So, I feel that first, I must preface this long-ass meta:
First, bless your heart if you read this.
Second, this is just for funsies. Yeah, for some reason, I find this kind of shit enthralling! I have no idea why. Regardless, this is not meant to shit on EruRi shippers, LeviHan shippers, or anyone in-between. This is simply something I've been wanting to do. Erwin and Hanji have a very underrated relationship, and I've wanted to highlight it for a long time. Years.
I also use “she” pronouns in this meta, but I think Hanji can have whatever pronouns. Isayama has said it doesn't matter to the story, so run wild.
This ship is incredibly important to me, and I hope to share my feelings with the fandom in a light besides incessant fangirling and stupid art.
I have read through the series thus far (right now, it's late April of 2019) completely in Japanese, and I've done my best to read through English translations of each chapter as well. Why Japanese? Well, I'm an elitist.
There's actually a very specific reason that I prefer the Japanese to the English, and it has to do with the linguistic structure of the languages. In English, there are certain things that we cannot change in our writing to emphasize something--the word “I,” for instance, is always “I,” and “you” is always “you.” Right now, as I type this, I realize how limited the written English language is. I can only show you emphasis by bolding or italicizing the words, and even then, there are things left up to interpretation.
Japanese is quite a bit different, and though there is plenty of ambiguity used in this language (trust me, I've done studies lol), there are also parts that are more specific than in English. There are, for example, numerous ways to say “I,” “you,” and other pronouns depending on the speaker, the listener, and other circumstances.
It's because of this that I prefer Japanese dubs and prints of anime and manga, respectively.
The last time I went to Japan, I came home with the first 14 volumes of Attack on Titan in Japanese, and this was the shit that dragged me into EruHan.
As is the case with most Americans, I assume, I saw the anime before I read the manga, but it was not until I read the manga that I started to ship Erwin and Hanji. Why?
I'll explain the details later, but one of the biggest reasons is that the bulk of their interactions occur in what will be season two and beyond.
However, they do have really important interactions in season one, aka chapters 1 through 33 of the manga. Those moments serve as a great base for what to eventually expect in the latter chapters, when all of the heartbreaking shit happens. c':
We never know for sure how Erwin and Hanji met, but we know that at some point, Erwin came to trust Hanji enough to consider her to be a competent Squad Leader, and eventually considered her as one of his right-hand men, along with Mike, and after a few years, Levi, too. Hanji's squad has a specific focus: to study Titans as closely as possible. It seems like a pretty dangerous job, but Hanji is a dangerous person in general.
Erwin is generally known as a strategist both in canon and in the fandom, but for a strategist to do their job, they have to have facts to base their plans on. As we learn later, Hanji is the source of those facts.
One of the most glanced-over scenes in the entire first season is when Erwin and Hanji are leading the Corps back to the wall after failing to secure Annie in her Titan form. Hanji questions Erwin's decision to send Levi off only after making him refill on gas and blades; Erwin reveals that his plan was based on Hanji's information in the first place.
In other words, Hanji is someone that Erwin trusts implicitly.
But, we see the same thing with Hanji toward Erwin when they corner Annie in Stohess.
If you recall, Erwin and Levi are with Nile and the other Police soldiers during the rampage--Erwin left Hanji to call the shots. Again, proof of trust in her abilities as a leader.
However, I find it hard to believe that Hanji would have followed Erwin's plan if it had been anyone else besides Erwin that proposed it. Why?
Think of how much destruction the fight in Stohess caused. It's almost inexcusable, considering that in the end, Annie seals herself up and is useless as a test subject to Hanji and her squad. Hanji's first job is actually not a soldier, but a scientist; however, she trusted Erwin enough to not only agree to his plan to stop Annie at all costs, but also enough to be the one to carry out the dirty work.
Additionally, Hanji questions EVERYTHING. As a scientist, it's only second nature. I've admittedly seen a lot of people shitting on Hanji for questioning Erwin from time to time, but NEVER should it be interpreted as insubordination or disrespect. Rather, Hanji is trying to acquire more information from Erwin to gain knowledge of as many perspectives as possible. And, by questioning Erwin, Hanji serves as a double-check system. Levi tends to follow Erwin blindly, whereas Hanji will question him almost as a test--as if to ask, “You sure? You thought it through? OK, then let's go.”
