Attack on Titan: The Final Chapters part 2 Reaction Extended (YT links below)

not sure if you still read comments on older posts like this, but i'd absolutely love if you came around to that attack on titan rewatch series one day. you're just about the only reactor id want to see watch the same show twice, but the way you just totally tapped into the themes of the show, and the way you went from giving up on it back in season 1 to calling it a sacred work exploring the deepest truths of the human experience makes me pretty desperate to see you return to the earlier seasons with the perspective of the show's ending in mind. either way, love your reactions man and loved this as an amazing companion to my own experience with the series.

Felix

Zeke explained that the power Ymir cultivated was simply due to her desires, both conscious and subconscious. When we compare Ymir to the boy, we see that their circumstances are exact opposites. Ymir was beaten and bloody, where the boy is in good condition. Ymir was chased and attacked by dogs where the boy was accompanied by one. Lastly, Ymir was chased and forced into the tree whereas the boy sought the tree out on his own. I think these contrasting details are intentional, to show the glimmer of hope that this boy may cultivate something positive with the power. That commentary on power has been consistent throughout the story as well, especially with Eren showing that power only enhances the ability to exact into the world what you already are, rather than changing something fundamentally for your internal self or solving an intrnal problem.

Aidan Ierullo

It’s been quite a journey. Subbed just to see your reaction to this and I’ll come back when MHA season 7 arrives :D Catch me crying all over again watching your reaction.

LudicrouslyLuke

Thanks for the reply. I do personally believe that fate is the sum of one’s choices, and that your destiny is what ever you make of it. If a certain outcome is “unavoidable” such as the rumbling, then that is because not enough people recognized their own responsibility to avert that outcome. I believe Historia alludes to this when she says the rumbling was the sum of many choices, not just Eren’s. So now that I’m working this out and reflecting on your comment, I find myself in agreement with Goodwin’s reply here. Fate is only as fixed as you make it to be. If Eren did not have the capacity to relinquish his desires and see another way, then the rumbling would only be “inevitable” as a direct consequence of that

Steve.

It has been a long journey to get here, it's bittersweet. Your AOT content is some of the best their is. Thanks for all the videos.

Etsch

hey alex, i haven't watched this video yet, i'm saving it until i have a calm moment. i wanted to let you know how much joy it brought me and also sadness to see your reaction to the final episode be posted. Your reactions for this show not only changed the way I experienced and felt about its themes and characters, I feel like the I learned a lot about human nature, violence and empathy and your analysis helped guide that so i'm grateful. What a journey it has been, from Mikasa the female titan, reiner's scaling shoulder pats, to Erwin's last stand, and now finally, the end. Thanks for all the laughs, the introspection, and your wonderful channel.

Jacob Cannon

I’ve been a long time patron yet have never commented or engaged, but I feel compelled to express my gratitude this time. It has been a pleasure to watch this series along with you as you are easily my favorite reactor for your more philosophical approach to media. It has given me an outlet that I struggle to find within the people in my day to day life who shy away from engaging in deeper intellectual conversations. While AOT was the main reason I chose to support you, you have my continued support and I look forward to your future reactions!

Kyle VerVoort

Connie's mom must have terrible back pain after all of this

daniel kurtz

@Steve. I agree with your interpretation of Eren's breakdown - the anime also seems to support this by showing that Armin's conversation with Eren happened before the conversation to Annie on the boat, which would place it right after the scene with the child version of Eren saying that the Rumbling feels like freedom. So it seems like his conversation with Armin did happen after he experienced that high from his "freedom". As far as AOT's view on causality, I feel like it is very intentionally left ambiguous in a way that mirrors reality. I hadn't even really considered this topic at all before I watched this show, but I don't think there is any indisputable proof that free will does or does not exist. Given this, I feel like it makes the most sense to assume that we have at least some degree of agency so that we can maximize whatever influence we do have, and if it turns out that free will doesn't exist it's not like we lose anything anyway. In AOT it is the same way - while the timeline does seem fixed at least to some extent, it is never conclusively decided how much agency the characters have in the story. I believe that Isayama added this causality element to the story at least partially to explore how different characters deal with living in a world where your own agency in uncertain. And the ambiguity allows the audience to decide for themselves just how much agency these characters have. Personally I choose to believe that there is at least some level of free will in the AOT universe because that matches my own view of reality and makes the story more relatable and applicable to my own life, but like I said it's all up to interpretation imo.

kingkoopa98

I slept on it and the main way I can accept what the author was going for here, where both determinism and Eren's power of choice make some sense to coexist is going the way Marvel's Infinity War did: There are 65,000,000 timelines (times Eren tried to do something else) where Paradis falls and everyone dies, and 1 that they get a somewhat peaceful ending (this one).

Arakis

Thank you! Same here

Alex G

Good luck on your exam!

Alex G

Right ?

