to talk and Bertholdt died once he refused. The tragedy is that war can be avoided if people were open to talking rather than immediately jumping to violence. Not only that, as you said, both reached out to their friends in their final moment in the hope they could be saved but all sentimentality disappears in the face of war and ties become no longer strong enough to bind us as they used to be. Bertholdt will 100% still be important. He's going to live on through Armin's memories now!
Sophie Anders
2025-03-16 10:56:04 +0000 UTCI'm in a minority here but I mourn Moblit more than Erwin. A charismatic military leader whose core motivation was about to become obsolete? No way that was going to end well. Also, it makes me super uncomfortable that this world doesn't seem to even have the notion of a mercy killing. Once you've decided to let the man die, why allow him to keep suffering like this? In a show that's full of questions about life and death and morality, I find it sad that this wasn't one of them.
draeonic 🪼
2025-03-16 10:26:35 +0000 UTCIt's like. 93% of a W. close enough in my book.
draeonic 🪼
2025-03-16 10:21:36 +0000 UTCYup I heard that and was like "well that sure is a Statement"
draeonic 🪼
2025-03-16 10:20:21 +0000 UTCAs a very socially inept person myself, I really appreciate Moblit and how he is always there to support Hange, to let them follow their ideas while at the same time making sure they don't go over board. He is really been the anchor that has kept Hange tethered to the real world during these first 3 seasons.
Krul
2025-03-16 10:17:42 +0000 UTC"If I cry in this next episode as well, I'm going to be furious." Sorry, but this is "Midnight Sun", no way you are surviving that, lol.
Krul
2025-03-16 10:10:10 +0000 UTCLevi gets given so many terrible decisions to make. It's no wonder his expression is always so severe. Other people get to have emotions, get to lose their tempers, be enraged, go to pieces, be terrified, but Levi always has to stay calm and take these horrible decisions. I feel for my man Levi...he can't even catch a break 😥
Mickael Landry
2025-03-16 09:35:17 +0000 UTCThis is why I appreciate so much Sophie's insights and her ability to empathize. 👩🏫💯👏 Unlike some other reactions channels, she doesn't view the show in a simplistic way as just a battle between "heroes and villains," but already recognizes or guesses that it's much more nuanced than that. I watch this scene from time to time, and ill never feel happy watching Bertholt getting eaten, even though he killed countless innocents and let Marco die. People who don't feel (a bit) bad for a 16 year old boy being completely vulnerable crying for his friends and only fighting them in the first place because he had been forced/brainwashed from literal childhood sorry....but they need to rethink their moral 🙈 That moment where Bertholdt sees the gang and has a moment of hope that he will be saved, kills me each time That smile proved that he truly thought they were friends... Bertholdt's voice actor absolutely nailed this scene. The intensity of the fear and desperation to live, to not get eaten alive is so palpable.
Mickael Landry
2025-03-16 09:26:35 +0000 UTCI was correct to an extent which is exactly what I said because I was. Be pedantic all you want but I was even more correct in Ep 14 when I said that Levi was going to be forced to choose between who to use the serum on and that could by why he's furious and frustrated.
Sophie Anders
2025-03-16 08:32:39 +0000 UTCThis is one of the reasons why AOT is on another level, because Mobilit was such a side character but served a purpose. I love how he tried to be Hange's concious. Like that one time Eren was practically skin and bones and when Hanji pulled him out she was more focused and overexcited about studying Eren rather than his wellbeing, and Moblit didn't just go along with it. It's important to mention that despite how formal he was and how serious he could be, he called out "Hange-san" when he saved her. Every other time we see them interact, he uses "Squad Leader" or "Section Commander." At that moment, he only cared about his friend, not the formalities or his respected superior. 🥺💓 Also was a great story to add inside the tension of Midnight Sun and Levi's decision. "I have people I want to bring back too". CHILLS.
Mickael Landry
2025-03-16 08:32:35 +0000 UTCMost useless comment
NigerianPrinceNoScam
2025-03-16 08:17:13 +0000 UTCI'm gonna be that guy, but.. WERE you correct? You said that Levi's "anger" would be because of Erwin's death. But Erwin wasn't confirmed dead until near the end of the episode. I wouldn't call that a W. He lost his temper because of Eren opposing him when it came to his decision to use the syringe on Erwin. Let's just keep it fair, lol.
