Shingeki no Kyojin – 11
Itadakimasu~
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I’m going to be really sad if they change the opening song for the second half of Attack on Titan. “Guren no Yumiya” has become somewhat of a legend, and it will be hard to top. All the parody videos aside, it really is a damn catchy song. I guess I should be more worried about the content of the actual show but hey, music is pretty important! |
Not everyone has the courage (or downright lack of the ability to feel fear) as Eren or Mikasa. Most of the main characters are brave enough to go on a potential suicide mission, but the weaker ones? Not so much. There was a lot of focus on the fighters who aren’t superhuman Titan-killing machines. These guys are just average Joes who don’t want to risk their lives fighting immediately after losing a bunch of friends in a gruesome battle. This episode isn’t about brave people who fight without fear – it’s about cowards who have to suppress their fear to be strong for their loved ones. However, you’ll have to take my usage of the word “coward” with a grain of salt, because I’m not so sure I’d exactly be gungho to run out there within chomping distance of a Titan either.
Oh great, here comes mister “kill everything that’s vaguely threatening” himself
Mikasa and Eren are always so pumped to kill Titans, it’s almost easy to forget that attitude is actually abnormal. Killing Titans isn’t actually fun. The majority of the crowd almost leaves the mission then and there out of fear and confusion. It’s hard to believe in a plan that involves a magical Titan-morphing soldier, after all. Anyways, it was a nice message about the current state of the troops, if not a little too lengthy in delivery. Attack on Titan has a habit of drawing out scenes until just a tiny bit over the mark of where it should end. A few seconds after I say “okay, that’s enough” it usually moves on with something else, such as the Dot Pixis trademark life-changing mega-volume speech. It’s cool to see characters who are deathly afraid conquer their fears and join the fights. Armin is one of those characters who clearly isn’t cut out for fighting these beasts, but still puts his best foot forward. Even Sasha was quaking a bit in the crowd there, and I’m sure she was questioning her own resolve as well. That, or she just looks like that whenever she skips a meal. Maybe a bit of both.
Whatever doubts anyone had, Dot Pixis’s speech turned them around. I already like him more than last week. He’s really blunt and definitely lives up to that “eccentric” title, but that’s why I admire him. Hey, he may have suddenly decided to risk everyone’s lives on a crazy whim, but at least he’s cool. I think his coolness outweighs the strategically sketchy decisions he makes, such as choosing a leader based on their knowledge of alcohol. The best part of the episode was hands down when his voice boomed over the entire crowd from the top of the wall. To quote the wise words of Tenacious D “I do not need / a microphone / my voice is fucking powerful.”
Kind of sad he didn’t just start singing the Lion King opening song really loudly at this point
The rest is essentially just a budget-blowing preamble to Eren doing a bunch of freaky things. Seriously, I will never get tired of watching everyone fly around on 3D maneuver gear as if they weigh less than a loaf of bread. I imagine we’ll see some more of that lovely action now that Eren has gone berserk again. I highly doubt he was just trying to fistbump Mikasa. I’m not sure why I expected Eren to successfully move the rock without a hitch, but I did. As such, that cliffhanger was a big shock to my system. I don’t think Mikasa is dead, but it’s definitely a surprise to see Eren unable to control himself when he was able to protect them earlier from a cannonball. By now, let it be known that whatever can go wrong, will go wrong. Murphy’s Law is in strong effect here, even for a plan as seemingly simple as “move that rock over there.”
Judging from the preview, things don’t get much better. We see Armin, for example, attacking the Titan form of Eren. On one hand, good for you, Armin! On the other hand, oh god, everyone’s going to try and kill Eren again. This could have been the perfect moment for Eren to redeem himself, but he just had to go and squish his pseudo-sister. Attack on Titan continues to have exciting twists, and I can’t wait to see the aftermath of Eren’s rampage in episode 12. It’s gonna be good.
Preview: Eren goes wild and the plan falls to pieces. If people aren’t getting owned by Eren, they’d getting owned by the other Titans wandering the area. There’s only one way to stop Eren and let’s just say it’s not using the magic of friendship and love. Next week I will be away on a trip to New York, but Kyokai volunteered to cover Attack on Titan while I’m away. Enjoy!
About Overcooled
A neuroscience graduate, black belt, and all-around nerd. You'll either find me in my lab or curled up in my rilakkuma kigurumi watching anime.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
This is another of those shows that you think is going to make some progress and just draws everything out soooo long. I don’t know what possessed me to think they’d actually show the plan finishing up this episode.
