Attack on Titan fans adamant controversial character “did nothing wrong”

Attack on Titan contains some divisive moments, and a look at characters who deserved their fate has reopened a discussion on what happens to Eren Yeager.

A pillar of pop culture in the 2010s, Attack on Titan will rightly go down as one of the best anime of the current era. Riveting, gory, and action-packed, the Survey Corps’ endless battle against the mindless Titans made for some excellent entertainment.

The main character, Eren Yeager, typifies a complicated protagonist. At first he’s seen as a hero, but later on in the story, he becomes something of a war-monger trying to initiate genocide against the oppressive state of Marley.

On an X/Twitter thread of anime characters who got what they deserved, Eren’s passing is listed as an entry. His inclusion proves to be one of the more controversial choices, as many sympathize with his actions.

“Eren did nothing wrong,” state a few replies, making their stance clear. “He tried to save his island and his people. He didn’t deserve this at all,” said another.

“Eren did the right thing by unleashing The Rumbling. It means Paradis starts with the scientific advantage moving forward, instead of always behind in terms of technological advancement,” another added.

There’s definitely logic to what they’re saying. Paradis was essentially used to test and breed Titans by Marley, made to believe they were the last bastion of humanity by an apathetic mainland.

Upon discovering this, Eren became obsessed with burning it all down, much to the dismay of even his closest friends in Mikasa and Armin. Creator Hajime Isayama doesn’t hold back from the complex emotions around such a situation.

Attack on Titan manga finished in 2021 and the anime wrapped in 2023. If you’d like something to fill the gap, Dandadan, Lazarus, and Terminator Zero all have some horror vibes you might just enjoy.