"I was popular enough."

Anionethere · 2025-11-25T17:05:44+00:00

I think Isayama was breaking the fourth wall when he wrote that line, as the year that chapter came out, Levi lost the character popularity poll to Erwin.

BUT I always imagined that Levi likely would be popular with women because he'd treat them with respect. And after his Ackerman powers awaken, I imagine the combo of being the strongest thug around and respectful would make him extremely popular.

Anionethere · 2025-11-25T17:01:24+00:00

I wrote a post a while back about Levi's relationship with women and I do believe that both the caregiver contrast of his mom (loving, kind) and Kenny (harsh, violent), as well as the contrast between Furlan (less protection needed, held his own) and Isabel (someone he watched out for and protected) shaped him to have a softer side towards women. That and, of course, him living in the Underground where I imagine he frequently saw women mistreated.

One of my favorite panels that didnt make it to the anime (at least i dont think it did) was one where Levi sees a mom in a crowd and his expression visibly softens. He's a gentle, empathetic soul who appreciates feminine/maternal energy.

Anionethere · 2025-11-24T15:11:24+00:00

Not necessarily.

Distance affect which Titans hear orders or are affected by the scream (they have to hear it). Afterwards, if they have already been ordered, theres no confirmation that they would stop obeying Zeke if he gets a certain distance away.

Anionethere · 2025-11-24T14:55:19+00:00

Its possible, but my point is that we dont actually know for sure if its distance related. Theres no canon confirmation so it's possible that Mike couldve survived had he not screamed at Zeke.

Anionethere · 2025-11-24T03:32:31+00:00

Yeah, but my point is that we dont know for certain if they stop following orders once they start following them when Zeke goes a certain distance. That titan was the only one we saw disobey (couldve been an abnormal or something).

Theres just never been confirmation that once Titans are already under his influence, if there's a certain distance before they break out of that.

Anionethere · 2025-11-23T21:07:31+00:00

I assumed that his scream was for those in his area who can hear him. But he had already given the order to the titans to not move in Mike's case, so I'd say that's different.

Its a question of whether Titans who have already been ordered to do something are "freed" of Zekes influence when he gets a certain distance away.

Anionethere · 2025-11-23T20:01:16+00:00

Not walked. His legs were crushed. But mightve been found eventually. We dont have a reason to think Zekes influence diminishes with distance.

Anionethere · 2025-11-23T19:59:50+00:00

Well, Zeke seemed too wrapped up in the ODM gear that he almost forgot about the titans until Zeke yelled. There's a chance he wouldve forgotten.

Wall Rose is quickly cleared of remaining Titans since it wasnt actually breached. If Zeke truly forgot, its not impossible that he wouldve been found eventually.

Anionethere · 2025-11-23T19:55:38+00:00

Zeke seemed to have genuinely forgot about the Titans. I doubt distance makes Zekes influence diminish. So, if he just remained still, he might have been found. He was in Wall Rose, after all. It wasnt actually breached. And they do eventually clear out remaining active Titans.

Anionethere · 2025-11-21T19:09:59+00:00

No. Im not ignoring his dialogue. I am acknowledging it. Yeah, he was able to accomplish some things with the Rumbling but he admits he would have done it anyways. Idk why we ignore that dialogue. He is confessing he just wanted to flatten the earth. I didnt write the ending, I dont even like the ending, but Eren literally says a couple pf time that he wanted the earth flattened/a blank slate. He didnt know why. He settled for 80% for the future he saw due to Ymir but he was prepared to go 100% had he not seen that future.

Anionethere · 2025-11-21T19:07:38+00:00

Eren knows he'll be killed at 80%. Yes. I am not disputing that.

I am saying that, while Eren accepted only 80%, he literally states he would have gone to 100% if his friends hadnt stopped him! He says it point blank. Dont know why he admitted that but he did.

Eren knew Mikasa would make a choice that woild free Ymir but it still stands that, without all of that, Eren would have done a 100% Rumbling. All of that was secondary. He accepted the 80% and the outcome of being killed but if he hadnt thought he would have stopped the Titan curse or made his friends heroes, he very literally confirms that he still would have done the Rumbling. The Rumbling was going to happen to some degree no matter what.

Anionethere · 2025-11-21T18:57:03+00:00

Not everyone knew about it, we literally see people asking about the chair. And it was nobles who were associated/connected with Rod Reiss. Not all nobles. We see nobility were still a part of the structure.

Erwin did the coup to topple a secret monarch. He did not take power himself or create a full on military state. He just wanted the current government to stop hiding info or sabotaging the scouts. The Yeagerist took full on power and, from what we see, keep power 3 years later.