When thinking of all of this in anime context, there's one more thing I'd like to point out:
The first OVA, Ilse's Notebook.
In this particular OVA, most of the focus is on Hanji (thank god), and it expands upon what is briefly shown in the manga when Hanji, Levi, and his squad find the journal lying around. The OVA starts with Hanji basically drooling over the idea of capturing a Titan--and no, it's not just because she's obsessed with the Titans themselves, but because she's obsessed with answering the many unanswered questions in their world, of which, the Titans are often the subject. However, when she confronts Erwin with the idea of capturing one, he turns her down--according to the dialogue, this isn't the first time they have this discussion, either.
But, perhaps you noticed Hanji's argument to Erwin? When he mentions the lives they've lost in the Corps?
“Without making any sacrifices, we can't gain anything!”
Doesn't that sound familiar?
“Someone who can't throw something away can't change anything!”
Armin said something similar--do you remember whose ideals he based his quote on?
But, maybe, also Hanji's?
It is entirely possible that Hanji and Erwin have had the same thinking from the start, or that one of them influenced the other.
We don't really know for sure, since we've yet to receive Hanji's backstory (Will it even happen? Sigh), but regardless, they think similarly. OK. That's a thing.
As I mentioned previously, the bulk of their very important and often overlooked interactions are from season two (i.e. the Clash of the Titans arc) and onward in the manga/anime, up until...that thing called the serum bowl that none of us like to talk about.
If you recall, at the tail end of season one, Erwin was briefly arrested by the Military Police, then released. Once again, you'll notice that Hanji is the one calling the shots, along with Mike. Erwin has effectively split them up (presumably Erwin, I'm actually not sure if it's confirmed that he was the one to send Mike's squad to watch the 104th?), with Mike doing the physical work, and Hanji being left to the strategic end of things--to a point. I mean, it's not as if Erwin is completely out of commission at that point (unlike Levi lmao). Instead, he's working on his “big” project--to overthrow the government and get those traitors out of here--from more of a behind-the-scenes perspective. So he surely knew that things would get crazy on Hanji and co.'s end, yet he trusted her to follow through and lead the Corps while he worked separately for a while.
He doesn't think to check in on her, either, until the report about Wall Rose and the traitors finds him. I'm sure he didn't quite predict all that, especially because Reiner himself was flying by the seat of his pants lmao. He hears that Hanji and company suffered injuries, and that Eren has been taken away, along with Ymir, so obviously, being the Commander and all that jazz, he goes to check in on the Corps soldiers atop the wall. Until he arrives, Hanji does not move--it's only when she hears Erwin's arrival that she moves, and it's to talk strategy.
This admittedly brings up something else I want to talk about with them: both Erwin and Hanji are so goddamn willing to put everything and everyone else first besides their own well being.
I know a lot of EruHan writers play with this trope, but we didn't even have to add it in. It's there. All the time.
I think Erwin is especially obvious, considering how far he was willing to go to reach his goals, and his dream. However, Hanji is the same way when it comes to obtaining knowledge. And, both of them want to win. They are fighting to win. In season three, Erwin refers to himself as a gambler--the same is definitely true for Hanji, if not even more so.
So, Hanji gets her ass in gear long enough to tell Erwin what she can, and once again, using the information Hanji gave him, and not straying from it once, Erwin formulates a plan, and the Corps sets off.
Erwin did not stray from her information, used it to fuel the plan, and lost his arm in the process.
Flash-forward to Erwin in the hospital. Beardwin.
Go back to when they brought him back to the hospital.
We don't see that, right? No, we don't.
But you know who else would've been in the hospital receiving treatment for burns and possible concussion, etc.?
Hanji probably saw the direct results of her instructions to Erwin.
Now flash-forward to Beardwin.
Remember, back about forty years ago when you first started reading this meta? Remember what I mentioned how the Japanese language has different types of pronouns? It also has different kinds of politeness.
