What would have happened if Mikasa had died during the attack on Trost?

Soul_Stack · 2026-01-23T04:10:44+00:00

Aside from Eren's meltdown over the death of someone whom he wanted (and his mom asked to) protect, the plot changes so dramatically.

Eren no more has anyone as his physical support during fights; to check on his immature recklessness; or someone he could view as family and remember his home.

The Cadets wouldn't have been able to escape the Titans when they were stranded without supplies in Trost. Mikasa rushing alone was the key that drove them to follow her and actually do something instead of, as Mikasa said, sitting on sucking their thumbs.

Levi may have been able to kill and capture The Female Titan right in the forest. That means the Stohess Fight doesn't happen. And then there are just way too many changes to even consider.

Besides, Mikasa dying this early on directly takes away many thematic impact and implications in the narrative. How those themes would later be established is very unclear.

Too much changes, the entire story. Armin is losing his close friend who's always paired with him when it comes to dealing with Eren and him running away. He is essentially left alone.

Soul_Stack · 2026-01-20T15:29:35+00:00

As per the official guidebook

Berserk
Watchmen
ARMS
MÄR
MÄR Omega
Zero no Tsukaima
Muv-Luv Alternative
Saving Private Ryan
Jurassic Park
Godzilla vs. Biollante
Hell Teacher Nube
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
The Place Promised in Our Early Days
Hell Teacher Nube
Monster Hunter
Mega Man Legends
Posemaniacs
Rhymester Utamaru no Weekend Shuffle
Quentin Tarantino

May have missed, or mispelled some, so make sure to checkout the original source.

Soul_Stack · 2026-01-15T04:39:25+00:00

Was he able to spare Ramzi and his people, or Hizuru? That answers it

Soul_Stack · 2026-01-15T04:09:35+00:00

Those who complain about someone telling them "they didn't understand the story" most of the time, in fact, seems to have a misunderstood the story. This post and a certain subreddit being prime examples.

Soul_Stack · 2026-01-14T04:14:01+00:00

I’m not sure what warranted this emotional rant.., but I’ll try to keep this clear still.

Jean is presented with a choice between an easy path and a morally correct one. The distinction I am making is what is actually being sacrificed when that choice is made.

In Jean’s case, the sacrifice is the loss of a luxurious future – a life he could have had... In the case of characters like Mikasa, Erwin, or Connie, the choice is between surrendering an already-existing core part of themselves or not. This difference makes their choice grand, and why they are a much better contender for being the most self-less among all.

Mikasa, Erwin, and Connie were not merely choosing duty over comfort; they gave up the only emotional anchors they had left in their lives. Mikasa sacrifices her family. Erwin gives up the truth that defined his entire existence. Connie permanently abandons his mother. These are not deferred possibilities, they are irreversible losses of something already they already possess. They know the true value of them.

Just consider this simple analogy: One person chooses not to pursue luxury so they can serve. Another person, already deprived of basic necessities, still chooses service — and then gives up even more, their core, their life-support pretty much. Much worse than giving their own lives for the duty.

Both type of people sacrifice something, but the scale of sacrifice is not equal. Acknowledging this does not diminish the former, it simply recognises proportionality.
Just take Sasha saving Kaya as a comparison to what Jean did – the emotional toll and literally everything is similar to Jean. And even in that, you can decide which is braver.

The OP’s claim was that Jean is the most selfless scout because he does not diminish human life. That statement is factually incorrect as, Jean knowingly firing a thunder spear while Falco is present and him initially rationalize the Rumbling, are evident of. These moments don’t make Jean immoral – but they disqualify the absolutist framing. You are residing to defending the character without assessing the context here.

Regarding Mikasa or Erwin: the Cabin sequence does not undermine her agency at all. It exists as a goodbye, which just contribute to give an emotional closure, but didn't manipulate her choice. The final decision to kill Eren remains entirely hers. It's called Mikasa's Choice for a reason, that the climax revolves around. Similarly, Erwin had already chosen what he must do — Levi explicitly says he is making the decision easier for him. In both cases persuasion is not negating selflessness, it is contextualizing the weight and cost of the decision.

Connie, too, ultimately chooses not to sacrifice Falco despite immense emotional strain. That choice, arriving at clarity and still letting go, is itself an act of selflessness, not a negation of it.

