Well Said

Well said

I love the bittersweet ending, and I think it truly suits where the story went from the end of season 2/3 - it was no longer black and white “kill the titans to save humanity”.

To be honest the worst part of this whole thing is how the fandom is misreading the characters and being selfish about the ending. No, the ending is not going to satisfy everyone, but be grateful for the incredible story that has been built up over eleven damn years. Being so rude and selfish over an ending that doesn’t suit your taste isn’t going to change the author’s vision. Isayama created something beyond what anyone else had come up with in its time.

Instead of whining over one chapter, say

Thank you, Isayama

What Was It All For?

Or, Hamliet’s review of SnK 139: the Final Chapter.

Disclaimer: this isn’t intended to dunk on people who love/dislike things I love/dislike in the review. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions and feelings thereof. 

That said, the ending is pretty in line with my predictions. While I’d give the final chapter an 8/10, the series as a whole gets a 9/10, because it nailed its themes. I don’t think endings can ever please anyone, but this is a solid one narratively. It is bittersweet: there is hope, but also pain, cruelty and beauty. It isn’t perfect, but the story was never set up to end with a fairy tale eucatastrophe. It was also never set up to end with a nihilistic ending. Whether the ending feels more bitter to you or more sweet depends on particular attachments, and it’s okay to feel how you want to feel.

The reason I personally find it satisfying is because the text did not suddenly swing a way it wasn’t heading all along: the message and themes and majority of the arcs were very, very clear, throughout the manga for the most part but especially this final arc. In fandoms, especially in long-running series, people can get attached to their theories and headcanons at the expense of ignoring the actual text. I’ve been guilty of this myself too, but I don’t think SnK pulled any last minute switches (yes it dropped some things; I’ll touch on that below).

About the conflict not being solved…

There is hope now. Paradis does have allies. Like, that’s Hizuru. 

The fact that the conflict is not solved is at admittedly disappointing, because I’d like it to be, and yet thematically better that it is not solved. The framing of the genocide has always been wrong, but my one qualm has always been that if the genocide actually led to peace, then… the framing would be a bit whacked. I thought this would be explained away by saying the cost wasn’t worth it, that it was a pyrrhic victory. Instead, Isayama’s doubling down and saying not only is the cost not worth it, it solved nothing and set the stage for potential future conflict, which is probably the best way he could have ended this. 

They have only to work towards peace slowly, with lots of risks, but it’s the only option. That’s part of what freedom means: freedom to make choices, good and bad. Eren’s attempted shortcut only hurt. 

There are never guarantees. 

About Ymir…

The attachment she feels towards King Fritz is framed as a negative thing and tt isn’t romanticized. However, I feel this wasn’t fleshed out well and that we needed more build up to this, but it’s not the end of the world (OR IS IT? sorry I couldn’t resist).

Basically, I felt it was hamfisted and a bit told, not shown. I think Ymir’s story suffered the most this ending, which sucks because she’s important to it. I don’t think the fact that Ymir loved King Fritz is inherently problematic–feelings towards abusers are very, very complex (yes, you can love or be in love with an abuser, and it doesn’t justify what they do to you, really). I think the series needed a chapter or two to explore this better. 

About Historia…

Along with Ymir, this is the biggest complaint I have about this final arc. I think we should have gotten the rest of that conversation in 131–as I’ve said before, I think the point of that conversation was that Eren could not stop his friends from making a decision he did not like. However, this needed to be emphasized more, especially given the context of what that choice was and its disturbing implications.

My sister commented that the pregnancy is likely intended to be Historia choosing a pregnancy to maintain her life instead of being fed to Zeke as a way of fulfilling her promise to Ymir: to live instead of martyring herself. This is probably the case, but personally, I think Isayama really goofed with the framing. Historia seemed miserable, was even commented to not be taking care of herself, and while that can be explored with nuance (sometimes choices aren’t what we want), it wasn’t, so Isayama messed up here too. 

As for early leaks suggesting she was just fine with genocide, it’s actually much more nuanced in the translation. Her actions here don’t seem exactly OOC given her declaration about not caring about the world, but it needed more exploration. 

I don’t like that she didn’t get to see freckled Ymir again like everyone else did. Even a panel of her appearing as she delivered the baby or something–c’mon, Yams. 

I’m going to headcanon Historia named Baby Girl Ymir. 

About Mikasa…

I love that Mikasa is the hero in the end, even more so than Armin.

Personally, I see that last panel as Eren sending a memory before he died as a way to tell Mikasa it is okay to move on, and the bird flying away as a sign Mikasa will indeed rise and move on despite Eren always being a part of her. That said, I personally would have preferred to see Mikasa be rewarded for choosing to kill Eren, at least by giving her a family and/or showing her in Hizuru. But again, unlike the early leaks which framed it as Mikasa abandoning everyone and being miserable forever, the others are on their way to her. She will live, and she does have a family on their way to her. 

About Hizuru, her mark wasn’t fully explored, which is one of the dropped points, but not one with a lot of consequence. 