Alex G

Berserk is another classic I need to watch. And AoT might be the first manga I read.. maybe it would be a good idea to do that and then a rewatch of the show

Alex G

You too 😁

Alex G

That's so cool! I'm really happy to hear that. And yeah the boy could find something totally different, or perhaps he is more equipped to handle whatever it is. Or, also optimistically, it's a similar pattern BUT one iteration forward, closer and closer to an end to the pain, etc

Alex G

To add to the determinism debate, I think one key element in whether or not your actions are predetermined is how much you recognize yourself as a conscious actor with the ability to choose your own path. There are definitely levels to awareness in that regard. Or sometimes it's not lack of awareness, but willful blindness. Eren recognizes himself as being a slave to certain desires and emotions. Would he still have been forced into that series of events if he had been able to see past his own anger and desire for destruction?

Alex G

Yeah hard to imagine a more packed credits sequence, despite having no dialogue. Interestingly, it gave me an optimistic feeling watching it, despite the devastation it depicts. It's like... Well of course that's what happened. But to me it doesn't erase any of their moments of glory, and I personally believe that their actions are more significant than they or we could ever understand, trace, or imagine. They're silently a part of a much longer battle, but it's a battle that I think is worth fighting and informs the future in important ways. Also, it hit me that in that light, the characters of the show transcend the screen and become real through us. As everyone who was influenced to think and feel by the show or challenged in some way will carry that forward in ways that will forever be a part of our collective history.

Alex G

That's great news. I'll read that chapter if there are no plans to adapt it. I had a feeling Eren was the most polarizing element of the ending. His character has been divisive for quite some time now. Funnily enough, I think people on both extremes of that debate are falling into the same trap. I think it was handled perfectly. What Eren did disgusts me. I still mourned his death

Alex G

Yeah I feel like I need to do a rewatch. I've only seen the show all the way through once! I also loved Armin's role in this. I felt that the trio and there inter dynamics were especially powerful this episode. It makes me reminisce on earlier moments in the show with a lot more poignancy

Alex G

Thanks for that excellent analysis and for sharing your personal experience. I really like how you put it, choosing to care and choosing to let go are not mutually exclusive. Going with the sinking metaphor, they say when someone is drowning in order to help them you have to keep a safe distance or else you both go under. Similarly, to care about someone partly means recognizing the limits of what you can and can't do. Often it's actually our own personal fears and needs that disguise themselves as the desire to help, when really it's our desire to be saved. Running away or avoiding one's true feelings doesn't seem to be the answer either, as the problem just sits there unsolved and gnawing at you. It's weird but a lot of the pain comes not from the actual truth of our feelings but in the fear of what they imply or what kind of solution they point to, and then that constant tension of having to keep all of that at bay and trying to force it into a coherent mental model that's satisfying. The acknowledgement of one's current limitations (with the optimistic viewpoint of "I will get there someday") for me has a freeing effect, even if it's immediately painful.

Alex G

My favorite part about the ending was that Ksaver was literally the goat (titan)

thegreatquack

Not only did I grow up with Attack on Titan, but I've been watching your reactions since season 1 AOT on youtube, and you were the first person's patreon I ever subbed to! You were someone who spoke in depth about the things you watched and I loved every second of your reactions and insights. It also made me look into myself a lot more. It does feel bittersweet to finally watch the last AOT reaction from you, as each reaction you uploaded, I was always super excited to watch your reaction. I even remember refreshing patreon while I was travelling abroad just to see your reaction to the reiner/bertholdt reveal (s2 ep6)- it's a memory I can never forget because I was so excited! xD Even on hard days, watching your reactions always cheered me up. I'm so happy I stumbled across you that day and glad I could experience this with you (despite me not commenting/interacting much). It really means a lot to me and you're my favorite reactor. Sorry this was such a long comment but I'm really grateful to both AOT and you as well! ^^

Cassia

well this gonna hurt like a mf...

Alexis

I can't watch yet because I'm studying for an exam - this will be my reward! I must say that you have been by far my favorite AOT reactor these past few years. I still remember my freshman year of college when I was saving your vids for lunchtime every day. I'm a senior now (goes to show how long this "final" season has lasted lmao) and it feels so rewarding to have been here from day one. Thank you!

phaedra mladen

The future exists as it is because Eren willed it to be that way. Eren commits the rumbling because he is the kind of person do make that decision. In a moment of post-rumbling clarity, he realizes just how much he had to sacrifice for that and it all comes crashing down on him at once To me at least it’s clear that AoT’s view on causality is that a person’s choices determine the fixed future, not the other way around. He admits to Ramzi that he wanted to do it, whether it was fixed or not. In 4x28, he says “Where did all begin? Was it here or there? It doesn’t matter. It all happened by my will.”

Steve.

Its actual surreal that its finally over

RoZiiii

Wow, your finale reaction was everything that I could have hoped. You've easily been one of the deepest most insightful AoT reactors that I've seen and have always "gotten" the themes and message of the show in a way many others did not. It might be kind if cool some day if you read the Manga to see a video with your thoughts on how the story is presented in the Manga vs the Anime. Have you ever watched the old Berserk anime from the 1990s? I'd be fascinated to see your reaction to it someday.