Ray
2025-03-16 06:35:38 +0000 UTCErwin is my favorite character and Berth is my third favorite character, so you can imagine how hard this episode was for me....
Anastasia Lipgart
2025-03-16 05:56:16 +0000 UTCThis is one of my fave episodes, purely because of Eren's speech and the whole Kenny flashback in Levi's decision making process.
Hippopi
2025-03-16 01:51:36 +0000 UTCYou’re like the only person I know of who really cared for Bertholdt. Most people just found him unremarkable. This is by design. Reiner is the one with more potential growth, obviously set in advance. He is so conflicted, he went insane. Bertholdt is a follower at heart, acting on Reiner’s orders. He is smaller, quieter, his features less striking. I think it takes advanced literary skills to notice and appreciate Ber’s complexities. But, let’s not pat ourselves on the back too hard. I bruise easily.
Adam Young
2025-03-16 01:23:20 +0000 UTCOf course you were correct! It's obviously the power of the Dinossaur shirt, right?.. Right? xD This episode is absolutely devastating. Bertholdt's death is one of the most chilling and hurtful moments of this series, at least until this point. Can't help but make a connection to Marco's death. Both called for the people who caused their deaths; Both their deaths were by their friends decision. It's so tragic. But you've seen how Isayama respectfully treats the death characters, they are honoured and not forgotten. Marco is still so important at this point, I'm sure Bertholdt will be too. Did you notice the fact that this episode had absolutely no soundtrack until Levi finally made the decision? At that point, the soundtrack came back. It actually made the episode more tense, it was an awesome decision and usually goes by unnoticed. Hope you are feeling better! A hug!
Lemon
2025-03-16 00:34:12 +0000 UTCI’d say it matches Armin very well. He has a hidden ruthlessness born from pragmatism. He’s only meek on the surface
Adam Young
2025-03-16 00:16:07 +0000 UTCI love Erwin so much, he’s probably in my top 3 characters in AOT, but even I can see that it was the right choice in picking Armin. Narratively, Erwin's story was done, and it creates a better story bc a lot of characters have the chance to grow in Erwin’s absent
Kyra Sun
2025-03-15 23:16:45 +0000 UTCI am so glad that you mentioned Bertholdt, people tend to forget that he's human and there was one more person who was going to die with the serum pick.
Kyra Sun
2025-03-15 23:03:50 +0000 UTCPlus Armin can now turn into the Colossal Titan (with the bonus effect of nuking his surroundings on activation). That's a very good weapon, but it's very specialist. And it's a power that doesn't really match Armin's morality (i.e. its very destructive)
Dagmar Makara
2025-03-15 22:47:13 +0000 UTCSometimes it almost gets borderline annoying like "can't this girl get surprised by anything at all?" loll No for real your analysis is awesome and it's satisfying to see you get proven right--it goes to show how the writing rewards criticism and an attentive viewer. But I am so looking forward to you experiencing a few things I know you don't see coming :P
hman70
2025-03-15 22:34:27 +0000 UTClove love this episode, always breaks my heart when Levi clutches the serum to his heart when he sees erwin's alive. Alot of people in these comments said it way better then me but i just need to talk about it and how I see it!: I’ve always been fascinated by Levi’s choice, in a way he ultimately chose Erwin over Humanity, because in-universe logic who would revive a soldier over a commander? His love for Erwin, whether you see it platonic or more, made that decision for him. Letting Erwin rest was a sign of love and respect and freed him from being a slave to his dream. Levi chose Erwin’s peace above the fate of humanity by letting Erwin die as a human, freeing him from the burden of becoming the devil. I think people forget that what this episode stated when they were fighting over who to bring back, that bringing someone back into this world is condemning them to hell. So, when Levi chose Erwin to rest, consequently Levi also condemned Armin to become the devil. Because now, Armin has to live with the fact that he has a titans destructive power, and Erwin’s (alongside Hange) narrative shoes to fill.
Kyra Sun
2025-03-15 22:24:17 +0000 UTCThank you for your reaction!
