This review of Shingeki no kyojin: The Final Season contains spoilers. If you haven't seen the chapter, we recommend that you do so and then come back and read the review.
Chapter 6: Titan War Hammer
Conversations that only come back as a memory of an almost dead man, whose plan went as he wanted, but without measuring the magnitude of the evil caused. Willy died and his sister, Lara, saw him, accepting his death and trying to avenge it. Meanwhile, the massacre is huge and the Eldian troops of Paradis attack, with and without mercy. Hospitals are full, there is no more capacity, and the future of mankind cannot be attended: Udon, Zofia, rest in peace. Gabi wants revenge, but he only finds more death. Eren and Fiene are fighting, but the Elvish superiority of Paradis is too much, while Marley has an army, Paradis has Levi and Mikasa. Porco enters the battle, but is repelled, having Eren the opportunity to devour Hammer.
Opinion of the chapter
I would only say: What a good chapter, and with that I would finish the review, but no, I must write more because they knew how to combine action and information, as explicit as implicit. I'll keep throwing praise on how they use images to reveal information, this maybe because of the panels by Hajime Isayama himself and other studio additions. This chapter has been really raw, it seems to me that there was censorship in a certain way (not showing strong images for so long), but it showed what should be shown and that is appreciated. We will comment on this later. The last thing about technical aspects: the CGI. This technique has not been abused, it has been noticed, yes, it has disturbed the animation in general, no. This is used to save resources and the truth was only in moments not so prominent, so it does not bother, except for the picky ones who do not want to see CGI at any time, but they are sacrifices to be able to make better several moments.
Conversations with a suicide bomber
Flashback or memory? They say that people remember their whole lives when they are about to die, so Willy's farewell and the conversation with Magath come at a good time, giving us context to the Tybur's crazy head plan. It seems to me that the farewell scene could have been a little sadder if there had been a little more time or a memory further back, but the feeling of being close to death is very well conveyed. His wife is resigned to his choice and only cries because she knows he may not come back. A novel scene, well achieved, but it could have been better.
About the conversation with Magath, what struck me most was that which is said at the end before touching his hands -the above I omitted because in a way it was obvious from the way things happened-: ...we are demons. Is it Eldiano? In the wikia it is said that he appears in several chapters with an Eldia badge and that this is a mistake, wouldn't it be a clue? That's something that got me thinking, and it's not far-fetched because he was considerate of them when Willy wanted to sacrifice them, but as a soldier he only has to accept orders. Possible Eldia?
Let's remember what our parents remember
Dead children, dead old people, mobs coming out in despair no matter who is on the ground, destroyed houses, collapsed hospitals and anguish everywhere.
Those who read in Kudasai, I must assume, are mostly Latin Americans. Hence the subtitle. Those scenes that we saw are very similar to what happened in our countries, and what still happens in some, in the last century. It's a good comparison, generally they faced guerrillas (few) against military (many), and both believed to be right and fight for their peace, and both caused chaos. In my country, during the 80s, it bled in the struggle for power. Those scenes in Shingeki no Kyojin brought it back to my mind and reminded me how horrible war is and how loved people will always be lost, even right under your nose. Zofia's death hurt me and Udon's was very sad, is there anything to admire, was it really necessary? Sadly, peace is a chimera.
The Count of Monte Cristo
Linked to the above, and excuse me if I seem to get off topic a little, I remember reading that literature that does not make people aware or that is not critical, does not fulfill a vital purpose for humanity. Latin American writers of the last century had this in mind. With what I have seen, especially in this chapter, I reaffirm my opinion of the excellence of this work (Shingeki no kyojin).
A recurring literary theme is revenge, and what Floch says and what Eren does reminded me a lot of the Count of Monte Cristo, planning revenge for years and having no compassion for all those you consider enemies. And Floch implies this when he says that the enemies live in those houses, an answer given to Jean's warning. All those pigeonholed under the name Marley are enemies, that is his motto. Eren implies the same when Mikasa reproaches him for the deaths. Eren applies his own sense of justice, despite knowing the difference between good and bad people that he himself gave in the last chapter. But that doesn't stop the inhabitant from being Marley's. In my country it is a crime not to call the police if you witness a criminal act, because you would be considered an accomplice by not helping: are Marley's inhabitants accomplices?
Combat, strategy and Porco
The most striking thing for several, I imagine, was the combat between the Titans of Attack and the War Hammer, and yes, in fact it was very exquisite. Eren broke with the canons of the shonen, like the Android 17, by attacking in full transformation, which I liked because it gives realism: would you expect your opponent to have the maximum of his power to finish it? So we see that you don't fight for honor, but for revenge or power. Although it seems that there was no strategy, since Eren had already planned the arrival of the Ackermans and the troops for the elimination of the Marleyan soldiers. They seem to be fortuitous things, but they are not, only that we were not shown the drawn plan, because now we are seeing a different perspective, another focus that birlla different.
At the end of the chapter Porco arrives to finish with Eren, but he is saved by Levi and here the Titan Jaw thinks: Why am I losing, I am not supposed to be a titan and they are human? Let's look at the over-importance given to the titans, that shows. Despair, poor Porco.
Extra note on the opening
After this chapter I can say that. The change of opening to another tone and a visual very different from the usual. Let's remember that they used to have an epic tone, and this was fine for those chapters because there was a marked difference between hero and villain, we knew who were the good guys and who were the bad guys. And the epic goes with the heroic, at least it has since the Homeric odes. That touch is now lost, there are no longer heroes, there are people with their good and bad sides, an opening with epic tints would no longer correspond, since the plot no longer goes in those directions, now it is more tragic-traumatic, and the new entrance theme reflects that, the tragic with the visual, the traumatic with the musical. That's what I realized with the chapter, it's enough to make a quick memory of the first season to this one and we will realize this.
I didn't think it would be much text, if they are here: thanks for reading. Next week it seems that we will say goodbye to Lara, who, although she had little participation, I liked her design and her concealment. In the chat an "F" for the fallen please.
