I’ll say it with my full chest: Bertholdt is equally as complex—if not more—as any other character in AoT and people only see him as ‘boring’ or ‘just there’ because he is quiet.
In a show full of natural born leaders, those who act without hesitation, who speak their minds loudly and impassioned, it’s easy for a quiet character to be seen as unimportant. But this couldn’t be further from the truth.
Bertholdt’s quiet demeanor is not to be mistaken with simplicity—to me, he is a textbook overthinker, riddled with conflicting thoughts, growing fears, and guilt that remains firmly planted in his mind, taking root there and growing out of control.
As someone who is quiet and meek by nature, it’s not surprising that Bertholdt grows into this nervous, indecisive person—he’s been a warrior since he was a child, an immense weight placed on his shoulders, the burden of being someone able to cause mass destruction with ease.
He’s been used as a weapon, constantly told what to do by others; he can master any skill better than most others, but lacks the power to do anything with those skills until he’s told.
He knows that if he is obedient, if he does what he is told is right, that he will be able to save his sick father, become an honorary Marleyan, and have some semblance of peace and safety. To him, at this point, he can be someone who defeats evil if he stays on the right path.
But, this becomes less simple as Bertholdt becomes wracked with guilt as he grows more and more aware of the truths of the world and the war he’s been forced to fight in; one that is not against evil, but driven by fear and hate.
We see it from one of his first ever interactions—when he uses the hanged man’s story as his own cover story when he speaks to Eren and Armin for the first time. Sure, he was trying to blend in, but he could’ve just as easily made something up.
That story had actually been weighing heavily on him, when he reveals that he’d been having recurring nightmares about it and asks Reiner in private why that man would bother telling that story just to later hang himself.
The thought is brushed aside rather quickly, but this gives us a look into Bertholdt’s mind and personality; someone battling inner turmoil, someone who contemplates what it means to have agency over life and death, someone who grapples with guilt.
He likely believed that the man wanted to be judged for his actions, to feel the weight of his guilt, before taking his own life; just as Bertholdt already felt the guilt of his actions in destroying Shiganshina and subconsciously was likely seeking out judgment and consequence. His sleeping position even matches The Hanged Man tarot card.
Later, we see Bertholdt’s guilt, emotions, and inactions reach a boiling point that compromises the warriors’ mission. He lets Armin use his feelings toward Annie as leverage to distract him, and he has a breakdown as he confesses to his friends in the Scouts that he hates what he’s done, that he genuinely does consider them friends, and that he wants to pay for what he’s done.
He knows that it was because of him that Eren ended up getting away, that he’d be the reason that Reiner and Annie would continue being in danger in Paradis, their mission now prolonged—his guilt only continues to build.
Moments before the return to Shiganshina, Zeke and Reiner had both told him that he needs to begin acting on his own, Reiner even going so far as to call him unreliable.
As someone who relies on the people he cares about and seeks direction from them, hearing that his own friends and comrades actually doubt his abilities and reliability would shake him to his core.
This interaction surely made him steel himself, made him push down his emotions, made him act. It made him put on a mask of apathy toward the Scouts, his friends, and nihilism toward the world around him, and play a role.
(Not to mention, Bertholdt has now seen Reiner—this person who was seen as weak, who was never even meant to be a warrior in the first place—grow into an actionable leader, and I can only imagine that would make his own self-doubts grow.)
I think when he transformed into the Colossal, part of him also genuinely did want it all to end, there, no matter the consequences. Reiner was too injured at that point to be the leader; it was his one, final chance to prove himself, to show that he is capable of doing something.
And I believe, too, that he was a terrified kid who just wanted the fighting to end—knowing that if it didn’t happen there, it would happen eventually, after more and more death and destruction.
He knows these people, his so-called enemies aren’t devils, aren’t evil, and don’t deserve death simply for being born on the opposite side of a war, but they have to die to prevent further bloodshed and catastrophe.
He knows the world is a cruel place, and there’s no changing it. He’s one of the first people to acknowledge that both sides are just doing what they think is the right thing, and if that’s the case, then the “right thing” ceases to exist. There are no devils; there are simply two sides and the hatred that fuels them.