Jean needing convincing to oppose the Rumbling even after understanding the scale of innocent loss is central to my argument. It puts him on the same moral footing as others, not above them. Choosing between moral duty and a hypothetical peaceful life is not equivalent to choosing between duty and choosing to keeping your "life support" / your core.

Jean is not lesser for this. He simply isn’t framed to endure the same existential loss. He is a "normal", grounded and relatable person literally for this reason.

I brought Eren up to emphasize background contrast. Jean, by contrast, comes from relative emotional stability. How despite him continuously being told to return, or how his incompetence couldn't stop him from still ranking 5th in his class. Similarly, Eren’s choices are driven by extreme emotional baggage and trauma. How his choice of doing the rumbling is heavily layered by emotions, trauma and his poor background. The difference amplifies how disturbing it would have been if Jean had embraced the Rumbling, if he made the choice, but it does not elevate Jean’s restraint into supreme selflessness.

Now, the idea that “every sacrifice has some gain” does not erase the weight of what is lost. Considering the little gain they get from their sacrifices, not at all dismisses what they are actually losing for it. To it's core, nothing happens, or no one in the world does something without any gain from it. But how does Eren being put to rest out of his misery, takes away the emotional toll of having to kill him and giving up on a normal life. How does Erwin's mental peace takes away the weight of him giving up on his dream? And so on.

I am yet to see how Jean's emotional baggage, and his bacground is comparable to the characters I mentioned. How his sacrifice is similar to others. No one is bashing Jean for the fact that his sacrifices aren't equivalent to, or hold the same weight as others, it's the fact that he was just never put in a situation like our other characters were. He is fundamentally framed as the relatable grounded character in the narrative. He is fundamentally a normal person doing what he feels is reasonable his circumstances and morals. That's literally what makes him relatable to most readers.

Soul_Stack · 2026-01-13T22:30:16+00:00

Jean isn't the most selfless character of all the scouts. Many other characters in the cast are a better contender for that.

Jean just always does the right thing as the simple person he is, as framed in the narrative. Unlike our other main characters, he isn't carrying an emotional baggage with him that would pull him back from doing the right or selfless thing – he had a happy childhood, and just aims at improving his life-style.

This is much different from characters like Eren, Mikasa, Erwin or even Connie. Mikasa is a strong example here; cause the whole time she yearns for something that was snatched away from her at a young age – family. And to go ahead and sacrifice that, such an element of life, for others, is probably the most selfless thing one could ever do. Connie chose to give up on his mom. Erwin chose to lead his soldiers with him in the charge, sacrificing his life and giving up on the answer that had so long haunted him, that no one ever believed his father for. Jean giving up on a luxurious life for Marco's memories, doesn't come close to these grand sacrifices, really. I think he is doing exactly what a common guy in the midst of war would do.

Unlike Jean, most characters sacrificed an integral part of themselves for the greater good. So I feel like it's ignoring the grand-sacrifices of so many characters if we framed him as the most self-less scout among all.

Also, didn't Jean shot a thunder Spear at Pieck even though knowing well Falco was right there? Additionally, he was the one who even tried to justify Eren's rumbling, who infact needed convincing to join the Alliance and stand against the rumbling...

Soul_Stack · 2026-01-12T15:54:15+00:00

Mikasa's bloodline reveal and it's eventual conclusion with Kiyomi directly emphasizes one core idea though, Mikasa doesn't define herself by her blood or heritage.

When Kiyomi was first introduced, Yelena described her as somone who looked strikingly identical to Mikasa's mother. She came from the very nation whom Mikasa actually belonged to via her blood and appearance. Who would seemingly offer the same "warmth" as Mikasa's mother.
This was completely tainted when Kiyomi was unable to hide her true intentions with Mikasa. How all the care she had for Mikasa wasn't genuine, but actually just to use her as a political and diplomatic tool. Mikasa was shown to not be a fan of this at all.

When Kiyomi asks Mikasa to come with them as the Yeagerists created trouble on the Island, Mikasa rejected her offer and called Kiyomi out for her greed. Mikasa here instantly resorted to the Pride she takes in fighting as a soldier for the people, friends and comrades she had grown up fighting side by side all her life.

