WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Episode 21 of Attack on Titan: The Final Season, "From You, 2000 Years Ago," now streaming on Funimation, Crunchyroll & Hulu.
After their trip from the past, Zeke and Eren fight for control over Ymir. Zeke refuses to believe that Grisha saw in Eren's memories was destiny. Who will win, and what of Ymir? Will she continue to be a pawn to others?
Sadly, Ymir Fritz is used to being a tool for others. Her past was clouded with time, but her role never changed. Ymir was always under the command of the Eldian King. Finally, Ymir's real story is revealed to fans, and the reality is dark. From slavery to turning into the King's weapon, Ymir was never provided the opportunity to do what she herself wanted.
"From You, 2000 Years Ago"
The events of this episode can be a bit confusing to track, but the starting point is back at the tree. Here Zeke commands Ymir to sterilize all Eldians. With Eren chained, Zeke believes he's changing the future. Except Zeke doesn't know how far Eren is willing to go. Ripping his hands through the cuffs, losing his thumbs along the way, Eren races to Ymir, stopping her before she can reach the tree. There is then a cut from this to the past, where Frieda teaches young Historia to read. Here she tells Historia the true history of Ymir.
Ymir was a young girl when the Eldians enslaved her people. Frieda describes Ymir as a kind girl, always thinking of others, only no one ever thought of her. Using the young girl as a scapegoat, Ymir was accused of releasing some pigs from their pens. As a punishment, Ymir was released to hunt her down for King Fritz's soldiers. Finding a tall twisted tree, Ymir hides from the soldiers. While venturing deeper into the tree, Ymir plummets into a body of water, here a centipede creature attaches itself to her. From that moment on, Ymir had the Titan powers. The King used her to fight the Marleyans, a tool to build roads and bridges, and forced her to bear children. They had three girls, Maria, Rose, and Sheena. After saving the King's life from an attack, these girls were forced to devour their mother's corpse.
This is how the cannibalism started, and Ymir trapped in the pathways, watched as the tree grew. Building more titans, Ymir was forced to be enslaved again, while her dependence devoured one another for a power she never wanted. It's after this memory that the scene returns to Eren and Ymir. Eren tells Ymir that she doesn't have to be enslaved, that she is waiting for someone to end it all. Eren asks for her help to choose him and finish everything. Another scene change happens; back at the battle, Eren's severed head grows a spin. This is similar to the creature that attached itself to Ymir. Transformed into a giant titan, Eren starts the rumbling. Armin is elated, thinking Eren was on their side, but the truth is revealed after sending a message to all the Elidans. Eren is using the rumbling to kill everyone except those on Paradis Island.
The Beginning of the End
Since Eren has successfully started the rumbling, the end of everything is beginning to close in. Many fans were probably excited to see the true history of Ymir Fritz play out, even if it was a tragic story. Something that should be pointed out is how Ymir and her past were animated, with many having blank expressions. They all appeared to be walking corpses, enslaved people to the inevitable until Eren gave Ymir a choice. At that moment, Ymir's face was filled with emotion, hate, pain, and even happiness. Knowing that the 'hero' had finally come, freeing her from her chains and ending everything.
Interestingly enough, Eren points out how Ymir herself sent for him. This explains the title of this episode, "From You, 2000 Years Ago," and the first episode, "To You, in 2000 Years". These titles allude to Ymir sending a message out to Eren. Does this mean that when Eren was asleep under the tree in episode 1, he was with Ymir? Hard to say at the moment, but there are still more episodes to come. However, this leaves the possibility that Ymir built or influenced the Attack Titan for this very purpose. During the memory sequence, Ymir carries water back and forth to develop more titans. Does this mean she forms every Eldian? How much did Ymir influence her descendants' choices, designs, and actions?
These questions might not be answered, or they are open to interpretation until the end of the season. Who knows what other answers will be revealed.
To re-watch previous episodes and to catch future episodes, fans can stream Attack on Titan on Crunchyroll, Hulu, and Funimation.