There was no other way out this time—he couldn’t crumble under the weight of his guilt and risk compromising their mission again, for the sake of Reiner, for the sake of Annie, for the sake of his father, for the sake of everyone. He’d already done that before, and he couldn’t do it again—his true nature, to him, was nothing but a weakness.
He’d been fighting for his whole life, had seen and done unimaginable things that tormented him, had learned truths about the world that shattered what he’d been taught since childhood, and he knew that one way or another, things were going to play out in a horrific, gruesome way.
And at that moment, he accepted it because he had no other choice.
You could see his behavior in his last moments as true apathy—but I don’t. I see it as a terrified, exhausted, guilt-riddled kid living in a painfully cruel world, wanting to make it all stop and knowing that a peaceful outcome was never going to happen, that the cycles of hatred never cease.
I see it as him putting on a metaphorical armor to push past his own fears, guilts, and powerlessness.
And in his death, you see him return to his true self, his true nature—a timid, scared, lost and lonely boy, reaching out for the help of his friends…
Regarding the serumbowl event, I believe Erwin was the best choice. He's more experienced and would've been able to keep the military together. I think it was even stated by Isayama that Erwin could've solved a lot of issues. I see a lot of people think that Erwin gave up on his dreams to die and free himself from the burden. Which is true, but the fact that his last words were regarding that dream shows that he cares about it even when he's near dying. I don't think he was refusing to take the serum. Levi chose not to give him because he didn’t want Erwin to carry on the burden anymore. That dream was a curse for Erwin. I do think the difference between how Armin dreams and Erwin dreams played a factor into Levi's decisions. Armin represented human curiosity, youthfulness and ability to see beauty outside the walls. However, I doubt that was a huge factor in choosing him. They still put mental burden on Armin.
Armin wasn’t the best choice. That's the fun. There wouldn’t be drama if the perfect choice happened. Armin could've represented the "Special for just being born" ideology in his character conclusion, although the story made him a hypocritic hero. He saw beauty in life because of running behind two people. Mind you, a heavy part of his insecurities stemmefd from not being enough for Eren and Mikasa, and being their burden. So I feel like it was a cheap way to end his character.
not from an "I loved their character and i am sad that they died" perspective, because personally i think that's a stupid way to measure death. It's not more or less sad because i happen to have an attachment to them and am sad that they are dead.
Hm: those kids that got trampled in the rumbling (Just because they dont really have names and are barley characters)
Colt Grice. His death makes me so unvelivably sad. Any time siblings exist in media i am automatically feral over them, and seeing an older brother try absolutely everything he can to save his younger brother, failing, and knowingly sticking by his side even though he will kill him. comforting him until his last breath. He begged someone who he thought was his friend to save his brother, only to be betrayed and die. Just for his brother to survive after him. kms. his death is not talked about enough.
Faye Jaeger. obviously this one gets talked about a lot, and i dont have very much to add to it. Again siblings is something I feel very strongly about, and I feel so much for this little girl who trusted her elder brother only for it to end in pain. I always find that the saddest deaths are the people who fall for a cause without ever getting the chance to decide if they want to die for it. the innocence that doesn't matter at all to the ones shedding blood.
Marco Bodt. I feel very conflicted about Marco as a person and where his morals stood, but this ties into what i said before. People dying for a cause without the chance to even learn about it. It is so sad when in a story where people die left and right for what they believe in, or make sacrifies for people they love, that a character who wasn't fighting for anything and did not choose to sacrifice themselves end up in the crossfire. Obviously Marco was a soilder, but the cadets were never supposed to be fighting titans in trost. Marco never chose to be a scout, he was on his way to the enteior to be safe when that, and hi life, got taken from him by people that he trusted. :(
Ymir. (104th) Her Backstory episode changed my life and she is top five favorite characters for me so I'm going to try and not let my feelings about her make me lose the plot here. Her entire life she was raised as something for other people (she didnt even have her own NAME) and when she finally got the chance to actually live for herself, she was again reminded that her life was not her own. A lot of people say her death is out of character for her but I think it's not, and that makes it sadder. She has had this conditioning that she is supposed to save her people since she was like 8 years old, that kind of thing sticks with a person. She found someone she loved that she wanted to save, and she had the guilt that she took someone's life the same way her life was taken from her. The saddest part about her death is that she barley even got to live before it happened.
I know most lists stop at at least top five, but i just sat here for like 30 minutes going through all the deaths in my head and I cant think of a fifth that sticks out to me more than another.