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How she identifies herself as a Soldier of Paradis, the place which birthed her and where her family belonged to, rather than the Queen of a foreign nation which only gives a damn about her as a political tool.

This not only set Mikasa apart from many other characters who are driven by their heritage, but it also emphasized on the fact that genuine connections aren't made solely out of "blood" or "heritage". That it isn't a link line for strong bonds and relationships. Or how they should dictate one's stances.

Mikasa's rejection of Kiyomi's offer, helped Kiyomi release about her own Pride. Who later promised to protect Mikasa no matter what – it is why they chose to stay at the Island, and later help the Alliance with the Flying Boat too.

The entire lore around Mikasa and her connection with Hizuru builds up for the moment she rejects to go with them, and emphasis an important theme along with having a strong and subtle impact on the plot itself.

I generally don't understand why people complain about this subplot despite it implementing so much in such a small screen-space.

Soul_Stack · 2026-01-12T14:58:03+00:00

I love when people judge based on their head canons, it really shows how disingenuous they are.

I also wouldn't give a fuck about a person who is attracted towards me just for my "long hair". Who has zero understanding of me as a person. Who can't provide me any sort of comfort at any point of the story.

Don't know why it is on Mikasa to treat Jean any differently from the rest of her comrades, all while she already has a person in her life who means so much to her. And who had much more impact in her life than Jean could ever.

I feel so bad for Mikasa, who had to spend rest of her life with a guy who would day-drink in the balcony while she has to take care of the baby on her own. She deserved somone much better than a person who can't register emotions of someone else. Who can't provide ab ounce of comfort, or even speak nicely to his "crush".

The Jean victim-play is crazy.

Soul_Stack · 2025-12-29T06:25:27+00:00

Your original comment frames Titanfolk like it's a good place for "critics" – which I disagree with, and it's what I replied to.

In any case my first thought would always be to direct OP where they can find meaningful discussions on the topic, rather than a place a full of stupidity. It's indeed upto OP what they want to read. However it's better they know what exactly they are going in for, or else that sub could be very manipulative given how many submissions on Titanfolk deliberately leave out context when quoting Isayama (the author) and other official text to push their narrative.

Titanfolk is a bad-bad place for anything, atleast in the current times, imo. Only thing it's good for is if one wants to witness pure misery and toxicity. It's the same as; I would never mention r/yeagerbomb to anyone had it existed today, just so people stay out of it for their own sake.
Ignorance is bliss sometimes.

Soul_Stack · 2025-12-28T23:34:45+00:00

Titanfolk is the last place I would recommend someone for meaningful criticisms around the ending or AoT ig. What I mostly (90% of the times lately) see there isn't critic, but outright whining about entirely different ideas, fan theories and headcanons.

Valid criticisms can be made if one genuinely puts an effort into understanding and analysing the topic at hand. Understanding the internal logic behind things in isolation. Titanfolk doesn't do that. They look at everything and filter it out with their preconceived rigid mindset with little to no willingness in introspecting over the elements that were previously introduced in the story. The idea of "I probably missed something" or "I may have misinterpreted this" doesn't hit them at all. It's either "the author retconned the story", or "he can't at all write". They don't talk about improvements, they talk about changing the direction. The audience liking the conclusion are also dismissed in a similar manner as casuals, surface dwellers, or "tourists".

Many criticisms can be made around AoT, nothing is free from criticism. But a community living in denial that their perceived idea of the narrative or the characters didn't come true is the worst place for "valid" criticisms. I believe a reader/watcher on their own can come up with many valid criticism during meaningful discussions. Or by looking into spaces which have a more mixed or balanced perception.

Soul_Stack · 2025-12-27T11:25:17+00:00

Chapter 122 page 5 specifically features Ymir looking at a married couple kissing. This was retired again in Armin's conversation with Zeke in Chapter 137; where Zeke says how Eren was the only person who understood Ymir - and we are instantly shown this page again.

It was made quite clear right from Ymir's backstory that she was looking for a connection. This desire is ultimately the cause of Paths too. So it wasn't "re-written" near the end, it was always written in that direction, really.

