Ein Vogel im güldenen Käfig

-how eren manipulated his own Life and what the episode name means

That Eren Jäger, the Series Protagonist had manipulated certain Events in the Past as Adult, by timetravelling, was shown as canon in Season 4. but but that Eren manipulated his whole life which he did was more of an unspoken detail, but lets break it down:

1. Eren Krüger

Eren Krüger in the beginning was often said to be Eren from the Future. although Eren didnt significantly age, whenever he time travelled, this Theory is actually not far off since Eren Krüger owns the Attack Titan and lets Grisha survive - in order to have Grisha have another Child - Eren Jäger. Krüger showed Grisha how to use the Powers and ultimately let Grisha eat him in order to inherit the Titan Powers. krüger also saw faint visions of Armin Arlert and Mikasa Ackerman - Eren Jägers future bestfriends and Krüger told Grisha to „complete his mission for the sake of Armin and Mikasa“ which left Grisha confused but Eren Krüger knew exactly what he was saying.

In Season 4, Eren infiltrates Marley. He cuts off a leg and goes by the Name „Eren Krüger“. Not a coincidence if you think of it. Of course Eren was envisioned with past memories of Grisha Jäger and Eren Krüger when he inherited the Attack Titan but it seems to be more than a coincidence that Eren Jäger took on Krügers Name than a simple homage. Above all, Krüger has a similar Haircolor and Eyecolor than Eren.

2. Eren is visible in earlier Seasons, placed as Easteregg and subtle foreshadowing.

That Eren was placed in Crowds and Backgrounds was a rather interesting finding after people rewatched the Series after its ending and definitely not a coincidence - but what is it hinting on to now?

Not only was he placed to prove his time travelling activities as young adult but also to hint on Erens influence on his own Life. The fact he was there from the very beginning proves, that he controls his own life. To make the young Eren go through pain just to become the Man he needs to become in order to resort to radical measures. His Plan, to restore the Eldians Reputation by willingly playing the Role of the „Devil“ worked, but only he made sure that everything would lead to his very moment.

Im 100% convinced, the Reason why Eren wanted Armin to be alive, and not Erwin, was because if Erwin became the colossal titan, he would have stopped Eren immediately and therefore needed Armin instead who is too emotional and irritational to realize Erens actual plans until the very end. (Although lets be for real: Erwin should have been revived)

3. Grisha Jäger being manipulated by his Son Eren

We were all confused as to why Grisha killed the Reiss Family until In Season 4, we find out, that Grisha had been told so by Eren since Grisha on his own couldnt bear the thought of killing children. Eren reminds him of the restorationists and his deceased sister Faye, ultimately convincing Grisha to steal the founding Titan away from Frieda Reiss.

Grisha gave Eren a titan serum, turning Eren into a mindless Titan before letting Eren eat his Father to inherit the Attack Titan and the Founding Titan - that Eren would desperately need for his Plans.

The anime was always known to be different. Expect the unexpected. Season 1 gave us the image, that titans were caging in Humans and that the Colossal and Armored titan would be some sort of leaders of the mindless titans. Season two - as brief as it was - turned everything by revealing Reiner and Bertholdt to be not only traitors but also foreigners along with „Ymir“ as the three could read an ancient language on a preserved food can. It also showed the direction of where their home lies. Season 3 threw everything aboard with political issues and inbalance - the problems Grisha tried to fight back then with the Reiss Family when killing them - and a new Deutersgonist Zeke Jäger, whos a direct descendant of the Fritz Family (Dina Fritz) and actual „King“. And when we thought thats it, Season 4 throws a curveball at us, starting very confusingly at the other side of the Ocean at Marley.

But why is the first Episode called „to you, in 2000 years“ now?

Because the Ending shows us what happened 2000 years after the events of Attack on Titan. It gives us insight on how the world had moved on since the happenings in Attack on Titan. The focus remains on the tree where Eren had rested after carrying the wood sticks and he unexplainingly shed a few tears when Mikasa cought up to him telling us that the Metropole is built on the Ground near Shiganshina District of the outer wall Maria.

But it also shows us where it all started. At the Tree where Ymir Fritz as Slave tripped over and rolled down the hole into a Pool where Hallucigenia lies. And how 2000 years later, after the Apocalypse in the fast forward time lapse, a young man with a Dog walks through the abandoned, Bombed City, where the nature had fought its way back, and finds the huge tree, still present. The rest is up to everybodies imagination.

But In that Tree Hallucigenia still lives, ready to grant a Human the Titan Powers.

In the show and overall by viewers, Hama is not considered a good character. The show insinuates, that Hama is performing revenge on innocent people of the same civilisation (the firenation) just as how the soldiers of the firenation kidnapped and enslaved the waterbenders of the southern water tribe. By fans she is mostly viewed as evil and crazy, since she „cursed“ Katara with the ability to bend blood.

But is Hama actually evil?

The more i rewatched the show, the more i understood, that Hamas hatred and actions are actually pretty understandable. Of course i do not defend the kidnapping of innocent civilians but in my opinion, to not relate to Hama, is actually what i would consider barbaric.

Hama had to watch her whole civilisation, her friends, her family and most importantly her culture being slowly but surely erased, by the fire nation until she was the last one remaining and had to surrender.

When hama was arrested, she was prevented free movement, as her limbs were chained so she, nor the others would be capable of bending the water. The cages were above the ground. They were occasionally fed, from afar with little dosages of water, as if they were wild inhumane creatures. She probably was forced to watch her friends die in those cages as well. God knows, how long she was arrested in that Jail, and what else she had to go through.. Only by training on rats, to control them, via bloodbending, she managed to escape.

Of course it was wrong to perform revenge on innocent people, especially if she just could've kidnapped the soldiers of the firenation, but overall - considering what she went through, i can only sympathize with her and eye people suspiciously who can't. Because no one, who experiences the same barbaric and horrific things that hama did, would remain sane. This kind of experience really takes a toll and changes everyone. And i 100% understand Hamas frustration and act of vigilantism.

And the Bloodbending technique - she gave on to Katara - is not a curse, but more a reminder of the torture that the firenation put the water benders through and also a symbol of how powerful water benders really are; because no matter what you truly think of hama as a character, you cannot deny that she is truly a real selftought master of waterbending!

I will forever be mad that Hugh Jackman is not portraying Admiral Zhao in the Avatar: the last airbender.

now why would it have been a better choice to make Erwin the Colossal Titan and Not Armin?

•he has way more experience

•his goal was always to find out, what is really behind the titans and the walls especially because he already guessed that someone from the outside must be their enemy

•he wanted to avenge all the soldiers that died for this

•levi wouldn’t have lost all the people, who are important to him

•he would have never been this sentimental towards Eren Yeager and therefore would’ve gotten rid of him sooner than Armin, who was totally subjectively influenced by his former friendship and therefore is not made to be a leader nor a Titan.