Attack On Titan “Sole Salvation” Review
Attack On Titan “Sole Salvation” is the 74th episode of Attack On Titan and is a flashback episode. As mentioned in the review for episode 73 this is a Zeke flashback episode. Basically showing everything that turned him into the man he is now.
Most of the episode is set in Marley as young Zeke is raised by Grisha Yeager and Dina Fritz.
Living in Marley
The episode starts showing Grisha, Dina and baby Zeke outside the intermittent zone. They all get water thrown over them by a cleaner who immediately hates them the second he sees their armbands. He grows up being encouraged to become a warrior candidate by his parents who are hoping they can use Zeke to bring down the Marley government from the inside. Though Zeke doesn’t know this yet. He’s raised by his parents to question everything Marley tell him and is told the “true” history of his people. He doesn’t realize it yet but his parents are basically trying to radicalise him.
He performs really badly as a warrior candidate and pretty much flunk everything. It’s later revealed it’s because he’s not committed enough because of his split loyalties.
Meeting Tom
He then meets Tom Ksaver. The man who had the beast titan before Zeke and who he inherits it from. Over the years he makes good friends with Tom because he’s like Zeke. He doesn’t want war or fighting he just became a warrior to study titans.
After overhearing Marley officers say they’re closing in on the anti-Marley revolutionists he realises his entire family will be implicated if his parents are caught. He confides in Tom, his only true friend, and Tom tells him to turn in his parents. That way he and his grandparents will not only be saved but will be seen as loyal to Marley. Giving him a chance to inherit the beast titan. He does so. Inherits the beast titan and the rest is history. It’s worth noting that it’s Tom who tells Zeke that the founding titan needs only make contact with someone with royal blood in order to activate it’s powers. Tom never shares this with the military.
Fast forward to present day with Levi and Zeke. With the determination of his promise to Tom purposefully detonates the thunder spears in his stomach. Blowing himself up and sending Levi flying.
Review
This is definitely one that’s for the Zeke fans. Though the episode is filled with foreshadowing and information needed to keep up. The average viewer may need to come back to it later when more is revealed to see just how important this episode was.
The question now is. How is Levi? Did he die in the explosion? Hopefully we’ll find out next episode.