The implication is vague enough, but I liked Jean combing his hair and it being either for Pieck or Mikasa ;) 

About Eren…

I don’t like Armin thanking Eren for destroying the world, because it doesn’t fit with the rest of the framing, but otherwise the story hit the framing well. 

The takes that Eren is OOC aren’t textually supported at all. Eren has never, ever been rational. Like, find me ONE place in the entire story where he’s been rational, and where he hasn’t wanted to escalate from 0-100 real quick. He’s always been a hothead with a child’s black and white view of the world. Historia called him out on it, Levi did, everyone did. Throughout the story, it was a recurring challenge. 

Eren is a big baby who has always been prone to violent outbursts (I mean he killed people at age 9 with no remorse and at age 10 went up to soldiers who were drinking on the job and screamed at them), and it’s tragic. Yet it’s why Eren has always stood out as a protagonist–because he’s allowed to be extremely flawed instead of a role model. And it sounds like I’m dunking on him, but I’m not, because this chapter reminding me of what I loved about Eren: he is a terrified, traumatized, self-loathing child. 

I wish he had let Mikasa hug him. Good grief, she loves him so much, and he needed that love so desperately.

The point of his character is that it is tragic: he’s stuck in Neverland. It’s why he’s such a good character. I wish he had been able to grow up, but he didn’t and he chose not to. He chose to die; this was a sort of suicide. If I were in his place, I hope I would choose better, but who really knows? SnK doesn’t encourage us to condemn, so I don’t say this to condemn him.

About fandom… 

It is really intriguing to me that Reddit Dudebros are raging that Isayama made Eren “an incel” as if their theories about Eren causing the rumbling all to protect Historia and the baby weren’t incel-esque? Like, it’s not that Mikasa wouldn’t sleep with him (she loved him), but instead that Eren could not be vulnerable enough to accept that love. He was too scared, too selfish and too selfless at the same time in that paradoxical human way.

Vulnerability is the opposite of toxic masculinity. It is brave, far braver than going into battle, and Eren was too scared, too ashamed to look Mikasa in the eyes, even though Armin begged him to keep trying.

She would have forgiven him. She would have run with him. 

Honestly, Eren is a Reddit Dudebro. That’s the point. They were reading themselves into Eren–as they were meant to–but failed to comprehend the framing and themes of the series, because they’re used to stories catering to their fantasies. They expected Eren to validate them, but instead Eren was written to call them out on their toxicity, entitlement, and lack of actually creating meaningful change. But also like Eren, they do have some reasons to feel scared, feel traumatized, and are genuinely suffering–but it doesn’t excuse their inflicting that suffering on others. They are still human. 

The beauty of Eremika is that even if Eren was a nightmare for most of the world, he was loved. Even if he couldn’t accept that love, he was loved. Even if he hurt and lashed out and was the worst villain in history for no reason other than “I felt like it,” he was loved. 

And it was that loved that saved the world. It was that love that made him existing in this world worth it. We know that Mikasa would never wish she had never met Eren. We know she would and will love him unconditionally, forever. Even if she moves on, she will love him. 

For Mikasa, despite the pain he caused her, the fact that he was born into the world was enough, and without her love, the world never would have been saved. It’s complex and hard to articulate exactly what I mean, but essentially SnK is saying Eren still deserved to be born and despite his cruelty and evil towards the end, he was loved, and that was beautiful. 

It’s not a popular message, this callout of toxic masculinity, nor the undercurrent underneath it, which challenges humanity to love and find beauty in the middle of cruelty, and asserts that no one, no matter how horrible a person in the world’s eyes, has a wasted life just because they’re here. 

About Armin and Annie, Gabi and Falco, and Levi:

I never thought Armin and Annie’d be canon, and now Armin’s out here saving his father-in-law. Cherry on top. Annie and Gabi are kind of foils to Eren in that Annie is very selfish and Gabi is very ideologically-focused, but they are able to overcome their flaws, get positive growth, and deserve their happy endings. I also loved Gabi throwing Falco into an embrace. Levi, too, deserved this. 

Overall:

Anyways, I found the ending beautifully existentialist, far from perfect and worthy of criticism, sure, but highly satisfying on a thematic level. SnK was my first manga and anime ever, so really, it’s a major part of the reason I have this blog. 

Thank you, Isayama, 

i just want to have omi lay on top of me while I run my fingers through his curls and call him my pretty boy🥺 is that too much to ask ?:(

DHMU IM HUNTING ISAYAMA

I JUST WANNA TALK MAN

“This is the end... for us...”

“That’s the Scout’s way.”

“We ended up saving the world... because of you...”

“To the boy who sought freedom... goodbye”

Me:

Jealous Adult Trio

Chrollo, Hisoka, Illumi

Summary: What I think Chrollo, Hisoka, and Illumi would be like when they’re jealous. 

