With only a couple of episodes left, one might expect things to escalate in terms of tension, action, and general plot progression. This episode...doesn't really do any of that. It really does spend a large amount of time just spinning its wheels. I'm surprised at how little this episode has to show for the time it spent.
The crux of it boils down to Reiner and the others booking it when he spots the smoke signals from the scouts who have gone out to retrieve Eren.
I did get a kick out of Eren's fake out. Reiner tries to threaten Eren into submission, only to be met with a response that Eren is in no condition to fight back. Cue Eren attempting to beat Reiner with his stumps. He gets a few shots in, but it isn't long before Reiner regains the upper hand and puts him in a sleeper hold. I'm not sure if the attack was meant to be comedic, though I found it to be so. Still, credit for going for it, in any event.
Hearing Eren's grunts as he tried to wrestle free over Ymir's and Bertholdt's quieter character moment was an amusing background touch. It makes sense as they are in close proximity, but it also undercuts the drama. The fact that it's funny helps, but for those who like the quieter moments, you might find it unwelcome.
Ultimately, he is subdued and the group depart. This prompts a flashback which gives us Ymir's back story. It's an interesting one, though I do find it oddly placed. It turns out that she was taken in as an orphan by adults who groomed her to be some sort of god-queen in their cult. From the way she tells it, it wasn't so bad. She had creature comforts, but she also got fulfillment as her presence made an impact on others and allowed her to feel needed and important.
This comes to an end when a military raids the compound. It was kind of appalling how quick the leader was to sell Ymir out as the mastermind of the whole thing. I would've thought that Ymir would have quickly negated this with the truth, but she instead chooses to take the hit in order to save the others. It's a moot point as everyone is taken anyway, but still, credit where its due.
The episode reveals that this military group is the one who turned Ymir into a titan. You'd think that this would be some earth shattering revelation, but it's so downplayed that whatever shock you might have had never comes to the surface. Even in a larger context, it's anticlimactic as the origin of the titans was always one of the show's bigger questions. Just having it be humans that did it just results in an, "eh" from the viewer.
We do get a nice montage of past events from the series that allow us to get caught up to where Ymir is now. It makes the development feel more earned and resonates more than if it had just been random scenes that were not depicted prior.
Eventually, the episode does return to the present and things actually start to pick up. The scouts are hot on the group's heels and it seems like a major confrontation is about to go down. Ymir demands that she go back for Christa (who's political connections are important to the titans, apparently?) While Reiner does want to get the girl, he rebukes the offer until Ymir forces the issue.
I was wondering why Ymir made no attempt to overpower Bertholdt. Eren has an excuse, he's unconscious and tied up. Ymir not only has her arms free, but has them wrapped around Bertholdt's neck. You have to wonder why they thought it was a good idea to give her such an advantageous position. She eventually does and this is what allows her to go back.
At first, the scouts are relaxed, as they know that Ymir is on their side. In fact, they try to get information about the situation, but are only met with silence. I thought it was a stalling tactic, as Reiner and the others are still moving, but Ymir's endgame makes itself known when Christa approaches....and lands in Ymir's mouth.
I was initially caught off guard by this, but they made a point to frame this sequence very carefully. Ymir never chomps down. As such, it becomes clear to the viewer (though not to the scouts) that Christa is alive and well inside the titan's mouth.
It was an odd tactical gamble. Even though she didn't bite through the girl now, if a fight ensures, there is risk there. On the other hand, it does keep Ymir's hands free, allowing her more mobility. I think the biggest problem comes in the form of the scouts, who now view her as a traitor to humanity and are now out for blood in order to avenge the death of their fellow combatant.
This episode had moments here and there, but it really fell flat for me. Judging by the preview, the next episode should be more eventful. I'm definitely looking forward to that. The next two episodes should, hopefully, allow the season to end on more of a wham note.
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