Tim Itnyre

God bless you

H_Camp 128

I think he referred to himself as an idiot because he realized that his two primary goals throughout the series (seeking freedom through destroying his enemies and protecting his friends) were directly in contrast to one another (which is proven by Hange and Sasha's deaths which were largely caused by Eren's actions). As far as whether he is actually able to make alter the timeline, it's hard to say. From the way he describes it during his conversation with Armin, it sounds like he received a vision of the future when he touched Historia, but that vision did not show him everything that would end up happening. He saw that things seemed to be matching up with his vision and acted accordingly in order to preserve the timeline and fulfill his dream of goal of finding his version of freedom by destroying the world outside the walls. While it seems like certain things were unchangeable (such as his mom dying or his dad killing the Reiss family since since those those two events are bootstrap paradoxes), it isn't really confirmed if the entire timeline is fixed or if only certain events are. One of the many things the story leaves ambiguous.

kingkoopa98

Speaking of chains and legacy, I only started watching this show way back in 2021 because of you, Goodwin. I never thought to give anime a chance before that, and I was treated to what I believe will be remembered as one of the great masterworks of fiction. It changed my worldview and outlook on a fundamental level for the better. It make me realize the power of media and storytelling in touching people’s hearts. Now as someone moving into professionally writing fiction, I will forever be influenced by this story. It has become part of my DNA. All because you posted that first reaction on YouTube! The only reason there was a narrative that the ending was bad was because a VERY loud minority of Reddit losers didn’t like that their fab fiction wasn’t canonized and wanted Eren’s evil to be validated. The vast majority of anime viewers (look at IMDB and Crunchyroll) ratings) loved this ending. I don’t think the boy at the end is doomed. Think about it, all of the powers of the titans were created because of the fear, pain, and loneliness Ymir felt in that moment. It was all manifested as those man-eating monsters. It doesn’t have to happen again. The ending leaves it open. There will always be conflict, but there will also always be hope. Thank you for your reactions all these years my man!

Steve.

Yo, it's been a while but I had to come back for the Aot finale and I loved your thoughts on the series as a whole. One of the best anime ever made. (Also I love this quote, "To the boy who sought freedom, goodbye...")

Daco

I'm not sure... Eren says that everything was supposed to happen. He says he even tried to deviate but couldn't. Why is he an idiot, then? He didn't decide anything. Every decision was made for him. He was supposed to do everything. The same goes for everyone too.

Arakis

The final few frames of the passage of presumably thousands of years and preceding warfare really cements Attack on Titan and our characters as folklore of a forgotten past. It re-contextualizes the entire story we know and love, and shows us how it becomes an old tale that those living likely just brush off, although it means everything to us. It adds a haunting layer of beauty over everything... an insignificance that's also romantic. Man it's hard to sum up everything, but it's crazy how a few frames at the end can change how I view an entire story

Mike Donohue

not sure if anyone mentioned it but the original version of the ending didn't have the ending sequence with the destruction and the kid, that was added later, which does kinda add a lot to it. + The anime actually alters the Armin and Eren talk part(for the better). You should definitely check out the manga version of the final chapter just to compare

AryTheDog

I saw that interview and it was enlightening and it seems that is the case for all great writers. However I do believe that Togashi and Isayama are opposites in terms of how they write. HxH explores very different themes in the arcs without much bleedover, with him starting the series without a real plan. Isayama has said that he and Eren were similar in that he didn’t want to write the ending, but felt he had to. I would say it’s because, unlike Togashi who has the freedom to do whatever ending he wanted, the vision of AOT was so thorough that once Isayama started, he couldn’t change how it ended, even if he wanted to write something new. This reluctance is the opposite of what “fans” originally said (he was forced to retcon the “real ending”), and was because there was no other possible ending.

Chris Sharpe

I also just wanted to comment on the general reaction to the ending, which has been insanely polarized. I've never seen anything in media that has elicited this many differing takes and complaints. For example, some people enjoyed the themes of the ending but had technical issues with the execution of the pacing and dialogue (though these flaws were improved upon in the anime which lead to the anime ending being more highly regarded than the manga's). Similarly, some fans have complained about plot holes or discrepancies regarding the Titans powers, the Paths, etc (which I think is valid but doesn't only apply to the ending, that shit has always been confusing to me lol). However, I think the biggest cause for the reaction to the ending has been due to the division in the fanbase which mirrored Eren's split from the Scouts in the story. A lot of fans became tied to the new image of Eren in Season 4 as a "chad alpha male" type and were disappointed when it was revealed that he never really changed as a character from his Season 1 self. On the other side of the spectrum, some fans hated the newer version of Eren and were disappointed that the show didn't go further in condemning him and his actions. I think another huge factor in the insane response to the ending is the ambiguity of it, which has lead to so many different interpretations of the story's themes. Which is actually one of my favorite things about the ending, it's forced the viewers to think about the story more independently which has facilitated a vast array of perspectives, which fuels further conversation.

