Anria to some, Apdia to others

I realize it's a stretch, but it's an interesting idea, right?

Sure, the evidence for this is thin, and honestly it really has no deeper impact on the story overall, but seeing how closely Fine resembled Annie's very distinct look had me thinking more about it.

But this morning, he’s cooking eggs and I hear “goddammit, fuck you egg!…” he looks over at me and my concerned face “ it folded right on the yolk. Why would it do that?”

To which I just smile and say “that bastard” in agreement.

First off, is this normal?

Given that I filled 8 pages with rough outlines, I feel like I absolutely must end up writing it. But again, never written anything before. Personally I think I might write it all out then start sharing chapter by chapter, or is that a bad idea? Any advice is appreciated.

Episodes 10&11 - Eren protects both his friends instinctively with his Titan, and I know I didn't include this in the images because it doesn't reflect from his seen attitude, but the bellflowers that appear (and are pointed out as new by Armin) with the transformation site have the meaning 'everlasting love' and are seen at several Eren & Mikasa moments.

I love how he, in such an Eren way, uses arguing to push the idea to her that they are not family (bummer, bro) but never once brings up that they do not have feelings for each other. Was it because he was oblivious to that? Couples existed in the cadets (Franz and Hannah who he openly called out for being a couple) so that omission in 'what they aren't' can be seen as on purpose.

In the paths reality, when Mikasa wakes up crying Eren mentions that 'Marley's war ended 2 months ago. Meaning the war's conclusion we saw in the opening of season 4 had ended in their reality as well, this paths reality is set at the same moment in the timeline as they were during the rumbling. But when they ran away together he promised her to spend 'his remaining years together in peace'. At the time of that first conversation, only about a year had passed, Eren still had 4 more years left before his titan k*lled him. I think that's what he returned her to. She did what had to be done in reality, then they came back, free of obligation or dread, but only to live what should have been their time together in peace... all 4 years. Then as his power fades both in the paths and in reality, the world shifts and she kisses him goodbye.

Eren's first transformation and Mikasa: When looking at episodes 8/9, I love how his first transformation is all Eren operating on instinct, and his instinct centers around protecting Mikasa.Even that first 'post punch pose' he sports is giving ‘protection'. His instinct also led him to only give into exhaustion when he knew she would be able to find him. Just like with the kidnappers, he saves her, then she saves him back.

Episodes 5 & 6: Two of the most talked about points in Eren and Mikasa's relationship. First, the head butt Eren gives her in Trost. I see lots of folks point to this as a reason why he "doesn't like her" but when you view the scene in context, that he's been snapping other friends out of a panic left and right, then she tries to get him to disobey orders." he's not having itst He sees this as a chance to prove himselfrs as a soldier, and he uses the head butt as a tool he learned from Shadis to get cadets in line. His hesitation at pulling away from her when he goes to leave is in contrast with the belief that he doesn't like her. (Keeping this passage of time before he pulls away is the main reason this had to be a video and not stills).

The main interactions looking specifically at how Eren treats Mikasa and their overall dynamic, still early in the show (episodes 3/4) but this sets the base for his personality toward her.

I hate when people say he told her to cut her hair in episode 3, because he never did. He basically pointed out something he was worried about on her (did he do it in a bratty, 12 year old boy way, yeah) and she decided to cut it. He took the chance to touch her hair too... brave.

There are a lot of tiny moments in these two episodes that make up their dynamic, one I didn't include in the pics was him trying to discourage her from joining the scouts (something he's always done) even after shaming a room of fellow cadets for not wanting to join. Is he going against his own rant in a hope to keep her safe? I can't prove it, so it's just a theory... and again she says no and he doesn't fight her.

The belief has always been that Eren didn't like or was annoyed by Mikasa, esp in his younger days. But I'm taking a look specifically at their interactions and trying to see how true that belief is. This post covers the first two episodes, and while Eren is a loud-mouth hot-head, his direct interactions with Mikasa do not support him disliking her. Sure he talks tough, but his actions show he wanted her with him, what's more, she is way more violent with him than he is with her.

Sometimes I think we all hear the fandom create a narrative that the work just doesn't support, and I think this is a huge one. Don't worry, there will be more posts on their relationship.

The question of why not all descendants of Ymir and King Fritz carry the royal blood abilities could be explained with the real life example of how mitochondrial DNA passes, mother to child. I watched the Richard the Third documentary about how his remains were identified through the family's female lineage, and it clicked with me.

This theory does imply that as family lines narrowed an effort would have had to have been made to make this happen, and possibly a bit of "wreathing" of family trees, but that is not uncommon in the history of real life noble and royal families either.

Using Mikasa's mother's pregnancy in the Lost Girls OAD, it is easy to see they were really only living together probably 5-6 months. I know OADs are controversial for using to apply to canon, but when you look into the weather details, it lines up too. Mikasa would have been abducted in early spring, hence the rain, but her still being cold. In the second canon episode, you see snowfall as they try to farm inside Wall Rose after the walls fall, this would have been an early fall snowfall like the one seen as Mikasa looks out her window in the OAD as she misses Eren.

I love how detailed AOT is. It makes my fine focus heart so happy. Anyway, saying Eren and Mikasa considered each other siblings cuz they grew up together is insane, it was months and they were 9/10.

When you are so desperate to get your brothers opinion on your girl you accidentally reveal her and Levi's superhuman abilities. Lol, but for real, I love how this hints at conversations that are not explicitly shown in the manga or anime that obviously took place in the plot. Just because something isn't shown doesn't mean it didn't happen, it's this complicated story telling that is one of my favorite aspects of AOT. There is so much plot that happens off screen and thru implied narrative, imo it makes it feel so much more true to life (since we don't always see the whole picture).

Eren had a reason for head butting Mikasa

I've seen way too many people saying the headbutt is a sign he hates her, and it's just not the case. In addition to them having a history of being oddly rough with each other (mainly from Mikasa tossing him) headbutts are a technique Shadis taught them to get soldiers to fall in line quickly. It's not crazy to think

Eren would imitate his teacher when at wits end trying to get his fellow soldiers to engage. He also tries to headbutt her again before the boulder operation when she also tries to stay with him against orders, but she moves. It's the same situation again until she is actually assigned to him, then he says nothing and lets her join him.

It's a shame it messes with Keith's head as much as it did when Grisha tried to give him that recognition, but you can also say it pushed him to want to lead the scouts more and then fall to become the head of the cadets, a role critical to Eren's growth.

I stand by my belief that no one hated season 4 Eren more than season 4 Eren. In addition to these examples, most of his transformations happen via palm cut (a notoriously painful place to injure) instead of his signature bite (only when he's mid battle does he bite himself). His only two looks the entire season are angry and miserable.

I know lots of people hate her for what happened to the Levi squad, but her breakdown is still a pivotal point in her character and I think it gets overshadowed by Reiner's loud crash out. Personally, I love the representation of different mental challenges throughout AOT.

War is horrible and takes so, so many tolls, even on those physically 'well' and everyone suffers differently.