Thread by @MmeMacbethsSpot, Okay! My thoughts on 137 in no particular order-First, Zeke's little talk [...]

Okay! My thoughts on 137 in no particular order-

First, Zeke's little talk about evolution almost justifies the weird anime intro with the dinosaurs from S2, so that's one question answered as we near the end of the manga.

(I swear these won't all be shitposts... Probably)

The explanations for OG Ymir are... eh. I don't know. It's really not that clear to me why she hangs onto the Fritz line. Is there a reason other than simple sentimental nostalgia? I may be missing something here. If there isn't, it's a bit weak sauce of an explanation.

Zeke gives me incredibly strong in/cel vibes. Him talking about being manipulated by the drive to procreate and death being a release from all that is, to me, the first time he's felt like a character worthy of sympathy. It's twisted and weird, but that's what makes it work.

Armin again... well, it's on brand for him. I like the callback to how he got through to Eren in the past, talking about their shared hopes and dreams, their curiosity. It's nice that he still cherishes their friendship. It's also a subtle shift that he's gone from-

chasing his dreams to finding happiness and fulfilment in the everyday. That's not a bad character arc, especially contrasted with Eren's endless thirst. I don't think he says anything particularly genius, bit maybe Armin shines most when he's trying to prop someone else up-

maybe he's more able to express himself and feel the meaning in his own words when it's someone else's sake he's arguing for. We've seen it before. He argued for Eren many times, and now he's done the same for Zeke. His strength isn't so much that he's brainy or a strategist-

but nor that he can simply connect with other people.

I'm fine with that. It's a good look for him. Not too grand, but important nonetheless.

So let's move on...

I still don't feel bad for Zeke but I loved seeing the fallen Warriors and Marleyans behind him. I think some folks are sad that we didn't get to see Erwin or other beloved Paradis characters join in the fight, but the choice to have it be the Jaws, Bertolt, Yeager Daddy, etc-

felt more fitting to the theme of having the two sides unite. There are simply fewer Warrior/Marleyan characters we've met. This gave us a good core of the remaining Scouts and some familiar faces to welcome back and see one last time. I was particularly happy to see Bertolt.

I wished he'd come back before the end to contribute- and I wasn't at all dissapointed by that. Plus, it makes sense that Zeke could really only bring back the shifters through the PATHS (and that they'd be the only ones with the will to resist Ymir). Solid choices in my mind.

What else, what else...
Well, the re-appearence of the gratuitous tentacle tongue made me quite happy. Poor Armin. He doesn't seem to be enjoying it at all. What a shame.

I think we got more panels of tentacle tongue antics than Levi (LMAO).

Yams is such a friggin troll.

Levi and Gabi were great. A+
I'm a little.... meeehhhhhh that Zeke got such a wistful, chathartic end which I don't think he at all deserves. Especially because that makes me think Levi's chances of having any happiness left in life are very very slim. But I could be wrong.

Welp. So. Levi did fulfill his promise. He did it perfectly. He did not falter. He's the hero he's always been and always will be, always able to execute exactly what's needed. I don't think I can comment too heavily on his expressions or read too much into them at this time-

We haven't yet seen what fulfilling his promise to Erwin means to him.

We did see, however, how he looked when he realized it was a possibility. The little heartbeats, the shocked/grim expression. There was no hesitation there. I think that, at least, will give him some peace.

I don't really buy anything about him having regrets, etc ("it didn't bring him back" and that kind of thing). Levi has always been pretty realistic in his view of death and violence. He's always tried to follow the path of least regret. He knew what he was doing and accepted-

his decision long ago on that lonely rooftop.

I'm actually rather surprised that Levi even got to fulfill his promise. I was convinced (and has come to terms with the idea) that he wouldn't. Or, I thought he would but in doing so would literally screw everyone else.

So, for him to be able to fulfill his promise AND it's the right/good course of action is actually a much better outcome than I'd dated hope for Levi.

Now as long as we don't get a cursed Levi + Wife epilogue I'll be OK

I also really hope that Reiner does the thing. It's fitting. He's been a foil to Eren for so long. He deserves to have this moment (though I would have been ecstatic if Mikasa had played some role in it). Reiner Helps likely confirmed and maybe, just maybe, he really can rest

If you made it this far- whew! That's most of my thoughts. Overall I'm pleased with how the chapter was handled. Exciting, some explanation, some loose ends really tied up well in a satisfying way. There's so few pages remaining, so I'm pleased given the circumstances.

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