Attack on Titan - The Final Chapters Special 2

So I have a few opinions as a non-manga reader. Based on the comments I've seen so far, it seems a lot of readers who hated the manga ending were a bit more ok with how the anime executed it, specifically with how they changed Armin agreeing to Eren's genocide plan in the manga.

My one minor gripe is how Eren/Ymir undid the titan change of the secondary/minor characters (Jean, Connie, Gabi, Annie's/Pieck's/Reiner's parents, etc.). I feel like the impact would've been greater if only the primary titans lose their abilities, and the rest died. Jean and Connie's conversation before they turned was amazing and them coming back made it lose its impact. Then maybe Annie and Pieck go into self exile because of what happens and only Armin and Reiner return as ambassadors. Oh maybe Annie stays for Armin.

Question for the people who are more knowledgeable: I get Eren and Armin conversing on the beach and Eren wiping it from Armin's memory until the after the end, but when does Eren and Mikasa hiding out in the countryside happen?

Since the power to wipe memories doesn't work on Mikasa, it would've happened right at the end just before Mikasa knew Eren's head was in the mouth.
- Thanks. But the actual event itself where they are talking - did that actually happen in real life? Since Mikasa's memories can't wiped, was that actually a conversation they had in their minds and did not happen in reality like Eren and Armin's conversations? Sorry it's been so long and I don't remember all the details of the previous seasons if there was a scene and setting like that.
Having just watched it last night, I had the same gripe as you did regarding the titan changes coming undone, but now I think it kinda works well with the shift in tone we get when it's revealed that despite the events that took place, the cycle is doomed to continue.

There's a real sense of optimism after the fight that I think is actually pretty important to one of AoT's messages about how even if we're trapped in these awful cycles, there are moments within those cycles where things can be good and worth living for.

I need a 45 minute video explaining what happened

I didn't read the manga, but I think the show wrapped up good. It didn't leave a bad taste in my mouth.

code geass spoilers

Wasn't expecting Eren to go the lelouch route.

Also the Schindler's list moment was great.

Code geass executed it much better.
- Tbf Lelouch was portrayed as a political/strategic genius, and Eren as a suicidal idiot, so it makes sense Lelouch'd pull it off better
- Fr
It was the only logical solution if you ask me, Lelouch did that to redeem his mates/friends, so did Eren, he was not a full asshole, he was just so fucking stupid, and I think Isayama put that very clear.

I felt somewhat disappointed with the manga ending back when I read it. I even remember reading some quotes from the author where he said he thought he “didn’t execute it well”, or something to that effect. It all just left me feeling a little deflated.

This was a very difficult ending to pull off in the best of circumstances, and then it unfortunately had some problems with pacing and clarity. Nothing too major, really, but just enough to make everything feel a little off. It wasn’t a great way to feel at the end of an otherwise 10/10 story.

However, I am extremely pleased with the anime ending! I felt like they totally addressed the issues I encountered. The pacing in general felt so much better, and in particular I think the rework of the conversation between Eren and Armin was excellent.

I think this is the best version of the story. I’m glad it came out the way it did and that people are receiving it positively

Watched this one last night before going to bed. Woke up this morning and haven't been able to think of anything else today. The show nailed it. I generally liked the ending when I read the manga, but seeing it all animated last night, I can't think of this story being told any other way. It was perfect for me.

I don't have much to add what hasn't been said already, but god I love a good epilogue. I was a bit scared that they'd just cut to black after Mikasa walks off with Erens head but they gave us propper few-months-later, few-decades-later and even a rare and elusive in-the-distant-future epilogue.

I'm gonna be honest, I didn't really get why Eren did the Rumbling. He knew that ultimately he'd fail and conflict would come back to Paradise. Did he do it to make himself a sort of evil martyr or did he even have a choice?

Also, is Historia not the queen of Paradise anymore? Her home didn't look very Queen like and I don't think she was ok with that fascist movement happening there.

Also, what was up with the people at that fascist parade, why did they look like grown up Gabi and Falco and their (dead) friends? Is this just my face blindness?

Pure speculation but I heard a rather relevant quote recently that went something like

"The reason the Palestine conflict is so difficult to resolve is because of the power imbalance. One side holds all the power and is therefore unwilling to do any concessions"

By leveling the world's and Paradise Islands population to equal numbers this power balance would be restored and thus both parties would now be open to peace talks

*disclaimer not sure if this is the correct interpretation, just my own.
I think he set himself as a badguy that only Paradis could take down so that the world would be less likely to just eradicate Paradis out of fear of their power like they were already angling towards wanting to do. I ALSO think part of the point was that this was a stupid angle to take, and it happened because those who end up in power during war arent always those who are great to have in power during peace times. I think Eren admitting that it ended up this way because he's an idiot who couldnt come up with a different way hints towards this message

Attack on Titan - The Final Chapters Special 2 - Discussion