I don’t know what it is about this episode that made me misty eyed. Maybe it was sheerly because I was watching this right on the heel of re-watching ‘A silent voice’ so I was already emotional, but there was something about the moment that they reached the sea that resonated with me deep in my soul. It was for this that they fought, it was for this that they kept Armin alive. So he could see the ocean.
“Beyond the wall there is the sea.”
This much is true, and I can’t describe how it made me feel to see them look on in shock at the ocean or how happy it made me to watch them splash around in the water. Hange’s fascination with sea creatures, as a scientist of a sort this is a whole new world for her to explore.
The thing that hurt me the most though was Eren, it’s the same, it’s all the same as he saw in his fathers memories of life outside the walls. Which means, it’s true, beyond the sea for them there is nothing but enemies. They’ve overcome the threat to the Titans. So much so that even as they traveled, they only really ran into one Titan along the way, so large and so misshapen that it could do nothing but crawl along the ground hopelessly. Instead, their enemy is humanity itself.
“Beyond the wall there is the sea, beyond the sea there is freedom.”
No, there isn’t. Not for them, there is no freedom out there. I honestly skipped to the end of the episode to discuss, but that’s how much of a large impact it had on me. Before they set out for the sea, they release the truth that they found in the basement to the general public and reception is about what you could expect it to be.
Confusion, chaos, panic. Some people believing the truth that is being given to them, some of them denying it. Human nature is to question everything told to us and honestly, the reaction of the people to the news that the Titans are no different then themselves. In fact, any of them could become Titans has to be something hard to swallow.
After all this time they’ve spent hating and fearing the Titans, after all this time believing one version of history. Of course, not everyone is going to accept it.
The only other part of note to the episode is the ceremony to celebrate the remaining scout members. When Eren makes contact with Historia to kiss has hand after being rewarded by the crown for his bravery. The image of his father and Historia’s family. The way he pleaded with the founding Titan contained in her sister, I feel like he saw more then we were actually shown. I suppose that’s something we’ll have to touch upon again in ‘The final season’. This was the perfect episode to end of this season of Attack on Titan, the final moments as Eren stared out at sea and questioned if they defeated their enemies across the ocean if they could ever be free. It passed the torch in a sense, passing us officially from viewing our enemies as the Titans to the rest of humanity.
Also, GOD DAMN, HI, TIMESKIP EREN? WHO ALLOWED YOU TO BE SO STUNNING LOOKING? DAMN, HE IS GROWING UP NICELY. He’s the only one you see a real difference in after the time skip, you can see it perhaps a little in Eren but it is mostly apparent in Eren.
Final Impressions
We’ve come so far from the beginning of the series. We’ve answered a lot of questions from the start and are on a completely different plot line, season three did a lot to accomplish this. The mystery of the basement being finally answered, the introduction of the concepts of the Eldians and the Marley’s.
Honestly, the long hiatus between parts 1 and 2 would be my only complaint, though if that hiatus explains the absolute quality of the animation we got in this season. I can’t complain in the slightest, Attack on Titan has always looked gorgeous and season three was no different.
In this final episode alone, there were shots of animation that absolutely took my breathe away. Not to mention the fight between Levi and the Beast Titan.
My main interest heading into the Final season that will be airing next year is figuring out the aims of Zeke Jeager and the others that are fighting for the Marley’s. I believe there may be more to them then meets the eye, or perhaps they are just working for the enemy of their people to survive. Either way, it’s something I am excited to see going forward as well as discovering the identities of the rest of the named Titan’s. Many of our goals from the beginning have been accomplished, beating the Pure Titans, seeing the ocean, gaining back the land lost in the initial attacks at the beginning of the series.
A saga has needed and a new story is beginning.
See you next year.