Manga theories
“Grisha, if you can’t do it, we’re doomed to repeat it all again. The same history. The same mistakes. Again and again. If you want to save them all.. Mikasa, Armin and the others.. carry out your mission to the end….who knows? Whose memories could these be?”
-Eren Kruger
Another scene that was not included in the manga, of little Falco being injured, saying some words that may be spoilers for us manga readers for something that is going to happen in the next chapters, who knows, this one is very tricky. There’s always something behind a quote or an image that Isayama points out.
Let’s begin!
I’ve been thinking about some theories regarding the time loop, the memories connected through the paths that Titan shifters are able to see throughout time no matter the era.
One of my theories is, that our heroes lived the same history again and again, they were reborn many times, until Ymir would achieve her goals. Each time our heroes lived, there may have been some failures in Ymir’s plans, so history must have been repeated, each time a bit differently.
One of my thoughts is, that little Falco in another lifetime, may have been in the place of one of the three Warriors (Reiner, Bertolt, Annie) that were sent to Paradis Island and spent 5 years living there, trained to use the ODM gear and fought Titans. So these memories of fighting with swords may have been connected through the paths and reached him in this lifetime.
But let’s think of another theory. I believe this one connects somehow everything related to Falco’s words in the anime and everything that I added in this collage.
So I remember that Isayama stated on an interview, that in the scene at the hospital from chapter 97 Eren asked little Falco if that candidate is a girl, and Isayama said that it was not actually Eren who was talking at that moment, it was someone else. I remember myself being a bit confused by that question when I first read it. Why would Eren be interested to make this question?
It seemed odd to me for a reason.
Could it be that Falco in the future ate Eren? As we know, the Attack Titan has the ability to transcend time, see future memories and Eren also has the power of the Founding Titan, which has the ability to modify the minds and memories of the Eldians.
Could it be that grown up Falco from the future was talking to his child self through Eren? That’s why he made that question if that candidate was a girl, because Falco is in love with Gabi and he said that he wanted to marry her.
It is as future Eren Yeager talked to his father Grisha, through Eren Kruger, before he was even born. “If you want to save them all.. Mikasa, Armin and the others.. carry out your mission to the end.”
I also remember reading that, Isayama wants to make an ending which gives a feeling that there is no escape, like nothing is going change. Something like a loop?
If you notice, when the s4 anime ep1 begins, there is a loop in the first seconds, we see two times the same image of a falcon flying. It seems that history has been repeated again. Maybe Falco actually died the first time and this was his last image, of that falcon flying and then history was repeated again, he was reborn and the second time he survived, he sees the falcon again and then history continues on, Colt appears and takes him away from the battlefield.
Falco later says these words that were not included in the manga:
“Who.. are you guys?” his voice had the same tone as Eren’s when he talks in a lower tone, for me Falco almost sounded just like him. “Wait.. huh? Wasn’t I flying around with a sword just now? Like, whoosh! And there were Titans that I–”
Also another part that I find very interesting that may prove that Falco will inherit the Attack Titan, is on chapter 119, when Zeke was about to scream and turn people into Titans, Eren stretched his hand out “Wait–” like he wanted to prevent Zeke from screaming. Reiner seems confused also to see Eren doing this. I found it odd also, why would Eren do this? He knows that this was going to happen, he has seen it though the paths. But what if the one who did this reaction, wasn’t Eren, but Falco from the future? Because his brother Colt was about to die moments later. Falco must have been watching from the future through Eren’s memories, maybe he tried to change the course of the history at that moment, so Colt would live.
I believe that the only way for Falco to have a memories like these and see from the future the past memories, is that he inherited these powers from someone who had the power of the Attack Titan and the Founder, and the one who lives in the same era with Falco having these powers, is Eren Yeager. Even if the final panel says “ You are Free” it doesn’t mean that the Eldians will be freed, maybe our heroes think that they are finally free after everything that they have been through but in reality they are not.
And let me explain you why. Here comes another theory that I connect with the things I wrote so far, on chapter 56 that guy from the Military Police, Djel Sannes, said this to Hange:
“One exits.. another enters. The stage always needs someone in this role.. when one actor leaves.. another jumps in to take his place.”
So keeping this quote in mind, we know that Ymir the Founder was released from the paths, but could it be that someone else will have to take her place? Maybe Zeke who is royal blood? Or could it be Eren the one who will take her place? If Eren dies by Falco, Falco will inherit the Attack and the Founder. Maybe Falco is the next one who will try to change history just as Eren is trying to do in his lifetime.