I’ve been skeptical of the plan to move the stone, even if Eren is a titan. You try picking up a rock that even comes up to your knees. Unless you’re really damn strong, that’s not happening. This one comes up to at least his waist as a titan. But there was always the question of “what is Eren’s mindset as a titan?” It’s not surprising that it turns into “DESTROY!!!!” especially given that’s pretty much Eren’s mindset at the best of times.
And am I the only person hoping that Verman gets eaten by a Titan sooner rather than later? What a jerk.
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
It’s always just a litttttle bit slower than I’d like for these preachy kind of moments where they try and explain what people are feeling. Next week should be a bit more fast-paced.
I hope Eren eats him. That guy is just scum.
POWUH: Meta Resident and Metanorn's Hime-chan~ with 1758 comments
This anime just has to have those dramatic ups and downs! 😀
Aaah, feels so good when you have several episodes to catch up. But now I want to watch it even more TT^TT
Eren deciding to become someone like Harry Potter wasn’t surprising. Him going out of control either. It would be boring otherwise.
I like Armin. He’s a sweetie <3 Finally, developing some balls. And Pixis… he's so cool! *O* I love characters like that. Smart, sly and eccentric. From the moment we first saw him it was clear that this was going to be a badass character. *~*
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
They should have prioritized going to the basement first instead of moving the rock. That might have risen the success rate of their plan at least slightly.
I wonder how Pixis will react to this…unpleasant news. He’s really cool so I bet he’ll think of something (if Armin doesn’t).
POWUH: Meta Resident and Metanorn's Hime-chan~ with 1758 comments
I don’t think so. Their house is way too far away. Getting there in one piece would be difficult. It was more rational to secure a certain area before moving out to find something you know almost nothing about.
I don’t think he’ll be that surprised. Hell, he walked up to Eren nonchalantly, even though he had just found out that there’s a brat who can transform into a titan. I would be glad if Armin shined once again.
POWUH: Meta Resident and Metanorn's Hime-chan~ with 1758 comments
Hehe that reference to Tenacious made me happy btw 😀 love that movie
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
I never saw that movie but I heard some good things about it. Should I believe the rumors?
POWUH: Meta Resident and Metanorn's Hime-chan~ with 1758 comments
Well, it’s funny, goofy, perverted… don’t expect something serious from this movie. It’s something you should watch with a bunch of your friends for the laughs.
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
I actually didn’t know it was a movie, I just like some of their songs lol
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Yeah, it was a movie that was released about seven years ago.
POWUH: Beginner (20-35) with 24 comments
I agree completely, Pixis is a great commander, although I don’t think you should take him at face value. I believe he chose the operation’s leader based on his command skills and willingness to continue the mission, since they knew the fatality rate was likely to be high for that one. He just brushes it off so as not to put pressure on them. As for him willing to go with the plan, it’s as he himself said, it’s do or die. Either they patch the hole, or they abandon wall Rose and let humanity kill itself.
Also, I love how they did Eren’s berserking, I knew it was coming, and it was still pretty powerful.
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
He wouldn’t have chosen a drunkard who sucks at leading, but he does have some unorthodox methods for presenting his decisions. It works, but it’s…odd.
That one big punch was the perfect way to end the episode. Also the worst way, since I’m impatient. I need to watch the next episode!!!!
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Most probably thought the same for Psycho-Pass’ first OP “Abnormalize” but hey, the second one “Out of Control” quickly became contagious so we should hold out hope for Attack on Titans’ second OP.
Not that I would ever want to be part of that world but if it turned out to be the case, I’d gladly serve under Pixis. While his actions and plans are brazen, there’s a lot of truth behind them which anyone can agree. Even if the deserters want to run, they’re just putting off the inevitible because day by day, the Titans are closing in. One way or another, they’re going to die so it might as well be for something that matters.
Besides, holding up in the last wall would be hell on earth itself, worse than anything the Titans have already done. The scenario in there would be like locking two people in a room with one loaf of bread and neither willing to share so both will eventually kill each other to get it. Mankind’s greatest enemy is itself because of its “survival instincts”.
The recapture plan was well thought out but I knew something would screw it up and most of the possibilities rested on Eren. He was so gung-ho and arrogant that he didn’t bother to try and recover which most likely lead him to go out of control.