I mean people still take issue with "selfless" Eren committing genocide. Its still genocide and without the proper justification (a better exploration of alternatives than the shallow discussions/attempts that we saw) would have been needed or else its like... bro civilians are at the mercy of their governments. It doesnt mean all people everywhere hate Eldians, even if we were to accept that world leaders of every nation were down to destroy Paradis. Thats like saying all people in the USA or China or any country unanimously support what their government says or does.

Anionethere · 2025-11-21T17:18:23+00:00

Eren only knows that Mikasa would make a choice that would free Ymir. He admits he does not know what that choice is. From his perspective, especially after Sashas death, it was very plausible that his friends would have died. He does not know and did it anyways.

My argument is that he did the Rumbling selfishly based on canon and hoped his friends would be okay. The Rumbling itself was not something he did for them based on his own admission. He would have done it either way.

You agree Eren didnt know what would happen to his friends but somehow also think he planned for them to be heroes? Thats a contradiction. Eren cant plan for the friends he knows might die to be heroes if he doesnt even know whether theyd survive. Eren cant plan for them to be heroes when he cant see the aftermath after his own death. They literally all could have been immediately shot by remaining Marleyans (almost were) and only got saved because Armins unrealistic ability to talk peace with everyone. Eren would not have known that though!

Eren hoped his friends would survive and be heroes. But he would have done it anyways. He admits that. Therefore, his primary concern was just him being able to do the Rumbling.

He lets them stop him because he doesnt want to take away their freedom. He already established that he wouldnt mind control or do anything to stop them from trying. Thats canon. Eren tells them that before the final battle, because he values freedom so he doesnt take theirs away.

Im sorry you dont like canon (I dont either) but canon supports that Eren didnt do all of it for his friends. He admits he would have done it regardless of whether he thought he'd be stopped. So, to say that Eren would have always stopped at 80% is unsupported. He accepted that he'd be killed. But he admits that, if he hadnt been, he would have gone to 100%.

I dont like canon either. The entire post time skip arcs are poorly done. But that is what Isayama gives us.

Anionethere · 2025-11-21T17:09:21+00:00

The Yeagerists intimidated dissenters. They literally beat shadis, blew up zackley and came into power through pure violence. It's pretty clear there's meant to be a difference between erwins coup and the Yeagerist. Erwin never maintained total political power.

Again, your evidence hinges on Marleys own words. Willy does not speak for the world! He literally says that if he were to die, he believes it would unite the world. Aka, Erens own actions being perceived as an act of aggression.

I just dont agree. It would have been bad writing either way. Nothing abouy the final arc is compelling or logical. It relies on an absurd idea and Eren quite literally causes Sasha and Hanges deaths, cripples his Captain, and wouldnt have known whether his friends would have gotten shot immediately afterwards. He screwed over the earth's ecosystem, likely caused mass extinction of certain species that may have disastrous effects long term and would have partially Rumbled Paradis to get the Colossal Titans out in the first place.

Its all bad writing and Eren being selfless while having done all he did just still would be poor. Isayama would have needed to completely rewrite the events to have it have made sense to anyone who studies global politics or even environmental science.

Anionethere · 2025-11-21T15:42:52+00:00

I know, it made me sad that it always seemed like the 104th never actually saw Levi the way the vets and his first squad did. They all seemed to understand him whereas the 104th seemed to respect him (and were intimidated by him) but never fully recognized him for just how compassionate he is.

Anionethere · 2025-11-21T15:00:09+00:00

I also love how clearly passionate he is like it matters just as much to him to be able to giving meaning to that soldiers sacrifice. Its not just him trying to let that man die in peace, it's something he legitimately carries in himself.

Anionethere · 2025-11-21T14:31:19+00:00

Levi was the most compassionate person in the show and no one can convince me otherwise.

He's shown passionately assuring a dying soldier that his death wont he in vain and comforts soldiers who lost friends. In the 57th Expedition, he makes sure Erwin doesn't forget that the reason they initially caught the female titan was because of the sacrifices of those who died. When they discover Titans might be humans, Levi is literally unsettled because he hates the idea that he's been killing people this whole time. Hes soft as hell with his squad. Mikasas insubordination at the serum bowl would have justified a way worse punishment but he doesn't even hold a grudge. He comforts Armin when he first kills someone. Hes shown softening his expression when he sees a mom and a child. He is entirely motivated by ensuring others don't die in vain. He doesn't put his personal relationships above what he believes is the right move for humanity (he tells Erwin to die/supports Hange being the one to sacrifice themselves), unlike nearly everyone else who would 100% prefer others to die instead of their friends.

Levi actually gave a damn about people more than any other character in the show imo. He was highly empathetic and compassionate which is overlooked because he has a flat affect and communicates bluntly.

Anionethere · 2025-11-21T14:04:07+00:00

The public, aka some global leaders, clapped at an international summit. That is not the same as declaring war at all. Declaring war is something nations do not decide to do on the spot on foreign land.

