Attack on Titan was supposedly the greatest work in more or less everyone's mind until the last chapter happened. How is that possible? Did the conclusion really fail that badly? Yes, and no-ish. I feel like people are overreacting and joining the current bandwagon of insulting the author and downplaying his efforts instead of looking at the story as a whole. They are only fixated on the bad. That's all they see. Don't get me wrong here. I am not saying the ending was perfect by any means. Because it was not. Far from it. There's all kind of issues about it as it for one ruins the whole character of Eren. Not that there was much there, to begin with. I cannot be the only one who thinks that after the freedom chapter. Eren's whole character has made little no sense, well, at first glance anyway. You have to dig deep to find the corresponding puzzle pieces that complement each other. If you don't agree with me, please tell me how you even start describing Eren? We've been following him since the first chapter/episode.

He came off as an obnoxious kid fueled by his desire for revenge on the titans that made his life a living hell and caused his parents' death. Then somewhere along the lines, his hatred changed to the humans outside of the walls. When it was revealed, they were the reason for creating those titans and keeping filling the Paradis island with them. All of this makes sense. It's here where things get dicey. Eren, for some reason, goes full-on Hitler. Yes, I know it's cause he saw the past, future, and present all at the same time. Eren might've seen Marley going on a mass slaughter of his people, and that made him go nuts. It all really transpired after he touched Historia's hands, causing the founder's ability to activate because of her royal blood, which acts as a key. Not to mention, when Eren and the others were on the expedition to Marley, the ultimatum for peace failed. Before that, there were multiple other things he tried to reach for a treaty and save the Eldians, but the outside world was hell-bent on hating and abusing their quirk to turn into titans for their own games, plus the resources found in Paradis. In other words, it makes sense for Eren to hate the marleyans but to go on a full-on genocide.

How does that seem logical and solve the problem? Eren killed off 80% of humanity at what cost? Apparently, it was the only thing he could think of that would improve the situation for the Eldians. In what world does that make even a little sense? As it was hinted at during the final panels, despite Erens's effort to dispel the hatred Eldian received from Marley and the outside world as a whole. The war between the Eldians and them is still going on even if it's not as violent and unfair as before. It's Isayama plain and obvious telling us humans will always be human. Oh wait, it gets even worse. With this new chapter added to the epilogue things are clearer but not in a satisfactory way. It seems like nothing happened. In the end, Marley and Eldians seem to be at each other throat, the grave Eren was packed into has spurt into and become the new tree of life. The person seen looking at the opening of the tree is clearly the new Ymir. I guess, Isayama is telling us it all starts over again but on a much grander and brutal scale? There are many things wrong with the conclusion, but the biggest damage remains in Eren who's at the forefront. He brutally beat Armin and absolutely roasted the hell out of Mikasa without holding anything back. Yet, it's revealed Eren was always simping for her behind the shadows. How does that make sense? Do you remember in season two when Mikasa confessed his undying love? Eren just shafted her to the side.

To be fair, a titan was about to attack. But he never gave her an answer afterwards. Is that what someone would do if they are in love? If not, answer. Eren should've shown some indication those words meant something to him, but it sure didn't look like they did. Mikasa and Eren relationship never suggested they would have a romantic relationship ever. She's always been like a family with her own one-sided love of Eren to the point she took up Eren's lifeless head and kissed it. Tracing back to the expedition to Marley, Eren asked Mikasa what he meant for her, but she stumbled upon an answer, and family zoned him. She does love him, but Mikasa doesn't look at herself as girly or someone that can walk beside Eren and lacks confidence in herself. Her character was meant to overcome those flaws of her and grow into someone that can embrace herself. She seemed to have reached that point by the end, but Eren and Mikasa as a couple was never meant to be. I don't like it, but Jean and Mikasa as a married couple at least give resolution to Mikasa as a character even if it's out of nowhere and contradicts a ton of things about Mikasa. These are details that never were hinted in fact, Mikasa kept the scarf which symbolized the bond and love she feels for Eren.

However, if you look at it from a broader perspective. Eren had far more reason to fall in love with Historia and might've been. As they shared multiple passionate and heartfelt moments. When Eren was about to give in to being eaten by Historia as she was about to be forced into a pure titan, he had learned the truth about his father. Historia was there to knock some sense into him and pushed him to keep on living. Eren was even absolutely livid when he learned that Historia children were to be born and raised as cattle to do Marley's and others bidding. Let's also not forget during that scene when Eren and Historia were walking together contemplating what the future might bring. Historia was blushing as they were chatting away before Mikasa walked up, looking like she was about slaughtered a certain someone. In short, Eren falling in love with Historia should've been what happened. Historia even might've given Eren the idea of letting the titans wipe out the human because of that scene during the cave when Historia saved Eren from his depraving self. There are all kinds of other hints suggesting it. I want to convey here that Historia and Eren have a closer bond with each other than Mikasa and Eren ever had. They talk with each other and share their pain and feelings. In Mikasa's case, she goes to Eren more often than not to warn him about dangers, protect him but not lend an ear for the deep and heavy stuff.

