Split into two parts, the third season of the now concluded title finally sheds some intense light on what and why it is happening, while analyzing a number of characters more intently, starting with Historia and Levi.
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After being rescued from the Colossal and Armored Titans, all seems well for the soldiers, until the government suddenly demands custody of Eren and Historia. The reasons for both concepts are eventually revealed, while the role of the Military Police is disclosed fully. A disillusioned Erwin plans a bloodless coup d’etat, while the newly formed Levi Squad find themselves being attacked by a man from their leader’s past, who is also entangled in the overall case. Furthermore, a number of significant truths about the genesis of the Titans, Eren’s past, and the role of the royal family are revealed.
This part is rather intricate story-wise, and essentially very political, as a number of contradicting factions are revealed to be active at the same time. The appearance of Kenny the Ripper, who provides most of the action scenes here, also allows for further analysis of Levi, whom we see losing his cool for the first time. The role of Historia is also revealed, allowing for Tetsuro Araki to add yet another central pawn in the chess board that is the story of “Attack on Titan“, while her relationship with Ymir is clearly revealed as a homosexual one, and not just one of friendship. At the same time, the revelations that surround Eren bring him to despair and almost suicidal, in one of his worst moments as a character.
The inner politics also find their apogee here, with the role of most characters being fully divulged, and Erwin being highlighted again as a great tactician, and a man who really knows when to gamble. This approach allows the narrative to become even deeper, but also for the knot that posed a number of issues in the fight against the Titans to be completely unraveled, in a series of triumphant moments for the group, which are cemented with the final outcry of Erwin in front of a finally supporting crowd.
The second part is more action based, and focuses on the effort of the Survey Corps to retake Wall Maria, which eventually brings them in a showdown with the three Great Titans in Shiganshima, where the group has reached in order to finally solve the mystery surrounding the basement of Eren’s house.
The battle with the three Titans is probably the most impressive in the whole series. The animation by Kyouji Asano and Satoshi Kadowaki is truly spectacular, both in the ways the characters on screen move and act, but also for the level of destruction in the area, which is presented in the most impressive fashion. The true high point however, is a rather brief scene where Levi confronts the Beast Titan, which is easy to say, among the most memorable in the whole series and probably the one that justifies fully Levi’s popularity among otakus.
At the same time, Araki’s direction and the overall writing of the season is equally elaborate, with Armin’s interaction with Bertholt and most of all, the clash among the protagonists for a true “Sophia’s Choice”, is one of the most intensely dramatic moments in the whole series, also due to its repercussions.
Season 3 of “Attack on Titan” is an impressive one, with the first part dealing more intensely with the story and the second one combining drama and action in the most elaborate way.
