WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Episode 21 of Attack on Titan: The Final Season, "Thaw," now streaming on Funimation, Crunchyroll & Hulu.
Eren has finally started the Rumbling, but things haven't settled down with the others. For whatever reason, the Pure Titans turned by Zeke are attacking everyone. Gabi is trying to save Falco and escape. Old enemies become friends, and old friends are sacrificed for the good of everyone.
No one was expecting Eren to destroy the world outside of Paradis Island. Reiner injured finally gives up accepting the tragic fate that has befallen him. Somehow when the walls collapsed, his armor was removed, causing him to be injured. If Eren removed all the hardening to awaken the Colossal Titans, wouldn't that mean Annie is awake as well?
"Thaw"
This episode picks up right after Eren starts the Rumbling; Gabi pulls Riener from the wreckage looking for Falco. He's not seen because Jean, Connie, Mikasa, and Armin have him tied up. The group discusses what's happening and how Eren's plan for mass genocide is wrong but will solve their attack problems. Still, Armin doesn't think it's right. Regardless the group has more pressing matters like dealing with Falco and destroying the Pure Titans eating the citizens of Paradis Island.
Jean thinks feeding Falco to save at least one life is the best option. Connie agrees to feed Falco to his mother, who was transformed into a titan four years ago. Armin isn't sure but isn't given a chance to speak before Connie takes off with Falco. Having no other choice but let Connie go, Jean leads the others to the castle. Using the thunder spears and decoy tactics, the groups successfully killed all the Pure Titans. Though it's a bitter-sweet ending, knowing that the lives they were taking were their comrades.
Meanwhile, Gabi finds Kaya and the rest of Sasha's family running from a titan on the ground. Using her training, Gabi kills the titan, saving Kaya. Kaya is shocked. Looking at Gabi, she sees Sasha, who saved her four years ago from a similar fate. Kaya claims Gabi was not part of the Marleyan troops, repaying the favor, saving her from the soldiers. Once they are inside, Armin and Mikasa go and visit the group. Gabi is devastated to hear that Falco has been taken. She begs them to talk to Eren to save Falco and fix Connie's mom. She explains that he could erase Riener's hardening; this alarms Armin. If all hardening were erased, that would mean Annie's was as well. The episode ends with Annie lying on the floor, free from her hardening prison.
We're all Devils in the End
Attack on Titan has never been a heartwarming show, but this episode hit hard. Up until now, the titans that the soldiers faced were strangers. Yes, they knew that a human was inside towards the end of the fight, but they never knew them personally. Now they see every face they are fighting, and when Armin saw Commander Pixis's titan, the group found a new low. This is the general theme of the episode, where the characters face the worst things they have done and the darkest point in their lives.
Such as Gabi, when she finds out Connie is going to feed Falco to his mother. Learning that Connie lost his mother four years ago because Zeke transformed her shattered Gabi. She has to come to terms with what she has done, what other people from Marley have done to those on Paradis Island. Gabi has finally accepted that they are not devils, but she can do nothing to fix what has happened. Instead, she is facing the repercussions of all their actions, which means losing Falco.
Gabi is highly vulnerable and emotional at this moment, begging for Armin and Mikasa to talk to Eren. It's at this moment, along with when Kaya and Gabi save each other, that all of humanity is starting to stand on the same level. It doesn't matter if one group has an enormous army anymore or someone is a devil because everyone has done something horrible. No single person is good or bad; everyone in Attack on Titan is morally grey. Coming to terms with this, the survivors on Paradis Island might finally come together to save the rest of the world.
Though the one loose thread is Annie. She has been asleep since season one, meaning she has no idea what is going on past what Eren told her in his message to the Eldians. Knowing this, she'll do everything she can to survive and possibly save her father. However, the reality of this happening is slim. So, does this mean Annie will finally have to rely on others for help? Fans will have to wait until the next episode.
To re-watch previous episodes and to catch future episodes, fans can stream Attack on Titan on Crunchyroll, Hulu, and Funimation.