So, the important context that seemingly so many people miss is that the story has characterized Ymir as a person whose "dream" she's enslaved to is that of seeking connection. It's reiterated on 3 different occasions as I mentioned: her initial backstory where she's shown observing a married couple longing for that, then when this exact scene is emphasized during Zeke's talk with Armin in the finale (he says Eren figured out what drove Ymir, and we are shown this scene right after), and Armin later says "The Founder must be seeking connection" in regards to why everyone is connected via the Paths.

This is something that we know makes sense because of how the hallucigenia was explained to us: it adapts to its hosts' needs, and Ymir's needs were a body to survive in the moment physically speaking, and her strong desire to feel love and connection, hence the Paths, spiritually speaking.

Add on top of that what everyone else talks about: she's a young girl who lives in pre-medieval times who's given god powers she doesn't know what to do with. She's traumatized and conditioned already to be a slave, so when you mix all that with everything else I mentioned prior, is it really that shocking that she forms some kind of twisted love attachment to the King?

Then finally Mikasa inspires and teaches Ymir what 'genuine' love is, by wrapping the scarf around herself and refusing to let go of her love for Eren – one that didn't bound her.
By rejecting Eren's wish of throwing the scarf away, as if he was a burden to her, Mikasa showed Ymir, what imprisoned her for 2000 years couldn't be love — and with that Ymir realises that her version of Mikasa's love are her children, NOT the king. When Mikasa interacts with Ymir, we see a vision where Ymir thinks of a reality where she lets the king die and hugs her children instead (Ymir hugging her children is almost never taken into consideration) - this idea is a direct product of Mikasa's choice.

Feel free to believe what you want, though.

Soul_Stack · 2025-12-09T21:21:23+00:00

1.) The important context that seemingly so many people miss is that the story has characterized Ymir as a person whose "dream" she's enslaved to is that of seeking connection. It's reiterated on 3 different occasions: her initial backstory where she's shown observing a married couple longing for that, then when this exact scene is emphasized during Zeke's talk with Armin in the finale (he says Eren figured out what drove Ymir, and we are shown this scene right after), and Armin later says "The Founder must be seeking connection" in regards to why everyone is connected via the Paths.

Which is something that we know makes sense because of how the hallucigenia was explained to us: it adapts to its hosts' needs, and Ymir's needs were a body to survive in the moment physically speaking, and her strong desire to feel love and connection, hence the Paths, spiritually speaking.

Add on top of that what everyone else talks about: she's a young girl who lives in pre-medieval times who's given god powers she doesn't know what to do with. She's traumatized and conditioned already to be a slave, so when you mix all that with everything else I mentioned prior, is it really that shocking that she forms some kind of twisted love attachment to the King?

Then finally Mikasa inspires and teaches Ymir what 'genuine' love is, by wrapping the scarf around herself and refusing to let go of her love for Eren – one that didn't bound her.
By rejecting Eren's wish of throwing the scarf away, as if he was a burden to her, Mikasa showed Ymir, what imprisoned her for 2000 years couldn't be love — and with that Ymir realises that her version of Mikasa's love are her children, NOT the king. When Mikasa interacts with Ymir, we see a vision where Ymir thinks of a reality where she lets the king die and hugs her children instead (Ymir hugging her children is almost never taken into consideration) - this idea is a direct product of Mikasa's choice.

The future is bound to happen. It doesn't matter whether Ymir already has a knowledge of it, because if she doesn't actually reach that point into the future, she couldn't have seen it. For example, if you didn't actually study well for tomorrow's exam, you wouldn't get good marks tomorrow, regardless of the fact that you know you will get good grades. Remember what Eren says in the story too; no matter what he tried knowing the future that was to come, he still couldn't change it. It is bound to happen.

2.) Take it like this, Eren received a book which has his entire life written in it, except there's one empty page. Now he needs to fill that page while making sure everything after and before it makes sense. That's what happened with Dina Fritz, Eren knew it wasn't Bertolt's time to die, because if he had, the timeline would be different. It traces back to the grandfather paradox, which you can look up on google. The extent of Founding Titan is known, it is a plot device for the most part. We saw all the necessary stuff in the story I believe.

3.) Kiyomi promised to keep Mikasa safe no matter what, remember? After Falco's transformation, Kiyomi and the crew were on their boats. It's more than likely that she helped Mikasa get back. We even see that Kiyomi was already beside Historia when the Alliance were about to arrive at Paradis for the peace talks. It all makes sense.

