These are just my thoughts as I’m rereading the manga from the beginning. I plan on reading two volumes per day before the next chapter is out. I’m doing this for my own housekeeping but feel free to have a look at my ramblings and comment if you want. This will not be organized whatsoever.
Chapter 1 - To You, 2000 Years From Now
Considering the recent reveal that Isayama plotted out the general history before he began serializing, I’m now more convinced than ever that the title of this chapter is significant and has to do with PATHS.
The introduction to the series is still one of my favourite moments; getting a glimpse of the Colossal Titan, switching to the Survey Corps, and then being hit by “See you later, Eren”... It’s really impactful.
I wonder if Eren’s contact with that tree had anything to do with his “dream”...
Also, the transition here caught my attention. Why make the year segregate the scene like that? It kind of feels like the year is flashing as a means of reminding Eren that he’s in the present. Especially if you take into account what the Japanese fandom pointed out about the electrical-looking tendrils surrounding the year, which may be representative of PATHS.
Something I’ve noticed is that Eren would constantly have these “dreams” and wake up without remembering them...but it turned out they were memories on two occasions. So I get the feeling that “See you later, Eren” is a memory too. Either from himself in the future, or from Kruger.
Whatever that “dream” was about, it must’ve been sad...
Omggg Eren is so cute
Ugh Hannes :( I gotta say I love his line about how a lack of active duty means they’re living in a time of peace and that they should cherish that.
Eren’s ideology since he was little is interesting to me because it actually kind of goes along with what Major Gross said. The natural state of living beings is to fight to survive, but humans have gotten so good at making everything convenient for them that most of us don’t have to struggle on a daily basis to do that. Eren wanted to earn his right to live rather than just sit behind some artificial safety. I admire that.
Eren not getting deterred by the site of the SC coming back defeated even at the age of 10...wow. He understood it wasn’t all fun and games, but he wasn’t scared off by the truth. Again, I really admire that.
Interesting to see Isayama kept using the wind effect throughout the first chapter; really gives an ominous feeling. Eren even notices it at one point after the Colossal Titan appears.
I’m glad Eren hit that dude on the head; he was being so inconsiderate of the people who died.
I feel like Mikasa never really understood Eren...
To me, Grisha was way more amicable than Carla in the manga. He’s the one who says “welcome back”, whereas Carla was being all “you’re late” and just didn’t look happy at all??
Still pissed off at Mikasa for blabbing about the SC to Eren’s parents; really wasn’t her place to share that (but I guess it was important for the plot).
Eren’s reasoning for wanting to join the SC was so pure, I’m cry. He really did have a curious mind, it wasn’t just about killing the Titans. Also, really love what Grisha says about nothing being able to stop an inquisitive mind.
Woah Grisha’s reaction to Eren’s reasonings...can’t imagine what was going on in his mind. Interesting how his eyes were shaded when he promised Eren to show him the basement.
Eren’s happiness when he got Grisha’s support :’(
I believe Grisha was going to tell Eren the truth and then let him decide what he wanted to do (as in, if he wanted to continue the mission in his place by inheriting the AT)...I wonder if he had someone else in mind originally though since his time was running out...but considering it was shown that he gave up on his mission in chapter 120, maybe he just planned on dying “naturally” with the AT power?
Interesting how in the manga, the bullies don’t say anything that suggests that Eren usually loses his fights whereas in the anime, that’s implied. I’m really not a fan of how the anime aimed to make Eren look “more useless”. I don’t get why Isayama requested that change.
I love how Isayama integrated self-consciousness/insecurities in EMA from the first chapter. Eren was insecure about appearing strong, Armin was embarrassed about needing to be rescued, and Mikasa was worried about losing someone who’s important to her again.
Damn right Eren, Karl Fritz was a coward.
Also, after seeing this panel, the place “See you later, Eren” takes place in looks like a grassy field after all...👀 (I couldn’t really tell before).
Aha! I’ve always wondered if Paradis ever experienced earthquakes. I finally have my answer. Seems like they are familiar with it after all. Interesting. Maybe they were never strong enough to affect the Wall Titans though.
I really love how Isayama drew Eren from the start. He looked so childish and cute.
Chapter 2 - That Day
Ugh seeing Shiganshina get destroyed like that...my heart hurts every time.
Damn Eren is so selfless. He immediately thought of Carla. Armin and Mikasa were just about to run for themselves.
How do people not think the characters looked 10 here? They were literally babies.
Omg I’ve seen this part so many times but I get more affected with every reread; I’m actually crying unlike the first time I saw it. Eren loved Carla so much and was trying so hard to get her out :’(
Ugh I hate how Hannes is just “Mr. Hannes”. That’s his first name. Why did we never get a last name???
Oh I like how Hannes gets a whole inner monologue in the manga. Nice to see his thought process.
