cj’s anime archive

Even when Bertholdt risks killing Reiner in Shiganshina

Bertholdt does so knowing that, if Reiner does die, it’s because he resolved to end their suffering

Reiner and Bert were suffering together. While Reiner suffered more extreme symptoms, Bertholdt suffered to the same degree. I think his famous speech in season 2 showcases this well. (Picked the dub because I love the phrasing.)

Bertholdt could “live a thousand years and never again know peace.” I don’t think this gets talked about much, at least not since I joined the fandom last year. Bert isn’t some impassive person who doesn’t care or feel things. He’s just reserved.

The only reason we don’t see the same level of remorse from Bertholdt that we do from Reiner is because he didn’t get the chance to reckon with the futility of all of his efforts and atrocities over the course of several years.

Let alone the chance to watch 12 year olds risk their lives in trench warfare.

Or have to listen to his family call the ordinary people of Paradis, the people he slaughtered unjustly, devils.

If Bertholdt lived instead, I think we would see him grapple with the same problems as Reiner and feel the same level of guilt. It would manifest in a different way for certain but he would be hurting. Especially in a world without Reiner by his side to share the burden.

In other words, nobody understood Reiner the way Bertholdt did and vice versa. They get each other. It’s clear to me that Reiner is heavily impacted by the loss when he wakes from his nightmare reaching out towards the vision of Bert’s defeat.

This is one of the many things from the Marley arc that got omitted from the anime 😔 another is Reiner thinking about his last words to Bertholdt amongst other things as he prepares to kill himself. It’s not just that memory with Eren.

Thanks for reading! Have this cute pic from (I believe) one of the visual novels as a palate cleanser 💖

GINOZA NOBUCHIKA

サイコパス S3 Ep. 02: Teumessian sacrifices

rooftop talks (details below)

[Old art]