Hajime Isayama’s Attack on Titan is one of the most celebrated manga and anime series of this generation. Isayama’s manga ended on its own terms and the long-running anime is finally set to reach its epic conclusion in the fall with one final special. There is no shortage of anime that chronicle mankind’s battle against horrible monsters, but Attack on Titan evolves into so much more than that. Seasons of restrained storytelling elegantly come together in an impressive, and polarizing, final season that pushes every character out of their comfort zones.
One of the most gratifying details in any powerful, lengthy anime is taking a look at how far these characters have come since their humble roots. This reflection is particularly heartbreaking in Attack on Titan due to the way in which its nihilistic world beats down so many of the characters, especially Eren Jaeger. Eren’s tremendous changes over Attack on Titan’s final season are the cause of endless debate in the fandom, but it seems like his apocalyptic crusade reaches its end when Gabi Braun shoots off his head. This dramatic act merely becomes the catalyst for greater horrors and there’s a strong case to be made for why the series would have been better if this was actually Eren’s definitive finish.
It Trivializes Death’s Significance
Death must be handled properly in a series like Attack on Titan otherwise it ceases to mean anything and there’s no longer any sense of danger or tension. Attack on Titan proves right from its first episode that nobody is sacred and heavy casualties punctuate each season. There are genuine stakes when Attack on Titan’s final season begins and it feels like every character – including Eren – is on the chopping block. The anime has carefully skirted around the fatalities of characters like Armin and Eren, albeit in justified ways with Titan consequences.
Attack on Titan has already pulled this false death flag trick with Eren so it feels different when Gabi Braun, Marleyan Warrior, rises to the occasion and pulls off a perfect shot that takes off Eren’s head. Eren’s head flies feet away from his body, yet the character manages to survive because Zeke still makes contact with Eren’s head. It’s such a cheat that makes Eren feel invincible and that there’s no stopping his plan. There are other villains and obstacles in this world that could better be explored if Eren truly did die in this moment instead of ascending to Founding Titan status.
The Supporting Cast Can Better Shine
A problem that many shonen series face is that a ballooning cast of characters means that important individuals get pushed to the background or lack substantial development. Attack on Titan takes some big risks with its final season by temporarily removing Eren from the equation and then later turning him into a unifying threat that brings past enemies together. Eren spends the final chapters of Attack on Titan locked in his Founding Titan form, but he’s still capable of rational thought and even interacts with his former friends through the complex PATHS system. Eren no longer serves the role that he once did, but every character still acts in response to his actions, whether that’s to kill him or attempt an unlikely rehabilitation. A definitive finish to Eren would showcase new sides to characters who are finally, truly out of Eren’s shadow. This is particularly important for Mikasa and Armin, who remain convinced that Eren can be reformed right up until his last moments.
An endgame without Eren gives these complex characters a chance to figure out who they really are instead of such significant revelations being contained to a brief epilogue. It’s equally exciting to consider what would happen to Gabi Braun for her pivotal role in Eren’s execution, but also the rest of the Marleyan warriors. It’s entirely possible that Zeke never triggers his scream that transforms Falco and countless others into mindless Titans. So many characters define themselves through their utility in Eren’s undoing or his support – and all of that comes to an end.
The Endgame Would Revolve Around Something Other Than The Rumbling
Attack on Titan slowly subjects the characters and audience to increased levels of cruelty. Initially, a single Titan attack is terrifying, but by the series’ end there’s a colossal culling of humanity through Eren’s Rumbling. The Rumbling awakens an extensive horde of Colossal Titan who methodically comb the land in a manner that wipes out most of the world’s population so that society can begin anew. So much of Attack on Titan’s final season revolves around characters’ attempts to prevent the Rumbling, which tragically comes to pass. A true death to Eren by Gabi’s bullet means that the Rumbling doesn’t come to pass and that there would be a totally different conclusion to Attack on Titan.
Attack on Titan takes some big leaps with the nature of its conclusion where it hedges its bets and vilifies Eren for the greater good of ending this endless war between Eldia and Marley. It’s a strategy that ultimately works, but it’s received a mixed reception within the fandom. Eren’s death and a lack of Rumbling maybe means a future where Eldia continues to be demonized and Titan powers are further abused and change hands. That’s by no means a more optimistic finish, but it’s one that keeps this story going and likely experiences at least one more generation of war. An earlier death for Eren also means that he can’t eventually betray Zeke. Zeke’s Eldian euthanization plan isn’t necessarily “better” than Eren’s Rumbling approach, but many view it as a more humane alternative. There’s a lot of potential in a version of Attack on Titan that explores this possibility and sees if Zeke was “right.”
The Jeagerists Wouldn’t Exist
Titans are a perpetual problem throughout the series, but Attack on Titan repeatedly highlights how humans can be the greatest monster of them all. Eren’s dark turn during Attack on Titan’s endgame inspires a bunch of radical revolutionists who call themselves Jaegerists. Jaegerists pull off some terrible acts and take innocent lives to maintain control of the masses. There are characters like Yelena and Floch who are so convinced of Eren’s brilliance during the end of times that they’ll execute anyone who feels contrary and gets in their way. An earlier death for Eren puts out this fire before it even gets started. No Eren means that these radical minds won’t get manipulated in the same way and cause such destabilizing chaos. It’s interesting to consider the roles that Floch and Yelena would play if they never headed down the Jaegerist path.
Attack on Titan will surely deliver a few more surprises in its big anime finish, yet all of these revelations will no doubt surround Eren. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with Hajime Isayama’s action epic focusing on its main character during its finale. However, many believe Attack on Titan has outgrown Eren Jaeger and that the best finish is still one where he’s a distant memory rather than the centerpiece.
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