1x07 Small Blade: The Struggle for Trost (3)

This two episode stretch with a focus on Mikasa was absolutely brilliant. These were definitely the best episodes since the pilot in terms of character development and emotional weight.

I want to start off by saying the art design in these episodes was extraordinary. Shifts in color palette and the details in characters' eyes give so much insight into the mindsets of our unfortunate cast. The washed out color palette set in when the situation turned bleak. The overcast clouds and the arrival of the storm really hammer home the absence of hope and the grim reality Armin and Mikasa are faced with, while also serving as a seamless transition from the battle into Mikasa's backstory.

The juxtaposition of Armin and Mikasa's psyches, with their bearing witness to and ignorance of Eren's death (respectively), is extremely effective. Armin is inconsolable as he finds himself isolated from any source of strength or willpower, immersed in his own personal hell. Mikasa is fully driven by her desire to return to and protect Eren. After mercilessly cutting down an abnormal hurling towards a crowd of townspeople, she hastens the evacuation via the threatening of the selfish merchant guild head holding up the process. In the process she saves and inspires a young girl and her mother, causing her to reflect on the most traumatic day of her life.

Mikasa's tragic backstory was executed flawlessly. It was alluded to in the pilot when she witnessed Carla's demise (as she laments the loss of yet another parent). Her loyalty to Eren is given an additional layer of depth beyond her promise to Carla. Through Mikasa we explore the meaning of "home" and the innate cruelty and beauty of both humanity and the natural world. The law of the jungle seems to be Eren's mantra, and Mikasa comes to a realization of how blind she was to its many manifestations throughout her childhood. Eren imbues her with a fighting spirit, serving as both her inspiration and her refuge from pain (similar to what she was for the young girl, as we see later on in the show).

After we're shown the dire state of affairs at the supply depot (raising the stakes even further), we see Mikasa rendezvous with the stranded rookie squads. When she arrives we see a wave of existential dread wash over Armin, as he realizes that he has to break the awful news to her. The gleam in Mikasa's eyes fades when Armin tells her of Eren's sacrifice. To cope with her emptiness she rampages recklessly towards the supply depot, cutting down titans and lighting a fire under her fellow cadets. We also begin to see Jean blossom as a character, embodying the Platonic leader (Plato argued that the best leaders are often those who never possessed an innate ambition to lead).

After expelling the last of the fumes from her canisters, she lies hollow and broken in the alley she fell into. Accepting her fate, she holsters her blades and closes her eyes as a massive Titan approaches. However, just before she's set to be ensnared by its vice-like grip, something rooted deep in her psyche drives her to fight. Her memories of Eren inspire her to fight on even after she was convinced she'd resigned herself to death. The vibrant color palette returns and the sun re-emerges as the situation becomes more hopeful. The pomegranate we see (a symbol of resurrection) foreshadows the appearance of Mikasa's savior and the embodiment of humanity's rage (which we come to find out is Eren). This final scene is probably the most beautiful of any in the first season, perfectly encapsulating Eren and Mikasa's dynamic.

Other pieces of foreshadowing are subtly interspersed within these episodes as well (Reiner-Berdholdt-Annie dialogue, the Ackerman gene, Attack Titan colorful regenerative abilities). These two episodes specifically hold up remarkably well upon rewatch, and are probably my favorites from this season. They are a testament to Isayama's talent for creating compelling character dynamics, and highlight WIT studio's artful and passionate adaptation of the source material.