Dedicate Your Heart – Shingeki no Kyojin Ch 136 Review

Check out my review of SnK Chapter 135 here.

Is it wrong that I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Zeke Yeager suffer?

I don’t even think I hate him anymore. I still detest him – but that resentment is mixed with the tiniest bit of pity for his character.

In the end, Zeke was just trying to do what he thought was right – saving his people through ‘genocide’. So that no children would have to feel the way he felt, or go through the opposing brainwashing from both Marley, and his parents – Grisha and Dina. I’ll even add Xaver into this as well. Although he cared about Zeke, Xaver did still manipulate a child.

Yes, Zeke was a warrior candidate at that time off fighting (in wars) and doing other things – but he was still just a kid. I don’t even think he had a chance to know any better.

To quote Kaya Blouse “he was just born in Marley”.

Also, it may be that the anime adaptation has softened me on his character a bit as well. He’s just so damn likable, as is Gabi.

Speaking of which – while reading I wanted to shout so badly “why in the hell did Kiyomi let Falco blow up the ship when she said she would go back to Hizuru” but then I remembered…plot convenience.

We have about three canon chapters left to this manga. I have no idea how it’s going to wrap up.

It seems Armin teleported to PATHs while his body lies paralyzed – or dead? It was sort of unclear.

For whatever reason, Ymir brought Armin to the PATHs tree in her realm. Where Zeke is…quietly building sand castles.

I wonder…is Zeke the one building all of these ancient titans? Because based on the War Hammer Titan’s abilities all this time I thought it was just Eren – but it would kind of make sense if Zeke had to have a hand in that as well? I just don’t know.

Looks like there’s no limit on transformation right now as well, but then again Zeke has always liked Pieck. Maybe she can do back-to-back transformations for that reason? Or, the cart titan has always had this level of endurance and we just thought that meant staying in the titan for months at a time.

Who is to say?

Honestly, I liked the chapter but…I’m just wondering where this is going.

Armin and Zeke are together in PATHs. Ymir is floating around between the outside world and her realm. Eren is…somewhere.

The Alliance of Good Eldians is still running around in the outside world like a bunch of chickens with their head cut off. The Marleyan soldiers are still trying to kill the Eldians – not knowing they are probably one of the – if not the – last group of people alive on the continent of Marley…

…All of this juxtaposed with The Alliance, Gabi, and Falco still attempting to save everybody.

The way one of the panels was drawn, I thought the Marleyan soldiers were attempting to shoot Falco down.

I don’t know. I’m just not sold on the idea of Marley being worth saving. I’m still not sold on the idea of the Alliance doing anything that matters.

Maybe that was the point of Levi’s introspection.

The old Survey Corps is gone. Everyone died for their ideals, while striving toward their collective goal: improving the world.

Maybe it’s best they all died before seeing what this world was all about. Before realizing, maybe it had all been for nothing.

Erwin still got to die with his dream – and Armin was able to accomplish his. And, Armin still has a purpose.

After getting to the basement, Erwin might have run out of steam.

Again, who’s to say he wouldn’t have – but that’s just my own opinion.

All I can think about while writing this is Erwin’s smile when they all found out that titan’s were once human – and Levi asking what the hell was wrong with him. Or Levi’s conversation with Kenny, about everyone needin’ to be drunk off of something to keep going.

For Erwin, that was his need for the truth. The desire to prove his deceased father right.

For Armin, it was to see the ocean with his friends.

That’s why Levi chose Armin – he had a dream. When he asked Erwin what his goal was at the Battle of Shiganshina before the suicide charge, Erwin didn’t know.

Armin had the same spirit of Erwin, along with a stronger purpose behind him. And friends. Friends he would do anything for.

I guess if you really think about it, Armin was being groomed for commander by both Hanji and Erwin since the Battle of Shiganshina. Even before then.

Anyway, I don’t know what else to say about this chapter. I think Annie realizing her feelings for Armin is adorable – even if she still hasn’t suffered any consequences for her actions. Or met her father.

It’s interesting Annie put her need to save Armin before seeing her father again. That’s been her driving force she’s been drunk off of this entire time.

Then there’s Mikasa’s depression over possibly killing Eren, but let’s not go there.

Perhaps we will next time.

Do you think Falco’s miracle flying titan is a bit too much for the series? Does Levi regret living this long? And, how do you think Attack on Titan will end?

Leave your thoughts in the comment section below, I’d love to hear from you! Also be sure to follow us for more Shingeki no Kyojin manga chapter reviews!

☆ In Asian Spaces            

Twitter Patreon Pinterest BlogLovin Merch