I'm really torn between Bertholdt, Eren, and Erwin specifically for slot 5. I hesitate to say Erwin strictly because of his age, which is maybe unfair, but it's harder for me to say an adult dying because of their own actions is sadder or on par with a kid dying because of their own actions. But dying literal hours before your comrades learn the thing you sacrificed your life ever since you were a child over is rough. Eren being mentioned is similar to ymir in the sense that it's sad because he didn't get to live. Thing is, that one is tricky. Obviously eren fell completly off by the end of the series, but his story is so heartbreaking. weather you think he was a victim of ymir or if you are of the belief that he was in full control of his actions and knew exactly what he was doing (which I am) watching his life and the downfall of it is so genuinly sad. he was sad about it too. Because we have every ounce of context for eren (him being the mc and all) it's easier to feel bad for him because we knew exactly what he wanted from day one, and watched every event unfold that prevented him. And dont even get me started on Bertholdt. I didnt make this post just to rant about his death and god knows i have done it more than enough times and will do it many many times again. I just know if i get into it right now it will overshadow the whole post so i'm not going to, but trust his death is a very very sad one.
I am contemplating adding Udo but i sort of think his death was too instantaneous to qualify this high on the list...
5. Bertholdt Hoover
6. Eren Jaeger
7. Erwin Smith
8. Marcel Galliard (me when siblings)
(another) Honerable mention: Thomas Wagner, Nack Tierce, Milieus Zeremski, and Mina Carolina. Similar to Marco. They were never supposed to be fighting titans in trost.
I could add like Sasha and Miche, and even Carla, Freida, Lara, Hange.. But i feel like at this point none of their deaths are "more sad" than anothers. they are all pretty much in the same tier. Daz and Samuel's were pretty sad too.
ok i think i'm starting to lose the plot here i'm gonna stop. Probably nothing past number 4 is actualy accurate. also maybe marco and ymir are interchangable
I saw a post that really made me think about how much the aot fandom needs to differentiate that someone who manipulates out of survival is not the same as someone who does it out of pleasure. You cannot infer that someone is bad in every aspect because they manipulate/lie/deceive in survival conditions. It's a shallow view of the character because you take the context out.
Example: Armin, Erwin, Levi in some aspects, even Eren and Jean had moments where they needed to lie/manipulate to get themselves out of a bad situation. Just to elaborate: Armin lies quite often to save/protect his peers and Erwin pulled that whole lie in S3 to avoid being executed and the SC military branch discontinued.
None of those characters lie for pleasure, therefore we can't say they're bad/toxic people based only on their history of lying and deceiving.
They're not good people though, don't get me wrong, because they're all war criminals in different ways. It's just that lying is such a necessary tool for them that it feels unfair to analyze their morality based solely on that. When someone makes a character analysis/discussion and completely distorts the canon character to fit an opinion it just proves that some people did not understand what they read.
Classifying Armin or Eren as bad people, for example, solely because of their ability to lie and manipulate is, again, a shallow evaluation of their behavior. When you read their actions inside the context provided you see they do it out of necessity and there is a noticeable guilt/remorse feeling in return.
Again, you are entitled to your opinions, but accept that your opinions and the canon storyline might not align. If you're upset that people are disagreeing with your opinion by pointing out canon facts why did you even make a character analysis? Like, write a fanfiction or headcanon and it's completely fine. As soon as you try to project your opinion as canon people are going to be upset, that's the reality of fandom.
This is not necessarily a rant. Instead, these are some thoughts I had after reading (the new) Chapter 139 of Shingeki no Kyojin, or Attack on Titan. I also briefly talk about the Rumbling and Ymir’s characterization.
Of course, this is not spoiler-free, so beware if you are not caught up with the latest updates on the series/chapter!
Spoilers below:
First and foremost, I enjoyed the series. I wouldn’t call it “perfect,” nor “the absolute best,” but it was entertaining and, dare I say, awe-inspiring. Isayama presented something that not many shōnen mangaka do, which is a realistic take on war and the irreparable actions of humanity. To say that this is a story about mankind fighting monsters is not entirely wrong; in fictional stories, “man is the true monster” tends to be a reoccurring theme, and Attack on Titan, Shingeki no Kyojin, is no exception. I’ve said the following in a previous post I made, and I’ll say it here again:
This is mostly a reflection of humanity and the terrible things people are capable of doing when they’re given too much power, and when they’ve been stripped from having any of it. (digitalzombie)
Was it all for nothing?
