Attack on Titan isn't a heartwarming show; beloved characters have died bloody deaths defending the people of Paradis Island. One death in particular hit harder than most to fans of the show. Sasha Blouse, also known as potato girl, sadly dies from a gunshot wound. Her friends stand around her body in horror, but not because of her death. No, they are staring at Eren Jeager, their friend, and Titan Shifter, laughing maniacally at her end.
Besides being disrespectful, Eren would have never laughed at one of his college's deaths from the first few seasons. Eren was an emotional man who mourned the loss of all of his fallen comrades. These deaths drove him to destroy all the Titans so that no one else ever had to lose someone that way. Such a change from his original character is shocking, so what happened to Eren Jeager?
"Meat..."
After escaping from Marley, the cadets celebrate their victory in their attack. The noise was just enough to shield Gabi as she snuck onto the ship and shot Sasha in her chest. While bleeding out on the floor, Sasha seemed confused, asking about food and meat. This being her last word, "Meat...".
Everyone is distraught at hearing Sasha's death; Eren, not looking up at Connie, asks her final words. Connie relays her last word and Eren, seemly shocked, laughs at this. Captain Levi, Commander Hangi, and the others in the room are disgusted at Eren's reaction. They have lost a dear friend and comrade, and his response to laugh at her death comes off as insulting, especially since it could have been avoided if Eren hadn't gone to Marley.
At first, Eren's reaction does seem heartless. As the season progresses, more of his actions lead the audience to believe cold. Thanks to the most recent episodes from Attack on Titan, it's safe to say that this isn't the case. Eren was broken up over Sasha's death, but due to what he has seen and what he has to do to save the Eldians, hearing Sasha's final words broke through to him, reminding him of when they were young and the world seemed more straightforward.
Back When the World was Simple
Before reaching his father's basement, Eren and the others had a simple view of the world. Yes, Titans were out to destroy them, but that was something they had been facing for years. They had started to understand them and how to defeat them, but with the introduction to the outside world, Eren had to harden himself. There is also the fact that he saw the future after kissing Historia's hand. He already knew what would happen. Sasha's death wasn't a surprise for him, but that doesn't mean he knew what she would say.
This could be why he asked what she said; he needed to know because he was the cause of her death. Except he wasn't expecting her to ask for meat in her last moments. During this same scene, he remembers the meat she stole from the stocks. They would share it, but all that ended after the second attack from the Colossal Titan, Berthold. Eren couldn't help but laugh. What else would the girl they had nicknamed potato girl ask for but food?
The Eren that fans once knew isn't completely gone; he's just changed. Hardening his emotions was probably the only way he was going to survive everything that was about to happen. Suppose Eren hadn't done this; who knows what would have happened in the airship. He might have gone off on Gabi or threw himself back down to Marley, determined to destroy everyone. Only Eren knows this isn't possible. A specific set of events has to happen for his plan to work out.
So, instead of going on a murderous rampage, he laughed. Not at Sasha's death; Eren's reaction was the only thing he could genuinely have. It makes sense, though, the girl who never stopped eating asked for food in her dying moments. What does this mean for the rest of Attack on Titan​​​​​?
Well, with the information provided, it's safe to say that everything Eren did before season four, part two, wasn't entirely true. Like his deal with Zeke to euthanize all the Eldian people was a fake, other encounters people had with Eren probably weren't genuine. That would mean that his interaction with Mikasa, claiming she had no choice but to protect him, was perhaps a lie. The build-up to everything in the show will reveal the truth of everything, but who else will die to ensure Eren's plan works?
It's hard to say, but after the most recent episode, "Pride," fans will more than likely have to see another one of their beloved characters die before any happy ending. Until then, fans can re-watch their favorite episodes of Attack on Titan on Crunchyroll, Hulu, and Funimation.