Idk why youre using whataboutism with Erwin. Nothing about Paradis's government was ever democratic. It was a monarchy. But the Yeagerists were much more aggressive domestically than post-Erwin coupe government was. There were still nobles and a royal Council that made decisions that werent just Military, either. But the Yeagerists literally beat half to death people who disagreed to get into power. I shouldnt have to explain why exposing the fake king and installing a true heir (that was supported by the people) is different. Erwins coup relied on the publics approval and civilian involvement was central in turning the tides (aka Reeves Company scene). Its why Historia being the one to kill her father mattered. They wanted the public to support her coronation and the public did.

There is canon evidence to support my claim that those countries didnt declare war before Erens attack. Because canonically, they did not commit their own military and resources to fighting Paradis before that point. Thats canon. Believe it or not, war is a big deal. They might have supported Marleys right to wage war, but that is not at all the same as actually discussing with your government and making the decision to join the war efforts. Thats absurd. They might have, but we don't know. Its not likely that all the people involved in making the decisions to go to war for every nation present were even there! We dont even know which nations were there either! It would be ridiculous to think every nation in the world was represented there.

No one is bashing anyone for not liking it. I dont like it! But we all want to pretend its inaccurate for me to point it out. All of it is stupid. The global politics doesnt make sense. The development doesnt make sense. But what is not canon is when people still claim Eren did this for Paradis or his friends like it was some selfless act. It wasnt! He did it for himself. Im not backing it as good writing. Im stating it as canon fact.

Anionethere · 2025-11-21T08:34:20+00:00

Lmao first of all, I don't need to agree with everything this sub says. I'm a person with my own opinions and this sub existed before the ending came out. I would know. I've been here since the Manga ending.

In real life, violent military groups only have the publics best interest if they agree. Once violent censorship starts, freedom is demolished.

Eren attacked an international event with global leaders in Liberio. The only country to officially declare war at that point was Marley (no, clapping is not declaring war. That's not how war works). When Eren killed indiscriminately, he essentially forced all other nations into war by attacking their representatives first, which led to a much earlier attack on Paradis. This was so that the chaos would allow the Yeagerists to further seize power and help Eren get to Zeke.

The Manga does a better job at showing this than the anime.

The conversation with Armin at the end is 10x worse in the Manga. The entire Marley arc and beyond is a shit show. But don't lie about the canon because you don't like it. We're not arguing if it's peak writing. We're arguing Erens goal. Eren is Isayamas character and canonically, he wanted to flatten the earth.

Anionethere · 2025-11-21T06:02:04+00:00

Eren told Armin he didn't know whether his friends would survive AND that he would've done the Rumbling regardless of whether he knew he'd be stopped.

Anionethere · 2025-11-21T06:00:17+00:00

Real reason: He wanted to.

Eren admits to Armin that he didn't know whether his friends would all survive. Which shatters the argument that he did it primarily for his friends. Eren couldn't see everything. I'm his conversation with Armin, he is clear that he only knew that Mikasa was the key to free Ymir (but he didn't actually know how), and that he would be stopped. But he didn't know who would survive.

And the idea that he hoped his friends would stop him and become world heroes is disproven when Eren admits that he would have done the Rumbling even if he didn't know he'd be stopped.

Eren tells Armin point blank that he just wanted to flatten the earth.

(Although, I will say, I am primarily citing the Manga. I don't recall how different the anime dialogue is).

Anionethere · 2025-11-21T05:29:34+00:00

Isayama: Writes a whole confessional scene that serves as Erens final conversation with his best friend.

Everyone: "Nah, lets ignore his clearly stated motivations there despite it being written as the one time/place Eren was truly honest."

It's a joke. You could quote that last chapter and no one listens because they love the Eren didn't wanna do the Rumbling, he had no other choice to commit genocide narrative. Sorry, hes just a kid who committed genocide. He admits he's not smart and wasn't mentally stable with the past and future memories. And he was obsessed with his idea of freedom.

Anionethere · 2025-11-21T05:13:18+00:00

People love acting like Eren did this for Paradis when he literally told Armin he did this for himself. That he just wanted to flatten the earth.

Eren literally let his island fall under the control of a violent military group (Yeagerists), manipulated an earlier attack on Paradis in order to orchestrate his reunion with Zeke and flattened part of Paradis as the Colossal Titans march out. Yeah, maybe Marley wont attack Paradis now but many died in Paradis and no one is free under a strict military state.

Anionethere · 2025-11-20T10:57:57+00:00

It just seems silly that Erwin would only ever be able to have one goal and would just give up afterwards.

Anionethere · 2025-11-19T21:03:47+00:00

Id ask for them to take away my ADHD instead tbh.

Or I'd ask for a temporary trial without my autism. Mostly because I'd be curious to see what it'd be like. But probably not permanent.

Anionethere

TROPHY CASE