The Beast Titan’s Plan – Attack on Titan S3 Ep 14 Review

 Check out last week’s episode review.   

So here I am, at 12:22 AM on a Wednesday morning sitting in front of my laptop attempting to review an Attack on Titan episode I have absolutely no problem with.

I’ve got to give it up to those of you who blog about anime weekly and cover maybe seven to ten shows. I don’t know how you do it, you are all amazing.

I keep having this internal struggle where I enjoy the episode and don’t want to say anything bad about it. Or, I dislike the anime tv show I’m watching one week and then wish I didn’t have to relive the pain I felt watching it by typing the tragedy out and giving my thoughts.

Okay, maybe not a tragedy. I’m being dramatic.

It also doesn’t help that I usually write longer, serious pieces.

Attack on Titan Season 3 Episode 14 Review

I’ve been having fun writing these AoT recaps for the most part off the cuff, and I’m not sure if my deadpan sense of humor is proving to sound sarcastic or disdainful.

A very fine balancing act I am not sure that I’m managing well.

Anywho, I should really start talking about the episode, yes?

I love that despite the perilous tone of the situations surrounding the story, there is always an unintentional silly moment. Whether it be Erwin’s terrible drawings, Hanje Zoe’s goofy presence, or the titans and their ironic poses.

In AoT Why Do Titans Eat Humans?

I know the titans are meant to be mindless killing machines, but reflecting on Ymir’s experience about having a degree of sentience during her time as a mindless titan, along with revelations from the Ilse’s Notebook OVA…titans have to retain some of their core personalities.

After all, titans are eating people in subconscious hopes to regain their humanity and end the perpetual nightmare of being a mindless titan.

Then again, Freckles Ymir had a strong personality and that cult worshipper from the Ilse’s Notebook OVA was sincerely devoted in life so, maybe anyone who has a connection to the progenitor Ymir Fritz has a stronger will to live?

Commander Erwin’s Escape Plan

Commander Erwin explains that since Zeke’s primary objective is to capture Eren, the warriors from Marley have blocked their only escape route by horse.

Being deep within Wall Maria’s titan terriroty, it would be impossible for the Survey Corps to escape on foot – and within a week they would run out of rations and starve.

Erwin deploys Dirk Squad and Marlene Squad to join Klaus Squad at the gate and aid in protecting the horses from attack. While Levi and Hange’s Squads are tasked with bringing down Reiner in his Armored Titan form. Erwin calls Levi aside and tasks him with eliminating the Beast Titan – something Levi will struggle to do for the remainder of the manga and anime series.

Levi mentions that since he failed to kill Reiner in their earlier scuffle, he would be glad to atleast take out the Beast Titan. Using Eren as bait, Commander Erwin gets Reiner to change his objective from destroying the horses, to chasing Eren in his Attack Titan form.

Maybe it’s because I’ve already finished the manga at this point, but re-editing this review 3 years later I find it interesting that Erwin relied on Hange and Armin – two people who become the 14th and 15th Commanders of the Survey Corps, respectively.

I also find interesting that Eren had a flashback of Hannes grabbing him and Mikasa to flee from Dina eating Carla, while reaffirming that he will “destroy them all” and take back what was stolen from them.

I won’t go too much into it, but hints of Eren declaring to “destroy all titans” and “destroy them all” throughout the story means a lot more than what it seems to now at this point in Season 3.

Why Did Erwin Want to See the Basement?

During this episode, we get Commander Erwin’s backstory and why he joined the Survey Corps. Erwin’s father was a teacher, who had a theory that humanity had not been wiped out as the history books had claimed. Instead, Erwin’s father proposed a theory that instead, those within the walls memories of the outside world had been erased.

Erwin told the other schoolchildren about his father’s theory, which resulted in his murder. After joining the Scouts, Erwin realized his dream of finding out the truth of their world.

This is also why Erwin Smith wished to see what was in Eren Yeager’s basement, beliving he would finally find evidence to prove his late father’s theory correct about humanity still living beyond the walls.

Reiner and the Thunder Spears

The series will explore this more, but Reiner struggles with his identity as the Armoured Titan.

The ending credits are a vast montage of memories the teenagers had during their time in the army. When Hanji, who didn’t share the same bond with Reiner, instructed Squad Levi to take him out, they hesitated.

The portrayal of their realization that Reiner was no longer a comrade, but an enemy that needed to die was wonderful to witness.

The myriad of emotions that later change to anger at the additional realization that this is their home, and Reiner destroyed it for reasons yet unknown adds another layer of motivation – and mystery to this series.

Either way, I think I’ll end this here.

This was a wonderful episode, and since I experienced a week busier than normal, it’s now Sunday and the new episode is out. On to the next!

Do you sympathize with Erwin Smith’s ultimately selfish goals?

What do you think the survey corps will find in the basement?

Do pure titans still have a personality despite losing the free will they had as humans?

Leave your thoughts in the comment section below, I’d love to hear from you! Also be sure to follow us for more Attack on Titan Season 3 Reviews!

We are also creating Attack on Titan fashion-inspired merchandise for fellow fans, Visit our Redbubble store if you have a chance – you get cool gear, and it helps support the blog!   

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