Attack On Titan REVIEW: The Greatest Story Ever Made
“There is no truth in this world. Anyone can become a God or a Devil, all it takes is for someone to claim that to be the truth.” — Eren Kruger
Attack on Titan is one of the greatest works of fiction I’ve ever experienced. No matter what aspect you look at from the characters, concept, stakes, action, or animation, it all succeeds in delivering the most impact.
I usually don’t feel this way about a piece of fiction beforehand. I know every story has flaws; even this show has some unavoidable ones. But when someone asks about a story that shows how to realize its potential or is close to perfection, this is the one.
Now, I’ll give a short review of each season.
Season 1
“The world’s a cruel place. If you want to live, you have to fight.”
— Mikasa Ackerman
Many series fail to provide a strong opening hook. Usually, you need to watch until the finale to get hooked. Attack on Titan hooks you instantly from the very first scene.
The pilot introduces the world and characters, so when the titans attack, the impact is devastating. It hits even harder when Eren’s mother is eaten. The way they depict Eren’s regret, his effort to save her, her holding back to call out to them, and her being eaten with blood particles floating around creates a perfect scene in a perfect season. Everything was executed splendidly.
The twists and turns were unexpected. They aren’t just shock factors but elements that advance the plot and deepen character development. This season is perfect, with a story that can be studied and discussed for years.
Season 2
“I will always wrap your scarf. Always and forever. That’s a promise!”
— Eren Jaeger
This season deepens our understanding of the characters and expands the cruel world. We learn about Titans in walls and the Beast Titan. Certain scenes with characters pay off exponentially.
The highlight is the reveal of the Armored and Colossal Titans. Everything about it was on a different level. The music was tragic and heartbreaking. The twist was devastating. The build-up to that scene should be studied in film schools.
Aside from that, everything was well done. It didn’t quite match the impact of Season 1, but when it did, it was very powerful.
Season 3 Part 1
“Everybody I’ve met… was all the same. Drinking… Women… Worshiping God, even… Family… The King… Dreams… Children… Power… Everyone had to be drunk on somethin’ to keep pushing on… Everyone… was a slave to somethin’.”
— Kenny Ackerman
I never expected a series about Titans to turn political. The first part is a political thriller about government dictatorship and propaganda. What makes it so amazing is its intricate exploration of humanity.
The season develops characters with philosophical ideals — those who want to do good and protect everyone, versus those who only care for themselves. Deeper into the story, we see people enslaved by their desires for survival, while others fail to continue because of a lack of it. These themes are explored through two episodes focused on specific characters, the best of the season, offering a philosophical perspective that deepens our insight into this world.
The lore and the royal family’s manipulation of perceptions are further developed. The twists affect the characters profoundly. It is a part that successfully transitions us away from the fantastical Titan storylines.
Season 3 Part 2
“Beyond the wall..there’s a sea. On the other side of the sea..is freedom. That’s what I always believed. But I was wrong. On the other side of the sea…are enemies. Hey.. if we kill all our enemies…over there…will we finally…be free?”
— Eren Yeager
This part shows the final attacks of the pure Titans, over a 10-episode arc, to retake Wall Maria.
It marks the end of an era, with sacrifices, deaths, and heartbreaking moments that stay with us. There are emotional dilemmas, urgent situations, and powerful speeches.
This is also where the ultimate reveal about the world takes place. That revelation shifts everything we thought we knew.
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The ending is tragic. Eren and Armin dreamt of crossing the walls for freedom, only to find that what lies beyond is worse than the Titans. Eren’s dream comes true, but at what cost?
The Final Season: Part 1
“Kill this, kill that… it’s all you think about. Just like someone I know.”
— Armin Arlet
I noticed some issues in this season. The final season should be the culmination of everything we’ve experienced, not a restart. The first episodes felt like a different series with new characters. It’s frustrating to see new characters introduced during the climax, slowing the pace.
This part might be the weakest in the series. When the lows hit, they’re very low, but when the highs arrive, they are very high. The war declaration between the War Hammer Titan and Paradis soldiers was a highlight. The death of certain characters felt like shock value, but it was still heartbreaking. Another character also turned evil, possibly for shock value, which I did not particularly enjoy.
While some aspects were amazing, others were frustrating or disappointing.
The Final Season Part 2
“Stand up, dad” — Eren Jaeger
This is where Attack on Titan returns to the level I loved. The plot picks up after all the setup, with twist after twist that are more shocking than before. Characters are pushed to their limits with some of the wildest transformations I’ve seen. The action and animation are on a whole new level. It all improves on the previous parts, and I finally felt the urge to keep watching.
The Final Season Part 3
“I’m a Slave To Freedom.” — Eren Jaeger
This is the part where everything gets wrapped up. The ending is finally here after all this waiting. When you’re lining up for the conclusion, everything needs to flow and be better than what came before.
Our fan favorites are all put through some of the toughest situations imaginable. Some sacrificed themselves, while others nearly died. There are also some returning fan-favorite titans.
This part also brought some emotional stakes, with some of the characters’ parents present during the battle. Naturally, the biggest emotional and controversial moment was the interaction between Armin and Eren.
The main controversy in this scene is because Eren was portrayed as a hero again, and his motivations remain unclear. I do partially agree with some of these points. Eren started the Rumbling because he wanted to save his friends. He knew Paradis would always be at war, even after he was defeated, so the only way to secure his friends’ safety was to send them off as heroes.
Initially, this made a lot of sense. Eren unleashing the Rumbling and bearing the burden for it also made sense. He said his friends are the most important, not Paradis, so everything from that point on made perfect sense.
However, things changed when Armin mentioned how Eren always saw the distant bleakness instead of the beauty around him. Armin also commented on how this teaches the world the wrong lessons — either you kill or be killed. Then Eren says he was just a dumb guy with too much power.
That turning point suddenly didn’t make much sense. His response to Armin felt out of nowhere, unlike the person who just revealed his master plan. It feels like the writers desperately wanted Eren to be remembered as a hero rather than a villain, but they had already boxed themselves into a corner and had to force in something that didn’t feel natural.
I also think that the ending could have been better. Mikasa was built up to be important in this climax based on the choice she would make, but when she finally had to decide, it never really felt like a dilemma, but more like a call to action. I wish there were more internal struggle there.
The actual ending was beautiful. We see Paradis in a state of constant war once again, even in a world without Titans. There’s a bleak yet ambiguous message that war is an endless cycle. Mikasa sitting by Eren’s grave, grieving for him, was heartbreaking. The slideshow showing the timeline of the tree where Eren was buried effectively conveyed that message.
Future
The series could continue with a sequel, whether by exploring Paradis’s open-ended situation or the return of Eren, as seen with the man and his dog entering Eren’s tree.
However, I believe the series ended in a perfect spot. I don’t mind more Attack on Titan media, but it should expand and develop the world instead of being a lazy cash grab.
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Attack on Titan is now streaming on Crunchyroll