Ah I really love that human moment where Carla says “don’t go” and tries to stop herself from calling out for help. She was really brave :’(
Ugh Carla was literally squeezed to death...
The “you aren’t strong enough” comments always struck a nerve in Eren because he was insecure about his strength... I know Isayama said he didn’t really understand Eren’s character at first because he was so hell-bent on his mission to kill the Titans but he really felt human to me from the very start. Like, Isayama incorporated these vulnerabilities in him from the beginning, even if he didn’t realize it himself.
I really like how Eren didn’t blame Hannes after he truthfully admitted that he was scared. He was angry and upset but he still understood. People don’t give him any credit for his maturity here. He could have kept going but stopped. Also, how can people be mad at Eren for crying after Carla died??? Y’all are heartless.
Mikasa’s headache number 1: failure to protect Carla > Eren distressed emotionally > failure to protect Eren? I have a theory that the headaches actually happen when the Ackermans fail to protect who they care about, and it doesn’t have to be in a physical sense.
Hmm the Armoured Titan scene is very short in the manga. I think I actually prefer the anime adaptation for that part. Also, I’m sorry but Reiner’s Titan in the beginning looked like the Dusks from KHII dadjsfa.
Omg Eren and Mikasa were such cuties helping Carla out with the dishes.
“Is crying the only thing the weak can do?!” God I love this line. Eren has so much motivation for self-improvement; I wish I was like that.
Eren’s vow to kill the Titans was literally a coping mechanism for him to deal with PTSD...
Hmm...interesting how the “850” year panel is decorated differently with black horizontal lines. Maybe to indicate that the previous bit was a flashback/memory...? Or kind of like a blackout effect?
Wow I never fully grasped just how small Wall Rose is in comparison until now. No wonder they struggled for years when they were pushed back.
I can’t say I mind how the manga delved into the meat of things right away but I also like how the anime focused more on establishing the relationships between the characters first. Honestly, I can’t decide which version I prefer for the beginning of the story. They both have their perks and downsides. I do feel like the anime wasted too much time on some things so I appreciate how the manga was to the point.
I’m sorry but Reiner was so ugly in the beginning dfqfadafl. Isayama only drew him handsome starting from the Marley arc in my opinion.
Huh the placement of the Top 10 made me realize that Eren technically defeated RBA in order: Annie, Bertolt, and we’re pending on Reiner.
Omg Connie is such a cutie, he was so happy to hear he made it in the Top 10.
I gotta say, I hate how Isayama drew Sasha’s hair in the beginning. It looks so awkward?? Like she had too little of it. I like the anime’s adaption for her hair design better.
Ahhh I’ve missed the Current Publicly Available Information sections!!!
Did Marley know about the Wall structure? Because RBA knew exactly which section of the Wall (i.e. the gates) to attack. Guess it makes sense if the WH was in on Karl Fritz’ plan from the very start...
Chapter 3 - Night of the Disbanding Ceremony
Wow, Jean was insufferable in the beginning. Also, what’s with this expression...? I’m scared 😂 (he looked like a shark in the beginning of the manga lmfao).
Oh Marco...he wanted to protect the King but the King didn’t deserve it at all... He really was all about honour though.
This whole part is so funny I’m dead (Poor Armin though).
Also, interesting how Reiner was hanging out with Eren...very interesting.
Me reading Eren’s speech (”So what you’re saying is, ‘I don’t think we can win, so I’m giving up’” and “I...have a dream. It’s to exterminate the Titans and leave this cramped walled-up world. My dream is to explore...the outside world.”): YES👏🏻 YES👏🏻 YES👏🏻 YOU TELL THEM 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻. God, Eren’s speeches make me wanna go fight for freedom too. He sparked something in everyone who was listening. Even Jean... I love how it pans to Sasha and Connie too (his expression especially!).
“Pain in the ass” 👀👀👀 (Okay that’s totally just the shipper in me but that chemistry...)
Damn, this panel...it’s literally the look of the Attack Titan.
Eren is so flexible :O (But I mean, they all are since it’s required for the 3dmg).
Asdasldj this one girl is literally salivating watching Jean and Eren fight. I’m dead.
Omg I can’t get over how petty Jean was over the whole Mikasa thing.
Ahem, excuse me, but Eren treated Mikasa like this (he wanted her to make her own choices and not just keep herself enslaved to him) and y’all still have the nerve to act like he abused her or mistreated her his whole life. Bye Felicia.
Dasfjk he’s so beautiful!!!
Eren was never about forcing people who didn’t want to fight to do so. He had his opinions but he backed off and let people make their own decisions at the end of the day. Also, he wasn’t that eager to have his friends join the SC (I believe because he understood the chances of them dying was very high).
Omg what a precious bean.