This may also be a meaning of Isayama’s statement, that he wants to make an ending which gives a feeling that there is no escape, like nothing is going change. The heroes will never be free even if they think they are, and I will also explain this further.
So Eren will continue to live inside the paths, just as Ymir lived inside the paths for 2.000 years and from the day she died, she was waiting for someone to save her. All the Titan shifters that existed, seem to continue living “locked” inside the paths and they can only communicate through memories.
“If I inherit the Armored, then.. you’ll probably live on inside of me, Reiner.”- Gabi said this to Reiner on chapter 95.
Eren asked his friends to save him, it seems that he is being controlled by Ymir. Eren seems to be the link that Ymir needed to she can free herself from the paths that she is locked in. This may be the situation now for Eren, that maybe he is the one who is going to take her place. “One exits.. another enters.”
“Those actions will follow us until they’re repaid. Even if we die, even after we die. In every era, this Titan has always moved ahead seeking Freedom.
It has fought on for Freedom. It’s name is, the Attack Titan.”
-Eren Kruger
The Attack Titan always moved ahead seeking and fighting for Freedom.
But the Founding Titan? Throughout the generations, those who inherited the Founder, seemed to be submissive to Fritz, the first King’s ideology.
Eren by inheriting both Titans, it seems like he is being captured in a contradiction, of both wanting to fight for Freedom (Attack) but also, he must be submissive to the first King’s ideology (Founder).
And here comes again the quote of the “role”, that when one actor exits, another enters. That the stage always needs someone in this role.
The meaning of this quote is similar to what Fritz, the first King said to his daughters when Ymir died : “Eat, my daughters. Ymir’s powers will be passed down no matter what. The blood of Ymir must not die out. My Titans will continue their reign. Into eternity, so long as this world of mine remains–”
If a Titan shifter dies, the power of the Nine Titans can be passed down even to an Eldian baby without the ritual of inheritance.
I’m starting to think that Zeke’s ideology may be right, to prevent the Eldians from reproducing, this must be the sole way for the Eldian race to be in peace and free itself from this never-ending curse that has to be passed down from generation to generation and make this never-ending loop stop.
“If we’d never been born in the first place…we never would have had to suffer, either.”-Zeke Yeager
As long as Eldians exist, Fritz’s ideology will continue on, “Into eternity, so long as this world of mine remains–”.
As Eren Kruger said: “We’re doomed to repeat it all again. The same history. The same mistakes. Again and again.”
As long as Eldians exist it is going to be like Erwin Smith said:
“Humanity will never stop fighting itself.. until it shrinks to a size of one or fewer.”
Even if the rest of the world dies and only the Edlian race remains, in one way or another, people will find reasons to fight each other. The inheritance of the 9 Titans will continue, people will be used even as Titan shifters or Mindless Titans and they will be used in wars between those who remained.
Now regarding Falco’s Titan form.
Birds generally symbolize Freedom, because they can walk on the earth, swim in the sea and they can also fly into the sky. A lot of cultures believe that Birds symbolize eternal life and some would say that they serve as the connection between Heaven and Earth.
To me, Birds seem one of the most innocent creatures on Earth.
For example, when we talk about a Cat’s behavior, as an animal it may show affection or aggressiveness. Dogs also, you never know if some are completely friendly or may attack you at any time, that goes for other animals also.
We always hesitate to pet them. But the Birds as animals, how do you feel when you see them? We mostly don’t hesitate, we always try to make them come close to us, yet they rarely do, they are free and fly away.
They would hardly harm us Humans.
Personally I find them so innocent, they sing sweetly and we Humans enjoy their voices, we observe them flying into the sky and we also love and dream to the idea of flying. They just search for food to survive and feed their infants.
A simple, free and pure being.
The Bird seems to be Falco’s spirit animal, even his name is a reference, he is just innocent as a Bird, always so kind-hearted and sweet, with no intentions to harm anyone. (I wrote before a character analysis regarding Falco’s Titan forms, if you are interested to read it, it’s on this post) https://www.facebook.com/…/a.252840145…/876876202809800/
We mostly believe that every time a Bird appears, it is Eren who is looking through it. What if it’s not Eren but grown Falco from the future? The outro of Season 4 features only little Falco and it has many symbolisms.
Birds flying, the paths, light that appears in his hand, the light could be a symbolism of Life. Everything has to do with him. There’s a deep meaning and symbolism in this character, that’s why I love the Grice brothers so much, both Colt and Falco are the purest characters in this story.
Thank you so much for reading my thoughts, I hope you enjoyed reading these theories!
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