~~~~~~I have not read Shingeki no Kyojin manga past the end of Season Four
Attack on Titan Season 3.5 is without a doubt one of the greatest anime spectacles of all time. Great action, great music, great clarity, everything that makes Attack on Titan a fan-favorite comes together in Season 3.5 to deliver a season that ties together all the loose ends the show has knitting since Season 1, while opening a new door in the end to the future of the show
In my previous Season Four review, I tried to debate whether or not Season Four was actually better than 3.5. And ultimately, I concluded it wasn't. What Season 3.5 does right is in my opinion where Season Four falls behind in. Season 3.5 is an all-action season. It goes right in with so much hype coming out of Season 3 and it uses its momentum to deliver 5 straight episodes where the action doesn't slow in the slightest. Compare this to Season Four, it starts out slow, but building. Building to the episodes Declaration of War, War Hammer Titan, and Assault, three all-action episodes. But then it stops. Season Four has to cut back and go into slow mode again so it can explain what is actually happening. Season 3.5 doesn't have this problem. It goes full steam ahead coming off the politics-heavy Season 3. And once all the fighting and the death and the tragedies are over, the season is allowed to slow down to deliver one of my favorite endings. Season Four has action early in the season and isn't really given time to cool down before it eventually has to pick up again to be able to end on the cliffhanger it does.
Spoilers now
Going away from the technical stuff now, Season 3.5 is tied for my favorite season (with S4) for a number of reasons.
Attack on Titan Season 3.5 is the ending to Attack on Titan
Well, no, it isn't, there still plenty of opened doors needing to be closed, and obviously, there's a full season after it. However, 3.5 is totally different from 4. I explained in my Season 4 review that maybe besides Season 1, every season has at least some cheerful and feel-good moments, some moments of glee and humanity among all the darkness and despair that is Attack on Titan. but not Season Four. Season Four is dark, it's sad, there are no feel-good moments at all. Season 3.5 has a happy ending, for the most part. It is also the last time we really see the characters as the kids we met them as (since there is a literal time skip, but also each majorly changes in their own ways.) I really believe there is an argument to be made that you can call Season 3.5 an ending to the show, but not the ending. I see Season 4 as a bonus to 3.5, where I feel grateful we get even more Attack on Titan after 3.5. Season 3.5 is the last time we see the main plot points of the first three seasons. The walls, the titans, the scouts, the military police, the cadets, none of this matters in Season 4, because the plot has thickened beyond it all so much.

What I don't like
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My three favorite characters of this season are Bertholdt, Armin, and Erwin. Three characters with three separate arcs that come to a close all in very different ways.
So why does Attack on Titan Season 3.5 Just Work?
Well, it's because it's short so it gets to the point. It's action-packed so it doesn't disappoint. It's full of character-centered moments to leave fans thinking. It's backed up by an absolute banging soundtrack. It has an emotional ending that very much concludes the "Titan" in "Attack on Titan." It answers the long unanswered questions, so the viewer isn't confused while turning the show on its head by introducing Marley. It is adapted, per-fect-ly.
I definitely think I can go more in-depth on my thinking, but I wrote this all in one sitting solely off my own in-the-moment thoughts.
Attack on Titan Season 3.5 is an absolute banger
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