WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Episode 26 ofAttack on Titan: The Final Season, “Traitor,” now streaming onFunimation,Crunchyroll&Hulu.
After surviving each other’s animosity and attacks, the unlikely resistance has finally made it to the harbor. Only Floch and the Jeagerists made it there before them. With time running out, the Paradis-Marley alliance needs to devise a strategy to get on the ship before the Jeagerists can destroy it.
Armin, Connie, Jean, and Mikasa must deal with the impending reality that they’ll be fighting people they once considered friends. At the same time, those from Marley are fighting to save their homeland. Both groups have high stakes, but there is no more time for speculation. Eren andhis army of Colossal Titanshave already made it across the ocean to Marley. Everyone must now make impossible decisions, but can they kill the people they trained with?
Attack on Titan: Jean is Tormented by the Past
“Traitor”
Picking up right after the last episode, the group of traitors must decide their next course of action. At first, the Marleyan soldiers wanted to go guns blazing, killing everyone at the port, but this risks the flying machine’s destruction. Onyankopon has the knowledge needed to fly the plane, but if the Azumabito dies, he won’t be able to get the machine up and running. As an act of understanding, Reiner tells the islanders to sit this battle out, knowing that fighting their comrades and even killing them is an impossible thought. Except the group doesn’t have time for these luxuries,Eren and the Titans have reached Marley. The group has to act now. The impossible decision must be made on the battlefield, not on the sidelines.
Shockingly, Magath apologizes for what they have done to the Eldians, beginning for their help in stopping Eren. Armin, normally the pacificist of the group, states that he refuses to stand by and watch. The decision has been made. The group will fight, even kill to get the flying boat. Of course, Armin attempts one plan to avoid bloodshed, tricking Floch and the others. He tries to convince the group that theCart Titan and the otherMarleyan soldiers have fled south and are already on their way to Marley. Floch doesn’t believe this ruse, and a fight breaks out. Everyone now has blood on their hands.
What’s Next?
The group has decided that blood needs to be shed to save the world. It’s heart-wrenching watching these characters go through hell to save everyone, but this episode adds to the reality of war. People have to make choices to do what they think is right, and during this process, blood will get on everyone’s hands.
Besides this, the episode is bridging the gap between the opposing groups. The Marley fighting with the Islanders are coming to realize that they’re not at fault for what their ancestors did. In fact, none of this would have happened if they hadn’t attacked. On the other side of things,Armin reluctantly acceptsthat he will have to kill people to save them. However, some could speculate that this is Berthold’s influence on him. From previous episodes, fans know that Armin spent a lot of time with Annie when she was in her crystal cage. This is because Berthold loved Annie. These characteristics of Berthold have quietly made their way into Armin’s decisions, so where does Berthold start, and where does Armin end?
At this point in the story, it’s safe to say that they’re connected; no single person is going to be more present than the other. This is probably the same for all the other Titan shifters. Small portions of the previous user’s personality get passed down or back to the other users. Like when Eren Krugerpicked Grisha to bethe next inheritor of the Attack Titan, he told Grisha to keep Armin and Mikasa safe. This goal belonged to Eren but came through in Kruger when the time was right.
Besides this, fans will have to wait until the next episode, “Retrospective,” to see the fight between the Jeagerists and the traitors. Will the group hold their own against the Jeagerists? With four Titans on their side, the battle leans in their favor, but the Cart Titan is watching over those who can’t fight, and Armin has onlytransformed once into the Colossal Titanfor battle. Is he willing to use its power in this fight? It’s hard to say, but fans might see a bit more of Berthold come out in Armin in the next episode.
Fans can rewatchAttack on Titanepisodes on Crunchyroll, Hulu, and Funimation until then.
More:10 Things The Attack on Titan Anime Does Better Than The Manga