All characters are victims of corruption. We saw that with Eldians who were persecuted in Marley and the Eldians on Paradis. The Rumbling was Eren’s desperate attempt to protect his friends more than to protect the island. It is apparent when he refuses the Founding Titan to any of his closest comrades in the flashback in Chapter 108…
By the end of the series, we see time-skip after time-skip of the Island’s growth and eventual destruction. We see a boy encountering the tree where, presumably, Eren was buried. It is different from the other trees, as it is the largest (probably the oldest, too), and bears a huge resemblance to the tree Ymir, the Founder, had fallen into. This seems to tease that everything will begin again—the rebirth of the titans and, potentially, more war.
So, did Eren commit mass genocide for nothing in the end? My answer is no.
Eren fulfilled what he wanted/needed to do, which was to protect his friends (or at least those who survived the battles leading up to the Rumbling). He aided in freeing Ymir. And just as he had hoped, his surviving friends lived for a long time, as suggested in the final panels. Eren’s motives are questionable, and it begs the question: Is Eren selfish? And my answer is yes, although he does not openly show it as he lived his whole life living and fighting for other people’s sakes. Eren is a paradoxical character: he is selfish for choosing his friends over the world but selfless for putting his friends ahead of himself.
Isayama gave us a bleak ending, one that makes sense since something as unforgivable as the Rumbling would be a justifiable reason to start a war--at least in the eyes of the world leaders. We are only given a small glimpse of the attack, so there is no saying if The Rumbling truly was the motivation, or if Paradis acted first. What is true is that the cycle of hate continues. Historia's reign, as well as the rise of the Yeagerists, prove that as time passes, ideals and people in power change. Truly, history repeats itself.
The Rumbling
Side note: Of course, The Rumbling wouldn’t be the absolute best solution to end a war in reality. (I didn’t support it either.) However, I read the manga with the idea that there really was no other way to end the war between Paradis and Marley because the whole world was dead-set on destroying the island, as suggested in chapter 123:
Not to mention that the Association in this part of the series reacted with cheers to the speaker’s sentiment. Even the displaced Eldians were brainwashed to abhor the so-called “Devils” of Paradis Island. We can assume (based on what we know about the views that Marley, the Eldians in Marley, and the advocates for “displaced Eldians” have) that Paradis was the so-called enemy of the world (at least to the public outside of Paradis). Armin and Hange’s approach to the situation, the diplomatic way, was not wrong either; however, given the other nations’ resolve to decimate the island, this strategy would not have worked.
This is where Eren’s plan to wipe out the rest of the world, save the island, comes into play. He did not want to conform to the original plan and repeat the same cycle the Royals have for hundreds of years, which was to sacrifice Historia and her descendants, and the future hosts of the Coordinate. He was only meant to scare the world— to dare them to attack—by waking some of the dormant Colossal Titans. Of course, he chose a different path. The Rumbling, Eren’s Rumbling, was meant to buy time for Paradis’ restoration, to secure their safety, to expand their military forces, and to eventually end the Titans’ curse… which did happen.
Ymir, the Founder
Ymir is the most mysterious character in the series. Due to her lack of speech (as her tongue was cut off), she is easily the most misunderstood. She was abused and used for power; Ymir was a slave—both literally and metaphorically—to Fritz and the following Coordinate hosts. My understanding is that she had some kind of attachment to Fritz and his ideals. Chapter 139 introduces the idea that Ymir did, in fact, love Karl Fritz. I doubt that this is really the case, given that Eren’s words contradict the art on the panel (surely, purposely done by Isayama):
In this panel (chapter 139), she is unhappy: her marriage is a joke, given that her husband flirts with other women (they were most likely his mistresses) while she tended to his needs and continued to have his children. Her “love” for Fritz is not real. Ymir was attached to the idea of love and desired it all the more.
I believe that Mikasa did not necessarily free Ymir; rather, Ymir was inspired by Mikasa’s unwavering love for Eren. Mikasa loved Eren and was able to let go of him despite how much it hurt her. In turn, Ymir finally let go to of her abuser by realizing that what she felt was not truly love. Mikasa suggests Ymir’s true feelings when she says: “Your love must have felt like a never-ending nightmare.”
