[S4E29] Deep Cuts

Adaptational Late Appearance: Eren's dream where a mysterious girl tells him that she will see him later and the scene where Mikasa asks him why he is crying after he wakes up is adapted into the anime in this episode as a flashback, while in the manga, this is one of the first scenes of the first chapter. It's ambiguous if this scene retcons Eren's dream from the first episode of the anime or not. Adaptation Expansion: The anime adds a few scenes of the Rumbling in progress, including how badly the population is taking it. The anime also answers the question as to what happened to Grisha Yeager's parents: they were locked up because of Zeke's betrayal and left behind when the Eldians and Marleyans in Liberio ran for Fort Salta. They embrace each other before being crushed by the advance of the Colossal Titans, with Mrs. Yeager saying that this is repentance for their sins. Adapted Out: The episode adapts the entirety of Volume 33, but Historia giving birth, the Rumbling taking place in other parts of the world, and the scene where a crowd of people being pushed off of a cliff by the Rumbling try to save an infant. Admiring the Abomination: Before attacking the advancing Wall Titans, Hange takes one last moment to gush over them.Hange: Ah... Titans truly are marvelous! Alas, Poor Villain: Despite the irredeemably evil things Floch has done as Eren's right hand man his death is treated with a somber light, with his former comrades shocked that he dragged himself all the way from the port in Paradis to there. His last words, after having his throat pierced by Mikasa's hook, is to beg them not to kill Eren as his devil is their last hope, with Hange closing his eyes afterwards. Armor-Piercing Question: Armin intends to give one to Eren after they've defeated him and dragged him out of the Founding Titan.Armin: Eren. I have another question to ask you, once we drag you out of there. In what way are you free? Afterlife Welcome: After their Heroic Sacrifice, Hange is greeted by Erwin, Moblit, and all of their other friends and companions who had fallen along the way.Erwin: Yeah, you had it tough. You can tell us all about it. Better to Die than Be Killed: One man caught in the crossfire of the Rumbling chooses to shoot himself in the head rather than being trampled by the Colossal Titans. Big Damn Heroes: Just as the Beast Titan singlehandedly destroys Fort Salta's air fleet, the Alliance make their move to drop on Eren, with Reiner transforming to tackle the Beast Titan. Cliffhanger: The episode ends with The Alliance making it to Eren and preparing to go to battle to end the Rumbling once and for all. Cryptic Conversation: This episode features a flashback of a dream Eren had before the fall of Wall Maria, where a girl that ressembles Mikasa tells him "See you later, Eren.". The lack of context for this line makes it practically impossible to figure out what she meant by saying this. Curb-Stomp Battle: The air fleet at Fort Salta is utterly wiped out by the Beast Titan. Defiant to the End: Critically injured and water logged after the battle at the port, Floch nonetheless gathers the last of his strength to try to kill the Alliance before he is finally killed by Mikasa with a hook to the throat. While his gunshots are sporadic, he did manage to hit the fuel tank of the flying boat, delaying their flight to Eren and requiring that Hange sacrifice their life to buy the Alliance time. Dissonant Serenity: To cope with the horrors of the Rumbling, Eren is imagining himself as a child soaring through the sky, the steam of the Colossal Titans resembling massive clouds, before saying "so this is freedom!" He asks Armin what he thinks, and we cut to the still-adult Armin looking in horror. In a flashback, Eren dreams with a girl telling him that she will see him later. She speaks very gently and yet, when Eren wakes up, he's crying, implying that there's more to this dream than it seems. Even Evil Has Standards: Despite how far Eren has gone, and the fact that he is willingly taking away the worlds freedoms by murdering them, Eren tells his friends that he won't take away their freedoms by using his Founding Titan powers to strip from them their free will and abilities. Eren tells them they are free to try and stop the Rumbling, just as he is free to continue his rampage, and warns them that, if they come after him, it will be for a fight. Extra-Long Episode: This episode is one hour long, composing the entirety of Volume 33 of the manga. Fantastic Racism: Invoked at the beginning of the episode when a Mid-East Alliance refugee, upon seeing the titans approaching from all sides, wonders if the Marleyans all fled without bothering to warn them. A Good Way to Die: Before going off to their Heroic Sacrifice, Hange tells Levi that they're "giddy with the desire to make a supremely cool exit." Grand Finale: The first half of two Extra Long Episodes that serve as the conclusion for Attack on Titan. Heroic Sacrifice: Hange