A few days ago I saw a post on tiktok referring to Levi's ending and how the worst thing to have happened to him was the fact that in the end he [simply] survived.
It is not that I do not understand where said perspective comes from. Nor do I totally disagree with it by seeing it in a black white type of way. Nevertheless do I personally have a different view on the way Levi's ending was made out to be. For me saying the only way for Levi to find finite peace would've been in death, (to which mentioned view refers to) is just not correct. His character was written and created with so many different facets and layers. With so much depth and detail in order to create a complex and actually shaped character. Throughout the story Levi was always portrayed as someone who not only cares about those around him, but puts others before himself without ever hesitating. He has been portrayed as s character with developement. He saw his own duties and tasks as a priority. And the way he trusted people. The platonic relationships between him and other characters were often really detailed and complex to underline the character that Isayama wanted to create through him. Rather than potential romance, there was a much bigger picture enhanced with his character. The beauty in friendship and platonic relationships.
I've seen people discuss how his character would've deserved / 'needed' some form of love interest in the sense of a relationship with someone in the end. For me this presumes that a persons only way to live a fulfilling and fortunate life requires some form of romantic love, which in general is problematic to me. As well as that it just doesn't make sense with Levi. In many cases would I not totally disagree. There have been speculations and up to one's own interpretation there might've been hints regarding romantic relationships and feelings throughout Levi's character (never directly though, might be important to mention here). In my opinion this whole concept of the happy end wife husband thing collides with the way Levi's character was portrayed and written.
In conclusion I think that Levi has been in the position of losing those close to him so often, his ending was perfect in the way that the cycle and perhaps almost his only-survivor curse was broken and in a concept full of chaos he could finally find the stability to hold on to. Finding peace in having lost so much and having fought so much that rather than having nothing left, he in fact has left the result that was only possible due to his losses - which fit his character perfectly.