Apparently, Eren is the cause of letting his own father wipe out the royal bloodline of the previous Reiss family. Or rather, it was him from the future as he already had access to Attack titan, which can see and know the future. If you look it that way, Eren was always meant to become the villain because of the paths he took. But that doesn't change the fact that the present Eren during those times was innocent. It was not until he invoked the founder's ability that he went complete, Hitler alongside his Attack titan ability amping up. I hope I am making some sense. In short, my issue with the closure is things are not adding up as Isayama has written up to now. Eren's character built up after the freedom chapter makes little no sense anymore. All the clues have but been flushed down the toilet and become invalid. This is not my only gripe either. Eren, even after the freedom chapter, just felt like this mysterious entity who seemed to know everything, but we never genuinely understand him on a deeper level. He wants to make himself the villain and let others take care of him to make them into heroes who saved them from the devil himself. That's similar to a certain other anime, but unlike it, it flopped its execution. Well, that's beside the point. Why did Eren have to slaughter 80% of the popularity to succeeds in his goals? I know it's cause he wanted to make sure the outside world couldn't retaliate, but if peace was what Eren had in mind, there are many other ways to go about it. I doubt Eren couldn't just wipe out the haunting memory spanning 2 centuries from all the current living and future generations. In the end, his solution to the problem is that the nations are still a slave to their own ego and fear.

Another case of inconsistent writing is how Eren implied he was the one that leads Dina Fritz titan to his own mother. Even if it was his future self, it's still quite messed up, but that's not what I am trying to get here. What this does is pretty much contradicts Eren's core goal of wanting vengeance for his family and the people who died due to the collapse of the wall when the colossus titan broke down the wall Maria and broke Shingashina out in utter chaos. I also didn't like how Ymir obeying Fritz for 2000 years is why the titans' power exists. It's quite ludicrous to think a girl would love someone after their hometown got burned to cinders, her parents killed, and her own damn tongue got ripped out. Where is the logic in all of this? From what I see, Isayama sadly might've not planned out the complete story of Attack on Titan. The closure is sloppy and not nearly as fulfilling as most of us wanted. I am not going to call it horrible, though, as it's not. To think, Ymir has been a slave to love for 2000 years, but how did Mikasa fix this situation? I think what Isayama might've been trying to convey is that Ymir is a slave to love and other descendants of Karl Fritz. In which case, Eren, who is a descendant, and a subject of Ymir, when he got control of Ymir and the founder ability, he was effectively Fritz. Alongside Mikasa, who was equilevant to what Ymir was for Karl Fritz just for Eren. In other words, their connections were established. When Mikasa let go of her feelings for Eren and killed him, she also saved Ymir. As for how Eren could control founding without touching someone of Royal Blood. That might where Historia come in yet again. Eren and her might've gone at it. Yes, I am still a firm believer that baby is none other than Eren's, as it makes sense to me and by the clues, we have before us.

Even if Attack on Titan did get the rushed and inconsistent closure. It was not all bad. Let's not forget all of the incredible moments and good times we have following the journey of Eren and the others. Plus, many of the characters got closure. Zeke got it even if he got shafted by Levi the moment he had his head stuck out like whack-a-mole. Reiner is among others who have been pushed and been in misery, finally got the closure he needed. Armin's beginning was shaky and bumpy, but at the end of the road, he became independent and a strong leader figure who does not hesitate anymore to make important decisions. Mikasa always only knew Eren and breathed Eren, finally letting go of her love to kill him and save all the humans. No, she didn't let go of her love or connection, as that's what the scar symbolizes. Let's not forget Levi either, who had one of the most stunning panels and a beautiful closure to his story. He was able to avenge the dead. Then there's Gabi and Falco, one of the most enthralling supporting cast. I did find Gabi's development a bit too quick, but I am not going to complain about has-been now. It was still solid. At last, there is no denying the dove is meant to be Eren, and it represents he is at peace with himself, and the ability to fly shows he is free at last. Sure, the ending is not what we all hoped, but please don't get swallowed by hatred like the Marley's and Eldians, who still only seem to see the bad. It could've been a beautiful conclusion under different circumstances, but due to rushing, inconsistency, plot holes. It's just barely acceptable, at least in my eyes.

Let me get some of my thoughts out for the manga adaptation as a whole. Almost no one can deny that the anime for Attack on Titan is where it's, as the story in the manga can feel a bit overwhelming and sluggish at times. I am hopefully not the first to admit it felt a bit choring and tedious to read those dialogue boxes. It was not a pleasant experience during the political arc nor the final arc in the manga. The overall flow of things felt much better while it was animated, and it made it easier to remember with the extra bonus that comes with anime. Even so, Isayama has been able to deliver gorgeous panels with good attention to detail, even if the manga started out looking a bit iffy and rough around the edges. So taking all into account, I am more fan of the anime adaptation. Hence my preception for both might differ, if anything, ever so slightly. All in all, it started with a bang, but sadly, Attack on Titan might've dragged on blindly during the ending stages. As a result, saw itself become a colossal disappointment. Yet no one can deny it had its moment, despite the final immensely unfortunate circumstances. I'd say Isayama dropped the ball with this one BIG TIME.