kingkoopa98

I’ll use this to reply to both Alex and Chris here. Starting with Alex, I really do also feel there is a lot in that Zeke/Armin conversation. I like the idea that those “pointless” things are in some way connected to the biological impulse of “multiplying”. After all, if our desire to “multiply” is biological, why wouldn’t the other things be as well? I love the thought that there is a reason why we choose to make the choices we do, just as there is a desire to “multiply”. I feel this is a topic that could be discussed for a very long time, but I’m glad I got to hear some more of your thoughts on it. It’s certainly made my own thoughts a bit clearer. And to Chris, I probably would have replied to this comment wherever it was, but regardless since it’s here, here I will comment. It really is hard to understate the effect that final chapter had on the internet when it came out. In my case, I had never followed the manga at all, nor had I ever seen reference to it recommended to me. But it took all of a day for someone so mad with the ending to run around spoiling it in the most wild of places. I was watching the vod of a moistcritikal livestream, where he was playing Bloodborne. I barely even watch the guy, but I’m a massive Bloodborne fan so I was making my rounds when I decided to glance at chat and I saw “EREN DIES AND KILLS 80% OF HUMANITY”. The crazy thing is that this is like the tamest thing anyone did after reading that chapter. I’ll make a comparison to HxH’s Togashi here (if Alex is reading this is safe to read, as I will be omitting any story details). If there is anything HxH is famous for, it’s going on for a long time with many, many hiatuses. While the anime does end at a satisfactory point it the story, the story does continue after it ends. There just wouldn’t have been a good place to end the anime if they had continued adapting further. All of this has left many wondering about an actual true “end” to the series, especially with Togashi’s health concerns. To many’s surprise, Togashi recently did an interview where this question was asked, and he had a very interesting response of the topic of endings. This is where I can’t help but wonder if Isayama had a similar thought process, and you’ll see what I mean. Togashi says that he has three different endings in mind. An option A, which he imagines would have a 90% approval with 10% disapproval, option B which is about 50/50, and option C which is 10% approval and 90% disapproval, which he says he likes the most and is most leaning towards. He also shared with us option D, which is now scrapped. This is not really relevant and has spoilers, so I’ll skip that. I find it very interesting that it’s the ending where he expects the most disapproval that he wants to do the most. Now you might see why I’m comparing this to AoT. There’s plenty Isayama could have done to have and ending be in line with option A or B, but he clearly wanted to do the ending he wanted. Who knows if he had a similar thought process or not, but ever since that interview it’s been something I’ve thought about.

Oak

Glad you enjoyed the ending so much! I wanted to thank you for reacting to this series, I've enjoyed your reactions and analysis tremendously. Also, the good news is that in the spring Isayama will be releasing a standalone manga chapter which will apparently be focusing on Levi, so AOT isn't completely over yet (though the main story is complete).

kingkoopa98

I saw this was originally a reply to my comment so I just wanted to come agree that r/Titanfolk is was unhinged, lacked media literacy, and ruined their interpretation of every chapter with terrible leaks every month before an actual release. I mean how does anyone walk away from that ending thinking Eren didn't step on enough innocent people? Or even worse, the absolute meltdown that subreddit had finding out Historias baby isn't Erens.

Shaun Arhelger

I originally had this on another comment but decided to move it here because it was more appropriate. There will always be a question if certain sentiments in a story are the author’s direct thoughts. If a villain is giving a evil monologue about killing puppies, you can safely assume that isn’t the author. If a character stares at the screen while saying something or is having a philosophy battle with the villain, you can safely say it is the author’s thoughts. It’s the times in the middle that are difficult. (The following rant has mainly to do with manga reader community, and very little to do with you, whom I am guiltily using as a soundboard, please forgive me 😭) Obviously there may have been some slight elements lost in translation and some questionable dialogue and direction that requires a lot of reading into, but the elements were still there (which makes sense since the messages many manga readers have been saying were directly made by the dialogue changes Isayama used now). People took the words being said at complete face value and didn’t read much into other intentions. (I am not saying this next thing about you at all, I think those are valid criticisms) People choosing not to read more into it and dismissing it as “bad writing” or as a flaw with the author when the author has shown amazing writing and consistency shows a gross lack of faith in Isayama. People say that the anime ending made the manga ending WAAAY better because of a few dialogue changes, but there were tons of things people criticized that they are not now. The reason being that there are many things that they said was bad writing simply because they had lost faith in Isayama in other aspects, such as not making Eren an Uber chad or using a redditor’s fanfiction as the ending. None of the manga haters when the anime comes out mentions the fact that they hated a scene or hated it far more than they show, such as the Annie pie scene or the fact that they hate the breakdown. I don’t care what people say, cases such as saying “Hange’s death was actually good in the anime because they showed the titans tripping” and being like “finally, exactly what we wanted the whole time” just feels disingenuous. This may seem like an exaggeration, but to give you an idea of some of the shit the manga community has done/allowed: they have gaslighted many anime-onlies trying to make them hate the ending preemptively, sent many, MANY death threats to Isayama, slandered him calling him a hack and fraud in very public spaces, openly supported both genocide and fascism with stuff such as posting fanart of characters like Eren and Floch unironically in Nazi uniforms, and have literally posted and sent art of Mikasa getting r*ped by a bird and they pretended like it was all null because of some dialogue changes. I know this (especially the more extreme ones) we’re certainly a loud minority. But these spaces are unexpectedly big, overlooked by many in the community, especially right after the last chapter. Even though it seems like just some redditors, the subreddit r/Titanfolk has a quarter million people in there and has a history of posting stuff like this quite often. And it certainly isn’t contained to Reddit. Mangaka have to shovel way more shit, do way more work, and get far less than most other content creators (aggravating since most of the haters haven’t contributed a cent to Isayama’s pocket because of pirating). The dialogue changes definitely made things more clear. So clear, in fact, that it is basically spelling everything out in a very on the nose way, which is truly shameful that he has to do that at all.