I should also mention that the panel above does not necessarily mean that Ymir let Fritz die, although this is open to interpretation. I thought that this clearly expressed Ymir’s regrets. Should he have died in her stead, Ymir would have been able to live the rest of her life with her daughters in peace. This might have also avoided future wars, aka, the war on Paradis. However, Mikasa’s words ring true: “It’s only because you brought your children into this world that I stand here today.” There is no way to undo the past. It is true that Eren could have rewritten the past by letting her live and letting Fritz die; however, that would completely change everything: Eren and his friends would have probably never existed, and Ymir would have been trapped in Paths forever, as the Founder would go to a random newborn child.
Another interesting point I’d like to add is Ymir’s appearance. In Paths, she presents herself as a child but finally shows herself as an adult in front of Mikasa. She expresses her fragility via regression, or appearing as her less developed stage in life (childhood) as a coping mechanism. (This can also be said about Eren’s child-like appearance at the start of the Rumbling.) Only after freeing herself from Paths does she take on the appearance of a grown woman. We cannot say that she completely healed from her trauma, but we can say that she was ready to move on.
Why wait 2000 years?
My take on this question is that Eren was Ymir’s answer as he did not bear royal blood and therefore could not command her to do anything for him. Recall that nearly all previous hosts of the Coordinate were of Royal blood. No one understood Ymir, nor seemed to care to communicate with her. Grisha was at the end of his life when he stole the Coordinate and then passed it to Eren.
Potential sequel?
As for the final panels of the chapter, I don’t think that this sets up a potential sequel. Unlike Eren, Armin, and Mikasa during their childhoods, this boy has the freedom to explore the world as is his birthright. He does not have to think or worry about being confined behind tall walls, nor worry about a government's restrictions to question the mysteries of the world. He is free to explore. I think that this is Isayama’s way to tie the story back to that simple dream Eren had as a child. Despite the obvious attack on Paradis in the previous panels, there is reason to believe that not all of Paradis was destroyed. This boy should be proof of that. For now, whether he becomes the new Founder or not is strictly based on our own interpretations.
That’s all I have to say about Chapter 139. Let me know if you’d like me to delve deeper into anything else from AoT! I was thinking about taking a closer look at other characters later on, but I’ll be happy to add my take on anything AoT-related.
This is your resident postwar Levi lover. Thank you so much for making my request real, it is amazing! I didn't understand the difference between hc and discussion, etc, and I got butterflies with what you went with! Once I understand Tumblr better I'll make an account to support you and come back with questions. Thank you so much!
𝙃𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙩𝙬𝙖𝙧 𝙡𝙚𝙫𝙞 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 🥺
Thank you for the message and letting me know 💕💕 it means a lot! But I should thank you for the amazing request you sent me to write about! :,)
Also sorry I should have made it clear!! Basically headcanons from what I understand and how I apply it, is by adding many ideas for a particular scenario/imagine idea that is requested and adding all of them together, not like a fanfic which is only focused on one idea or plot if you get me?
As for the AOT discussions, this is something I am doing at the moment where I let anyone send me questions and wanting to ask about something (specifically for Levi Ackerman). Questions can be about anything! It can be about Y/N and Levi, or about him! something you would wonder and want me to share my thoughts about it and what I would think Levi would do, feel or think about based on what the question is being asked. (You can see some examples of anon's asking me to do an AOT discussion in my masterlist at the bottom, check this link out!) I did a lot of research about Levi Ackerman and I have read and seen lots of interviews and facts (stated by Isayama) about Levi, so I apply these when answering the questions to make it realistic and also I apply this with my other works!
I hope this made sense and if not do ask me and let me know! c:
I am glad and happy to know it gave you butterflies when you read it! Thanks for letting me know as it is my aim in this blog to make readers feel comfort and that makes me so happy knowing that it did for you :,)
also AWHH that is literally so sweet of you to even say that 😭😭 the fact that someone out there wants to support me with my account warms my heart🥺💕💕 reading that has helped me out and motivated me a bit as sometimes I do feel discouraged with what I post and write but thanks for letting me know c: I am here if you wanna talk more, my ask and message is open!
