One Villainous Scene: "Hey. It's Been 4 Years, Reiner." Attack on Titan Video Essay 

UPDATE PART 4 DIAMOND IS UNBREAKABLE: Addressing some Recent comments I've gotten, Yes I know there are some Issues with the video but it was my first video essay LOL. Pretty much any problem you might have with this video has been fixed in a lot of my Newer stuff so feel free to check out my Channel!!!

"It's been 4 years, Reiner" "It's been 5 years, Bruce, you still owe me 16 dollars-"

“This is a talk between the two villains.” Thank you. Thank you for recognizing that Reiner, despite sympathizing with him and understanding why, is just as villainous as Eren is. I felt like people were ignoring the whole reason Eren even did all this.

Eren: Reiner I'm the Attack titan and Armin's the Colossal titan. Reiner: Having flashbacks to season 2 and horrified.

He went from a Suicidal Maniac to a Genocidal one, quite the flip.

Tybur: "Our war begins now!" Eren: "k"

"Reiner it's been 4 years, you still owe me 16 dollars"

Erens entire story leading up the end of season 3 painted a false picture of a hero’s journey, when in reality he was always gonna be the villain of this story whether it’s what he wanted or not. All for the sake of his friends and people.

like the break down. and good scene. I remember honestly not knowing if he would transform right up till the moment he did. which was strong writing.

To think that Willy's Call To Arms cemented Eren's lack of choice. The moment Willy riled up the Marlay People to a full on war with Paradise, he made Eren's decision for him. Had he instead chosen to attempt to sway them from war, and instead simply leave the Island alone, Eren wouldn't have been forced to set off the bomb. Of course, we know full well it was going to go down that way because Eren knew it was the only option available, but Willy's speech was like cutting the Red Wire and setting off a bomb with an unknown timer.

I don’t think the whole scene was to tell the audiences that they were the same because they both had no choice. Just like Reiner said, it’s not the environment that forced them to commit such evil acts. They did what they did because they wanted to, they were born that way: stubborn idiots who keep moving forward until the get what they desired. To Reiner, it’s to become the hero, to Eren, it’s to archive his childish dream of being freed. Ironically, in the end, Reiner became the hero by giving up on his desire, while Eren, the one who kept forward, wanted to be stopped by his friends

Oh dang, quality was high enough where i didn't realize you were a small creator. Subbed

Eren: Reiner I am the same as you The most enlightening and horrifying sentence in the Anime

Bro. You're a small channel but this analysis is worth the value of a multi thousand channel. You really should consider doing more of these.

Best episode/scene I’ve ever seen. “I will keep moving forward, until I’ve killed my enemy”

"He who fights monsters should see to it that he himself does not become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." -Frederick Nietzsche. Or alternatively; "You Either Die A Hero, Or You Live Long Enough To See Yourself Become The Villain” - Harvey Dent in The Dark Knight (2008).

Eren fanboy logic: "He can't be a villain bro look how cool this jacket scene is"

Ok...great analysis but I think you missed a small point. I strongly believe that he didn't intend to take Falco hostage but to educate him. Falco got the full picture of the whole thing because he heard Eren say their side of the story. Without that he would have been as blind as Gabi, well not really but you get what I mean. Eren might be a villain, but in opposition to Reiner and the others he was still thinking about ending the hatred between Marleyans and the people of Paradise by educating the younger generation that they are "all the same."

I remember seeing this scene for the first time and trying to justify it. All I thought was 'Marely has this coming! Kill them all!' It wasn't until the scene in the manga that I read before the anime version came out due to the hiatus, where he told Mikasa he hated her and beat the shit out of Armin that I finally accepted the Eren I knew from season 3 was gone

My favourite part of this was that Reiner thought Eren was coming here for revenge. And the reason why Eren says they're the same after Reiner confesses he actually did it for selfish reasons, is because Eren is also doing what he's doing for selfish reasons.

I'd honestly say Eren is just tragic. Hes committed absolute atrocitie, but in the ending, it's clear that he never wanted to do it, but felt like it must be done. So much so that when we see him in the paths, he's a child, all until he talks to each character one by one. A battle between himself, and what he believes to be his destiny.

I was talking with online friends when this was airing and we agreed that this is when season 4 really kicked off

"The Armored Titan has been left completely defenseless" Ironic

Eren: *kills 80% of the population only to make marley, paradise and the rest of the world to fight against a common enemy to find peace* Lelouch: that's my boy!

I love this scene and I approve of the anti copyright dance.

I love how the anti copyright dance expects us to speak fluent japanese

What made him a good villain is that he isn't a villain at all. He's someone who is simply doing what needs to be done.