Chris Sharpe

While I think there maybe could've been more expansion on the ending with Ymir, one thing I love about it is that each member of the EMA trio seems like they were necessary for the titan curse to end. Eren gave her agency, but couldn't see any real good in the world, so couldn't give her any option but destruction. Armin's thoughtful, optimistic nature and ability to see beauty in the world through everything obviously helped Zeke, but also Ymir imo, given that she kidnapped him and brought him into the Paths in the first place (and all the comments from Armin about Ymir seeking something from them). Mikasa's attachment to Eren, her need for family and connection, and yet her decision to accept reality and let go of that relationship helped Ymir do the same, and let go of her own past. And then all of that culminates with that little flash of her wishing she had chosen to let Fritz die and embrace the beauty and connection she had right in front of her. Really great stuff side note: it's been incredibly fun and moving to watch you react to this show. This has been one of my favorites for years, and to see someone really embrace and appreciate the nuance of it has been amazing. If you ever do decide to post an Avatar-style rewatch of the show I will absolutely be here for it!! (though no pressure obviously)

Julia Perez

I feel like the story couldn't be more complete. That being said I'd 100% watch it all over again with futuristic tech

Alex G

Thank you so much! These things are hard to put into words but I feel immensely grateful as well. It's funny that you mention the associations you have with the show at different times. I have such a vivid memory of when I started the show. It was pre-Korea, I was in really dire financial straights and I would sit in my empty apartment with very little furniture and watch on my sister's desktop. While I didn't make it past the first couple of episodes, it's amazing to look back and think about how much has changed in that time. Would I have been ready for this show back then? Probably not. Even going back and watching my first reaction video is really weird. It's like watching a child grow. You don't notice it if you're with them every day, but then you look at an old photo and it hits you.

Alex G

To take an optimistic stance on the ending, neither violence or war is gone and the kid is very likely walking into powers that will wreak havoc... but it won't be exactly the same as it was before. It's a process beyond what anyone can experience or understand in a single lifetime or perhaps even a million years but things are iterating and both the amount of information (history, evolutionary feedback, trial and error) as well as the potential of humanity and its ability to synthesize and develop only increase.

Alex G

Call me crazy, but Ymir Fritz is one of my favorite characters, and I want to elaborate on the show’s themes involved in her whether or not anyone asked for it, a common occurrence for me on this page (TL;DR at the bottom). I do want to push against the argument that Ymir is encouraged to remember the king like Mikasa does Eren and that it encourages toxic love/obsession. When Mikasa is talking to Ymir at the end, we see a quick flash of a what-if scenario before Ymir fades away. It shows a scenario where Ymir never stopped the spear and is embracing her children. This seems to be a regret of Ymir’s and I don’t believe it is meant to be viewed in a negative light. This is what Ymir wanted in the end and wished for. King Fritz is NOT Ymir’s equivalent of Eren and shouldn’t be treated as such. Ymir is basically the opposite (or other side of the coin) of Zeke. The part of us that makes us care is also the part of us that makes us hurt, something I believe the show has expressed in spades. Zeke tried to smother his ability to care because he thought it would diminish his ability to hurt. Ymir endured the worst kind of hurt for many millennia because she thought that letting go would mean giving up her ability to care (which explains why Zeke couldn’t understand her). I believe she is trapped in her child state because that was the state she was in when she saw a seemly pristine, perfect eldian wedding going on. She was a slave with no tongue, yet wished for that. No matter what, like many in abusive relationships, she clung to a fantasy because she believed that if she gave it up, she would have nothing left. Isayama said something similar about Eren, saying that if Eren never joined the scouts, he would have lived a “rotten” life. And there was a little mini comic that Isayama made of the protagonists in a regular, school environment. Eren had a dream of a zombie apocalypse and him fighting to save everyone, but felt burnt out when he realized it was a dream and thought “what if I could actually make that happen irl”. Eren’s pursuit of freedom is what gave him the will to live, as he was “drunk on something”, similar to Ymir. Her perception of love was warped, as she had no family and was basically a child bride and a weapon. All the power wouldn’t help her achieve this fantasy, so she went with the motions hoping it would be better. As she kept putting in more time, she continued to feel the need to do it to not let that previous time investment go to waste. But like Armin said “it was at our feet this whole time”. That forgetting is not the answer, but clinging to a sinking ship is not the answer either, as both Zeke and Ymir’s views hinge on the idea that you have to stop caring to stop hurting. Mikasa shows that can let go and move on without giving up your ability to care, with the idea that moving on can BE an act of care. Mikasa does mourn Eren for a long time and keeps the scarf until her dying day, while also visiting his grave. But she did move on. She was shown with a man (likely Jean) and multiple children. You can see she had a wedding ring on when she died if you squint. Ymir appeared as an adult in front of Mikasa, freed from the past and not living and fantasy before she faded away. It is strongly implied that Ymir was reincarnated as Historia’s child, and can now live a happy life surrounded by people who love her and that she loves. (Personal info next just some fluff, you can skip it if you want). Reflecting on it now, this affects me very personally. I am on the autism spectrum and despite having resources and help from parents, I never conceptualized what it was or thought about it until recently and had kept myself going on fantasies of the future. Realized what it entailed for me caused those fantasies to deteriorate in a terrible, slow burn kinda way. I am horrible at talking to people and am constantly overwhelmed, and have always been told “go talk to people, go socialize it’s good for you”, and never felt comfortable doing it despite throwing myself at it over and over because I thought, on paper, it would help me despite not feeling good. I was pining after the idea of a relationship where I didn’t feel uncomfortable, as well as other things such as future careers or activities, imagining these perfect antidotes to how I feel at the present and losing my sense of self. The new revelations made me feel despair for the last year, terrible pain and loneliness that I thought would crush me, and had worried I would die alone if I didn’t pursue it. Eventually, bitter pill of reality was something I couldn’t separate from the sweet taste of fantasy-based relationships and I lost my taste for it, giving up on unhealthily forcing myself to do it. I now feel cathartic and more at peace than I ever have been, the best I’ve ever been. I am a blank slate, focusing on the present. Real life will not have the sweet delectable taste of fantasy, and that’s okay. I know I will eventually regain my desire for connection, and it will be built on something other than fantasy. I didn’t know who I was before and so had no idea what I truly wanted and the blindness made me not believe in letting go. I am now in tune with my needs much better, and have trust that I can decipher the best path ahead with my new, clear vision. I will always feel uncomfortable with surface level interactions, work will always be work, I might even never get married, and that’s okay. This new direction for myself is far more likely to find all those things then when I was desperate. TL;DR: King Fritz is NOT Ymir’s equivalent of Eren (there is evidence). And this series shows that, while our ability to care is also why we have the ability to hurt, choosing to let go for your own sake and choosing to care are not mutually exclusive. You don’t need to cling to a sinking ship because you don’t want to give up the ability to care, and you don’t have to quell your ability to care if you want to stop the pain.

