Shingeki no Kyoujin - 9

"The Left Arm's Whereabouts - Defense of Trost 5"

I've seen my share of dramatic monologues, but I admit this is probably the first time I've seen one in the depths of Titan stomach acid.

Though I'm not particularly happy that Eren is back (dammit, I kind of wish I'd lost the bet), it's really hard to say that his return isn't interesting or otherwise hugely intriguing. There's a lot of explaining to be had when you have your protagonist bursting out of the back of a Titan's neck after having been eaten. In truth, the whole ordeal is still shrouded in mystery, but we do get some insight into the mechanics and source of the transformation, as it turns out the process truly is. Whatever Eren's father did to him to alter him, it's given him the ability to become a Titan, seemingly at will, and it's given him the regenerative powers of one to boot. That's a pretty cool concept for a shounen hero, I have to admit, though it does seem rather random; assuming Eren's father used Titan blood (I can't think of another liquid that might work), where would he have gotten it from? Why experiment on his son and erase his memories, and why does he want Eren to go to the basement so much? Why did Eren have to bite himself to trigger the transformation? If pain and injury are the cause, why didn't he transform during his brutal training?

Of course, looking for logic in this is about as futile as hoping that Valvrave will start chanting accurate physics next episode, and it's not as though there are no answers or theories to be had here either. It's just an over the top series, and truly and honestly, what else do you expect from a series about massive man-eating creatures with beatific expressions? I'm here to be entertained, and Goddess be damned if I'm not; Eren's situation might be bizarre and insane, but it's hardly boring, and there's more than enough of interest going on even outside his imminent predicament. For one thing, we're introduced to Captain Levi of the Survey troops, a capable fighter, though a bit off-kilter to make up for it. What I find most compelling about Levi though is the fact that despite his presentation as a clean freak, he doesn't hesitate to hold the hand of a dying soldier, even when stained with blood. This is the kind of characterization I feel could really do wonders for the cast, and I appreciate it most ardently here, if only for the moment in which it happens.

Mikasa, Armin, and Eren aren't as lucky. Characterization aside, the three are in the middle of a crisis we're only watching the tail end of; not everyone is as happy as the former two to see Eren alive, or at least, not by the means through which he's returned to life. Predictably, the adults and other soldiers are terrified of his Titan form, but instead of talking things through or investigating the matter, the man in charge simply threatens the three children with death based on a pointless question; if Eren answers that he is human, he will be killed for lying, and if he answers that he's not, he'll be killed as a threat. It's not hard to see that there's a jab at the human adult mindset here, as there's always been, and logic is clearly not what's in mind when the captain orders the children's execution by cannon. However, Eren isn't about to let more of his friends die, and though his actions might prove more difficult to deal with, he uses his new powers to save Mikasa and Armin. I suppose we wait to see what trouble he and the rest of the soldiers face next.

N.B.: Thanks to Ivan for the caps!