This review of Shingeki no kyojin: The Final Season contains spoilers. If you haven't seen the chapter, we recommend you do so and then come back to read the review
©諫山創・講談社／「進撃の巨人」The Final Season製作委員会Chapter 1: Across the Ocean
The war, a child, the sky and the rain lead. Eldians sent to eternal hope and the miraculous rescue of the child who almost reached them. The trenches and the impenetrable walls, two sides that want to destroy each other, only Marley has the support of the titans. The select children, of which only one can be chosen, being the most intrepid Gabi, who with his attack manages to open a hole so that the final attack is carried out. Reiner and Zeke are sent and destroy the fortress of La Union and its ships, ending a four-year war, caused by a defeat nine years ago. The drunkenness of victory reaches the glorious citizens and sinks the soldiers in pride, but it does not seem to last long.
Opinion of the chapter
The final season of Shingeki no Kyojin has finally arrived, without further delay. With setbacks, despair in some and much expectation, it came to us. In principle I must say that at the technical level everything looks great, at least in a first review. The animation looks very good, the color palette is maintained (with certain different shades, but it's because of the location of the events), the soundtrack didn't feel so outstanding, but it fulfilled its role. I loved the opening and the ending as well, especially because the first one moved away from that epicity, although it maintains some tones of it, to give way to a melody that approaches a little to the tragedy, because as several know this season is approaching by those lares. An excellent chapter of a wonderful anime, which with this first episode promises a lot
Evolution
Seven years and more have passed since the first chapter was broadcast, back in 2013. Four years have passed for the second season and from there every year we had our annual dose of Shingeki. Looking back, I can point out the following:
Shingeki no Kyojin season one: a good shonen.
Shingeki no Kyojin season two: a very good shonen.
Shingeki no Kyojin season three, part one: this is much better than several animes, regardless of their genre.
Shingeki no kyojin season three, part two: a masterpiece, not only of animation, but of the literary field. (The latter I pointed out last year in the reviews of this part).
What will the fourth season bring? I don't know, but the story, which we already know in part, promises too much for a culmination that will please all or most. I hope they close with a flourish.
The new characters
The chapter begins by introducing us to new Ediano characters, showing them in a very unusual way, in the middle of a battle without any previous history, but that to a great extent we already have previous knowledge of who they could be. We have the group of children: Gabi, Falco, Zofia and Udo, while the eldiano of greater rank responds to the name of Colt. The children are the ones selected to obtain the power of the Colossal Titan, who as we know the titans do not have much time to live.
The two characters that stand out most are Gabi and Colt, the first for being a fearless, reminiscent of Eren, but with the skills of Mikasa. She is the one who manages to open a gap between the enemy lines, destroying a tank on rails that prevented the use of the titans. Colt, on the other hand, shows himself to be a compassionate soul for his fellow bloodlines, saving Falco when he was lying on the brink of death. And this one, Falco, is also compassionate and less violent, who is there because, in the end, he has to be. Of the rest, not much can be said, since his participation was small, but because of his physical characteristics and traits, one can draw out his personality. This is a good thing, because with only the image and his actions we can empathize with this new group.
The already known
Of those known only two appear, perhaps three only in the final part. Reiner and Zeke, to the couple that was defeated in the Island Paradis, wanting to vindicate themselves by defeating La Union, especially Reiner, whose past does not forget and comes to his mind in the middle of the fall, "I hate the walls", he says and accumulates anger inside. It does not seem that his personality has changed much, only that he is a little more serious. Zeke, on the other hand, remains the same, he does not see any deeper evolution, this is because his personality was already given when he was an adult and at that age the personality is already configured (only with some things you can change). What is most perceived in him is that revenge for his honor and pride against those of Paradis. They fulfill their mission and there ends their participation.
Context
There is a lapse of time between the final chapter of last season and this first chapter, I wouldn't know the exact years, but it should be about 4 to 6 years (remember that Eren and the rest were already more grown up). We see the end of the war, but we can understand the conflict because we have the data, remembering the past of Eren's father. What has fascinated me is that the flashbacks were not necessary, but with unforced dialogues you can already know the beginning. The war started four years ago, when the allies found out that Marley's lost the Feminine Titan and the Colossal Titan, without managing to capture their target. When they saw their military strength diminished, they decided to attack, since Marley was the first power. What would have happened if the Germans had won World War I or II? I think that here we can partly see the results, because you can see that inspiration: Hajime Isayama is altering history in his story.
Final victory?
After Reiner and Zeke destroy the fortress, the second one destroys the ships, but Reiner sacrifices himself to save Zeke from the ships' bullets. The Beast Titan also manages to destroy the fleet and the war ends. The allies decide to initiate peace agreements and everything is consummated. But as it is the first chapter and we know that they are not the protagonists, the victory is not assured and the tension will grow in the streets of Marley, it will increase low until it explodes.
It has been a very good start, I hope they continue like this and the chapters do not lower the quality and, above all, the plot is not affected by technical issues. A lot was invested and it seems that it has been worth it, let's enjoy this last season.