Chris Sharpe

It's so interesting to start to hear the different sentiments about the ending. Eren's breakdown at the end to me seemed inevitable, and his confessions honest, and also in some small way a moment of peace for him. It made him much more likeable to me and was a relief rather than a disappointment. Ymir's love for King Fritz was a surprise to me but didn't feel unrealistic. Love is a strange thing, and from personal experience I've definitely been in love with tyrants before so I sympathize with her being stuck there. About Zeke and Armin's conversation, there's so much more to me in that than I think even Zeke fully got to. Those moments of joy are not pointless moments outside of humanity, somehow in contrast to biological impulses, but very much connected to them. Those moments of true enjoyment and beauty, I feel, are the moments where we are in exactly the right place at exactly the right time, developing what we need to develop to be the most harmonious with our nature, often in ways that are productive and growth-oriented. And they don't need to be in contrast to "multiplying" to be beautiful.

Alex G

That's interesting. I have yet to watch other reactions to it so I'm still curious what others' takeaways were

Alex G

Same

Alex G

Beautiful! Imagine Attack on Titan 2 with Titans Equipped with modern weapons.

ArmdVctr

Really neat call back to Armin trying to prove that Eren was human, not titan, way back in Season 1, with him dropping his ODM gear and marching out of the smoke to confront the Marleyan soldiers and make his case. Can’t believe it’s over. For myself, Attack on Titan is a journey I started 10 years ago. I was 11 years old, it was my first anime (besides Fruits Basket and Clannad when I was much younger, and ATLA if you count that), and I’ve been keeping up ever since. It feels like I aged with these characters, with this story, because I did. As the scope of AOT’s world grew larger and more complex, so too did the scope of the real world grow for myself. It’s hard to remember a time in my life without AOT. My brother and I have both gone through our young phases with it (him getting his hair cut like Levi’s back when he was about 13, me wearing a red scarf to club photo shoots in 8th grade because I thought Mikasa was so cool (god I still cringe so bad at this one, I looked so dumb in those photos), and we’ve both matured with it- making connections to the real world, analyzing the meaning and how it relates to us, what we can learn for it, what’s right and wrong (I credit this show completely for my cursed nuanced viewpoints. I can’t pick a side in politics, war, police in America, none of it. Doesn’t make me very many friends). I’m glad to have been able to follow along with you in your own journey with this show, and to be able to see its conclusion alongside you. With how significant this show has been in my life, you being a part of it is just as significant. You taught me so much I didn’t learn on my own, prompted interesting and important questions and discussions about the show I couldn’t have come up with on my own, allowing me to think on those discussions alongside you, learning something new about the world and myself in the process. I’m still awful with words, I’m still bad at describing how I feel and putting my gratitude, emotions, and thought processes into coherent text, but I’d like it to be known, regardless of my shortcomings, how utterly grateful I am to you, your content, your words and wisdom, your own learnings and personal evolution (I’m trying not to be parasocial here, Im sure you understand what I’m trying to say). Thanks Goodwin, for a lot. Thanks for giving me the questions and discussions I needed to grow, thanks for creating a space to think, thanks for helping me whenever I was stuck, or whenever I couldn’t figure out why my head was so scrambled, or when I couldn’t figure out what I was supposed to do next, or how. Thanks for a lot more than you probably intended. Thanks for watching Attack on Titan. Can’t wait for the next one!