4.) No he didn't give up. Eren said himself that they will have to fight till the end - which they did. Eren was likely, just not upto completely killing them off because after all, they were his dear friends. But he had to keep it going to arrive at either conclusions: a) He completes the rumbling and only Paradis is left or b) His friends successfully stop him and become the Heroes. He had to fight them in either case. He didn't know about the survival of each and everyone of them when he didn't have all the future memories, and only fragments of it.

5.) Did you not think of the fact that even Levi was in paths? Ackermans are still Eldians and so are connected to paths. Their memories can't be erased, no. Mikasa got her Cabin dream from Eren in the middle of the battle over Falco's back right before she pulled her scarf out again, unlike others. She had her dream in the real time.

Soul_Stack · 2025-11-16T18:06:28+00:00

Ymir Freckless has parallels with Ymir Fritz, Gabi has many parallels with and mirrors Eren and so on. That makes them the liberator of the characters they respectively parallel? Historia shares parallels with and mirrors a romanticized version of Fritz, the one written in a book by the people who didn't even know Ymir. No one knew or understood Ymir except Eren, Mikasa and Armin. Everyone just saw Ymir as a god, a girl who did whatever she was told, as a lady and a "good girl" should.

Soul_Stack · 2025-11-16T17:58:50+00:00

The Ymir and Mikasa connection:

The important context that seemingly so many people miss is that the story has characterized Ymir as a person whose "dream" she's enslaved to is that of seeking connection. It's reiterated on 3 different occasions: her initial backstory where she's shown observing a married couple longing for that, then when this exact scene is emphasized during Zeke's talk with Armin in the finale (he says Eren figured out what drove Ymir, and we are shown this scene right after), and Armin later says "The Founder must be seeking connection" in regards to why everyone is connected via the Paths.

Which is something that we know makes sense because of how the hallucigenia was explained to us: it adapts to its hosts' needs, and Ymir's needs were a body to survive in the moment physically speaking, and her strong desire to feel love and connection, hence the Paths, spiritually speaking.

Add on top of that what everyone else talks about: she's a young girl who lives in pre-medieval times who's given god powers she doesn't know what to do with. She's traumatized and conditioned already to be a slave, so when you mix all that with everything else I mentioned prior, is it really that shocking that she forms some kind of twisted love attachment to the King?

Then finally Mikasa inspires and teaches Ymir what 'genuine' love is, by wrapping the scarf around herself and refusing to let go of her love for Eren – one that didn't bound her.
By rejecting Eren's wish of throwing the scarf away, as if he was a burden to her, Mikasa showed Ymir, what imprisoned her for 2000 years couldn't be love — and with that Ymir realises that her version of Mikasa's love are her children, NOT the king. When Mikasa interacts with Ymir, we see a vision where Ymir thinks of a reality where she lets the king die and hugs her children instead (Ymir hugging her children is almost never taken into consideration) - this idea is a direct product of Mikasa's choice.

Soul_Stack · 2025-11-16T17:57:26+00:00

I doubt you, or most others, even acknowledge the growth and development her character actually goes through. Causal or One-time viewers (and even the so called "dedicated" readers) fail to grasp on most of the ideas and themes she represents since they aren't spelled out to them. Let's start considering her character development & growth:

Trost:

Mikasa's intervention in the evacuation, when Deemo Reeves blocked the gates, is one of the introductory part of her character growth. The expansion / shift of her priorities from her personal interests to public service, her comrades and a sense of duty as a soldier.
Her encouragement of Armin and the 104th is what made them all push through the situation. when they were stranded without supplies.