In the Japanese version of the scene where Beardwin does the creepy-ass smile, Hanji enters the room speaking pretty casually, like “hey what's up Erwin--oh shit Pyxis is here too” might as well have been the actual translation. Her speech goes from casual to formal the second she sees Pyxis. Of course, up to this point, Hanji had always used casual speech with Erwin, but the stark contrast to how she speaks to Pyxis, who is a pretty easy-going guy around the Corps veterans, just drives home the fact that they are familiar with one another.
In addition, we once again see Hanji give Erwin information, and boy howdy. Does he take it and run with it.
So begins the Uprising arc.
This is the arc that just pushed me face-first into EruHan, to be perfectly honest.
This is also the arc where the language usage is the most important.
At this point, the three veterans (Erwin, Levi, and Hanji) are split up for a little while. Levi and Hanji are sent to watch over the 104th while Erwin does his thing (again). However, Hanji has a little “side project”--she is still keeping watch over Pastor Nick, until the Central Police murder him. She and Levi torture them, and that's a thing.
Due to the heavy focus on Historia and Eren, things are kind of quiet for the vets for a while, until Eren remembers some information from a dream, and yet again, Hanji brings that information to Erwin for him to put to good use.
This is one of the most important scenes in the arc, and for this ship.
First, note how calmly Erwin receives the flustered Hanji. He offers her food and water without question and immediately listens. (An aside: Erwin is probably one of the most patient characters in the series.) After explaining everything, Hanji then asks Erwin, “What should we do?” (Another aside: Don't forget how much these vets trust Erwin. Ever.)
Erwin's at least one step ahead of everyone at all times, of course, so he has an answer, but part of that answer is pretty startling: Erwin names Hanji as the next Commander of the Survey Corps. He then promptly leaves, with Hanji staring after him (be still my heart) and is soon arrested once again.
This is a scene that I can't help but dissect, simply because there's just so much there.
I'm also going to be bitter for the rest of my life that the anime strayed so much from the manga in this arc generally, but that's not the focus right now.
So, okay, remember the pronouns example I gave earlier?
Hanji uses “watashi,” Levi uses “ore,” Armin uses “boku,” etc. Most of the characters are very consistent with pronoun usage, and most of them default to either “watashi,” simply because they are in the military, methinks.
Erwin, however (and unsurprisingly), is one of the characters who changes his pronoun usage. In fact, he is the one who changes it the most that I've seen so far in the series. He switches frequently between just two, “ore” and “watashi,” but what does this mean, exactly? What is there to gain from knowing the details behind his pronoun usage?
We see Erwin using “watashi” most frequently in two situations: he uses it in formal situations as the “Commander” towards people like Zackley, Pyxis, etc., and he uses it when speaking with a “softer” demeanor, such as early interactions with Eren.
Erwin uses “ore” as a Commander might--with authority. It also seems to be his go-to generally--in other words, if he did not have any social obligations to worry about, no public faces to protect, he would use “ore.”
So, toward Levi, Erwin uses “ore” pretty much exclusively. After all, though he respects Levi, he has no reason to be gentle or keep face--in other words, no reason to use “watashi.”
However, toward Hanji, Erwin almost always uses “watashi.” (I should also note, he uses “omae” with “ore” and “kimi” with “watashi” accordingly.) The speech is more familiar, gentler almost. I wouldn't have given it much thought if it weren't for the one time he does use “ore” toward Hanji.
That time happens to be when he names her the next Commander of the Survey Corps.
If you recall, that scene takes place with them talking one on one about the note that Eren has left for Hanji to read regarding his memories of a conversation between Ymir and Bertholdt. Erwin eventually has summons--ones that he is sure will lead to his arrest, and he then names Hanji his successor.
To me, after seeing all of their interactions, I think that Erwin definitely shows some favoritism toward Hanji and holds a soft spot for her. After all, if you think back to the OVA, Hanji was the one to really prove herself and stand toe to toe with him. I think he admires such stubbornness, for reasons we can only speculate now.
When I think about how he previously had spoken to Hanji, it was always so...intimate? Like, “I value this person and their opinions. We are close.” Using “ore” breaks that down and instead builds a wall between them. It's like he was saying, “I'm serious. This isn't a joke. You have to listen to me this time.”