Man this show. I love how Eren sits and waits, transforming right on the declaration of war. Its not unusual for people who have no experience of the frontline of war to be eager for it. Especially with a reason as justified as "he will kill us all if we don't stop him." So the moment war is announced, he brings the war to them. Instant pandemonium. I won't be so callous as to call it Karma or Justice by any means, as so many innocents were killed in that moment. And I definitely don't want to get into the "are enablers of violent people guilty too" because this show/manga is so good at flip flopping on that. There is no static answer to that morality. Frankly, how much I enjoy dissecting this show has me worried for my own moral compass.

Eren - Hey Reiner its been four years, is Joe still with you Reiner - Who's Joe Eren - Joe mama And that is why Eren Yeager is the most dangerous villain in anime

Was waiting for someone to do an anime.

I don’t think Erens evil. I think he waited. And held out hope, that Willy wouldn’t declare war. If Marley had left them alone, he wouldve gotten up and left. If you corner a stray dog, it’s gonna start biting. Not cause it’s evil. But becaus it wants to survive.

I wasn't patient enough after ep 3 I decided to catch up with the Manga. I didn't even know Eren was in Marley. This scene/these pages got me so hyped for the rest of S4. The attack on Marley is amazing, specially the music.

I love the fact that this dude refused to cut out the mistakes when he reads

you still need to work on your editing and your voice but you are doing great a couple more videos and you will be seeing the improvement nice job men

The whole question of whether you consider Eren a villain is based 100% on your moral system. The actions themselves aren't intrinsically evil. If you are a utilitarian, ends-justify-the-means type of person, you might find Eren's actions totally permissible. I more or less agree that it makes sense to view Eren as a villain, as that's the narrative role he serves. At the same time, there's no need to over-simplify the moral greyness of the show. Good video, though.

I thought Reiner was revealing he only wanted to be a hero and respected, which made them not the same. I don't remember each characters exact words.

People can only deny eren being a villain because they have yet to see the truth. They will

Subbed! Would love more aot character discussions like this. Reiner is one of my favorite characters

One of the most jaw dropping, goosebumping scene of all time

WOW I'm truely shocked. 62k views and 600+ subs. I honestly don't know what to say besides a Genuine thank you. I'm currently working on what was supposed to be the 100 sub special but that number left as fast as it came LOL. please sub so you won't miss it and follow me on Twitter: @KamonXV for any updates!

"Reiner it's been 4 years, you still owe me sixteen dollars"

"And yes starting from his attack on Marley, Eren IS a villain" Immédiate sub

What I like about Erens motivation is that it never changes. It's revenge for his mother. The only difference is that now humans are the enemy

Its weird to see somebody label Eren as a villain in a show that sends another message. AoT's last season in particular shows us that there is no villains, only the villainous circumstance, such is life. Because life is just that cruel. What Eren originally did was a man's natural response to learning that the entire world is pitted against you and those who you'd like to protect. Laying down and simply dying because your giving up would lead to less bloodshed denotes a person who really does not deserve to live. The people of the island are convicts of a sentence long since served forcefully turned into aggressors by their jurors. The show teaches that there is no good guys or bad guys in war, war is simply just a massive tragedy bound to occur, and I'd argue its not morally justified in the first place to enslave these people for the crimes of their ancestors, actions they took no part in. People should be valued not on just their existence, but their willingness to fight for what they believe in as well.

So happy to see anime being talked ab in this large community! Most of these “villainous scenes” were Marvel DC or some superhero thing but DAMN. This vid is so good, man, thank you.

Excellent job, dude! It's awesome to see someone else appreciate how fantastic of a character and villain Eren Jaeger is! The only thing is I interpreted the talk slightly differently. I thought that although Eren was saying that he and Reiner didn't have a choice, that he actually meant the opposite of that. I took that to be an accusation. Like the sarcastic accusation of "You were just following orders, right?". That Reiner did actually have the choice to not follow through with the plan. Just like Eren at the moment could choose some other tactic that didn't involve as much bloodshed. I think this is his true intent, considering his pointed question; "Why did my mother have to die, Reiner?" To Eren, this was personal. Sure, he sympathizes with Reiner and the Marleyans. And he's also doing this because of pragmatic reasons. Eren feels they have to bring the fight to Marley, or they'll end up being crushed in a war of attrition. But the real motivator for all of it, and especially the talk with Reiner is his absolute hatred for Marley and it's citizens. Eren despised Reiner. He was the kind of angry that you get to where you have to bottle up all your emotions and set them aside just to function. That's why he isn't showing emotion, because he can't let the wall he built up slip, or he'd just lose his sanity and control. But you can see it in his actions. Recounting the day when the wall broke. Explaining to Reiner why he's here. Showing understanding and empathy towards Reiner, and saying that the two of them were the same. This was Eren acknowledging their similarities, but it was also, to me, an angry statement. "What you did to me, I'm about to do to you. This is your fault. All of it." Anyways, that's what I took from his talk with Reiner. I'm certainly not an expert, I could have misinterpreted what the scene was about. But I feel like AoT has many different ways that you can interpret the story and characters that fit the overall narrative shown. To me, that's representative of a good story. Keep up the good work!

