Shingeki no Kyoujin - 3

"Shining Dimly in the Midst of Despair - Mankind’s Recovery 1"

Hubris is always, always, a big mistake.

I'm quickly starting to note that this is Eren's greatest flaw, which isn't saying much considering he and the rest of the cast are still only about half-fleshed out. Though his ass is saved at the last minute through dues-ex-machina, he nevertheless nearly screws himself over by being too self-assured about his chances for success. That's somewhat understandable; his experience definitely sets him and the other Wall Maria citizens apart from those who only join the trainees in order to seek a comfortable life within the inner wall. However, though he may be aware of just how horrifying the Titans really are, Eren is only a twelve year old boy (though the character designs could fool me) and could do nothing but watch while his mother was eaten before his eyes. In order to brag, you have to have the strength and ability to back it up, and Eren was dangerously close to eating his own words.

Of course, this is a shounen adaptation (bleak though it is) and since the hero needs to be special, Eren not only gets away with his hubris, but he also turns out to have been more talented than the rest put together. While that's a somewhat easy way to get out of a very dire problem, the fact remains that this series is still pretty damn amazing three episodes in, even though it lacks the solid characterization that would skyrocket it to the top. Regardless, this doesn't mean that the characters are bad, and in fact, the focus this week is on introducing the cast beyond Armin, Eren, and Mikasa (who puts everyone else to shame with her magical transformation into woman at twelve years old). By far, the most interesting of the new batch is Sasha Braus (Kobayashi Yuu), whom either possesses some serious ovaries of steel or is completely devoid of common sense as she seriously munches on a potato during initiation ("Are you asking me why people eat potatoes, sir?"). The inclusion of such a character seems to indicate that not everything is angst and drama in the world of Attack on Titan, and I think that's a good thing; it humanizes some of the more difficult aspects of the show and allows a better link than what Eren and the others have so far managed to provide.

Though this isn't my favorite series this season, it's certainly roaming around in the top three, and after the three episode test I can say with fair confidence that this is a pretty epic series in the making. I'm a fan of the bold outlines and art style, for one thing, because they bring to mind the stark reality of the horror these people face. I'm also captivated by the fantastic world building, something that is supported by the premise and also explained well through the use of dialogue (a feat rarely accomplished without feeling out of place). There's a lot of emotion running around too, and though I can't say I empathize as much as I want to, there's enough here for me to agree with the general consensus on the quality of Shingeki. If there's one thing I'm wary about, it's Eren's propensity for pride, and I hope that won't come back and haunt us too badly in the long run.

N.B: Many thanks to Ivan for the screencaps!