It's worth noting that I've spoken to a few other Japanese fans about this part, both EruHan shippers and not, and everyone seems to agree that it seems like he did it for the sake of seeming authoritative, to make sure that this time, Hanji would listen without questioning him.
Of course, after the fact, Hanji questions it.
And I think that just drives my point home.
If you think back, or rather, forward in the manga, we see Hanji get handed a lot of shit--from Eren, the general populace, supposed allies. After one particular event, where Eren grabs Hanji and treats her like a piece of trash rather than his own Commander, Hanji escapes with humor, but behind closed doors, she feels frustrated and lost.
“Erwin, this was your one mistake... Why did you make me the Commander...?”
Erwin did not want Hanji to double-check him. He did not want her to question him like she normally did. He just wanted her to listen to him and take the order, so she did. So it's even more natural for her to doubt it now. She didn't get that chance in the first place--Erwin took it away from her, and she let him, because she trusted him explicitly.
We hear about it constantly with Erwin and Levi, but don't forget:
Erwin and Hanji's relationship is also built on trust.
So, let's go back to after the political arc--they decide to go back to Shiganshina, and we have what has come to be known as the serum bowl. Yay! Sounds fun, right?
But it's important to dissect for the sake of this fucking essay.
I'm gonna skip straight to the good stuff--it comes down to a choice between saving Armin or Erwin. Levi is pretty much set on giving it to Armin--until a soldier brings Erwin's body back, and he's clinging to life. Eren and Mikasa get hysterical, they fight, and it looks like Mikasa is gonna straight up become THE Ackermann, until someone interrupts them.
It's Hanji, and she's injured and all alone. At this point, she's lost Moblit and part of her vision, and now she could lose Erwin, too. This person she trusts and respects probably more than anyone in the world might die. I think it affected her on more than just a personal level too, obviously--the Commander she entrusted her life and well-being to is on the brink of death, and she is supposed to somehow take his place.
Hanji obviously takes Levi's side, insisting that Erwin should be the one who gets the serum and a second lease on life. She pulls Mikasa away, holding her closely, and tells her that she understands what she's feeling, what it's like to lose someone you care about.
But, “Erwin is the hope of humanity.”
Those are Hanji's words. They're heavy. So fucking heavy.
If you questioned the respect and trust and love in their relationship (even just platonically) before, at that point, you really can't anymore, unless you decide to be in complete denial.
However, if you're caught up with the manga, you know how it goes--Erwin pulls a last minute “stunt,” then retires (cough) as Armin is given the serum and transforms into a Titan. Levi chooses Armin in order to let Erwin die as a human and not as a monster, and tries to talk himself through the choice out loud.
Hanji, however, has her eyes only on Erwin, and she is with him until his last moments of...pre-retirement...
Okay, but here's a thing I really want to point out.
Flocke, the dumb bastard who brought Erwin's life back (he's not dumb for doing that, btw), is the one who brings up the notion that it should be Erwin who receives the serum, because only Erwin had the capability of becoming a monster who could save them. That thought scared Levi, who held and continues to hold Erwin in very high esteem, and is what essentially pressed him into giving Armin the serum instead.
Do you think that thought scared Hanji?
Though we never hear one way or the other, I really don't think so.
When has Hanji ever feared the Titans?
No, it's not even just that--Hanji saw the Titans as equals. She saw them as just a different kind of human, really.
Think back to Sawney and Bean, wayyyyy way back. Think about how she recognized their personalities, respected them, and loved them as the way that they were. And she had no idea what the truth behind them was. She had no idea at that time that they were humans.
Think about how she treated Eren as a Titan shifter (before he started being ...whatever he is now). She respected him, was kind to him, and she didn't even know him.
I think it's safe to say that her relationship with Erwin would not have really changed. She would have probably respected him even more than before.
...There's honestly so much more I could say about the ship on micro-levels, but I wanted to hit these big points because not only are many of them lost in translation, but they are highly underappreciated. I get tired of seeing them left out of the main fandom, when it's such a delightful, wholesome ship that has plenty to work with in both canon and AUs.
But, if you're interested in hearing the smaller things, hmu. I think about this ship all the damn time. Everyone should have some level of appreciation for it.