fights the Wall Titans to buy the group enough time to repair the flying boat and take off, and goes out in a literal blaze of glory. Heel Realization: Eren has this in the flashback. After struggling to come with grips with his future annihilation of humanity and debating to himself why he will do the Rumbling, he comes across Ramzi being assaulted by some thugs. Despite knowing that he has no right to try to save him since he'll end up killing the boy himself, he does so anyway. Eren breaks down crying and apologizing that he's going to kill everyone because deep down, he was disappointed that humanity existed beyond the walls and he wished for them all to disappear. The Marleyan commander in charge of Fort Salta, and the rest of the assembled Marleyans and Eldians, realise that by fostering their hatred and inadequacies upon the so called "island devil's" their very hatred has been reflected back to them in the form of Eren who now seeks to destroy them all. Many of the people assembled there burst into tears and the commander promises that, if the world survives, he won't make the same mistake again. Hold the Line: Hange, knowing full well that they can't kill all of the Titans, takes as many down with them as possible in order to delay the Rumbling long enough for the flying boat and the Hizuruan ship to leave port. Hypocrisy Nod: In a flashback to years prior, Eren admits to himself that it would be extremely hypocritical for him to save Ramzi, a boy he saw in his future memories, from a band of angry merchants, since the boy will die a much more horrific death in the Rumbling. Despite this, Eren still rescues him, berating himself for being like Reiner, a "half-assed piece of shit," but even worse. When Eren confronts the alliance in the Paths he acknowledges that he is stealing the freedoms of the people around the world by killing them with the Rumbling, but tells them that he won't use the Founding Titan to take their freedoms away. I'm Not a Hero, I'm...: Armin doesn't think he can be considered a good person anymore, as he has killed too many people. It Has Been an Honour: Levi gives a subdued, though no less heartfelt, one to Hange telling them to "dedicate your heart". Hange even notes that it is the first time they've ever heard him say that. It's All About Me: A mob of desperate people try to steal a man's car to get away from the Rumbling, only for all of them to get crushed in a matter of seconds. Mass "Oh, Crap!": The alliance has this reaction when they feel the Rumbling coming for them right after Floch damaged the fuel tank of the flying boat, necessitating immediate repairs before they can take off. More Expendable Than You: With the Rumbling close at hand Armin realises that someone has to stay behind to hold off the Titans long enough for the flying boat to leave port. Armin and Reiner both volunteer themselves but Hange tells them they are both too important for the fight ahead and goes out themselves to hold the hoard off. My God, What Have I Done?: Karina realises how much of a terrible mother she has been to Reiner by giving birth to him just so she could get revenge on his father. She even notes that she hasn't done one motherly thing for him his whole life. Not Quite Dead: It turns out that Mr. Leonhart and the rest of the residents of Liberio, Eldian and Marleyan alike, managed to board a train to Ford Salta and got away before the destruction of the Rumbling reached them. In the last episode he appeared in, Floch fell into the sea after getting shot by Gabi. Turns out he survived and clung to the boat in order to try and kill as many members of the Alliance as he could. Scenery Gorn: The destruction of Liberio is shown in all its glory. We get to watch Ramzi getting crushed under a Titan's foot. Skewed Priorities: When a man that is running away from the Rumbling accidentally pushes Ramzi and makes him drop all of his money, Halil goes back to catch the coins instead of running away, making his brother go back for him too. However, in this case, not going back for the money and just running wouldn't have increased the two brothers' chances at surviving. The men that are apparently trying to rob a bank while everyone runs away, only to get crushed too. Once again, they probably would have ended up dead either way. Tears of Remorse: In the flashback, Eren cries and apologizes in front of a confused Ramzi, knowing thanks to his memories that he will eventually murder him and the rest of the world. Would Hurt a Child: In order to show that Eren will not stop his indiscriminate murder of the world, the first scene of the episode shows Ramzi and his brother being crushed by the marching Wall Titans, with Ramzi's head graphically being crushed in slow motion to emphasize the point. You Are in Command Now: Hange places Armin in command of the Scout Regiment right before their Heroic Sacrifice. You Shall Not Pass!: Hange holds off the Wall Titans just long enough for the others to take off. 781b155fdc