#aot 109

New Shingeki chapters are always food for thought. But for me, chapter 109′s theme was legacies. Mikasa’s and Sasha’s. They are such different characters, but they both ended up each saving one little girl. From this chapter, it’s clear that these two girls turn out very different. The lasting impression left upon Maya and Louise by Mikasa and Sasha’s courage and skills inspired them down their life’s path, perhaps even in a direction the heroes may not wanted or even expected.

Some people spend entire lives cultivating legacies that would be remembered long after they’re dead: parents teach their children to follow their footsteps (or to avoid it entirely), politicians pass laws, writers pour their souls into books, musicians cultivate songs, etc. And yet our legacies is really something that is out of our hands, far beyond our control. Which lives we reach through our legacies, the people we meet and leave behind, isn’t something we get to decide. We never know how it will turn out.

Likewise, Hanji is struggling to carry on Erwin’s legacy, and the legacy of the Uprising 4 years ago...

Gabi is struggling to deal with the aftermath of a twisted upbringing. Eren...well, let’s not get started on Eren because that would be an essay for another day.

I LOVED this chapter. A really powerful, thematic chapter with lots of character moments. (This isn’t a proper meta but is more my ramblings.)

It really gets at the issues between two groups of people who have been taught to hate each other, and to self-hate as well in the case of Gabi and Falco. It is not easy to just nod and say “I get it now.” Brainwashing is really hard to overcome, and especially when you’ve been pushed to such limits, are only 12, have killed for this cause you believe in--what if that cause was wrong after all? Gabi just wants to believe she matters, that all she’s been through hasn’t been in vain. It’s a childlike coping mechanism, but it’s relatable. 

The thing is, Isayama isn’t even issuing that challenge to Gabi yet. He’s just asking her, as Kaya is asking her about her mother, to see Sasha as a person. Because that’s actually the best way to overcome that kind of brainwashing: to see a person. To empathize. Kaya’s kindness I hope touches her. Gabi must have heard Sasha’s name on the airship, so I’m hoping the name drop rattles her to the bones and causes her to rethink. But it won’t be easy, but I think she can do it.

As @harostar​ was saying last night, the story really comes down to Gabi and Falco. Will they break the cycle? Falco is perhaps willing to. But Gabi needs to be willing to as well. Or will they repeat the cycle that everyone seems to be repeating right now? Hange having to arrest people for information (she’s very sympathetic and I’ll fight people coming for her), Floche becoming exactly what he once criticized (yelling at Eren and Mikasa for trying to save Armin and not following orders, and now he’s the one not following orders--I don’t like the guy but I see what Isayama’s doing with him), Mikasa remembering that for all the beauty of her relationship with Eren, that incident that taught her to live also introduced her to violence, and seeing that Louise has been introduced to insubordination and violence as well... (like the comment about Mikasa having been in that cell or not wasn’t subtle), the reminder that Historia is unhappily pregnant just liker her mother, etc. 

I think breaking the cycle fits better with the themes, but we will see. Hange needs to break away from trying to be Erwin and try to lead as Hange, Mikasa needs to realize that fighting worked in the past but fighting may look different now, and she needs to address her feelings for Eren. Historia needs to remember what Ymir told her, and I have no hope for Floche--he’s pretty clearly going to lead a coup and it will end poorly. Gabi needs to see the Eldians, including herself, as people. 

ATTACK ON GABI