#floche

Uhhm*

Am I mistaken to say that Mikasa character development is similar to our angry boy, Eren. They both deals with extremes. Well, Eren actions deal in extreme while Mikasa personality deals in extreme. I remember she started out as the girl who was “screw everyone, imma do what I want” even if there is a standing order in place. 

Well, the second picture can attributed as a way to cope with Eren’s death but my point still remains. Now, she doesn’t have the confidence to pursue what she wants or be assertive about it. She became extremely reserved

There are people who said Mikasa wasn’t thinking for herself or that she was so lost that she didn’t know what to do. The truth of the matter is Mikasa, from the moment she tried to stop Armin knew what she wanted. If she was so lost that she was ready to follow any order given to her, then she wouldn’t have asked about Eren after Armin told her to help Jean. The girl knows what she wants, she simply lack the confidence to be assertive over it.

I wouldn’t say she needs much improvement. Earlier, I thought the series presented her “I don’t give a fu**” attitude as something to grow out from but know that I look at, it seems the narrative is forcing her to balance the two sides of her personality. Anon, you know that type of scenario, where you have to return to your old self in order to get through some situation and return to your more normal self to solve another situation? That’s what the narrative demands from her but this time with a more level head. I remember Jean commented on her poor oratory skills back in Trost

As for her future role, I actually made one prediction recently and I still stand by it until proven otherwise. This chapter gave more weight to it regarding Mikasa future role and Eren freedom. You can check it out here https://victorvictor00000.tumblr.com/post/189860097843/snk-future-prediction-ema.

Her relationship with Eren has been a major focus in this final arc, so undoubtly, expect her future role to concern Eren. Personally, i’m not among the “Mikasa will kill Eren” theorist because of many horrendous reasons backing the theory up. But regardless, thematically, narratively, character development, plot, relationship-wise, everything points that her future role concerns Eren. Maybe I will dedicate another post to write more about that. 

As of now, I think Floche is about to spill some major BS about Eren and she needs to hear it

That brings me to the question of  “what is Eren really planning??” Some people claimed Floche is an opportunist and he is trying to take advantage of the situation by lying. I don’t think he is lying. That leaves us with two options,

 if Eren told Floche his whole plan and really entrusted him with everything, then that means he is more villainous than we already think. 

If Eren told Floche his plan up to the rumbling just to entice him, then we can expect a plot twist that flips somethings we know about Eren and where Floche downfall begins/ worldview shatters just like Zeke. 

I used to believe 97% that Eren plan is the full rumbling where he massacres everyone but after hearing Floche this chapter, I think it has gone down to 65% but well, who knows?

Eren is my favorite character, stanning him is inviting headache cause he is like a child who comes home each day with a lot of headache to his parents. I can tell you that immediately I saw the first page and it was civilains shouting “Eren killed one of his own people” the chapter got destroyed for me. 

Well, I digress, I feel like most of Eren recent action have been portrayed as inhumane but I still look forward to this memory

Finally, about the freedom Eren pursues, I talked a lot about it in the post I sent to you. Right now, it seems he thinks the freedom he pursues and the happiness of his friends are compatible but we shall see about that. Floche comment made me clueless about Eren. So what I expect from him depends on what is shown in the upcoming the chapter.

no shade anon, but i was hardcore shocked that you requested floch! didn’t know anyone liked that freak lmao

Jean:

Jean is dense when it comes to someone crushing on him. Everyone knows who he likes, but he is so busy living in his own world he doesn’t notice someone pining over him. 

Once he finds out, he feels a little awkward. He wants to give them a chance with him, but what if he does something that makes them not like him anymore? What does he say? How does he get to know them? He might just introduce himself properly when they are training, maybe spar with them as an ice breaker.

Jean wouldn’t mind dating someone during his cadet years. Sure, he’s got goals, but is he that dedicated to them? He’s a teenager with wack hormones all over the place; he’d definitely slack off sometimes.

Floche:

Before the Jaegerists, I’d say Floch might have indulged someone who had a crush on him. He’d flirt and maybe hang around them often, but probably not officially date.

After the Jaegerists, I think it’d be a little different. I see him being more focused on their cause, what he’s doing instead of a relationship, especially if they aren’t in the same exact boat as him. Unfortunately he may just find them a burden at that point.

Marco:

He thinks it’s super cute! Having a little admirer, how adorable! He’s pretty perceptive, so he’d probably notice, even if they weren’t so obvious about it. He’ll definitely try and get to know them and introduce them to his friends and such.

Marco probably isn’t super focused on romance at this point, but he definitely doesn’t mind being their friend, and would try to be. He’d love to talk about their goals, their dreams for the future. He wants to join the Military Police, and he’d let them know. He kind of hopes they do too, that way they could possibly be closer in the future.

Honestly, I knew Levi wouldn’t die and I understand his reasons for torturing Zeke, but I have to admit... Even though I’m not the biggest fan of Zeke, my heart literally broke into tiny little pieces when I saw him in these panels.

I mean look at the fear and horror on the man’s face.

The fact that he literally shit himself out of fear and because his being tortured is heart wrenching imo... I don’t know man, these panels are hard to look at.

I could feel Zeke’s pain through these pages.

Zeke’s expressions, his fear, his pain and that flashback... All these things killed me and made me teary eyed 😭. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt this way about a manga.

Don’t get me wrong... I love Levi, everyone knows his a freaking badass and humanity’s strongest soldier. But seeing Zeke, someone who’s a genius, who mocks others and is always so confident in this position, its sad and heartbreaking imo. Also, the flashback to me indicates that Zeke is also only a human and is perhaps still a little boy at heart.

Another thing, I’m so freaking pissed at Floche 😡. I feel like he thinks he’s in a position of power and his using that power or his authority to do whatever the f**k he wants!!! 🤬 How dare he have the 109th beat up shadis just so they can prove their loyalty or some shit like that? I hope Hanji beats him up like they did with Shadis and then feeds him (Floche) to the titans.

Ugh... Sorry guys! I’m not normally disrespectful to characters or hate on them but Floche takes the cake so I’m just being a little salty. I was never really concerned about the guy (I was neutral) but he just pissed me off in this chapter and now I can definitely say I DON’T LIKE HIM!

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. 

I haven’t answered any 109 asks yet. I’ve been sitting back this month watching other smart people discuss the chapter and write meta. One of those smart people was @swordmaidenfuyu who touched on this topic in this post. She called it a contrast in legacies. Mikasa and Sasha each saved a little girl, yet the outcomes were very different.

My thought is that I appreciate how much thought Isayama puts into his chapter titles since they often work for several of the story lines. Chapter 109 was called “Guides”and we see Mikasa, Sasha, Floch and Kaya all serving as guides to other people.