Attack on Titan Episode 59 (Final) Review: Beyond the Walls

I can’t believe that this was the final episode for this season. The series has taken such a huge turn after reaching the renowned basement and discovering what’s ‘beyond the walls’. It made our characters realize that the cost of freedom is much more horrific than what they initially expected.

Japanese Original Episode Title: 壁の向こう側

Plot

After the meeting held between the Scouts, Historia, and the government officials, Historia decides that the people within the walls must get their memories back by being told the truth about the Titans which had been kept secret for 100 years and that the breaching of the wall by Titans was the beginning of a planned invasion by the state of Marley. This information is met with mixed reactions among the population, something that was to be expected. Before the funeral to honor their fallen comrades and before the Scouts’ medal ceremony took place, Hitch approaches the Scouts and Floch tells her what a great hero Marlo was. He also starts questioning the fact that Armin was given the serum instead of Commander Erwin, a controversial decision even among the survivors. As Historia presents the nine survivors with their medals, Eren touches her hand, and immediately remembers memories of the Fritz royal family, indicating once again that there is a connection through Titan blood. Within a year after the attack on Trost District, the Titans inside Wall Maria have been eradicated and the inhabitants return to their hometowns to rebuild. Six years after the fall of Wall Maria, the Survey Corps begin expeditions outside the wall. As they are trying to find the Wall were the executions were taking place, they discover a Titan unable to move because of its small arms and legs and realize that they must be close to the point where Eldians are turned into Titans by Marley. Riding further on, they finally arrive at the wall where Grisha became a Titan, and for the first time they witness the ocean. They joyfully play in the water, but Eren realizes that across the sea they will only find enemies instead of the freedom he has been seeking.

Episode Highlights

The beach special episode that we all deserved: This has been the most precious moment in the show’s entirety. Mikasa’s smiling face as well as Armin’s tears of joy were so beautifully presented that it just felt so… fulfilling. Hange acting like her old self and getting excited over the sea creatures she witnesses as well as Levi being the only one acting as a cool adult by saying ‘Don’t touch that, it might be poisonous.’ Never change Levi, please never change. Of course, Eren is the absolute buzzkill in this scene, but for the first time in forever he actually has a good reason for it.

Eren’s character development: The way he matures throughout the show is just incredible. He realizes more than everyone that their world might have gotten a bit bigger but the price of their freedom has changed significantly. His life goal so far was to kill every living Titan, and now that the Paradis Island has been cleansed, he finds no freedom. And even though he is closer than ever before, it seems like he will never truly be free. So despite him being chuuni and growing his hair (and maybe eyebrows?) Eren is not the annoying little brat that he used to be. He is not screaming around how he will kill the Titans but he is thinking of freeing all the Eldians in order to achieve freedom not only for him but for all his people.

Themes & Trivia

Information Available for Public Disclosure

Intent for the Future: ‘It is evident that the world perceives us as a “race of devils”. The people of our world wish to eradicate us “Subjects of Ymir”. However, we must not simply wait for our extermination to come about. As long as we live, we must strive to ensure our survival and our efforts to prevail must never cease. However, it is a display of power enough to frighten the world our only method of doing so? Is there no other option than flaunting the very power we possess, the Power of the Titans that makes the world believe we are devils? Is it delusional to think we could all sit around the same table and talk? I want to think it’s possible, even if it seems like an idealistic view. I believe coming up with a better way is my duty, and so I must never turn away from thinking about it.’

The fourth season will be the last one: The next season of Attack on Titan will be the final and it will come out in Fall 2020. You can see a small teaser for it here.

Comments

That poor crawling Titan. If you noticed in his crawling path there were small sprouts of plants and trees growing behind him, so that means that it must have taken literally ages, for him to go that far. This is just so sad.

‘If we kill all our enemies over there, will we finally be free?’

Something is telling me that the next season of Attack on Titan will be very different from what we were used to so far. There will be a war between the races and there will definitely be a massacre (judging from the ending credits). Waiting for more than a year for the next season to come out will be a very challenging task for everyone. Until then, SUSUME!