Eleonora Frizorger
2025-03-15 22:21:47 +0000 UTCThis arch was crazy
Super Nenechi
2025-03-15 22:21:10 +0000 UTCI want to express my appreciation for the respect you put on Moblit's noble death. Our non binary quing Hange Zoe is very autistic coded and Moblit to me reads as their "person" or "caretaker", that is he fills the role of helping Hange navigate a world not built for them. Mobilit also seems a but like Hange's Samwise Gamgee, or the officer's batman role that Tolkien based that character on. After this episode rewatches are peppered with little moments of heartwarming mourning every time Moblit is seen taking care of our dear Hange. Loved your thoughts and reaction, can't wait for the next three especially.
Anna Kyruin
2025-03-15 21:54:24 +0000 UTCbless you, you were in pieces after this, but so were we all xD thank you for your amazing reaction to this amazing episode :))
EDC
2025-03-15 21:49:58 +0000 UTC2:55 I would like to remind you about the moment in season one during the battle of Trost (I believe it was episode 14) when we heard Eren’s inner monologue. He said that he didn’t care about all the wonders of the outside world but he thought that the person who saw all of them is the freest person in the world. So I think he never really shared that dream of Armin’s about exploring the world just for the sake of it.
Eleonora Frizorger
2025-03-15 21:49:36 +0000 UTCThis is too sad 😭😭
shintesu shini
2025-03-15 21:44:06 +0000 UTC<3 such a gut wrenching episode. I'm so impressed how perfect your analysis was, especially after such an emotional episode. I can't wait to see you react and analyze 3 x 20!!
Russell Gambardella
2025-03-15 21:35:04 +0000 UTCAlso glad to see you acknowledging the reason Levi made the decision. I've seen so many discussions and reactors that were simply advocating for choosing Erwin or Armin as they were, without considering where their characters were developing towards. Erwin's ambition was to learn the truth about the world or truth about the walls. When he reaches it, it's hard to say if he can still find strong enough reasons to push forward, and otherwise he might become complacent as a leader. I also interpret that for Erwin, his selfish ambition is stronger than the guilt/obligation he feels towards the people who had perished along the way. Levi also already took that burden of obligation towards their comrades from Erwin, when he told Erwin to drop his dreams and die. On the other side, there's Armin who is inexperienced as a leader/commander, but still has a strong fire in him. Not just to reach the sea, but to explore everything beyond the walls. And he's smart enough to learn what is needed to command the people. As for his dreams, Armin also entrusted Eren to reach the sea, but that "obligation" wasn't passed on like with Erwin & Levi. It was just inside Armin's own head, so he didn't pass it on or give up on it at a similar level.
Hezer
2025-03-15 21:32:22 +0000 UTCOh I just love this episode. Not only is it a clash between characters but it's a clash between morals and ideologies (something this has done, and will do, a lot). Overall I think Armin was the right choice here. In order to truly change the world we must perceive it as something that can be changed for the better, and Armin embodies that hope, and that dream, so well. I am so excited to see you react to the next episode (I presume you are ahead but if you aren't I won't spoil, duh. But if you are then you know why :D).
EDC
2025-03-15 21:28:46 +0000 UTCMy favourite episode of the whole show. We just had several episodes of fast-paced, high stakes battle, tough decisions on life or death. Time after time, the situation seems hopeless, but we just eke out a 'victory'. Every time you think you've reached peak intensity, it keeps increasing. And then, everythong slows down, hardly any action, only words, body language, and music. And it gets more intense than the battle somehow. The grand conflict of the ages be damned, it's all about the characters: Armin and Erwin mainly, but also Eren, Mikasa, Levi, Jean, Hange, Reiner, Bertholdt, ... We've gotten to know all these characters throughout three seasons, and at this point, each of them seems to show what their character arc has been about. Every sentence they speak is filled with so much weight because of what we know about their histories. And then there are characters like Floch and Zeke that we don't yet know too well, but are showing the first signs of who they are, and what their role will be in the future. There are still going to be plenty of emotions in the rest of the show, possibly some tears, but probably not as much as in this masterpiece...
