It's funny how the hate for Gabi lived and died with a handful of manga edgelords. Anime reception is way more sympathetic (polls show it clearly) I guess since they drove the point how Gabi mirrors their saint and savior Eren. When Sasha's death came for manga readers suddenly Sasha was their favorite character and how dare this bitch kill an irreplaceable part of our lives đ¤Ł. But that's just my rant. I wanted to ask if you like Gabi and what you think of her fate in 138?
I should think thereâs a connection between how quickly it goes for them (anime-onlies) and how accepting they are of having their opinions changed/developed. They donât sit and stew and form their own hard-fought convictions over the span of a month, like we do!Â
As for myself, I like Gabi well enough as a piece in a story. Small-scale reversal of indoctrination, innocence of children, dangers of self-hatred, blah blah. Not excellently executed - it was not lost on me that Gabiâs conclusive epiphany was âeveryoneâs equally capable of evilâ, as gently explained by the ex-Nazi soldier to the enslaved kid-kapo, and I dislike her use as an extension of Isayamaâs purposeful choice to represent the Marleyan side of the conflict primarily through indentured child soldiers of the oppressed race - but a solid attempt by an author who doesnât quite want to achieve what he says he does. although Iâll never get over that Kiyomiâs kindness line.
On a personal level sheâs not my cup of tea simply because Iâm not huge on brash personalities. Rage-y loudmouths with a vendetta are very entertaining and dynamic, but when it comes to me forming an emotional connection with a character, it just doesnât vibe with me. Funnily enough a lot of the reasons Iâve never been particularly interested in Eren equate to my estimation of Gabi! But I certainly donât dislike her - in fact her interactions with Falco and the remains of Squad Levi have been some of my favourite moments recently - and I donât in any way, shape or form understand the vitriol Iâve seen aimed at her. Especially since it often seems to show up directly alongside a flattering appraisal of Eren, Zeke, or even Floch!
She is either going to end up as a shifter or an Eldian free of the spine-parasite thing. If they donât end the curse then sheâs going to inherit one of the shiftersâ titans. Simple as that. Sheâs too prominent in the protective instincts multiple other characters have demonstrated, including Squad Levi.
Reiner will have a dilemma between saving either his mother or Gabi, Falco doesnât really need explaining, even Pieck has had decent moments with her to justify the sacrifice. There are far too few shifters to go round, and they know perfectly well that the likes of Connie and Jean would have wanted a child to be saved before them. One way or another, sheâs going to be un-mindlessâd. (This all being provisional on the gang surviving the mindless onslaught in the first place).
Or Iâm completely wrong. That happens a lot too.
