♪ Opening Song ♪
Hey!
You get back here!
[KIDS laughing]
[JEAN] Nice "palace."
[CHRISTA] Don't you run from me!
[ARMIN] Yeah, she's not exactly regal.
Well, it's only been two months since she was crowned.
But it seems like she'd rather run an orphanage
than a kingdom.
Have you heard the new name the people came up with for her?
They call her the Cattle-Farming Goddess.
I think it's a term of endearment.
It's hardly the first time she's been called goddess.
You know, if this keeps up,
I bet everyone'll forget all about the chump
who plugged up the wall in Trost.
This is part of why Historia agreed to become Queen
in the first place.
So she could do all this.
Do what?
[EREN] She went from the underground
to the edge of the walls
and saved all the orphans and needy she could find.
She even got the captain into it,
since he grew up underground.
When she sees someone crying
and saying that no one needs them,
she has to prove them wrong.
She told me that she needs them to be okay.
Slacking off again, huh?
[ARMIN] Uh...
It's getting dark, you know!
Power changed her.
She reminds me of my mother now.
Gods can be cruel.
[CHRISTA] So you're practicing hardening.
I hear it's going well.
It is.
But we need to hurry. Before they come back.
What would you do?
If you found Reiner and Bertholdt
and had to face them again?
I guess I'd have to kill them. No choice.
[CHRISTA] I hope we find out soon.
About this world and how it became like this.
After all that we've done,
I don't wanna end up with any regrets.
[KIDS laughing]
[CHRISTA] Even the kids from the underground
have been smiling lately.
I refuse to think that this was the wrong choice.
Yeah. You're doing good things here.
I wasn't--
Which is funny, considering how you said
that humanity should get wiped out.
Oh, come on! I got carried away!
What is it?
[MIKASA] Gimme those.
[EREN] Hey!
You need to rest between experiments.
[CHRISTA] That's true. Sorry, Mikasa.
[EREN] Hey, stop treating me like a feeble old man, will ya?
[ARMIN] As part of the coup de tat,
the military had to purge people of considerable talent
from its ranks.
But discoveries such as the glowing ore
in the underground cavern counteracted these losses.
Also, thanks to Eren's hardening ability,
a powerful new anti-Titan weapon was invented.
[SOLDIER 48A] That's it.
Jam your big head in here.
Do it now!
[HANGE] Ooh!
That hit right at the nape of its neck!
This could be it!
[BOTH gasp]
We did it! That's a 12-meter we crushed!
It worked.
Hell yeah!
With this baby, we can kill Titans
without putting any soldiers at risk!
We'll hack down those bastards all day and night!
Say hello to the Executioner from Hell!
We did it, Eren!
Eren?
It looks like he must've overused his Titan abilities.
He's been doing hardening experiments for days.
I'm sorry, Eren.
No, there's nothing to apologize for.
We can't slow down just 'cause we're tired, right?
I'm fine.
Let's just make these weapons quickly,
and then go to Shiganshina.
That's great! We can win!
With weapons like that,
killing Titans'll be easy as breathing!
You're so damn excitable.
You should know better than to be this pumped
about joining the scouts.
That reminds me.
Didn't Hitch try to convince you to stay an MP?
Wait, Hitch? How come?
Because she's a thirsty girl,
and she thinks you're a tall glass of water.
Can't say I follow,
but Hitch did tell me off before,
saying I wasn't cut out to be a real soldier.
She told me I should "stop acting cool"
and just coast along in life.
I had thought she was better than that.
So I told her I was wrong about her.
Asshole.
[ARMIN] Are you that dumb, Marlo?
No brain under that bowl cut.
[EREN] Calm down. He didn't say anything wrong.
Well, anyway,
you should notice that the only people as excited as you
are the new recruits with no real battle experience.
Gimme a break.
Ya think you're some kinda hardened veteran now?
I know I am, compared to you at least.
[FLOCH] That's rude.
We were in the 104th, same as you.
N' besides, we're not the only ones excited.
Everyone in the walls is.
We're taking Wall Maria back! We're finally winning!
You think so?
Well, you guys do seem a little different now.
There's something about your faces.
What exactly happened?
Wanna know?
No. I'll ask some other time.
[CONNY] I'm out. See ya later.
Huh? Now?
Tomorrow's s'posed to be a prep day,
so I'm planning to head to my village in the morning.
There's a chance I might find somethin' new there.
Good night.
Think we could turn Conny's Mom back to normal someday?
I mean, it's not impossible, is it?
Well, if our knowledge about Titans continues to improve,
then yeah, maybe.
[EREN] You're telling us that Titans are people?
[LEVI] It's just a theory, but it's possible.
[YMIR] Oh, about 60 years.
