As if we didn’t have enough mysteries and intrigue piled up from the past two seasons, we’re now adding yet more complications. Though, truth be told, this one actually looks like it could be kind of fun.
While I really loved the first episode of season 1 and most of the first half of season 1, by the end of it I was finding this story becoming a little too drawn out. Season 2 firmly enhanced that impression by meandering about adding in additional complications without actually touching on anything set up from the previous season and I’m going into season 3 very firmly of the opinion that if it doesn’t get back to some of the previous mysteries this will be my last season of this show.
That said, the first episode was pretty entertaining and I couldn’t help but get a little excited about learning more about Levi, watching Eren and the others interacting now that they are a little older and a little less idealistic and naive, and just generally seeing how messed up things have gotten. While there is no introduction for people new to the franchise, this just jumps straight into the story from where we left off only it seems like things are even more tense than they were.
However, despite the many positives this episode brings, including some very cool action sequences and enough squeamish body horror to remind us of what this show was built on way back when, I couldn’t help but wonder if I cared about all the intrigue within the military. Is it really necessary or do I genuinely just want to find out what’s in Eren’s basement and then be done? I’m sure people who have read the source material would have a bunch of reasons why this is relevant, but I know at this point I feel like the story is moving further and further away from the parts that initially intrigued me and those moments of jaw dropping coolness can only distract me from that for so long.
All things considered, I’m happy this is back and I’d really like it to be great, but I am fairly prepared to walk away from this franchise at this point so it wouldn’t really take much for me to decide I’ve invested more than enough time already for minimal payoff.
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Thanks for reading.
Karandi James
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If we learned anything from season 2 it is that patience is required! đŸ˜› People complain when an anime adaptation is rushed then they complain when its too slow. It is clear AOT is not a single cour story so I’m willing to give it the benefit of the doubt. đŸ˜‰
That said, it was a bit of a shock to go from the usual bucolic AOT setting to something that resembles prohibition era America! đŸ˜®
While some stories I’d happily watch through multiple seasons, AOT isn’t one I’m invested enough in. For me, if this stretches much longer I’m going to cut my losses and move on. While I might ‘miss out’ on something, to be honest I think when I first saw the first season I really expected it to just be a one season and done kind of story so this long and winding ongoing saga isn’t what I was really up for in the first place.
I still haven’t seen the anime!
I definitely agree that the series struggles with pacing, particularly when it comes to actual advancement of the conflict, and answering of questions.
The first half of season 1 provided some good questions, and a measure of answers, but season 2 in particular really didn’t answer much. We end it no closer to understanding the revelation at the end of season 1, or gaining any further information about the mysterious “basement”.
I do like how season 3 seems to be engaging Levi a bit more. Up to this point he’s been powerful but distant. Now the story seems to be engaging Levi’s personal issues a little more, and I like that.
In some ways I think this third faction may be necessary, since it’s clear the main opposition have no intention of answering any of the questions raised by their actions, or their presence in the region. But this third faction also clearly knows things, and may be forced to reveal them in the coming conflict.
It’s interesting how, much like the Walking Dead, in the beginning Titans were the big threat, but now they’re more like a background environmental hazard, a backdrop for the “real threats”.
I will say I greatly enjoyed the fight in season 2 between Eren and one of the “others”, and hope we see a rematch soon.
I kind of feel like this has gotten overly complicated. That first sequence with the titan peering over the wall and the intense feeling of claustrophobia of being inside the walls as the titans surged in was fantastic and the show has never given us quite that same thrill or impact since. Certainly there has been some cool moments, fights and a few interesting ideas, but it all just seems to dilute what initially attracted me to the show.
I can see that.
I think, as with Walking Dead, there’s a way in which, as the show progresses, it moves further away from what it was in the beginning.
I think if it had been a short story, or a film, i.e. something like Hitchcock’s The Birds, it could have been a simple “here’s a world with strange giant monsters”, but because of the choices they made, both in regards to length, and the choice to make it so “mystery” and “question” focused, it inevitably became all about the intrigue, politics, and “science/magic” behind the current state of affairs.
It seems like most of the characters are learning to recognize that the titans are not the real issue, they’re just a “tool” or “opportunity” that others use to manipulate circumstances. I forget where I read it, but there’s a theory that talks about how one method of maintaining order is to maintain an enemy that is powerful, intimidating, and unbeatable. They can be kept in check, but never overcome, and that ongoing struggle serves as a unifying factor, keeping people from turning to “other problems”, or turning on each other.
As you know I am still a big fan of the show, and I really enjoyed this first episode. I like the fact that this episode felt a bit different than before, but was still very entertaining. I agree though that I also want some answers now đŸ˜€ Keeping my fingers crossed đŸ˜‰
I definitely appreciated the characters in this episode more. Eren didn’t shout even once. That was kind of nice. But more than that, the interactions between the kids showed that while they are the same people they have definitely grown up a lot since they first started training.
Totally agree. They really have matured indeed, and at times it even felt we were looking at other characters (only just though). Really looking forward to seeing how this is going to progress…and that cliffhanger…đŸ˜±đŸ˜±
The author has come out and said he wants to tighten up the pacing this season because the manga was slower than he had wanted. I won’t say anything, but yes, you can expect some things to be resolved soon.
Well, here’s hoping.