Wouter
2025-03-15 21:10:42 +0000 UTCRIP Erwin 🥺
Gina Queen
2025-03-15 21:09:24 +0000 UTCThese three episodes are art! Sharing what I personally think is the best write up on the Armin vs Erwin debate with you Sophie. I thought you might be interested because a lot of the points op made closely overlap with yours, while some are a little different. Thank you for the drop and hope you’re feeling better! “Erwin was being eroded from the inside out by all the guilt he felt from sending his comrades to their death for his own selfish motives. However he was unable to stop pursuing his dream, unable to stop himself from being enslaved to this dream because as Kenny had remarked before dying, his dream was what he was ‘drunk on’ and not only did it give him his strong sense of purpose, it was powerful enough for him to be able to throw aside his humanity in order to keep pushing through his guilt. During their final conversation Levi saw how tormented Erwin was as he grappled between his duty as a commander and his selfish desire to abandon the mission and go to the basement. By that point Levi had already developed an inkling that Erwin’s motives might not be as noble or righteous as he may have once thought. But it wasn’t until that very moment, that Levi truly understood just how deep Erwin’s obsession ran, how mercilessly this vice-like dream was suffocating him, and how much it was consuming him. As his long time friend and comrade, Levi saw that Erwin’s misguided motives made him someone who was pitiful rather than someone resentable. Even when Erwin, for the first time, showed hesitation and childish selfishness at a moment when his soldiers desperately needed him, Levi’s initial look of absolute disbelief and incredulous ‘huh?’ quickly changed to a face of genuine sympathy and commiseration. During a rare moment of vulnerability shown by an old friend who’d always been defined by his stoicism, he was understandably beyond stunned. But it didn’t take him long to understand the pain of the pressure Erwin is under and how tragic his dilemma is. Seeing the impasse his friend stood before, Levi decided to do him the favor of making the difficult decision Erwin hadn’t been able to bring himself to make. This all ties back to what Erwin told Levi in the No Regrets, OVA: when a person hesitates or allows themself to wallow in regret, they are dulling their future decisions and allowing others to make their choices for them. But in turn, Levi’s decision did also give Erwin a chance to redeem himself before death. Hence, Erwin thanking him with a face of relief, peace, and then acceptance. In a sense, Levi fulfilled Erwins’ desire for judgment, often misunderstood as a desire for forgiveness. Cursory words of forgiveness can be easily given, but it is difficult to endure the punishment needed to truly earn forgiveness. Forgiveness can be given to even the unapologetic if they act pitiful enough when asking for it or if the person who gives the forgiveness is charitable enough, but sinners who ask for judgement in earnest and allow themselves to be at the mercy of punishment, are usually the ones who are sincere in their remorse. This is what sets forgiveness apart from judgment. The surmised purpose of ‘judgment’, is to bestow punishment on those who commit immorality and evil. As a result, to the remorseful sinner, judgment is an object of hope that alludes to a possibility for redemption through punishment, something that Erwin not only desired, but also secretly believed he deserved. If we want to tie in Armins’ “Those who can’t sacrifice anything, can’t change anything” philosophy: Erwin sacrificed his dream in order to change himself. He wanted to finally shed the righteous commander mask he’s been hiding behind all these years and for the last and only time, be a true commander who is truly fighting for his soldiers and humanity, not his own goals. Notice he does not parrot his usual ‘dedicate your hearts’ line. He never actually was sincerely dedicating his heart to humanity’s cause. They were empty words and he knew it. By throwing away his script and mask, he was able to finally be honest not only to his soldiers, but also to himself. The final factor that made Levi decide to let Erwin go was when he saw that even at deaths’ door, Erwin was still obsessing over his dream, still unable, probably unwilling, to let it go and make his peace. Many misinterpret the final rooftop scene as Erwin slapping Levi’s hand away and rejecting the syringe but that definitely wasn’t what that scene was about. He subconsciously raised his hand because in his delirium, he was reliving the moment his obsession first began and reflecting on the day he asked the teacher *that* question. Surprisingly, it’s actually the first time it’s fully revealed what Erwin had even asked that day. It’s been teased again and again how he’d raised his hand in class in his