Have a lovely day anon and whoever read this too! <3
what an absolutely sickening, yet chaotically beautiful chapter, i don't even know what to feel. (Probs one of Isayama's best works so far. The graphic details of the rumbling made me wanna throw up ngl).
Today's AoT scene(s) that broke my heart and almost made me cry: Eren apologizing for being (worse than) a rotten piece of shit, and for becoming an absolute monster. (even though, the rumbling didn't happen yet, he knows it's coming. and there's no stopping it.)
And that question he asked Mikasa on chapter 123? That was his desperate, and last attempt to cling to hope... hope that maybe, just maybe, the future could be changed. That was the last time Eren ever allowed himself to become vulnerable. After hearing Mikasa's dissappointing response, that was it. He gathered all his willpower and decided to push through with this absolutely morbid act.
Damn, RIP Fez Kid.What a horrific sight.
For people saying that Eren is a cold-blooded murderer, think again. He knew the stakes, he knew what he was getting himself into, he knew it was inhumane, he knew it was monstrous,. Hell, the boy is miserable and fucked up. He is disgusted with himself, and he's suffering just as much! but did he really have a choice?
Actually, yes he did. And he chose to chase after the freedom he always dreamed/obsessed as a child (thus, "the scenery" being viewed in child Eren's eyes). Bringing me back to Kenny's words: "Everyone had to be drunk on something to keep pushing on."
And for Eren haters out there, you better wait in line because no one will be able to hate Eren more than he already he hates himself.
Eren has basically hated himself ever since he kissed Historia's hand.
But this scene tho:
am i the only one who found this creepy????? child Eren smiling vs massacre. This mix brought chills down my spine. Creepy asf.
Was this really the freedom you've always wanted? Huh, Eren?
I do not hate Eren. If anything, this chapter made me love his character even more. (The way he's written is top-notch. Isayama 🔥) I just feel really sorry for the boy. Suffocated by the thought of "there was no other way" and "everything was set in stone from the start." I think all his monologues about how he "chose" this path, is just him desperately trying to convince himself.
OTHERS:
This scene broke what’s left of my already shattered heart. I can't help but think how lonely Eren must have felt all this time. Being stuck with your thoughts, knowing the horrible future, and being absolutely powerless about it. I'm pretty sure there were times where he just felt like giving up and crying and wishing his mother was there to comfort him.
Armin and Annie's conversation huhu. Idk if it was Bertholdt's memories influencing Armin, but it was still a really cute moment. I loved it.
I love how Eren's view of freedom contrasts with Armin's despite them dreaming about the same thing since they were little kids. My heart aches for the two of them. That scene in the paths where Armin was looking at child Eren? That broke my heart. Those two were best friends. Hell, Armin was Eren’s only friend before Mikasa, and it really hurts that it had to come to this. (it showed how Eren actually never changed, meanwhile Armin grew up.)
Also, why the fuck could that Fez kid see Ymir????????? Is she somehow witnessing the rumbling instead of Eren???? Idk. I mean, this could be her finally getting her revenge (it's completely understandable, but still). But also, why is Eren asleep??????? And where exactly is his body?????????? wtf.
AND WHAT IS UP W THE SEAGULLS????????????
i have never felt terror, disgust, angst, heartache, and sympathy all at once from reading just one chapter. But this? Damn.
I have to get this off my chest because, to me, it has always been obvious that the “Ackerman bond” is not a real thing. Eren is doing olympian-level mental gymnastics to explain away Mikasa’s decade-long behavior toward him as some Ackerman-power-related curse/bond, because he was 1. a dumb teenager who couldn’t come to terms with his feelings or Mikasa’s feelings, and 2. knew that The Rumbling was going to happen and needed Mikasa to not love him for her own sake. And Zeke was basically like “lol uh that’s not a thing buddy” because he saw right through that. Is it not possible that Kenny, Levi, and Mikasa are all simply loyal to people they care about? As if Armin, Hange, Ymir — and pretty much every other main character — didn’t also exhibit fierce loyalty and dedication?
I dunno, I just much prefer the version of the story that involves complex, real feelings from Eren and Mikasa, and portrays the strength of loyalty, rather than some soul-bond-curse-thing that strips three very unique characters of their personal agency and dilutes them down to nothing.
