Desperation can be lost in translation. Was what we witnessed less a matter of simple lashing out in anger…and more an image of a desperate young man searching for hope and making a final plea for alternative suggestions before the fates of so many people are finally sealed?

I do not for a moment believe that Eren had any seedy intent in his move of grabbing Commander Hange Zoë. Nor do I believe she truly interpreted it that way herself.

Why wasn’t Armin considered as a potential successor to Eren’s legacy? We take time to ponder that question, and we finally begin discussing those tension-filled exchanges between Eren and Hange.

The efforts to develop Paradis Island’s infrastructure give us a rare glimpse of calm and normalcy, and one member of the team in particular seems right at home. Plus, some extra thoughts on the matter of Hizuru’s oh-so-gracious offer.…

Appropriate quote to describe my feelings towards both Hizuru and Zeke in this episode? “My disappointment is immeasurable, and my day is ruined.”

Does our current story about a certain expectant mother really add up? Might the timing and numbering of this episode have special symbolism? And why didn’t Mikasa do more to address a certain question?

Why did Eren put his team at the forefront of combat? Has he really changed as much as some folks think? And might those apparent changes actually be less surprising and unusual than they first appear?

I wrap up my thoughts on MAPPA’s handling of the prison scenes thus far, address a final viewer complaint or two, and share a super-cool insight another user had regarding Onyankopon’s name.

In this next-to-last part of the reaction, I try to address the complaints folks have about the anime’s handling of that mirror scene. And as it turns out, MAPPA may have given us a neat little touch of symbolism in those gorgeous bonus frames they provided earlier on.

Eren’s development is subtly showcased, Mikasa’s faith in the mantra he taught her may be beginning to waver, and Armin reveals that he may be in a more perilous position than I had previously thought.…