Attack on Titan (Season 4)

The story resumes in Marley, the most powerful country in the world and the source of the titans that have been terrorizing our heroes for the last 3 seasons.  Let's delve into the outside world and see the reasons for their actions.  The narrative begins by following Gabby and Falco, a pair of young Eldians who are being trained to inherit certain titans.  Though both are members of a hated minority - eerily treated like Jews in 1930s Germany, they are given citizenship thanks to their unique position.  Only Eldians can transform into Titans, making them both a boon to the army and yet a feared outsider.  They view the Eldian colony of the first 3 seasons as a source of dread that should be purged lest the Eldian Empire that terrorized the world for millennia should arise again.  Of course, Eren hasn't been idle.  He bursts on the scene in Marley to get some payback for the long years of Titan attacks on his homeland.  Through this attack, Eren has justified the fears of the Marleyans and assured a clash.  Returning home with Gabby and Falco as captives as well as securing more Titans, Eren and his allies consider how to prevent or win the coming war.  Of course, Eren already has plans that he has kept from even his closest allies: Mikasa and Armin.

A strong conclusion for the series, it is far from a happy ending.  The Apocalypse - called the Rumbling - sweeps the world and sacrifices - lots of sacrifices - must be made in order to save humanity from extinction.  Not quite the satisfying conclusion one might have expected.

Recommended.

Attack on Titan (Season 3, Part 2)

With the political situation settled at the capitol and a new queen installed, the Scout Regiment has time to investigate Eren's basement.  Way back in episode one, Eren's father gave him a key and hinted that all would be explained by a visit to the basement.  That was more than 5 years ago.  The regiment has hardly arrived at Shinganshina when an army of titans appear.  Not only are both the colossal titan and the armored titan present, but so is a beast titan.  The titans have planned this ambush well and the Scouts are in serious trouble.  In the basement, Eren discovers some diaries from his father than detail the origin of the titans as well as the world beyond the walls.

Though only 10 episodes, the season reveals the bigger picture of the world, including the backstory of Eren's father.  The world has been upended by the end of the season and now the conflict is entirely unlike what it seemed.  There are some annoying bits, especially when the Scouts have opportunities to kill major villains but squander them by hesitating.  Despite repeatedly getting in trouble for his impulsiveness, Eren remains a hothead.  Will there ever be some character growth on this score?  Overall, a great season with some epic fights and great storytelling.  Eager to get into the 4th season.

Attack on Titan (Season 3)

Having recovered Eren and discovering he has the power to control Titans, the Scouts find that they have run afoul of the government.  The king wants Eren delivered up to him.  In fact, while bringing Eren back in secret, a new band of elite warriors - armed with gear designed to fight humans rather than titans - ambushes the Scouts.  Rather than fight the external threat of titans, a power struggle between human factions risks the survival of humanity.  What do the elites know about titans that the Scouts clearly don't know.  Why is Kenny the Ripper, a notorious murderer, leading the elite band of warriors for the nobility and why does Levi know so much about him?

The series provides lots of backstories for many of the characters and offers many explanations for past events.  Secrets are revealed about the royal family, Eren's father and mother, Mikasa's bloodline, Levi's childhood, Historia's ancestry, and Commander Erwin Smith's background.  The politics of the world take center stage rather than the ongoing battle against the titan threat.

This series keeps expanding its scope and getting more interesting.  Eager to see what comes next. 

Attack on Titan (Season 2)

The fight between titans in the heart of human civilization has hardly ended when word arrives that titans have breached Wall Rose!  Without time to even gear up, the troops rush into the field to be confront the invading titans and also to locate and seal the breach.  En route the wall, some teams stop in various towns and villages to warn the locals about the rampaging titans.  To the surprise of many, one town has been severely damaged but there is no blood.  Did everyone escape?  If so, why did they leave their horses?  And what is the explanation for the one titan that is too weak to move?  How did it get there?  To make things more complicated, both the colossal titan and the armored titan reappear and snatch Eren.

Carrying on the story from the first season, there are huge reveals that expand the mystery.  The link between humans and titans is closer than expected.  The religious leader, Minister Nick, apparently knows the secret of the titans but is forbidden by his faith from revealing it!  What does this portend?  Early on, an unusual ape-like titan is introduced; he proves to be both intelligent and capable of speech.  Is he the mastermind behind the current attack?  What are his goals and why is he so interested in the grappling gear that the soldiers use to fight titans?  Eren's only recently awakened powers expand, making him more formidable to the titans and their allies.  He is so valuable to humanity's defense that the leader of the Scouts - Erwin Smith - risks the lives of every member of his command to protect Eren.

Though only half as long as the first season (12 episodes vs. 25), it manages to dramatically expand the story and delve into the motivations of many of the characters.  There are multiple flashbacks to further develop the main three (Eren, Mikasa, and Armin), but also to explore other important support characters (Reiner, Connie, Ymir, Hannes, Bertolt, and Historia).

Great popcorn fun and recommended.

Attack on Titan (Season 1)

The Scouts, the part of the military that explores beyond the walls, have returned to Shiganshina.  It is clear that they had a difficult time and many of their number are missing.  Eren Yeager, who is only 10, is eager to someday join them and becomes irate when a bystander bemoans the taxes wasted on the futile effort of going beyond the walls.  Indeed, beyond the walls - which are 50 meters tall - the titans roam the land.  Titans are anywhere from 4 meters to 15 meters tall and love nothing more than to devour humans.  These monsters first appeared just over a hundred years ago and humanity managed to hide behind a series of giant walls: Wall Maria (the outermost), Wall Rose, and Wall Sina (the innermost).  The area protected by these walls is vast and many towns and villages dot the countryside within.

Eren and his friends, Mikasa and Armen, witness what appears to be a lightning strike near the gate that leads beyond the wall.  Then a giant hand grabs the top of the wall and the skinless head of a giant peers over the wall!  Suddenly, the gate shatters and titans enter through the breech.  Panic follows and many are slain by the invading titans.

Despite looking like giant humans, titans have animal level intelligence.  Moreover, they do not have sex organs, which leads one to wonder how they reproduce.  Of course, they also have astonishing regenerative abilities, regrowing limbs or even their head.  Only a slice to the back of their neck is fatal.  Stranger still, they do not need food to survive and hunt humans for no apparent reason.  

To battle the giants, humanity has developed razor sharp blades for slicing through the giants - especially the sensitive spot on the back of their necks.  They also have a harness equipped with projectile grappling gear and gas propulsion to give them three-dimensional mobility in cityscapes and forests; the gear is not of much use in plains or fields.  Yes, the soldiers are kind of like Spider-Man with their grappling gear, swinging from building to building.

The story mostly follows Eren.  His mother was devoured in the first episode and he has sworn vengeance on all the titans.  To effect his goal, he joins the military and, upon completing his training, joins the Scouts.  However, his value to the Scouts proves to be something other than his skills as a soldier.  Eren's father was a doctor who experimented on his son; Eren is not a normal boy.

There are some typical tropes common to anime.  There is a surprising amount of weeping.  Passion is expressed through yelling.  Characters openly express their fear of the titans and many regret joining the Scouts only moments after joining.  Sigh.  Most of the characters are high strung and very bad at handling stress.  The constant crisis of conscience gets old very fast.

Generally, a good series with great action and an interesting storyline.  What initially looked like just a stupid premise that played to the Japanese fascination of Kaiju (giant monsters like Godzilla) has developed into a mystery about the origins and purpose of the titans.  Some titans show human-like intelligence.  Why do they want to wipe out humanity?

Good popcorn fun.  I am eager to watch the 2nd season.