Its the year 850, and the Survey Corps are heading for the 49th Exterior Scouting Mission. Hange Zoe wants to capture a Titan for research, but Commander Erwin Smith refuses to approve the mission. Hange runs into an abnormal Titan, which chases her. Suddenly, it stops and returns to the forest. Hange, Levi, and his squad follow. When the Titan reaches a tree it begins banging its head against it. Oruo attempts to kill it after Hange approaches it and it attacks. However, Hange yells at him to “wait.” Distracted, Oruo is almost eaten by the Titan. Levi, however rescues him by cutting off the Titan’s arm and then killing it. Petra discovers the corpse of a soldier, decapitated within a tree.

The tragic end for IIse Langnar

They find the soldiers notebook, and learn her name is Ilse Langnar. She recorded her experience during the Scout’s Regiment’s 34th Exterior Scouting Mission in her notebook. Her squad is killed and she left to travel without any ODM gear. Unfortunately, she encounters a Titan. The Titan doesn’t attack, instead it speaks to her. The Titan said “Ymir-sama, welcome back“, but after questioning it Ilse loses her composer after it fails to answer. The Titan then begins to tear its own skin off it’s face. Unsurprisingly, Ilse is disturbed and begins to flee. The Titan catches her and before she can finish writing bites off her head.

Hange uses the Notebook as proof for her request to capture and study Titans. Hange gets the approval she wanted from Erwin. She, along with Levi, Oruo, and Petra use her new capture method to successfully catch a Titan without any casualties. It’s would be a understatement to suggest that this is a game changer, talking Titans. While horrifying it’s also intriguing. Are only some Titans able to speak? Do they have to be abnormal? More intelligent Titan’s are going to bad for the Scout’s Regiment and the rest of humanity.

Read More: Attack on Titan OVA 2 Review