Hell on earth.
Every day was like waking up into a nightmare.
Like a nightmare.
[ARMIN] Hm?
So much has happened that I haven't had time to question it.
But who do you guys think that it is we're fighting against?
The thing is, I've always hated the Titans.
But what if they're just people
being tormented by some nightmare?
For a time at least, I was one of them myself.
Eren!
[gasps]
[MIKASA] You still have bread and soup left.
You shouldn't be talking until you've finished your meal.
Got it.
You're right. Sorry.
[JEAN] Get it together, Eren.
Enough with the sad mumbling, already.
It's all you do these days.
You know what you should be focusing on?
That guy you saw.
From the memories you were given,
when Reiss and Historia touched you.
You said you saw a Scout that must've known your dad, right?
Yeah.
I think he might've been with my dad when the wall fell.
If he's alive, he'll know something.
He seemed so familiar.
I can't shake the feeling that I've met him somewhere.
Do you mean he seemed familiar to you?
Or just your dad?
Me, I think.
It might help to smack yourself in the head.
Yeah, you should try that out.
You know what else might be helpful?
If instead of holdin' hands with Historia,
ya got a head-butt from the Commandant.
If that'd help me remember, I'd--
Hey, wait.
[ALL gasp]
That's who I saw with my dad.
It's Commandant Sadies.
[HANGE] Sadies was the 12th Commander
of the Scout Regiment.
And Commander Erwin's predecessor.
It's been a long while since I've seen him.
[EREN] Commandant Sadies.
What's the matter, Braus? Not gonna sit?
No! I'm quite fine standing here, sir!
Let's see.
If I recall, back in the day, I'd call you in here a lot,
when I was about to chew you out.
It's only been a handful of months.
And yet, I barely recognize you kids.
So Commander Sadies-- Or wait, Commandant now.
We should be prepping to recapture Wall Maria.
But tell me:
Why do you suppose we came to speak with you instead?
Eren.
You look like your mother in almost every way.
However, the daggers I see within your eyes...
...those are your father's.
Tell me about him!
Tell me everything you know!
don't know much at all.
Not in the grand scheme of things.
That said, I'll tell you a story
that's of no value whatsoever to humanity.
The story of my past, as nothing but a bystander.
[KEITH] Twenty years ago, near Wall Maria,
I found him standing outside of the gate to Shiganshina.
Hey, what are you doing?
How the hell did you get here?
Did you climb down the wall somehow?
Wait, why would any of you venture outside the walls?
Don't tell me you're trying to fight those things.
[KEITH] Huh?
[KEITH] Was it the truth or a lie?
He said he couldn't remember why he was outside the walls.
All of his memories had been lost.
Everything aside from his name.
Grisha Jaeger.
[HANNES] Who knew it was a crime
to go into Titan territory without permission?
I bet he's the first guy who's tried it.
I mean, I always thought that only you Scouts
were dumb enough to go out there.
[KEITH] Something tells me there's also a law
that jails idiots who drink on duty.
Eh, Hannes?
Ugh. Anyway, it's not like he actually hurt anybody.
So let's just keep it to ourselves, yeah?
Yeah.
[KEITH] So, Grisha.
Do you have any idea where you'll go from here?
Maybe I can help.
There is one thing I remember aside from my name.
I was a doctor.
Introduce me to a hospital.
I should be able to help there.
Huh.
[GRISHA] Also, do you think you could teach me?
About this world, I mean.
And about the Scouts, too.
About everything inside the walls.
[KEITH] He truly appeared to know nothing at all.
Not about this world. Not about anything.
I see.
Although there's inequality,
life in the walls is largely peaceful.
And if nothing else,
you aren't living in constant fear of the Titans.
That's good.
[KEITH] You think so, do ya?
That means you're just like the rest.
[GRISHA] Huh?
We're trapped inside these walls.
But as long as there's plenty of food and alcohol to go around,
most people are just fine with that.
In their whole lives, they'll never question
how wide the world might be.
Is that why you risk your life to venture outside the walls?
To see how wide the world is?
That's right. Does it seem foolish?
No, quite the opposite.
The Scouts are wiser and braver than anyone else
living within the walls.
Their very existence is living proof
that the imagination and soul of mankind are still free.
That's what you think? Seriously?
Yes.
[CARLA] What's this, Keith?
Huh?
You better not be recruiting for the Scouts again.
No. Not this time, Carla. I was just--
[GRISHA] Oh, no.
I'm not really suited for that kind of work.
It takes someone special to become a Scout.
You have to be a chosen one.
That's one way to put it.
[KEITH] I was a chosen one.
That was the first time anyone had told me that.
But I knew that those walls were far too cramped for me.