Awesome video essay! I couldn't agree more! God, AoT is so good...from the the story, the characters to the music, animation and voice acting...perfection. 👌

Thank god you explained the difference between antagonist and villian

I think erens a villain not because of this attack, but rather the 'revelation' at the end of what set off the entire series of events to begin with. Although with the past being determined by the future, and with no way for it not to be self-determined, I suppose the real villain is the author.

I think that people often overlook the fact that Eren ‘waited’ until Tybur announced his statement. He already knew it, of course, but still didn’t act until the war was declared on him.

I really enjoyed this video essay. This scene really shocked me, and I couldn't believe what I was watching. You covered this scene in a very detailed manner. Well done, you deserve the subscribers and views.

I found this video about a week ago. I had just started season 4 and wanted to wait cause I could tell I hadn't seen what it was about yet. Just finished season 4 and got to see this. Amazing video, worth the wait

Eren slowly switching broke me bc of how realistic it seemed

The entire scene is just beautiful. You can see the way Tybur was speaking. There is no way to avoid war. The world has brought this on themselves

I have always thought it disengenious to call Eren a villain. Recall that the entire world declared war on Paradis Island, that they did that even before Eren ever attacked despite the fact that when Tybur told the truth and revealed Marley to have spread propaganda to them for decades. And Eren has known this would happen for years. If there was a peaceful solution out of the situation then I might be able to call Eren a villain. But when the rest of humanity wants to wipe you and your loved ones out of existance and you have exhausted all avenues to a peaceful solution, what the heck do you owe the rest of humanity?! Yeah they are humans too and all that, but they have willingly chosen to disregard the eldians humanity to wipe them out or enslave them so fuck e'm. This is where I have a bit of a bone to pick with Isayama, because Eren's fall to villainy would have had a bit more punch to it if there were options for a peaceful solution, like maybe if he had crafted a situation with a bit of nuance where maybe not the entire world declared war on them because they saw through Marleys and Tyburs shit. Eren's fall would actually have some bite to it then.

AoT shows how Heroes and Villains do not exist, there are just people separated by fate.

The only thing Eren did wrong was not knock up Mikasa.

"Reiner, it's been 4 years you still owe me 16 dollars" Eren Jaeger

Great analysis, I'd love to see more video essays like this

To counter a point you made at the end of the video, Eren only saw what Future Eren sends to Grisha. The attack titan doesn’t give the ability to see the future, it instead gives the ability to send memories to its past inheritors. Therefore Eren sent back specific memories to influence Grisha, these memories were then seen by Eren after kissing Historia. He knew some of the future, but not things like his defeat or the ending of the titan curse. This does change how I see this scene slightly but not too much. Anyway, great video.

I wouldn't necessarily classify Eren as a villain. His actions may be "villainous" but he's trying to stop the Marleyan Empire and the rest of the world from enacting a genocide of everyone on Paradis island. Edit: He rumbled 80% of the world in order not to save the people of Paradis, but to make his friends as "heroes" in some half-baked knock-off Lelouch's Zero Requiem Plan.

What's Truly A Villian A Person That Pursuits His Needs At Others Cost Then Ain't We All Villians🌚

While I do agree that Eren became a villain after kissing Historias hand, and is debatable if it was by his own volition or because after kissing Historias hand, he saw the past, present and future and all alternatives besides war or starting the Rumble. The social status would not change and if it did. Eren went from the Protagonist, to Villan, to a Tragic Villan by necessity to change the world. Although I feel that the final parts were a bit hurried, it ended tragicly but ended well. *Spoilers* The cycle of opression and violence would continue or even worsen: Misaka would be force to become Royalty and bear the succession of her own country (Hizuru, country that was waiting for any sort of Elbian weakness to attack them); Marley who wanted complete world domination and obliteration of Elbia and it's people. Marleyin rebels wanted to make a religion out of the rumble worshiping Eren like a god. (Yikes) Elbia who if they won the war would perpetuate the cycle of violence towards the Marley for all the years of torture and violence of their people. In the end the Titan's powers and the Coordinate was the reason for the endless war. This is why he, declares war on Marley, severes ties with his friends, ignores everything besides his plan, removes the Elbian bloodline curse (i.e. Ymir's curse saving Ymir's soul from being bound), but most of all....He leaves all his friends and foes with the ability to transform and stop him... (Basicly a more complex and interesting "The Story of Red Ogre and Blue Oni".)

