What a mess. Hard to believe that something I used to love changed so much, and became series I was disappointed with.
I first stumbled upon Attack on Titan when I was in elementary. I am not sure what year it was, maybe my 8th or 9th. I remember watching it on school PC, with my best friend Kamila. We were eating it up - I knew what was going on, because I saw the first few episodes and she was absolutely loving it, despite not being a fan of anything Japanese (music, anime, manga, for example).
Take in consideration my first anime, Love Stage!!, and you won't even question my Eren x Levi obsession. Then it was just a matter of time before I got swallowed. Levi x Hange obsession was followed by Marco x Jean, I fell in love with Sasha, and Annie, absolutely despised Erwin and his eyebrows (while Kamila loved him), and more and more characters became loved or hated to their grave.
This world became a part of my inner self. I was head over heels. I had
keychains, Funko Pops figurines, jewelry, posters... I bought AOT puzzle a
few months ago.
First season was the best. When I revisited it
years after, I was surprised about how "bad" the quality was. I remembered
it as fine as spider's web. The voice acting was so on point, Yuki Kaji and
Hiroshi Kamiya stuck to me to this days as some of my favorites.
The
moments I remember the most are Eren's death, which was a mindfuck, Marco's
death that absolutely wrecked me, then the scene where Levi kicked the
living hell out of Eren... and his cleaning outfit. Hange being a
weirdo...
Season 1 was perfection. Then there were two OVA's. No Regrets and Lost
Girls. I don't remember Lost Girls too much. I have the mangas though, I
bought them in London when I was visiting from school. All I know is I was
crazy about them when they were about to come out. I was so excited.
No
Regrets is a different story. Focused on Levi, it was easy for me to put
this up as my favorite part of the series so far.
His tragic backstory,
then Petra and her death... This really was a heartstopper.
Somewhere around this time, I discovered Shingeki! Kyojin Chuugakkou, which is basically a parody about AOT in a setting of Junior High. It was so funny - the way they made fun of the most traumatic events, and played with all the fan favorite moments was so hilarious, it healed the fans a bit.
This was after I finished the manga, which my brain actually blocked out. I don't even remember the details, just that I was disappointed with the end and wanted it to be over already.
4th season was in hands of MAPPA instead of Wit Studio. And it was such a big difference... but quite honestly, it fit my image perfectly. Wit Studio was a powerhouse in my eyes. MAPPA is... that baby sibling you don't want to touch your console so you give him a turned off joystick.
Animation suffered. CGI was awful. And again - I am kind of happy, because
the part of the story they were adapting was... ugh. War. Marley vs.
Eldians. Political conspiracy. Titans, titans everywhere. Everyone dies.
It
felt like Isayama was burning a bridge after himself, because he hated what
he did on it's other side.
Overall, I gave it a decent score and looking back at it I seemed to have enjoyed it. Good for me.
Part 2 of 4th season had a confusing start. Only 4 months passed, but I was
more confused than ever about what is happening. I was convinced I am not
watching the right season. Did I miss some of the key moments?
Well, no. They just chose a very strange approach of spoiling everything.
Which sent me a clear message - this is for old fans, the new ones are not
watching, so we don't have to be too careful.
However, after the first opening, the anime goes on with great pacing.
Interesting and intriguing, it snatches your attention and you really are
pulled right back. That is more appreciated that can be said with the
words.
The level of action and suspense was basically the same as while
watching the first season. (Once you get used to the new stuff
happening.)
It will never not be funny to me, how Eren's voice changed into deep emo boy now that he is "grown up". Or maybe... fu*ked up?
All that was left for me to watch were two "specials", or the last two
movies that were supposed to wrap everything up and bring us all peace.
Attack on Titan Finale The Rumbling Part 1 starts out psychologically heavy and bloody, which is exactly what I like about the series. Eren's realisation of what he had done is a cherry on top, really. Especially because it's not a realisation of a man who crossed a line; but a realization of someone who could have done more, could have delivered better, needed to take that one more extra step...
Both specials are building on the fact that Eren - no matter how late it is - needs to be saved at all cost. Our crew (Mikasa, Jean and Connie) are the only ones who want to go that extra step and try their hardest to actually save Eren. Armin follows them, but that poor poor man is fighting his own demons.
Who else is left? A lot of characters actually. They have their own plot lines though, and while we might follow all of them logically it's hard to do it emotionally because it's a lot. But then, during a moment of peace (thanks to flashbacks) it all comes down... and we are left with emptiness. That beautiful, wonderful emptiness of regret of ever starting this series. 😂
It's honestly amazing what one series can do to a person.
The conclusion of it all is "The Good won, but in it's book they lost". However Mikasa manages to take Eren's head and bury it. The last sequence of scenes shows us the progress of time, forgetting what happened and repeating the mistakes of the past... while everyone moved on, at least a little.
I expected a bit more, but I was still in awe with what they got us. Thank you, Hajime Isayama, you beautiful peace of art. You shaped a part of my life and I will never forget what you did to my wallet.
CONCLUSION
I might be seeing mistakes and flaws now, but I will remember the child-like happiness I got from watching something so revolutionary in the pool of mediocre shows that only brought fanservice... or nothing at all.