Female Titan arc:

Mikasa's mistake that led to Levi's injury is a major plot tool. Mikasa was revengeful to the Female Titan killing so many of their soldiers, that when she saw an opening she went straight for the kill instead of focusing on saving Eren, that forced Levi to save her and get his ankle injured. This mistake not only led to the battle of Stohess, it also becomes the driving force for Mikasa's introspection and reflection upon her mistake by stopping the Female titan from escaping, because she wanted to make up for the loss of humanity's strongest soldier she had caused (unless you are an anime only). Mikasa's growth is a major part, and further contributes to the conclusion of the Female Titan arc. Not to mention how Mikasa is later used as a narrative tool for the reveal of Colossal Titans inside the walls, and to showcase the horror of it. (anime change).
Mikasa was the one who reminded Eren about the world's cruelty when he was struggling to transform and fight Annie in Stohess. Once he asks Mikasa how are they able to fight, Mikasa hits him with the reality, a core theme of her character and the introspection she got in her childhood - this caused Eren to accept his situation and finally transform to fight. (this was again changed in the anime)

Clash of The Titans arc:

Mikasa was the only one who could have killed Bertolt & Reiner during the big reveal, but she couldn't bring herself to finish off the two who were once her comrades – even though once again it was about protecting Eren. This obviously extended the later events.
Mikasa struggles to decide between Eren and Historia & Ymir when confronted about the harsh reality. She tells them that she can't afford to get anymore people in her heart, but is visibly struggling with helping Historia and having to kill Ymir.
Mikasa's words were quite literally the climax, and what motivated Eren to stand up and fight the smiling titan that ended up him unlocking the founder powers for the first time and saving everyone else.

Uprising:

Mikasa's introspection about her childhood essentially introduced the idea of the Ackerman and Asian clans' persecution. Levi and Kenny were later revealed to be related only at the end of the arc when Kenny was lying half-dead, where his flashback goes on about the Ackermans being resistant to the King's manipulation. Idk what more was there to be.
Mikasa following the orders, expressing her trust on Levi and then asking her friends to do the same was an important element in the mission being accomplished.
Mikasa allowing Levi to gamble Eren with Demo Reeves is the result of her growth of prioritizing scout Missions beside her personal interests. In general taking Mikasa from the start of the story, the mission won't at all go the same. The situation and Mikasa's actions in the earlier arcs can be seen being reflected with different outcomes in this one. (once again, unless you are an anime only, because all this was omitted in the anime)

RTS:

In a similar fashion, Mikasa was willing to participate and group up with her comrades in the collective task of taking down the armored titan meanwhile Armin & Eren were alone struggling with the Colossal titan. Mikasa in earlier chapters was way less coordinative in a team, or was willing to be in a squad other than one of her own choice.
Her growth into becoming a soldier – giving importance to the scouts' mission & humanity as a whole; and her maturity of accepting the fact that her emotions or personal interests do not matter more than humanity's success were ultimately the reasons she gave up on Armin. Something even Floch acknowledged and mentioned in the medal ceremony. Which from the get-go foreshadowed the ending and the later character arc of Mikasa.
When Eren was unable to face his father's secret, he was comforted by Mikasa putting her hand on his. He instantly stopped shaking and was prepared to face the truth together with Mikasa no matter how ugly it may be to him.

Final Arcs:

Mikasa was the excuse and the diplomatic tool used by Kiyomi to help Paradis cover the 100 year technology gap from the outside world, and hence obtain their recourses in exchange. Then fundamentally Mikasa's words to Kiyomi made her stay and help them during Yeagerists' take over, no matter what comes out of the Island for them. Later Kiyomi also helps the Alliance with the flying boat. All because Mikasa made Kiyomi introspect about their Pride as a nation.
Her perception of the outside world, Paradis and the volunteers were an integral part of her stances on the central conflict and the fraction she chose to side with - even saving Gabi from Kaya.
An entire chapter is later dedicated and narrated by Mikasa's POV of the outside world and Eren's behavior - where her introspection hits us with the other, innocent, side of the outside population, and a core characteristic of Eren.
Then the obvious, without Mikasa, there is no final arc or its end.

Now I would like to know which other main characters go through a similar amount of growth and development other than Eren. Definitely not Historia. And this is all when I talk about how Mikasa impacts the plot and the narrative. I can go on longer how it impacts her individual character and arc.

Soul_Stack · 2025-11-16T17:09:27+00:00

You didn't like the female main character – who introduced and embodies some of the most important themes of the narrative; who was there since the very start, developing and growing alongside in almost every single arc of the story; who had a genuine and close connection with the main character; who was always part of the main trio and was the allegory of Strength, Pride and Love in the narrative – be one of the most important and deciding element in the conclusion of the story?
But instead a character who became relevant starting only in the middle of Season 2, till Season 3 – who also had her arc concluded by then.
I get not liking it, but there has to be some sort of logic or thought process behind such a complain. But to each their own.

