────୨ৎ──── Opening Thoughts ────୨ৎ────
I went into Attack On Titan completely blind on my first watch, I hadn’t read the manga, I didn’t know the twists, and I definitely didn’t expect to be emotionally wrecked in the first FIVE MINUTES!! I knew it had hype for sure! But I had assumed it was just another action anime, the typical Shonan, with a gritty filter and loud yelling, and yeah, there was alot of yelling (I’m looking at you EREN!!) What I didn’t expect was the suffocating dread, the constantly shifting power dynamics or the sheer scale of everything. IT was one of those shows where by episode three, I realized this wasn’t something I’d just watch, I was about to EXPERIENCE IT!

────୨ৎ──── Story ────୨ৎ────
The premise is deceptively simple. Humanity has retreated behind massive walls to escape extinction at the hands of the grotesque, human eating Titans. But from the moment the Colossal Titan appears and shatters that illusion of safety, the narrative becomes something far more complex.
Season One is split into distinct phases:
The Horrifying Prologue with the fall of Wall Maria
The Cadet Training arc, which builds the world and the cast of characters.
The Trost arc, which throws us into war immediately
The female Titan Arc, which pivots the story toward political intrigue and mystery.
The themes of freedom, fear and human fragility are hammered in relentlessly. It’s not just about fight monsters, it’s about what humanity becomes when cornered. You see selfishness, cowardice, propaganda and corruption all playing roles just as if not more dangerous than the titans themselves.

It does occasionally slow down, especially during the fated anime flashbacks, or when the plot gets lost in some military dialogue. But when it hits? It hits HARD! The basement tease is almost cruel in hindsight, but it does its job, it makes you NEED answers.

────୨ৎ──── Characters ────୨ৎ────

This is where Season one surprised me. I didn’t expect to become this attached to characters who were clearly on the chopping block. But the Main trio
Eren Yeager is divisive. He's angry, reckless and so tunnel visioned on revenge that he becomes a danger to himself and everyone around him. But it works. His rage is raw and you believe it. You don’t always like him, but you understand him.
Mikasa Ackerman is emotionally muted but emotionally devastating, her quiet devotion, her deadpan strength, the way she just obliterates threats without hesitation. She’s a one woman army!
Armin Arlert is the slow burn, he starts as the weak link, but by the end of the season, he’s clearly the brain of the trio, and it’s satisfying watching his confidence grow.
The side characters are also surprisingly strong. Jean starts as a self cantered realist and slowly becomes one of the most human and relatable characters in the show. Sasa and COnnie provide rare levity. Annie, though quiet, leaves a HUGE impact. And then there’s Levi, who steals every frame he’s in with his clinical efficiency and dead- eyes intensity.
Even the characters who die early make you feel their loss and leave an impact on the cast that survive. Truly powerful writing.

────୨ৎ──── Visuals & Sound ────୨ৎ────
Wit Studio did NOT come to play! The animation, especially during ODM sequences, is pure adrenaline. There’s honestly nothing like seeing the scouts spin through the air, blades flashing, grappling across rooftops at lightning speed. It’s chaotic and graceful at the same time.
The Titans are Horrifying in their simplicity, almost uncanny valley in how they smile as they destroy. The direction leans into horror, especially with how deaths are framed, sudden, brutal and unflinching.
The soundtrack? An absolute BEAST! Hiroyuki Sawano goes insane here. “Vogel im Käfig”, “Attack on Titan”, “XL-TT” and “Call your name” are more than background music! They become emotional cues. The OPs are iconic, especially “Guren no Yumya”, which became an anthem for anime fans overnight!

────୨ৎ──── Enjoyment & Pacing ────୨ৎ────

This season was an emotional rollercoaster! I binged it and still felt like I couldn’t breathe between episodes. The pacing is intense in the best ways, just when you think you’re safe, the rug gets pulled again! I never knew which character would make it out of an episode alive.
It does have moments that drag however, especially when the story shifts to slower military planning scenes or longer internal monologues. But the payoff ALWAYS justifies it. There’s this constant feeling of “what the hell is gonna happen” that hooks you and doesn’t let go!
It’s hard to casually watch this show. It DEMANDS attention. It wants you invested. And I was! The whole way through.

────୨ৎ──── Final Thoughts ────୨ৎ────

Season one of Attack on Titan is one of the strongest anime debuts I’ve ever seen. It delivers horror, action, mystery and political drama with a level of confidence that few shows can match! While the pacing and exposition could use tightening, the emotional weight! The spectacle and the narrative ambition make it UNFORGETTABLE!

It’s rare that a show both overwhelms you and leaves you starving for more! That’s what season one does, it kicks down the door and leaves you with a basement key and NO IDEA what’s waiting inside, and trust me, by the end of this season YOU WANT TO KNOW!!!
────୨ৎ──── Final Score ────୨ৎ────
Story: 9/10
Characters: 9.5/10
Visuals: 9/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Overall: 9.4/10