He does the bomb thing with Armin Mikasa and Gabi too. It doesn't work but he still did it

UPDATE: HOLY COW 1.1K VIEWS!!! I appreciate every single one of you. I also think I have to start planning a 100 sub special. Any and all input you guys have would be greatly appreciated 💗 UPDATE 2: Wow, i am Honestly Floored. This is now the Most Viewed Video on my Channel. I have A video planned for my 100 sub special (Although its looking to be 200 now lol). for now please hold on. if you would like; please check out some of my other content. its not much but I still work hard on my videos

Alfred forgot to mention one word that helps show the chasm between suspense and surprise in a much larger context: Atmosphere. You don't necessarily need an outside influence to make suspense work. How many times have we had conversations that make us feel disconcerted without any present threat? In fact, an underrated form of suspense is Death Note's tennis match between L and Light.

Excellent Video. It was very fun to watch only one feedback i would like to give you that keep these videos more scrioted and completly stick to it because if you go on an unscripted topic you tend to lose the tone and the sometimes stutter and unsurety about your words does sound a bit odd. Apart from this one thing I liked the video very much I am subscribed . Keep going :)

Eren best hero

Good job! Really liked the video, Eren is my favourite protagonist of all time, glad to see he's being appreciated

Eren’s actions were morally wrong, but he was basically forced into doing them tbh. Ymir wouldn’t become free any other way.

This story is an absolute master piece

Eren is not a villain. The whole point of Attack on titan is that the heroes of one side in a war are villains to the other side. It's all just perspective. Anyone still arguing about heroes and villains in Attack on Titan has completely missed the point.

Eren: "Reiner it's been 4 years, you still owe me sixteen dollars..." Reiner: "fuck off"

Eren's such a great tragic story. That feeling when it begins to settle down that he's ultimately gonna prove Willy right bc there's no other choice and the only way that road can end is not a happy one, when he starts pulling his plan off the audience may as well be there sitting with Falco and Reiner. Superb, amazing storytelling. -until the end which is kinda super lame-

The fact that eren asks why his mom had to get eaten by a titan but says he and reiner are the same hits way harder after (spoilers) You find out even tho reiner broke the hole in the wall, eren was the one who influenced that titan to go towards and eat his mom through the paths, it was what had to be done for the future he had already seen

Eren did evil, but he wasn’t the villain. Marley invaded and did those crimes on Paradis for natural resources and to steal the founder from a Peaceful People. They knew the King of Walls had the vow renouncing the war. And Eren only attacks, after Willy says the words “I DECLARE WAR ON PARADIS” I consider Eren’s action retribution. Until the god awful manga ending.

This reminds me of the ending of season 1 when Armin and Jean had a conversion about Eren becoming a monster to overcome the Titans

I like that Kamon stutters and chokes here and there. It feels like i'm actually there listening to his TedTalk. Great fucking work, dude!!

Reiner sniffing letter is peak character development in any literature

UPDATE PART 3: NEW ANALYSIS VIDEO IS OUT. ALL NEW EDITING, BETTER SOUND QUALITY AND BETTER PACING/VOICE WORK. GO CHECK IT OUT IF YOU LIKED THIS ONE: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE--1ILt6Dscns.html

First of all, I wholeheartedly agree with you when you say Eren is a villain. He may be the protagonist and one of the best-written ones in years, but he's still a villain which is a fact even he won't refute. Second of all, how that scene played out was not only well written, but the build-up to it in the first three seasons made it all the sweeter and tense as he didn't even need to say what he was going to do, or vocally threaten the lives of the people above them, Reiner just knew due to their history. When Reiner breaks down, I had mixed feelings as he spent five whole episodes seeing things from his POV, and seeing how the choices he made for something that most take for granted(freedom and having a father that loves you) have messed with him, leaving the poor guy with a serious case of PTSD, survivor's guilt and suicidal thoughts. We know that if it wasn't for the titan candidates, he would be dead as at this point, he's only living for their sake, which is why he was so terrified when Falco was told to stay, at least that was how I saw things. Reiner when Eren told him that he was there for the same thing Reiner left for Paradise, that was the serious guy punch as it didn't take a genius to realize what he meant, and then stacked onto that by asking him why his mother had to die, why he attacked the walls on two separate occasions. Eren's response though, came out of nowhere as it's nothing like he used to be, what he swore to them four years ago. Eren has forgiven him, he has forgiven Marley because he realized that his hatred wouldn't help anyone, it wouldn't solve their problems. All in all, Eren knew for a long time that he wasn't the good guy, he was no hero and that haunted him. But he also knew that he was the right guy, the only one that had the knowledge and the will to do what needed to be done. Even if it meant going against friends and allies, even if those he cared for saw him as a monster, he was willing to push forward. This was why I had the same thought when you brought up Lelouch as they are similar in that they were never the 'good guys', they were villains through and through. The difference between them and others like say, Dio or Aizen, is that they were the lesser evils and characters that we had been with throughout their journeys, so while their actions were awful, we know why they felt like they were necessary. Both Lelouch and Eren, from an early point in their lives, had philosophies that they lived by as with Eren, it was that one must fight for their freedom, no matter what or who stands against you, while Lelouch believed that only those prepared to die had the right to kill. And through it all, they lived and died by those creeds.

