Attack on Titan - Season 3

Attack on Titan season three has been available on various streaming services for quite some time now, and now it finally has a review. Season three, just like season two did, picks up right where the previous season left off. We continue to follow Erin Yeager and his comrades in their quest to wipe out the Titans. But is this their ultimate mission or is the past throwing a spanner in the works?

Before I give my opinion, first a quick recap of the last episode of season two. As said, we stay with Erin and his comrades. The Scouts are lost, they are surrounded by several Titans. After Eren's failure to transform into a Titan, he loses all hope. But to keep up with his sister, Mikasa, he promises to protect her. While coming into contact with the Smiling Titan, he activates an unknown force within him that causes the surrounding Titans to rush towards and devour the Smiling Titan. It becomes known that Reiner and Bertholdt want Eren because he possesses the Coordinate, the ability to control other Titans. The surviving Scouts escape after Eren caused the Titans to go after the Armored Titan.

The Beast Titan once again causes a lot of chaos.

Season three picks up where season two left off. The new Levi Squad, now made up of Eren and his six remaining comrades, camp out in a remote cottage where Hange (Jessica Calvello, Pop Team Epic) conducts experiments on Eren to test his Titan abilities. This is of course not without a struggle. A new bad guy also appears who knows a lot about Levi's past (Matthew Mercer, Ultraman). In addition, we can not forget the ape-like Titan, the Beast Titan. Although, this Titan will be discussed a bit later in the season. Nevertheless, he causes quite a bit of chaos.

In this season we learn more about the history of the world and who or what exactly the Titans are. Very cool if you ask me. As you get to the midpoint of the season (ie, the end of season three part one) you already know a lot more about the world the characters live in. Personally, I started to see themes that I only expected in series like Game of Thrones. Perhaps the time in which the series takes place (Middle Ages) lends itself well to these themes, who knows? Part two of season three then immediately shows the other side of the story. Similar to the horror that made season one so dark. The bloodshed, the fighting, the sacrifice. It all leads to an epic finale. This part of the season is also more about their ultimate mission: reaching the basement.

It was good to see Attack on Titan blast like that again. I personally found season two less good, partly thanks to the slow 'arc' (the storyline of season two). But the enthusiasm for season three (and also four) was / is completely back. As a loyal manga reader it's cool to see specific moments animated and again the story from the manga is taken over seamlessly. Plus point!

As a loyal manga reader, it's cool to see specific moments animated.

I thought for a long time whether I wanted to make this statement and whether I could make it at all, but I still think it is possible: Attack on Titan season three reminded me very much of aspects from Game of Thrones. The political intrigue, the history of the world and the brutal action scenes. I started to see more and more similarities with GOT. Is that positive? Absolute! Hopefully then people will be able to look beyond "it's an animation, that's for kids" and focus on the epic story. Anyway, I do and look forward to season four.