REVIEW: ‘Attack On Titan: Final Season THE FINAL CHAPTERS’ Special 2 Is Peak

After nearly a decade, Attack on Titan has reached its long-awaited conclusion, at last with the premiere of Part 2 of The Final Season premiered. Attack on Titan’s final season, titled Attack on Titan: Final Season THE FINAL CHAPTERS Special 2 (which we’ll just call Attack on Titan Special 2 because that’s a mouthful), is produced by MAPPA and directed by Jun Shishido and Yuichiro Hayashi. Based on the popular manga series by Hajime Isayama and published by Kodansha. The voice cast includes talents of Yuki Kaji as Eren, Yui Ishikawa as Mikasa, Marina Inoue as Armin, and Hiroshi Kamiya as Levi.

The final chapter picks up immediately where the first special ended. Armin, Mikasa, and their remaining allies dive into action to free Eren from Ymir’s control and stop the Rumbling from wiping out what is left of humanity. Our heroes are up against impossible odds as they face not only Eren but an infinite army of Titans.

Studio MAPPA’s remarkable animation and stellar voice acting work elevate the viewing experience in Attack on Titan Special 2. Studio MAPPA’s attention to detail captures a broad spectrum of emotions and actions ranging from horrifying and action-packed sequences to somber and contemplative moments. The character movements, action scenes, and overall visual aesthetics enhance the storytelling, creating an immersive and visually captivating story.

Eren Yeager’s transformation from hero to villain has been complex yet gratifying. Eren’s character development is gratifying because it is not a sudden, inexplicable shift. His determination, bloodlust, ideals, and inner turmoil have been evident since Season 1. Initially, it was easy for viewers to be sympathetic to Eren’s cause because, as the protagonist, his anger was directed towards anonymous Titans instead of innocent men, women, and children.

Special 2 reveals Eren’s reasoning behind his decision to conduct the Rumbling. Although the revelations do not absolve Eren of his genocidal actions, they provide more context as to why he chose this path of destruction. The revelations will also challenge the preconceived notions many viewers have of Eren towards the end of the series.

The deliberate narrative choice to maintain some distance between the audience and Eren during a substantial portion of the last two parts of the series serves as a strategic storytelling device. By keeping Eren’s character somewhat enigmatic and his true motives shrouded in mystery, the narrative creates an aura of suspense and intrigue.

Attack on Titan Special 2 brings the central themes of the series to the forefront in this final chapter, which was a great way to get the story full circle. Themes such as freedom, sacrifice, and the cyclical nature of conflict are prominent in the special’s narrative, prompting viewers to contemplate their relevance in the story’s context. Such as integral to the series from the beginning, are explored in greater depth and complexity in this final season.

The ending of Attack on Titan may receive some mixed reviews from fans who were hoping for a well-deserved happy ending. However, Mikasa and her comrades seem to live the rest of their days in a somewhat peaceful era. The ending credits depict the Paradis Eldians advancing technologically but persisting in conflicts, leading to further destruction. Despite Eren’s defeat and the eventual peace Ymir finds, the cycle of violence continues, resulting in the deaths of 80% of the world’s population.

The ending takes a realistic portrayal of war and the never-ending cycle that follows it. However, in his own twisted way, he leveled the playing field for the Eldians by only leaving 20% of the outside world and setting up his friends to be heroes to help negotiate peace.

His efforts are insufficient to save Eldia from future retaliations from countries seeking retribution. Regrettably, the perpetual cycle of recovery and conflict remains a recurring theme as society moves forward into an uncertain future. Ultimately, it is an ending that will leave audiences contemplating if Eren was right but just chose the wrong means to free and protect his friends. And or, if anything, he ever really mattered, even the result.

Attack on Titan: The Final Season THE FINAL CHAPTERS Special 2 represents the series at its peak. The exceptional animation, voice acting, and character development, combined with exploring central themes and storytelling, make it an immersive and thought-provoking experience. Despite the waiting period, I still think this could have been a movie instead of two specials. The special’s quality and storytelling leave an indelible mark on dedicated fans and newcomers to the series, making it a memorable journey.

Attack on Titan: The Final Season THE FINAL CHAPTERS Special 2 is available on Crunchyroll and Hulu.