A/N: First post with these three, and first hxh post too!I tried to make each scenario different, but they’d probably just murder the person making them jealous tbh💀

Chrollo:

It depends on who is making him jealous

If he’s out on an undercover mission with you and in order to slip past the guards to get to the goods he wants you must seduce them, he’ll have to hold back his urges in order to not sabotage the job

He’ll keep his stone cold demeanour, eyeing you off front the distance

The boss will avoid the eyes of the pursuer, to not arouse suspicion 

Fists clenched throughout the rest of the job, he’ll keep quiet, until the job is over

He can’t hold himself back, using that tone that makes your knees weak

“You couldn’t help yourself back there could you, darling? Making me jealous like that?”

But if its some random, maybe a friend of yours...

And if you purposely ignore him to continue your conversation, oooo boy

He doesn’t pout, or get moody, he’ll respond to you condescendingly for the rest of the day

With his power, the way he answered so aloof made you nervous 

Which is exactly what he wanted you to react

The biggest extreme is if it was a bartender, waiter, etc

Let’s say they were getting way to familiar and touchy with you, Chrollo will shoot daggers through them

You can feel the bloodlust oozing off him, and the way he kept silent made it so much worse

You’ll return home for like five minutes and he’s got his coat back on and heading for the door

You’ll ask where he’s off to, and he’ll reply:

“I’ve got a little bit of unfinished business to attend too.”

You’re not dumb, you know he’s going to unalive that poor pal 

Shalnark had already found his address within minutes of Chrollo sending him a picture

Let’s say the deed is done, how do you make it up to him afterwards?

He wants nothing more than for you to pamper him before he falls asleep

Comb his hair with your fingers, read aloud to him, let him lay all over you

Basically what he does for you, but he wants you to return the favour

He gets so unbelievably petty but once again, condescendingly 

Forgives you nonetheless, but you should know that he knows you aren’t the one he should be forgiving

He’s got a reputation yall 🤚

Hisoka:

Oh heaven help you if you make him jealous

100% blames you, even if you weren't the one putting yourself out there 

Kills the other on the spot, no matter who it is, but he has to be really wound up

While Chrollo didn’t want to ruin his “boss” reputation, Hisoka’s reputation is literally being a creep, he’ll stop at nothing

His two approaches he uses, no matter the situation

One, he’ll try to get your attention

He whines, full on like

“Y/N, pay attention to me~ not this weasel”

Does not care what he says in order to get you to look at him, trust me

Even a bit nsfw if he feels like it, another that’ll make the other person get creeped out

Licks his lips at you, I really mean anything 

Gets incredibly more touchy, holds your waste, hip, thigh, anything intimate to possibly scare of who you’re talking to

If being creepy and whiny doesn’t make them back off, or if you still won’t give him the attention he’s craving, that’s when he’ll kill em 

Usually, it works, and you’ll excuse yourself just to stop this man from embarrassing you any further

His second tactic is to intimidate them

Questions them with the dumbest things ever like

“Have you ever heard that if you scratch your ear you can ease your tickling throat?”

“N-No...”

If that doesn’t work, he’ll get up in their face, humming like he’s observing their every move

Touches them, pokes them, invades their bubble completely

It gets to the point where you tug him away and you scald him about ruining your conversation

You have to prove that you still love him and him only the rest of the day because he won’t leave you alone until you forgive him or prove it to him

Please just do as he says 🙄

Illumi:

Mr Mans over here has no idea what to do

He doesn’t even know how to name the weight and anger watching another get too familiar with you

He’d shrug it off, probably thinks he’s angry for some reason, watching you from a distance with his chin in his palm

If the conversation goes awry and you get uncomfy, he’ll call you over to him

You’ll thank him and make a quick exit 

Over the next few weeks, Illumi notices this feeling keep coming back when you pay more attention to someone than him

It gets so on his nerves that he genuinely gets frustrated and asks you one day what you think it means

You kind of just laugh at him and say that he’s jealous

0_0 “You can feel jealous of people?”

“Yeah, it’s probably because you love me~”

“Oh. Yeah.”

Now he’s even more angry about the feeling because he thinks that people will know that he loves someone

Uses his aura to chase people away from you, and tugs you away if that doesn’t get them away

People will definitely be able to tell he’s jealous if he’s doing that, dummy

That’s really with randoms or your friends, but if Hisoka ever makes him jealous (he definitely will)

He has nothing to hide as Hisoka is well aware that you’re dating

But with Hisoka being, well, Hisoka, obviously he isn’t going to let that stop him

Gets so mad that he does that thing where his hair flies up and the crows come flying

It takes a bit to calm him down from that, and you have to dismiss Hisoka yourself in order for Illumi to chill out

The fact he gets jealous is kind of heartwarming, knowing his background 

Settle him down and reassure him that you love him

He’s capable of love just give him time ☺️

Don’t ya love it when tumblr deletes a draft you were working on just an hour ago 😡

SAY IT LOUDER FOR THOSE IN THE BACK

After seeing a number of posts I’m gonna address something real quick. There is a difference between being upset over the end of chapter 139 and acting completely disrespectful towards Isayama. Let me remind y’all that there is no right or wrong ending, there is not going to be an ending to your preference, this man is the reason AoT exists in the first place and he had thought out the entire story long before your goofy asses could develop any opinion on it. Learn to respect the person who brought your favourite characters to life, learn some respect period.