Oh my god, that preview. It’s like it’s a sin for it to have any good development in this show without tragedy ensuing. If it isn’t a crisis from the outside, it’s from the inside.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
Because I’m apparently the pickiest person in the world, I just don’t care much for the OP song for this series. It’s one I always skip. The only version I liked was the teletubbies one.
I’m batting pretty low on songs that other people like this season: I don’t like the Valvrave OP, the Titan OP, or the DeSu2 ED. I also liked the alternate RDG ending (sung by Hayami Saori) better than the main one sung by Itou Masumi, and I don’t like the HenNeko ED.
But it’s not that I hate all of them. I love the Gargantia ED, OregaIru ED, both Leviathan songs, Nyarlko’s OP, and the Muromi-san OP.
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
At this rate, you’ll be called a hipster!
POWUH: Meta Resident and Werewolf Chaser with 1270 comments
I don’t disagree with tht statement 😛
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Looks like we’re opposites on the playing field. In the end, it’s just about who likes what, a difference of opinion. With me, I like the Valvrave OP, the Titan OP (If you read the lyrics, it symbolizes mankind’s struggle for survival) and the DeSu2 ED. Along with OPs of Dansai Bunri no Crime Edge, Haiyore! Nyaruko-san W, Toaru Kagaku no Railgun S and pretty much most of the shows of this season.
The ones I actually don’t like are the ones for Hyakka Ryoran: Samurai Bride, Karneval, Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Come wa Machigatteiru, Photo Kano and Arata Kangatari. They just don’t sound lively enough.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
The OregaIru ED is a pretty peppy song (the normal version, but the Yui Ballad version is good too), but the lyrics belie its happiness. It’s basically saying how the singer just can’t tell the person how she feels about them.
The Nyarlko OP song this series I like better than the first series. I don’t like Sisters Noise as much as Only My Railgun, tho. Photo Kano’s songs work ok for the show, but they’re pretty unmemorable.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Sister’s Noise is catchy, but it doesn’t beat the groove that is Only My Railgun. And that show has never once gotten to the heights of Dear My Friend; and the OPs and ED’s of Index are largely forgettable.
Yes, Nyarlko W’s OP is a great riff on the original series opener, much like Futakotomo was a riff/spiritual successor to Stable Staple.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Sister’s Noise isn’t bad but I do prefer Only My Railgun. The first OP for Index S1 “PSI-missing” but the second “Masterpiece” was a failure in opinion. However, both OPs for Index II “No buts!” and “See VisionS” were awesome and easily memorable. All the Index OPs were sung by Mami Kawada.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Mami Kawada: I loved, loved, loved her stuff from Shana, but just a little less than KOTOKO’s stuff. But I felt the house groove just overtook her in the Index OPs.
POWUH: and Athenaeum Châtelaine with 2212 comments
Yeah, to each his own. My favorite OPs this season were “Genesis Aria” from Arata Kangatari, “Guren no Yumiya” of AoT, “Preserved Roses” of Valvrave, and “Watashi Wa Souzou Suru” of MJP. Favorite EDs are “Reason” of Karneval and “Sora to Kimi no Message” from Gargantia, with “Boku Janai” of Valvrave coming in for a close third.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
I really disliked Boku Ja’nai. Like “turn it off immediately” disliked. And everyone talked about how great both TM Revolution and Mizuki Nana are, and to my ears, Preserved Roses is just a fail. The music has no hook, the voices just don’t work together. Just nothing I want to listen to, unfortunately.
Sora to Kimi to Message is a great song, tho. So much of ChouCho’s music starts off slow and just grows on me until I listen to it a lot, but that song was great from the beginning.
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
I really liked how Pixis understood that humans are just as much of a potential threat as Titans. It’s a nasty world in there now that everyone has to rely on each other to stay alive, and people will gladly commit murder if they think it means they get to live another day.
Looking forward to what happens next. It seems like NOTHING good happens to ANYONE.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Titan pick up rock. Titan punch. Titan punch lots. Eren no lift rock. Eren punch. Eren Punch. Silly humans.
POWUH: iLurker with 1 comments
Eren punch. Eren kick. Eren wrestle. Eren hit allies.
😀
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Mikasa overbearing. Eren Punch. Eren welcome eternia. Eren punch eternia. Beware of Spammy. Eren punch Spammy.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
Kick, punch, it’s all in the mind. If you wanna test me, I’m sure you’ll find that the things I’ll teach ya is sure to beat ya. But nevertheless you’ll get a lesson from teacher, now.