[KEITH yells]
So this expedition failed as well.
[OFFICER 48B] When will you finish the base
outside the wall?
[KEITH] If only I was commander...
I could show results.
As idiotic as these people are,
I'd accomplish so much that even they'd understand.
And then everyone would have to acknowledge me.
[KEITH] Grisha!
Carla caught the plague that's going around.
They say there's no cure, but--
[GRISHA] Put her in the rear bed.
Please, Dr. Jaeger.
My mom and dad, they've gotten sick, too.
Not to worry. I'll help everyone.
[HANNES] Doctor! It's a miracle!
My wife is well again!
[CARLA] Dr. Jaeger. Thank you so much!
[CITIZEN 48A] Way to go! You'll do great!
[OFFICER 48A] You're hereby appointed Commander
of the Scout Regiment.
[CITIZEN 48D] Congratulations!
[applause]
[CITIZEN 48B] Congratulations, Dr. Jaeger!
[SOLDIER 48C] Shit! Our base!
[TITAN 48A roars]
It's no use! We need to retreat! Commander!
[CITIZEN 48C] The moron keeps leading his men
straight into death.
Yet he's the only one who always lives.
[CITIZEN 48B] That's not quite true.
I hear no one on Erwin's squad has died yet.
[CITIZEN 48D] Then maybe he should be Commander.
[KEITH] Someone special.
A chosen one.
[CARLA] Keith?
[gasps]
Carla. Who's the kid?
[CARLA] Eren. Our baby boy.
I guess the news never made it your way.
My husband worries about you.
Yeah. I'm sorry.
Are you planning to keep this up until you get yourself killed?
[gasps]
I think it's time.
Do you wanna know why most people live and die
without accomplishing a single damn thing?
It's because they've lost their imaginations!
They'll complacently waste their entire lives,
unashamed of the fact that all they'll ever add
to the world is shit!
Such people are little more than cattle!
They can't even comprehend greatness!
Not even when it's right in front of them!
So a girl who flirts with every man in sight,
one who's good for absolutely nothing
aside from keeping people's drinks full...
...could never--
[KEITH] It's true.
Normal people can't accomplish a thing.
Hey, Erwin. I want you to take my command.
[KEITH] Special people do exist.
All this means... is that I was never one of them.
It's such an obvious fact,
so why couldn't I see it?
[CITIZEN 48E] Wall Maria has fallen!
Shiganshina District was demolished!
They're gonna come for Trost next!
[PEOPLE screaming]
[GRISHA] Keith!
[KEITH gasps]
[KEITH] Oh, yeah. That's why.
It's 'cause of what you said.
[GRISHA] Eren.
Wake up, Eren.
Why wasn't your mother with you?
I'm sorry.
Mom was trapped, and a Titan came.
[EREN] It ate her.
[GRISHA] Eren.
You'll avenge her. You must.
I know that you can.
Let's go.
Hold on. Where are you going?
[GRISHA] Please don't follow us.
Grisha, why not avenge Carla yourself?
I know you could do it.
All this time, you were the one who was special.
I know that I never was.
But what if that boy is the same as me?
What if he isn't a chosen one either?
Is... Eren next? Will you curse him too now?
This child isn't like you, Keith.
Eren is my son.
Please don't get involved. This is a family affair.
[KEITH] That light.
[KEITH] After I found you,
I carried your unconscious body back to the shelter... and left.
[KEITH] And that is everything I know.
So that's it. I see.
At least now I know the real reason you chose to resign.
Not to atone for all the soldiers you got killed,
but because you realized that you're not a special snowflake.
Just a delusional, self-centered child.
Lay off him, Hange.
You had no right to keep all of this to yourself,
just to spare your own ego.
We pledged to give our lives and our hearts
for the good of mankind!
Please, let it go, Commander.
The Commandant was right.
Just like him, I was never special.
Looks like... I was just the son of a man who was.
That's all there is to it.
After I yelled at her, this is what your mother said back.
Why should anyone have to be special?
[gasps]
That just isn't the way I like to look at things.
And when it comes to my child,
I don't care if he grows up to be great.
My son doesn't have to be better than anyone.
[CARLA] After all, just look at him.
He's so cute.
I think Eren's special enough already.
For no other reason than that he was born into this world.
[KEITH] And you, just like your father wanted...
...chose to set your life ablaze,
and let it burn to ashes outside the walls.
[KEITH] I tried, but in the end, it all came to nothing.
I couldn't change a thing.
[KEITH] I'm merely a bystander.
[NARRATOR] The night before leaving for Shiganshina,
their sights set on the world beyond the walls,
with hope and fear in their hearts,
they pray for humanity's future.
Next episode: "Night of the Battle to Retake the Wall."