God, I love Eren’s interactions with Hannes. And also, Eren reassuring Hannes that Carla’s death wasn’t his fault...😢
Oh in the manga, Hannes says Grisha saved his “family”, so there’s no implication that he was married strictly. Makes sense.
I really prefer how the memory of the injection was revealed in the manga. It tells us that Eren’s subconsciousness was trying to retrieve the memory every time Grisha was mentioned, but there was a block. So he would see it in his dreams, but forget about it as soon as he woke up. It was never confirmed but my headcanon is that it was because of the “memory swipe” block all the Paradis-Eldians inherited. It could only be broken once the truth was revealed in reality; Eren starts remembering and seeing Frieda’s memories as they learned more about their history, so I think they have to become aware of certain things to trigger those memories.
That scene though... it really hurts to see it knowing everything we know now. I don’t think Eren was wrong when he said Grisha was acting crazy ever since he found out about Carla dying (I think that sentence was structured/translated poorly because it makes it sound like they spent a long time together after Carla’s death when that wasn’t the case, but its implication is what’s important I guess). I feel like that was the final trigger for Grisha. Everything was repeating, and he just fell back to his past. I think he really didn’t want the responsibility anymore and it wasn’t fair to Eren, but I understand where he was coming from.
ALERT: Eren was wearing a different shirt here!!!
SOB
SAME CONNIE.
Ohh I see. I feel like the wind is symbolic of an upcoming Titan transformation. It’s kind of like nature senses what’s about to happen before it does... Makes sense since we know how PATHS connect everything.
I’m sorry but Eren was leader material from the start?? He’s literally the one who directed the squad when they were all too frozen to do anything (was he the squad leader...?)
Ugh yes Sasha my girl 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻. And people had the nerve to act like Levi was the first to do this move.
What did I tell y’all? Eren has had PTSD this whole time, but noooo only Reiner has a mental condition 🙄.
Eren 👏🏻 was 👏🏻 the 👏🏻 only 👏🏻 one 👏🏻 who 👏🏻 was 👏🏻 brave 👏🏻 enough 👏🏻 to 👏🏻 face 👏🏻 the 👏🏻 Colossal 👏🏻 Titan 👏🏻 on 👏🏻 his 👏🏻 own 👏🏻
Iconic:
Chapter 4 - First Battle
Wow, that eye contact...
I’m always so amazed at how close Eren got to taking down the Colossal Titan the first time (and he was all alone; he didn’t use no one’s help). I’m so glad he was the one who got to take him down in the end.
Wait, Armin says they put up that rock there in Trost to plug up the Wall but can’t move it...? What the heck, how’d they get it there in the first place then??? I always thought that was a random piece of rubble from Bertolt kicking in the Wall. I’m confused.
Pretending to be innocent:
Honestly, I don’t blame Eren for getting mad at Mikasa with how she kept acting like he couldn’t take care of himself at all. I would be offended too. He was in the Top 10, and she still babied him. And since this was something he was always insecure about, it must’ve felt like she was rubbing salt into the wound. (I mean I understand she was worried for him, but still, it was too much and I’d resent her for it if I was in his place too.)
Eren really kept referring to learning about what’s outside the Walls throughout the beginning of the manga?? I don’t know why he says his dream got overshadowed by revenge at one point when the reasoning he kept falling back to was not knowing the truth yet.
ALERT: Eren was wearing a different shirt here too! I guess the kind he’s usually in is just a common style that’s available in different sizes (maybe it’s a Shiganshina style since Grisha wore it too?)
Huh the Instructor says that most of the Titans have a male physique, not all. People are always pressed about how the Female Titan is supposed to be the only one that looks feminine though. Unless he meant their faces? Because there have been some feminine-looking Titan faces.
This moment is so cute, I’m cry. (Also, Eren can make this sort of expression I’m shook).
Ugh the way that Abnormal swallowed Thomas whole still makes me queasy. I get a lump in my throat every time I see it.
I like how the whole scene plays out better in the manga though. It’s too dramatic in the anime. Like with that Titan jumping to eat Eren’s leg and Eren falling a huge ass distance. It’s much more brief in the manga and I appreciate that.
Omg Mina died such a horrible death :( Rereading all this really makes me so mad at RBA again. I mean, I was never over what they did, but man they certainly deserved to suffer for what they did the second time around.
Armin’s reaction is really realistic. I like how Isayama integrated human responses into battle situations. Lots of people would also freeze like that.
Ugh this part, my heart can’t handle it 😭😭😭.
I still don’t understand how Eren made it fast enough to get Armin out of Santa Titan though...why did it take 10 years for Armin to fall? That part just isn’t realistic.
Also, I was literally hearing the track from the anime in my head while reading this part. That’s how much I watched that scene 😂.