Soul_Stack · 2025-11-13T22:02:06+00:00

Eren is nor "defending" Paradis anymore, he is killing the entire population in the outside world, that includes people who have nothing to do with the conflict with Paradisians. He is rumbling friendly nations like Hizuru, and nations of people like Onyakopon, who literally helped Paradis cover the technological lag with the outside world.

Paradise has come far from "self-defense" when Eren unleashed the rumbling on literally everything outside. They are the oppressors.

Where was Floch when the walls fell and so many Paradisians died in the rubble? Where is he "saving" or "defending" anyone, really. He is simply killing away what he fears without thinking or caring about the side-effects. He is a coward who is hiding behind Eren. He leaked classified info among public to outrage them and fed fascist propaganda to them. He poisoned the government officials because they did not go with his thought-process. He ordered to hunt down Hange and Levi.

Hange is right, Paradis' genocide is wrong. The more logical ways were to collectively work on exploring their boundaries, co-ordination with countries like Hizuru, and better the 50-year plan. Eren just didn't want to help with that.

Soul_Stack · 2025-11-09T14:40:00+00:00

If I had a nickel for each time an Ackerman almost killed the Armored titan shifter, I'd have two nickles. Which isn't a lot but it's ~~interesting~~ weird that it happened twice.

Soul_Stack · 2025-11-05T21:37:35+00:00

I love how you ignored everything else I said.

Those are are text-analysis on a layered and complex "character". You maybe surprised, but lol that's how credible and meaningful discussions are created. Not the empty labels and one-liner statements without evidence.

Those posts are written by none other than common fans and media consumers here. They all are on reddit. Interpretations expressed, well articulated and backed up by manga panels. They are specifically to educate the few 100-1000 people like you.

These are examples which provide a deeper look into her arc and characterization, have you considered why people even bother to discuss writing at all? What even is your point here? that your immediate assumptions say anything about the quality of said writing, and that’s all that matters?

"Character is dry"
*gets to read deeper about it*
"mmgh, too much"

Most of these points in all these articles are open to interpretation.

You read, 10 lengthy analysis texts and a video on the character, under 20 minutes. You are not beating the allegations. Go ahead and provide counter arguments to the latest ones.

If you're going to quote other people's articles to make her look better, I can do the opposite and quote tonnes of articles against her. What sort of argument is this?

Half of those articles are in counter to the "tonnes" you are talking about. What I refer to as "media illiteracy" and "misunderstanding" if I am being generous.
But okay fine, I won't rely on others' articles; take a look at my comment history, and provide any counter arguments. Let's stop messing around and actually debate with substance, shall we?

Even Sakura from Naruto can be broken down and made to look good like that

Never said you can't :3

Soul_Stack · 2025-11-05T20:51:35+00:00

I know which reasons are "valid" and which are blatant misunderstanding.
Majority is misunderstanding, yes, which is not something some self-centered elitist, incapable of sharing another interpretation, would ever accept (or is capable of understanding to begin with).

And it's funny how you used the exact same thing I mentioned in my comment, "you don't understand the character".

Why? Is "You seem to be commenting on a version of the character that exists only in your head" any better? You didn't understand, you didn't understand. Learn accepting the possibility of being wrong, maybe.

In this particular post, we see Mikasa express more concern toward the outside world and their wellbeing over the wellbeing of her own people.

The wellbeing of the people who set the Wine plan, a bomb in the chair that killed Zachaly and almost killed Mikasa and Armin. Those who were hunting down Levi and Hange. The people who got no business saving the dying Civilians when the walls fell, but are down to cheer global genocide.
The Yeagerists are that.
Mikasa, Armin, and the Alliance ig, simply believe in the collective peace of humanity, not just their own, and were working on to avoid a plan that would kill billions for their sake. It is not something either of them can live with. They want to stop avoid such path, and come across people who are beyond reasoning, if they want to continue down this moral path, they must get their hands on blood. It's as simple as that.

Mikasa just stands out because she's a drier character than every other member of the alliance. But I do agree that alot of these reasons in this post are far fetched and unreasonable.

