Attack on Titan - Episode 33 Discussion / Poll

[Klashikari]

Welcome to the discussion thread for Attack on Titan, Episode 33.

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[MrTerrorist]

Well looks like the rescue team has a lot of troops to help them rescue Ymir and Eren.
And we see Hange has a noticeable bust.
So next week we might learn why did Reiner and Bertolt did what they did.

[Stark700]

This episode reminds me of why bullies are afraid of Mikasa in the first place. That was a pretty cool beating.

[Anh_Minh]

Originally Posted by Stark700

This episode reminds me of why bullies are afraid of Mikasa in the first place. That was a pretty cool beating.

But not afraid enough to just leave Armin alone. The idiots.

[FlareKnight]

This episode also reminded me why I really don't care about Eren at all. Constantly runs off pissed into a situation he can't handle and then gets pissed off even more when he gets help. He's basically as equally dumb as the bullies. At this point they should know that crossing Armin and thus by extension Eren, they are going to piss off Mikasa. And she can and will kick the stuffing out of them.

[blakstealth]

Originally Posted by FlareKnight

At this point they should know that crossing Armin and thus by extension Eren, they are going to piss off Mikasa. And she can and will kick the stuffing out of them.

that made me laugh. lol

Hannes talking about how Eren, Mikasa and Armin are are still doing the same shit they've been doing since they were kids really resonated something in me. He's got a point. Eren has been getting himself in all these situations while Mikasa bails him out. Whether that be bullies or Titans, it's the same dynamic but just with different noise around them. I never thought of it like that. It's actually kinda funny when I think of it like that. It makes me feel like all the deaths and despair don't matter in the end.

[Peanutbutter]

I just noticed Hannes has a different VA in season 2. Hope that Keiji Fujiwara-san recovers well.

[Ultragunner]

Originally Posted by FlareKnight

This episode also reminded me why I really don't care about Eren at all. Constantly runs off pissed into a situation he can't handle and then gets pissed off even more when he gets help. He's basically as equally dumb as the bullies. At this point they should know that crossing Armin and thus by extension Eren, they are going to piss off Mikasa. And she can and will kick the stuffing out of them.

Yeah... At this point I wonder if Eren is an embodiment of rage or something, he just seems to be angry all the time, like the Hulk or something

Eren always has a look of someone with a chip on his shoulder, even before Wall Maria fell for some reasons
Remember back in season 1 during a flashback of Mikasa's past? He straight up went and murdered those guys. I don't think any normal kid that age would do something like that.

[Sheba]

Eren is a lucky bastard to have such loyal friends. Especially, Mikasa. A friend like those are rare and precious.

[zibi88]

Guys guys come on...if Eren was not how he is he would never go to search for Mikasa and god knows what would have happened to her by now. Becouse he was such person who could not deal with injustice he went out to search for her and then killed those adults that took Mikasa.

He could have been a bit of a retard in past that was jumping into something that he knew he wouldnt win, yet he still preffered to do it knowing the danger becouse thats what needs to be done which is kinda admirable.

Yet under that dumb shell he is a nice guy that shared his scarf with a unknown girl that was looking cold, he didnt need to do it but he still did it. She remembers those parts and it become a solid fundation for her moving foward.

Well Eren is a bit stressed becouse of the whole situation, like he thinks whole mankinds fate lies on his shoulders. If he fails to fix the wall many more people will die, if he fails to control his titan other people might die, if he gets captured the wall will not be fixed and people will die. So yeah a bit much for just 1kid

[QS_Bilal]

The episode picks up where we were left hanging in the previous episode. As Eren remarkably gains the upper hand against Reiner, the tone of the scene shifts and we see our favorite baka boy, Connie, exclaim as the Colossal Titan responds to Reiner's cue.. I have to say, I am taken aback by the explosive force with which Bertolt's husk explodes.. those winds put everyone in close proximity practically out of action. I am honestly surprised those peeps dangling from the wall did not fall to their deaths.. Mikasa was literally blown of a tree, granted she was much closer to the scene. The music and camera angling could of used more work, relatively, but overall, it was an excellent scene.

It needs to be said that the Titans intentionally avoided bloodshed and amazingly, no one was killed. Reiner did not even try to squat Mikasa when she landed on his armored shoulder in the previous MMA episode. Bertolt could have squashed the columns of commandos for a killtacular but he only went in to recover Ymir. Take the situation now, half the corps squad is knocked out only from the largely defensive techniques employed by the CT. If he went in for the kill, there'd have been a carnage. It begs the question on what motivates the treacherous actions of Reiner and Bertolt. Why be careful with your direct comrades but nonchalantly destroy the wall barriers ? They're motivations are unclear but one thing is certain, the reluctance to fight our protagonists. It is due to this that I find it difficult to simply label them as evil or the "bad guys". There's more than what meets the eye.

Towards the end, we see Commander Erwin in serious mode hustling to the kidnapping zone and then onto the pursuit of our band of misfits. Now you have to question the proceeding of events. Given the very recent and extremely bloody encounter with the FT and its almost unstopped drive/power to plow through numerous veteran Survey Corps members to capture Eren, why send Eren out to such a risky mission ? Sending him on with the rookie team to survey Wall Rose for breaches with an existential threat of shifting titans being there was quite a strategic blunder, as we now see. I am a bit baffled.


Anyway, the superb background animation throughout the episode was noticeable, especially in the flashback. I must say, seeing another flashback into Eren's past, this time his childhood, was oddly reaffirming. We see that Eren always had an incredibly strong drive and had no qualms on standing up to adversities, even those that placed him in favorable odds. The abnormal attachment of Mikasa to Eren is also reaffirmed here once more.. she dropped the groceries and ran to him bee-line style. Not even a mother can compete with that.

Some comments:

As FlareKnight pointed out, Eren clearly has anger management issues. I think some of the more perceptive Survey Corps officers do know this as well. I recall Levi implicitly telling Eren to methodically control his outburst and shift his demeanor.

I also concur with zibi88 on his breakdown of Eren's character and motivations. It fits in with the series and is thankfully consistent. Also, you do need a few screws loose to join the survey corps, especially after experiencing that hell in Trost firsthand.

Lastly, funnies at that protein bar scene..

[Guido]

Everything that literally went in an explosion closing the previous episode slowed down the flow of tension in this one, though it left a sour aftertaste due that once again Eren became hopelessly kidnapped.

Spoiler:

As ironic as it sounds, however, solace was found in the strangest of all people by the likes of Hannes soothing the downbeat Mikasa and Armin, then consoling them about reminiscing how much he desires to look and bring back Eren to have back his old, simpler days as a useless soldier looking after the trio.

Words from a drunken friend and caretaker, indeed, that brought back the fighting spirit and determination not to give up on Mikasa and Armin. If what I've learned from the flashbacks and recalling the past, was that if Eren battled a losing fight, nevertheless, he refused to call it quits and kept on struggling. Unfortunately, that meant rushing ahead and leaving his friends behind much to Mikasa's dismay and angst.

Still, unwavering determination to move people and venturing a race against time for the soldiers to catch up to the traitors and Eren at the forest of giant trees.

Questions need to be answered, and the former 104th cadets need to sort out their feelings as well as regarding Bertholdt and Reiners' treachery.