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
Any reference to Parappa makes me overwhelmingly happy~
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
I have to admit, that the reference went straight over me head…
POWUH: Meta Team and Megane-chan with 3214 comments
You pretty much voiced all of my sentiments about this episode exactly. Pixis was awesome, of course things went wrong (why did I expect them to go right for once?) and the next week looks really bleak. Poor Mikasa, that looked like it hurt. Also, Guren no Yumiya will be hard to beat indeed.
Have fun in New York, OC! I really miss being there, so go illegally cross some streets for me or something xD
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
…It should be obvious that nothing will go as planned, but I’m always optimistic. I need to stop that too.
Thanks Kara! I’ll do my best to find cool places to hang out in =w= If I get arrested I’ll just blame you haha
POWUH: Meta Team and Ringleader Extraordinaire~ with 6433 comments
I love their China Town. Dunno how much it has changed but the food there is awesome. :3
POWUH: and Athenaeum Châtelaine with 2212 comments
Not much happened in this episode again, but I’m really starting to like Commander Pixie Dust. At first I didn’t like the look in his eyes, and I was pretty suspicious of him, but he seems to be on the level. I loved his speeches and I love how this was all a “plan and execute” episode.
Eren becoming a Titan was covered up by calling him a top-secret government project, and the entire plan relied on him being able to plug the whole in the wall. This was something that he was willing and determined to do.
This episode despite not doing much had me on pins and needles. I really, really wanted everything to go right and for the humans to at least win this one. However, I knew from past experience that things often don’t always end up that way. I thought that maybe there was a catch and that perhaps Eren couldn’t become a Titan again so soon and that he would spend half the next episode trying to get his power to work. However, they went another route instead and had it that his powers are out of control and that he can’t really control the Titan once in full form.
If that’s true, what are the advantages of it then? The last time, he seemed to be powered by a subconscious, steady desire to kill all the Titans. Does he have to have his plans ingrained at a subconscious, instinctual level in order to control his Titan form?
And what is with him constantly rejecting poor Mikasa? The girl just lost you but a few hours ago, she’s bound to be a bit clingy! You’re her only family and she’s practically suicidal without you. Just humor her, Eren. She’s completely had your back since day one, do you really want to drive her away?
Well, we’ll have to see what the aftermath of this plan to retake Trost will be. Will Eren regain control? Will they be able to modify the plan and try to draw Eren-Titan into doing what needs to be done? What will happen to Eren? Where’s Levi and company?
We’ll have to see next time. I give this episode a 8/10. It wasn’t the most shocking episode of the week (that honor goes to Valvrave), but it was still pretty good.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
I really liked that last quote you have there. It’s like saying “There’s nothing to fear but fear itself.”. If you ever get a title on this site, it should definitely be related to your exceptional ability to find and use appropriate quotes.
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
Hey, I know 2 of those quotes! My grandma used to love quoting Robert Burns (or Rabbie Burns) to me when I was little and I read the A Song of Ice and Fire books about a year ago 😀 Nice picks!
I want to know what’s going through his head as a Titan too. We’ve seen him in RAGE mode, but he was clearly lucid when he used that skeletal Titan to protect his friends. :/ I guess when he goes full-out Titan he still can’t control his raw emotions. His current emotion was probably “Ugh, Mikasa, stop following me.”
I guess a reckless guy like him doesn’t want to be coddled. He’s also not the friendliest person around. I don’t think he realizes that everyone thought he was dead and freaked out. He just saw it as “being away” for a while. That’s still not very nice though
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Yeah, Eren is being way to dickish towards Mikasa for my taste. I can see why they are making the character that way. He wants to distance himself to keep from feeling anything for her. I think he has resigned himself to outliving her; and he doesn’t want the pain of outliving her.
But, in the end, it will come down to Kaji Yuki and #delicioustears.
POWUH: and Athenaeum Châtelaine with 2212 comments
I know this is a little off topic, but I just had to say…
just got the AoT soundtrack, and it…is…glorious.
😀
POWUH: Meta Team and Ringleader Extraordinaire~ with 6433 comments
Done by the same guy (Hiroyuki Sawano) as Guilty Crown and Ao no Exorcist. Didn’t expected anything less from him. ^^