Attack on Titan Season 3: Review by Seushe

*my first review, apologies for any mistakes made. Spoiler warning.

Attack on Titan, thus far, had brought some of the most exciting experiences in anime and was already considered a great show. What could possibly top the Reiner / Bertholdt reveal and everything else in the second season, with its ambitious statement of 'This show is something special'? Wit Studio not only ups the ante with Season 3, but eclipses it and sets the path for Attack on Titan to venture into masterpiece territory.

This season's story kicks off tense, nerve-wracking, and holds you in all the way. Right from the get-go, the new Levi Squad is forced into hiding and the Scout Regiment is suddenly cornered, fighting not titans anymore, but now fellow humans. A word I want to use to describe the first half of this season very closely is suspense. The scouts, and we the audience, don't know who the enemy is. Every episode we follow their story, as it slowly unveils to us the tragic selfishness of human leaders behind the walls, which itself is only the first layer of the bigger picture as a whole. Attack on Titan does wonders in keeping so much information from the audience and revealing it only when absolutely necessary, which brings viewers into an experience that will leave you astounded when major reveals and events happen.

My only complaint, although mild, is with the latter half of the story, as it does slow down a little once Rod Reiss' titan is vanquished and the conflict appears to have been resolved - a bit too early in the season, in my opinion. Despite this, I still value the episodes following that give us insight into the backstories of Kenny, and later Commander Keith Shadis, and the latter's relation to Eren. It was good exploration into what otherwise seemed a trivial coincidence, showing the result of a man who did not take his chance and was not 'chosen' to be 'great'.

The characters explored in this season drastically expand this show's universe, allowing it to be more diverse in substance from its predecessors and offers viewers a deeper look into human nature. In this context, we get to see the motivations, backstories, and just explore in general so many characters in the cast; Erwin, Levi and Kenny, Historia, Eren to name the main few. How they interacted in the past and present is also shown to us in exposition done very well, shedding light on the otherwise cloudy universe of Attack on Titan. It goes without saying that this keeps us invested in these characters, wanting to know who will end up where at the end of all this political and titan turmoil.

The animation and sound production in this season is some of my favourite in all of anime, in short. Wit Studio continued to go all-out, giving viewers a stunning display of crisp, beautiful and clean animation throughout. Accompanied by the earth-shaking soundtrack of Hiroyuki Sawano, the atmosphere in Season 3 continues AoT tradition of nothing short of incredible, this time with suspense at its core. You could rewatch this season and still be completely blown away whenever the track builds up, the subtle but defined violin strings adding to the chill in your spine during tense moments, and the myriad of grand, incredible music accompanying the rest of the show. To summarize, I felt unworthy of watching this incredible production for free.

Taking a step back, I would like to dedicate some time in regards to this Season's OP and ED. Red Swan completely diverts from the series' usual Linked Horizon formula of the epic, triumphant sounds of Guren no Yumiya and Shinzou wo Sasageyo, instead delighting us with a heartfelt masterpiece. The visuals and lyrics convey such meaningful emphasis on the characters' beginnings and hopes for the future all packaged in 1 minute and 30 seconds nothing short of perfection. It is for this reason, and much more in-depth analysis I will not go into here, that I believe that Red Swan is Attack on Titan's best opening sequence. The ending sequence, Akatsuki no Requiem, is great in its own right too; with substantial meaning in its visuals and reaffirming, at this point humanity's, motto of 'Dedicate your hearts!'.

In conclusion, Attack on Titan Season 3 brings all its cards to the table, ready to pull in the viewer and pushes the series to new heights. The core messages of this season; trust, courage, and faith among others are driven home in a jaw-dropping manner I am sure to never forget, and this show is an experience you do not want to miss.
____