childhood, presenting a very controversial question, but what that question exactly was, was never explicitly revealed to viewers until this scene. It really sits among some of the most powerful and emotional moments in this show imo. Before leaving for the mission, Erwin himself had admitted that he had no idea what he was going to do once he fulfilled his dream of seeing the basement. Whereas on the other hand, as Levi had seen and heard for himself back when he was eavesdropping in on the trio’s conversation, a bright-eyed Armin was still full of passions and dreams to be drunk on. Big dreams that have the capacity to inspire everyone to keep pushing forward along with him. Armin was ‘looking’ far beyond the walls, all the way to the ocean whereas Erwin’s vision was limited only up to the basement. A dream that stops at the Zhiganshina basement just simply isn’t enough to lead humanity towards the direction in which they now need to go, which is beyond the walls and forward. Erwins’ dream was a silent source of self-torment for him while Armins’ dream is a bright beacon of hope that shines for everyone. Levi understood that letting Erwin go was the greatest mercy. He would no longer need to suffer under his dream (that honestly had become more like a curse at that point), or live every day wracked with guilt, or continue to shoulder the heavy responsibility of making the most difficult decisions for everyone, while still having to endure being called a devil or a demon. No matter the outcome, he’s always somehow made out to be the bad guy. If his ideas fail, he’s blamed for the results and when he succeeds he’s then criticized for the means. From the start he was stuck in an unfortunate position where he would never truly be able to please any of the expectations that are being placed upon him. Someone in the comments for another video put it quite nicely - ‘If Levi had brought Erwin back, it would have been a betrayal and act of disrespect to his conviction’. For Erwin this was an incredible moment of long awaited emancipation and relief from a huge burden he’d been shouldering for most of his life. Erwin wanted to make his peace after a long struggle and even if it took a lot for him to get to that point, and even if he himself was still wavering inside, at the end of the day it was still his personal decision. Going against it would have been the same as dismissing his determination and resolve. Erwin himself already knew what the right thing to do was from the start but he just needed someone to give him that final push and affirmation that it was time to let go of his childish vice. With his wish fulfilled, he would have lived life an empty man left with nothing because he no longer has a dream to chase. Even if he had survived, it’s likely he would have never been the same commander again without that drive. On the inside, he’d just be a regular guy holding on to nothing but guilt, and guilt is a horrible and painful drink to be drunk on. As people often say, sometimes you’re happier chasing your dream than living a life where you no longer have one. You’ll continue to find this to be a heavily emphasized, central theme in this show.”
JenniHongyu
2025-03-15 21:03:57 +0000 UTCAt this point the point of the Patreon is just to pay for Sophie's therapy sessions lol (/j). The tragedy of Berthold is that in his very last moments it seems to be that on a physical, emotional and non-brain-processed level (where he isn't logically processing the ideals or mission that were forced upon him), he just can't see the Survey Corp as enemies. Only as lost comrades, whose help he struggles for through his screams. That's one way to look at it at least, you could probably just say that that is but a natural reaction anyone would have, but ehh that feels like one of those "the curtains are blue, so that means they are blue" points that render the whole process of trying to understand character motivations pointless. Anyway, good episode and more good episodes to look forward to.
RokasKy
2025-03-15 21:01:10 +0000 UTCAlready seen it :) I'm up to 3 x 20.
Sophie Anders
2025-03-15 20:58:33 +0000 UTCYou are a star Sophie, thank you for the reaction but please get better fast its the priority!
daragh faro
2025-03-15 20:52:38 +0000 UTCAlso check for credit scene for next episode
Michael
2025-03-15 20:38:25 +0000 UTCHope you've been feeling much better Sophie, looking forward to having a new episode to watch for the night 💜💜
Lustful~Mirage
2025-03-15 20:17:09 +0000 UTCyup, thanks for the video. Hope you'll be back to full health soon, take care.
Hezer
2025-03-15 20:15:37 +0000 UTCThankfully feeling a bit better today!! Didn't want to disappoint as I know everyone was looking forward to this!
Sophie Anders
2025-03-15 19:59:50 +0000 UTCThanks for getting this edited and out despite being under the weather this week. Can't wait to watch!
hman70
2025-03-15 19:56:45 +0000 UTC