marley: racist greedy nation blaming sons for the sins of their fathers even tho eldians just trying to mind their own business also marley: "cowardly attack from paradis on the whole word" *cry sob I don't care honestly had it coming for a long time it's been overdue

“Hey.It’s been 4 years, Reiner. You still owe me 16 dollars”

mans got the subcount of a 12 year old minecraft let's player but the editing of a channel with 100 times the views.

As Tybur says please lend me your strength. It shows Eren giving a helping hand towards Reiner one last time. Lending Reiner some of his resolve to help stand up and face what is to come.

There are no truly evil people in attack on titan, there are just people living their lives, and people trying to get what they want.

A scene like this is priceless. Especially when the bomb finally goes off.

I disagree, Eren isn't a villain, He is a monster, but the sad fact is that monsters are need from time to time.

The Anti Copyright Dance jumpscared me. I'm ashamed...

Whelp the last thing I remember on this show was the wall being revealed to be crystallized Titans or whatever. Apparently I’ve missed stuff.

How dare you. He IS a HERO! He is a hero for his own people. Its the only way to stop the enemy from eradicating his own people.

Ooh, no one has shown the full interview before.

Between Reiner and Erin is kids a battle of attrition. Reiner is done. He’s already been through it. On the other side Erin’s just started.

I really liked and enjoyed this essay on Eren and what he did. I especially liked the "bomb under the table" comparison and how dire it set the situation. I was also wondering if you would do a video on your thoughts on the ending chapter (139) as I'm in the minority of fans that actually liked and would like to hear your thoughts. Anyways, great video, you've earned a sub

Eren motivation is revenge. Eren says Reiner is not the one to blame it's the country who brain washed him. God I love that moment since Reiner understands that if Eren is not blaming him he must be blaming the country who raised him.

Eren is no villain, he's just an avatar of retribution. There is plenty of pain dished out and evil enacted in Attack on Titan, but generally, everyone is in a morally grey area, as they should be. Most people, even in real life, do what they must to protect themselves or the ones they care for, or just to survive. But when it came to the titan people, nobody was in the right. The original Eldians enslaved the titans, and then the world, but not too different from what empires in our world were like. When the new Eldian empire/titan Eldians repented for all the destruction they caused, the Marleyans and the rest of the world sought to punish them further, despite said penitence, which was in fact unjust. Not just that, but in their fear of the Eldians, the Marleyans treated them like the Nazis treated the Jewish, and then also sought to destroy their isolationist and ignorant nation on top of that. Eren's actions towards the rest of the world mirrored Marley's actions towards Eldians. However, all of this stemmed from one simple problem that Jean mentioned after the Rumbling started: *nobody thought of diplomacy, to simply just... talk.* And because nobody talked to anyone else, they just fought like animals until one of the sides moved to logical conclusion of killing off the other side entirely. Eren is just the byproduct of the unfair and aggressive and beligerent world he lives in. He hates that world, and he hates himself for doing what he chose to do, but he does it anyways, for the sake of everyone, so that there can be some peace, despite the human cost.

Objectively, Eren is right, however, the ends don't justify the means for him

I don't think the rumbling was the only option. Since we see that a certain eternal child's powers can be used to alter the past retroactively, and he can make use of them, there is no in-universe reason why the entire situation all the way back to ymirs death couldn't have been altered. Though that's probably less erens fault and more the authors.

Eren didn't want to save the world nor was he willing to sacrifice all his friends though. He also did have a choice but acted as the memories showed because that's who he is. He wanted the rumbling deep down because of his rage and disappointment that the world outside wasn't what he imagined.

without spoiling i just wanted to say that this was ruined by eren in the manga (imo)