#snk chapter 85

[super-peace-fangirl]

My current mood 😢

[momtaku]

Do you have any theory about Colossal/Bertholdt saying "it hurts" when Armin wakes up in last episode? Have a nice day ;)

From a storytelling perspective it added weight to a death that was gruesome and devoid of emotion. Showing his titan form crying and in pain helped reinforce Bert’s humanity and hopefully elicited some sympathy from the reader. It also added to Armin’s later revulsion at the idea of cannibalizing his former friend

But I think the primary reason is that it helps reinforce the idea of the memory transference that can happen with titan inheritance. Eren later asks Armin if he received any memories for Bert and Armin replied, “No. Nothing that seemed useful”. Some have speculated that Armin was lying at this moment. If so, that panel of Armin remembering Bert is a hint of that.

Thanks for the ask!

[ada2987]

NO THEY ARE NOT 

[say-lon-i]

i saw the inktober day 3 prompt and snapped

[momtaku]

Hey! I would like to know if something happened or I made it up without realizing, did nile tell Levi to take care of Erwin? When? I can't seem to remember but I am sure I saw it somewhere. Thanks.

I don’t remember anything like that in the canon manga but I’ll publish this in case anyone else does.

You might be remembering an amalgamation of things. In Nile’s Good Night Sweet Dreams Dear story, Nile dreams of Erwin and hopes for his survival. Erwin is fighting along side someone in the dreams, but there is no mention of Levi.

In chapter 85, Nile is seen sharing Erwin’s theories with the other Commanders. He smiles sheepishly as he’s retelling them. The implication is that he hopes Erwin will return so he’ll be able to apologize to him directly.

Angsty Nile grieving is high on my wish list. As is Nile being angry with Levi for not choosing Erwin. Until I get those things, I rely on @cherryamber‘s fic “Their Reflected Light” which is honestly just perfect.

Another fic rec if you enjoy canon compliant non-shippy Nile and Erwin, is by @flecksofpoppy’s wonderful fic “one who sings with his tongue on fire”.

Thanks for the ask! Sorry I couldn’t be of more help! 

(EDIT: @lounaskolo shared the link anon was looking for. Thank you!!)

[tardisesandtitans]

I had a weird dream that Zeke and Reiner kidnapped Hange after the recent chapter and Zeke made Reiner tie her up and torture her like Lexa did to Raven in season 2 of The 100 (sorry, spoilers for anyone who's not seen it) and Reiner clearly didn't want to do it because Hange was really scared and crying and she couldn't see because Zeke actually put a blindfold on her, then Zeke decided to become a even bigger douchebag by telling Reiner that Bertholdt died and she just watched and Reiner reacted TERRIFYING and Hange was even more scared than before and that's where my dream ended.

[dontvapeonthepizza]

When you can't save all your friends from dying

[momtaku]

Hi!! How do you think Zackley and the higher ups will react when they realize that only nine out of a couple hundred Survey Corps soldiers have returned. I remember in earlier chapters a higher up telling Erwin that failure wasn't an option or something like that??

Truth be told, I feel like the higher ups have come to expect catastrophic losses from the Survey Corps. Risky as this expedition was, they had no reason to expect anything different. Stakes being what they were, sealing Wall Maria was worth any number of casualties. 

The question now, was the mission a failure? No. The Survey Corps successfully sealed the wall and killed the Colossal Titan. As an added bonus, the Survey Corps has a new shifter and they still have the Coordinate. Best of all, they have in their possession the lost knowledge of the world. A talented spin doctor could call this a success.

(True - another colossal titan could reopen the wall, but there is no firm evidence that another colossal type exists. Reiner is capable of gate smashing but not wall crushing.)

The only ones who won’t call the mission a success are those who understood the importance of Erwin Smith.

I think the other Commanders will be among that group. I have no doubt they will recognize the enormity of the loss. 

Nile will be impacted the most. His Good Night Sweet Dreams story mentions that Nile searches each list of expedition survivors looking for names he recognizes. As he does so, Erwin is on his mind. 

Not being able to give Erwin the apology he deserves is not going to sit well with him. One characteristic of Nile that runs deeply through the manga is admitting his mistakes and taking action. This time he won’t be able to unless he gives that energy to fight for Erwin’s cause.