Attack on Titan Episode 29 Review: Soldier

Oh my! Episode 29 of Attack on Titan was super intense. We didn’t really get a lot of information as to what exactly is happening but it really made you feel the tension of the guys who were trapped and assaulted by the Titans. And needless to say about Ymir. I CALLED IT.

Japanese Title: Heishi (兵士)

Plot

At Castle Utgard, two hours before the attack, the seniors and the 104th Trainees of Survey Corps are trying to rest while Krista asks questions like: ‘How can there be Titans if the Walls are not breached?’ ‘Where are the Titans invading from?’ Meanwhile, Connie mentions what happened to his village and that he encountered a Titan that thought he resembled his mother but Ymir is mocking him and plays it off.

Later, we see Ymir trying to find something to eat from the things that were probably left in the Castle by bandits, and Reiner becomes suspicious of her when he realizes that she can read the unknown language that is written on the can. Titans appear and start attacking the castle. The seniors that have fighting equipment try to hold them off while the trainees go to barricade the lower levels before they get breached by the smaller Titans.

There we see Reiner trying to be all heroic and runs off by himself to barricade the doors while he is being attacked by, what else, a Titan. Bertolt comes to the rescue and helps him out along with everyone else. After everyone succeeds in holding the Titans from entering the castle and after clearing the area, the ‘Ape Titan’ throws huge chunks of Wall Rose at the Castle killing Lynne, Henning, and all the horses.

Another wave of Titans closes in the Castle and unfortunately, Nanaba and Gelgar run out of blades and gas and end up being brutally devoured by them. Connie, Reiner, Bertolt, Ymir, and Krista are left trapped and unarmed at the top of the tower and then suddenly Ymir asks for Connie’s knife, jumps off the tower, and to everyone’s surprise, transforms into a Titan.

Episode Highlights

Titans went loco and strategic: At the beginning of the episode, we see that the Titans are kind of losing it (not that they were ever sane) with one of them jumping on another one and tearing his ear off to eat it. Lovely brutality as always… Later on the episode, even the characters realize that the Titans are no longer just roaming around but come in waves like it’s part of a strategy. The ‘Ape Titan’ is probably controlling them.

Love Triangle: Krista tears off a part of her skirt in order to treat Reiner’s wound and he goes silently crazy by thinking: ‘Got to marry her!’ This is the second time this is happening in the show. In Episode 18, Reiner, Jean, and Armin went crazy when she brought the horses to them and were all mesmerized by her beauty. Ymir acts all jealous and says to Krista that her hand got a bit scrapped up and needs treatment too. Some love triangle action happening right there.

Is Ymir the Titan from Reiner’s backstory? When Reiner is having a flashback we see someone close to him, maybe family or friend being devoured by a Titan, and that small Titan resembles greatly the Titan that Ymir turns into. If you can’t really tell by the last scene, check out the preview of the next episode to see what I am talking about. I am really looking forward to seeing how Reiner will react to this.

Ymir & Krista’s promise: In the last scene of the episode we are hinted about a promise they made a long time ago on a snowy mountain. I think their backstory will finally shed some light as to what the hell is happening. Ymir’s words were really inspirational. I really liked it.

I have no right to tell you how to live your life. So actually, this is nothing more than a hope of mine. I want you to live a life that you are proud of.

Themes & Trivia

Did you know that Ymir and Krista are a couple? Apparently, the producer of the show, George Wada, confirmed that they are indeed a couple and all these things that Ymir is saying throughout the show are not just hints. The more you know, I guess!

Homosexuality in anime: In anime, the main genres that have to do with homosexuality are yaoi which represents same-sex male relationships, and yuri that focuses on relationships between women. It is very rare to see actual same-sex relationships in anime without it being kind of a comic relief, part of a romantic comedy, or just some sort of fan service. Shows like Sailor Moon, Revolutionary Girl Utena, and Cardcaptor Sakura have shown similar same-sex relationships as Ymir and Krista’s, while shows like One-Punch Man, Black Butler, and Ouran High School Host Club portray it in a more comedic way. The latter is usually the way it’s been shown in anime cause homosexuality is considered a taboo in Japan.

Comments

In this episode, I realized that in the beginning of the ending credits we see a picture of a small blonde girl interacting with a beast. It might look like Beauty & the Beast at first and the Beast looks more like a Satyr, but it is reasonable to assume that it portrays a Titan and that the girl probably portrays Krista. This made me think that probably Krista or her family made a promise with the Titans in the past or something like that, but I am just taking a wild guess here guys.

My suspicions are still there about Reiner and with Bertolt saying all that ‘He was more of a warrior in the past.’ I am almost sure that he is a Titan as well. Anyways, we will learn really soon. If you want to know what my thoughts are on this, you can read my previous review of Attack on Titan’s Episode 28.

Other than that, this episode did a really good job in making you actually feel how dystopian the world of Attack on Titan is and how terrifying are the man-eating giants who are stalking humanity. The elements of fighting and loss during the battle were seriously great. Way to go Attack on Titan!

Who exactly is Krista Lenz?

We have been hinted enough about how much of an important character Krista. I want to believe that soon we will be given more information about her backstory and the whole promise that she made with Ymir. I am also looking forward to seeing Eren and the rest kicking some ass at Castle Utgard if they ever make it in time!

What are your thoughts on Ymir being a Titan? How do you think this is all connected with the story? Let us know what you think and as I always say, keep away from the SPOILERS! As always, here are all our reviews for Spring 2017 and our impressions for (nearly) all the first episodes of the season!

NEXT TIME: Historia (ヒストリア)

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