Shingeki no Kyojin (Attack on Titan) - Episode 03 & 04: Recap and Review

Episode #3 – A Dim Light in the Darkness of Despair: Mankind’s Comeback, Part 1

This episode shows the beginning of the military training of Eren, Mikasa and Armin. The rest of the ” 104th Trainees Squad” are introduced. The 104th Trainees Squad features 20 soldiers. The squad leader ” Keith Shadis” begins by subjecting the recruits to psychological mine games they consider a “right of passage”. Some soldiers including our main three didn’t require any mine games due to the fact that they were already expose to hardships. The military training is familiar if you every seen training in moves. Keith is loud and aggressive but it all seems necessary to toughing up the recruits.

A little comic relief is introduced in the form of “Sasha Braus”. I found the fact that she was inappropriately eating a boiled potatoes in the middle of training to be funny. She does appear to have the personality to fight Titans. I’m curious how she’ll succeed. Trainee’s begin to train in ” Three Dimensional Maneuver Gear”. Eren seems unskilled at using the gear ( even Armin can do it) but it later revealed that his gear was defective from the start. Eren is now free to begin training with the rest of the squad.

Episode #4 – Night of the Graduation Ceremony: Mankind’s Comeback, Part 2

This episode starts 5 years after the Wall Maria fell and 2 year after the trainees initial training with the 3D gear. Armin shows his lack of psychical ability but determination not to be ” a burden”. Keith Shadis states the even though Armin lacks strength he possess great intellect. Keith then proceeds to describe the characteristics of each of the trainees. He highlight’s their strength’s and their weaknesses .

So far it seems that the characters abilities are well balanced compared to each other. Eren is later dishearten to learn from Annie that most of his comrades are only practicing their abilities to avoid fighting Titans altogether. She asked Eren ” Why in this world are the people most capable of opposing the Titans the only ones given the privilege of avoiding them entirely”? She clearly has a point. I find Annie a little jaded but I like her, she realistic and skilled. Annie’s views seems to be commentary on contradictory human behavior.

After the Graduation

The graduation arrives and the top ten are given the chance to become military police. Eren is questioned by fellow recruits about his decision not to join the military police. Eren becomes angry a give an heart felt speech about sacrifice. This inspires Armin, Mikasa, Connie and Tomas to join him in ” scouting legion”. As the new scouting legion prepares cannons peacefully a bolt of lightning strike beyond the gate (Wall Rose) and the “Colossal Titan” appears. The gate is quickly broken and Eren and his comrades prepares for battle.

One side note the music in this series is epic and effective. So how did you feel about these two episodes? Did you dislike the lack of Titan battles? Do you feel that the characters are well balanced? What do you think about Annie’s comments? Do you enjoy the music in this series? And if the Colossal Titan can teleport why doesn’t it travel with in the walls instead right beyond it?