Attack on Titan Season 4 Episode 22,” Thaw,” opens with Eren telling the Subjects of Ymir that he “will use the Titans to trample all life in the outside world in order to protect the people of Paradis Island.” Annie’s father back in Liberio realizes this spells doom for the Eldians. In the Shiganshina District, Reiner Braun tells Gabi that Falco was taken by Jean Kirschtein and Conny Springer now that he’s a Titan. Reiner tells Gabi she needs to escape. Reiner has no hope of stopping Eren, whereas, Gabi still thinks she can. Her first step is to find Falco. With Falco in their custody, Jean and Conny meet up with Mikasa and Armin. They discuss Eren’s plan and consider feeding Falco to Dot Pyxis or Conny’s mother.

This suggestion leads to conflict between Conny and Armin. Conny accuses Armin of not only hypocrisy, he’s only alive because he ate Bertholdt Hoover, but not caring about his mother. Armin tries to argue that killing Falco would “invite more conflict,” between them and the Warriors. While Armin has a point, I think it’s makes more sense to feed Falco to Conny’s mother or at least Pyxis. Before they can decided, a Titan interrupts and Conny escapes with Falco. Considering the fact that this is Attack on Titan, Conny is more likely to have to kill his mother, be killed by his mother, or by Gabi than save her. I have no hope for his plan.

Annie returns

Elsewhere, Jean, Misaka, and Armin regroup with others outside the fort. They collect Thunder Spears to slay the remaining Titans, including Pyxis. When the battle ends, all the Pure Titans are exterminated and so are the Marleyan forces. Floch Forster, Onyankopon, and Yelena are dejected after Eren’s betrayal and Zeke’s defeat. Gabi learns of Falco’s kidnapping from Armin and Mikasa, and begs Armin to asks Eren to focus only on the military. When she mentions that Eren stripped Reiner of his Titan armor, Armin realizes something. Suddenly, in a basement, Annie Leonhart is freed from her Titan hardening.

It should have been obvious that Annie was going to be apart of this episode once her father appeared. Despite that I was surprised that she woke up. Earlier in this season, Eren accused Armin of falling in love with Annie due to Bertholdt feelings towards her and Armin eating him. Considering he was lying during this moment I don’t know how much truth there is to it. Regardless, Annie was fond of Armin, famously allowing him to live when she was seeking Eren. She’s not trustworthy, but she could end up on any side of this conflict. I can’t image Armin, Mikasa, and the others allowing Eren to conduct a mass genocide. However, like I said before this is Attack on Titan.