Aaron Ong

Isayama himself actually rewrote the Armin and Eren scene to make the point that he was originally trying to make clearer. And it makes the scene turn from something that I was good with but wanted more from to a scene that for me is one of the best moments of the series. Just goes to show that serialization can be a double edged sword. I think it was clear that he rushed the ending originally and he was happy to be able to go back and iron things out. All the points that he was making are there in both versions but it’s smoother and easier to see his vision in the anime.

Sacha

I’ll probably write something longer later when I have time but thank you soo much for this amazing finale to your reactions and discussions on AOT! You are without question one of favourite reactors out there and it feels great watching you love and appreciate a story that means a great deal to me. For me that final credits scene is just soo phenomenal and the more I think about the final shot/page of AOT of the kid entering the tree the more I think that it is actually such a beautiful ending. Up there with final shot of Urasawa’s Monster. When Ymir entered that tree all that time ago it was out of fear, a way to escape from being chased by humans and dogs. The tone was sepia, the music was ominous. But the little kid is wondering around the place , not chased by dogs but exploring with their dog companion. And they in their exploration happen upon the tree. Who knows if that parasite is still alive. Probably not. We’ll never know. But even if it did what would be different this time? It leached off Ymir’s fears last time so what would be different about this kid? Maybe something totally new. “It might be hope. It may even be another hell. Only those who keep moving forward will ever know” - Eren 4x3

Sacha

A small change that ends up monumental to this ending is that the manga has Armin learn that 80% of humanity was wiped out right at the start of their conversation. Then after hearing little from Eren he says "thanks for becoming a mass murderer for our sake" and then they walk around all the places they wanted to go being cute together. The author said Armin's intent was to make himself an accomplice, but a missed execution made it come across much more like a sudden character assassination. I think the anime did that miles better even though it was actually a pretty small change in structure and lines. Loved your final words. I wonder if I like this show too much sometimes. glad someone else holds it in just as high a regard. Loved the emotional depth in your analysis this whole series!

Shaun Arhelger

Okay, NOW attack on titan is over. Immensely enjoyed this whole series and your reactions, got so much out of it and the discussions it formed :)