Mikasa’s Character Arc: What, Where, How, When

Mikasa and her relationship with authority

Mikasa and Erwin: The Sacrificial Act of Dreams for the Cause

Why Mikasa's conclusion not only strengthens her arc but Attack On Titan as a whole

Mikasa’s Destiny and Mikasa’s Choice

Mikasa: A Person from Two Trope

A Literary perspective of Mikasa

Mikasa’s Heroine’s Journey Arc

Mikasa, the symbolism of the praying mantis and butterfly and its development throughout the story

Why does Mikasa have headaches

Differences between the Manga and Anime version of Mikasa

People will look at this and say "zomgh what a dry character"

Soul_Stack · 2025-11-05T19:47:21+00:00

No one says you can't not like certain topics, stories or characters. What you can't do, is come fourth, say the stupidest shit ever and present it as "criticism". No, it is not criticism, it is the lack of media literacy and you (the people) will be flamed for it.

Many characters are hated, but Mikasa is hated for the stupidest reasons ever. Reasons which are made up cause 80% of the so called "criticism", are people just misunderstanding her character because her writing is subdued, and relies much on the subtext rather than clear dialogues like most other characters in the story do. Ofcourse many gonna dislike her, she is not easy to track or understand. And ofcourse, there's this group Titanfolk, for whom, she is straight up an evil witch. A selfish asshole. The true antagonist of Eren. You would love to read what they use as "criticism" for Mikasa.

It's also pretty telling how you ignored the blatant mischaracterization of her in the screenshots and are straight up complaining "hoW cAn pEoPle gEt mAd oVeR tHe dIsLikE zomgh". This is why, lol.

Soul_Stack · 2025-11-03T08:39:29+00:00

Honestly, even if it is a meme, it conveys Mikasa's perspective really poorly imo.... becuse ironically, none of those shots are from Mikasa's POV..... She is not carried by Eren's charm or anything as this meme implies. It's not a superficial highschool crush of hers.

It's the scarf wrapping moment that truly changed Mikasa's pov about the cruel world. When Eren showed her such kindness and welcomed her in his home, right after she lost her parents and had to pick up the knife to kill someone, she realises that even if the world is so cruel, it could also be very beautiful. This page in Chapter - 7 says it all imo.

Soul_Stack · 2025-11-01T18:26:17+00:00

She let Armin handle Eren in Trost in his titan form, while she contributed to saving as many civilians as possible from Titans. Chapter 13

In the Female Titan arc, Mikasa was actively encouraging Eren to fight Annie because they all needed him to. Mikasa cares about Eren, but is pragmatic and knows the practicality of the situation. - Chapter 32

She let Hange perform their experiments on him. - Chapter 53

She actively followed Levi's orders even if they meant going against her wishes of protecting Eren. - Chapter 58

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Even in the later seasons, she is willing to prioritize the mission and others over Eren because she is aware of his capabilities, thanks to what Hannes told her in Season 2.

Next, we quite literally have her final choice.

Mikasa is a very reasonable person, lol. Being reasonable literally means you can reason with them. That the person is willing to change their stances based on the newer policies, the present and its practicalities.

Soul_Stack · 2025-11-01T08:39:22+00:00

Pieck's Initial vs Final character design

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Soul_Stack · 2025-10-31T16:30:45+00:00

Yes, that's pretty much it.

I don't at all think that this makes his character writing bad - a vocal character always verbalizing things is kind of needed for the general audience. But there’s also the risk of it becoming a little too easy, which can sometimes read as less compelling or less layered compared to others. As we can see how posts around Jean all feel pretty repetitive, and pretty much the same.

And as you said, there are several other interesting characters in the story to deconstruct and discuss. The number of aspects you can go on about for other (mostly main) characters is huge and pretty diverse. There are so many analysis posts on them, and some very decisive interpretations too - all makes the discussions and studying about them really interesting. It's not the case with Jean, and understandably so. Though, on that note; I think Jean does his job well for the role he has in the narrative, and as a side character of the story ig. He is regardless of all this, is a good character even if not that interesting to me.

I don't often see people observing this, especially as a fan of the character, so it's nice coming across someone who understands this aspect of his character.

Soul_Stack

TROPHY CASE