iaani

Quick note, most of this is a comment I left on another's channel, but since I felt I summed up my thoughts well enough, I decided to use it here. Plus, it gave me a chance to do a few revisions and clean up some parts. I initially had a part where I compared it to Steins; Gate, so for obvious reasons I've removed that part. Alright, here we go. I haven't planned any of this out, but I'll do my best to make it as coherent as possible. Expect a very long comment, even by Goodwin commenter standards. I definitely won't touch on everything, but I'll at least get to the main stuff I want to get to. So first off, I was an anime only till the end, though I did have some aspects of the ending spoiled for me when the final chapter came out. I decided to read the final chapters right after I watched the final episode. As you've heard, the final chapter was very controversial, though it's worth noting that while the anime didn't change the ending, it did change some details, which made a pretty big difference. It's also worth noting that the ending leaves A LOT up to interpretation. As such, while I will be pointing out some of the general sentiment surrounding AoT, I will also be discussing my opinion. So if anyone has anything to add, or disagrees with a point I make, I welcome any and all replies. Part of the beauty of a show like this, and more so an awesome community like this, is we get to have discussions like this with one another, so feel free to tear apart whatever I say. Now, to highlight some main points of contention for people. The part where Eren breaks down in front of Armin was generally disliked. Many believed that it wasn't in line with Eren's character, with some even calling it a character assassination to serve the ending Isayama wanted. This scene was basically unchanged from the manga, and I am personally very glad. The problem with a lot of this is, because AoT has been going for so long now, people have built up their own characterization and feelings towards the characters. Then in moments like this, their understanding of the character doesn't match what's being shown and they misinterpret the scene. I believe that the ending, if anything, is trying to show that Eren is in fact still a human being. He breaks down, admitting to Armin that he does love Mikasa, then saying something selfish, wishing she'd remember him for a long time after he dies. Yet, the part many seem to ignore is that immediately after Eren also admits that he does want happiness for her, but he's struggling, because he doesn't want to die, because he is still just human. A great improvement they made was moving some dialogue around. In the manga, Eren tells Armin that he's going to end up killing 80% of the world much earlier in the conversation, before the part about Mikasa even. This creates a weird bit of dissonance in the following conversations. They also made Armin act appropriately angry with Eren after hearing what he'll do in the anime. They added a few scenes, with some more dialogue between them, which greatly helped the pacing. That was another big issue that people, (myself included) had with the manga's version. It felt kinda rushed. The anime gave them much more time to breathe, which I feel helped the pacing quite a bit. The biggest change in the whole conversation was at the end. In the manga, during the part where Armin thanks Eren, instead of the anime where they changed it to Armin thanking Eren for showing him the outside world, Armin basically thanks him for killing everyone for their sake, saying that he won't let the chance he has been given go to waste. The bit about meeting together in hell and sharing some of the weight was also anime original. I am very glad they changed this, because while I do have issues with some of the complaints people had with the ending, this part really didn't sit right. It's somewhat clear what Armin is trying to say in the manga, but the wording feels a bit off. Easily an improvement over the original there. Another issue people had was the plot point of Ymir loving King Fritz, and how all that ties into Ymir finally letting go, and the Power of the Titans being gone from the world. Starting with the love thing, while it seems impossible to understand how Ymir could love someone like that, love can by nature be irrational. Eren even points out how he couldn't begin to understand Ymir's heart. As for the mechanics of it all, I don't think it really matters. My interpretation is that when Ymir saw Mikasa kill the one she loved, yet love him still, she realized she didn't have to remain bound to the paths. She could finally accept her feelings, while realizing they don't have to bind her. Thus her connection to the paths was severed, and titans were gone. But like I said, the technicalities don't really matter here. That can generally apply to the whole show as well. [Insert removed bit referencing Steins; Gate here. (It wasn't that long anyway)] The last big change the anime made was during the credits. When we get to see time progressing and we see civilization advancing, in the manga, the attacks on the city happen to a far less advanced looking civilization. It looks about as advanced as our modern society. This implies Paradis was able to exist as it was for around 100 ish years. The issue with this is that many feel it cheapens what Eren did. Making the change to have it get destroyed as a very futuristic city was great, because it implies 100s if not 1000s of years had passed, meaning that without a doubt, the conflict seen in the ending had nothing to do with the one from AoT. It was just another conflict in history that happened long after any of this. Then we come to the scene at the very end, where we see a kid and his dog approaching the same tree, (looking like a scene from a Ghibli film btw) now come to resemble the tree that housed the "thing" that made the titans. This is easily the biggest "open to interpretation" part of the ending. That tree is often compared to Yggdrasil, the Norse tree of life, as AoT has parts that are heavily inspired by Norse myth. My more optimistic interpretation of all this is that the "thing" that previously made the titans is not bound only to that ability. It allowed Ymir and her descendants that ability because of Ymir's will, not its own. Personally, I don't believe it even has a will, at least not in the way that we would typically define it. So maybe this time, if this kid finds it, it will grant a different kind of power. The point is, we don't know. Like I said, it's the biggest "open to interpretation" part. Unrelated to the ending, but my favorite part of the whole episode is the scene with Zeke and Armin. I feel it perfectly encapsulates the message of the show, or at the very least, the central message I took from it. Zeke's belief that life exists for the sake of multiplying, or guaranteeing its continued existence is true. It's why we all exist today. But as Armin points out, life contains the possibilities for so much more. It's because of that desire to multiply that we are here, but we do things every day that seem completely pointless. Zeke's example of playing catch is perfect. Nothing about that game of catch has a point, they do it simply because they want to, because they enjoy it. All this ties back to that famous line of Mikasa's "This world is cruel, but also very beautiful.". The world will go on, conflicts will happen, but none of that can invalidate the time we spend with others, the time spent doing the things we love, or whatever one chooses to do with one's life. That is the point. Because they aren't needed to multiply or continue our existence, they have meaning. They are the things we choose to do with our time here. Those are the things that matter. Alright, there's a lot more that could be talked about, but I'll leave room for others to share their thoughts. I know the people around here are fans of doing that, and I look forward to reading more comments. I've covered most of what I wanted to say. So thank you to anyone that actually read this whole thing. Overall, I greatly enjoyed the ending. While I see the issues people had with the manga, I do think they were a bit overblown. Regardless, this was a hell of a journey, one that I won't soon be forgetting.

Oak

Got off the closing shift and have class in the morning but I do not regret watching this whole thing right now

Licorice Laces

Thank you so much for your passion and sharing it with us

Licorice Laces

I am really glad you enjoyed the ending! I personally didn’t think it was perfect and felt some stuff with eren was sloppy but the anime changed some things from the manga that made me appreciate it much more than I originally did. I’m just so glad I got to experience this story even if I didn’t love the ending as much as others.

Cornhorn

What a journey. Thank you for the reaction.

Russie ♡ Russell Bumpers

I'm glad you liked the ending. The more I steep on it the more I enjoy it to be honest. I think a lot of people's problems was with Eren and Armin's conversation and the fact that they make Ymir's story about love. Eren and Armin's conversation in the manga was shorter and slightly different so people are less upset about that.

Skyler Anderson

thanks for bringing us along this journey!! #teamerwin til the day i die

truc tran

This is exactly what happened to me LOL.

Skyler Anderson

What a journey it'd been.

Laggy

This show really hits different these days

Tyler Owens

Thanks once again for your reactions! Hope the holidays are treating you greatly :)

Ryuga

Who needs 2 extra hours of sleep anyways ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ When I can finally see the identity of the female Titan be answered once and for all

Bababooey

Time to strap in for a long one! While I'm sad to see it end, it does mean Steins; Gate is right around the corner! I'll definitely have to come back and give a more detailed comment after I watch, but for now I hope you didn't suffer too much editing this monster.

Oak

It's 12:33 AM on a sunday. And I have to work tomorrow. Jokes on life I work from home so LOL doing it anyway.

matthew bremmer

Yeah sorry for posting so late US time

Alex G

Chris Sharpe

Can't believe it's finally over (or is it). A huge thank you to everyone who has been along for this wild ride and for all the amazing contributions. It was one of the best and most memorable experiences of my life.

Alex G