Quote:
Originally Posted by Gan_HOPE326
I don't know, I've always felt (since from the beginning) that there is no proportion between how many deaths/defeats the humans undergo and their actual status. For example, if the Recon Legion has been wildly unsuccessful as they suggest it has been for years, why does it still even exist? Someone suggested that outcasts/criminals may be sent to the Legion like it happens in Game of Thrones Night Watch. That may well be good, but nothing is said about it, and if it was the case, the average quality of soldiers in the Legion would probably be lower. On the other hand, if the Legion wasn't so bad at exploring and killing Titans (and the gap between the returning Legion we saw back in ep. 1 and the current one, with Erwin and Levi, seems immense), then a 30% mortality rate wouldn't make Erwin into a genius commander. Even here, I'm not complaining that Erwin made mistakes - he could have very well made some. But we're supposed to buy that he's a genius tactician, and he's not. He's just an average commander who ended up messing up badly as soon as the situation got a bit more complex than the usual. Napoleon, Caesar, Alexander weren't great because they could win battles where they had more soldiers and a better position than the enemies, but because they could turn the tables around when they were at a disadvantage.
Humanity has literally had 100 years to try throwing any kind of weapon from the top of the walls on the Titans below and see what could kill them or weaken them, yet the only thing they can do is try and go slice them on their backs. (1) Why do they still load their cannons with cannonballs rather than shrapnel, for example, which would probably be more effective against the Titan's weak point? Or with explosive projectiles? Why don't they use ballistas? 100 years are a long time to develop weapons. But after 100 years of nearly total stagnation, suddenly we have a burst of advancement (this new titan-capturing weapon).
So it seems like everything happens for the sake of the drama, but it's a bit too transparent. I can't help but think that after 100 years humans would be either extinct, or better at fighting Titans than we see them being.
With regards to the current mission... (2) Eren was unpredictable, they say - well, if he was their ultimate weapon, why didn't they train him better in controlling his Titan abilities before going out? Why dragging him along if he's only a dead weight? Being able to transform into a Titan is literally the only thing he can do, if you're too afraid to make use of it what's the point? And if they consider using his powers, how bad has the situation to become before they decide to? It's not like losing so many lives is somehow magically okay because it was all in the plan. Also, lives lost mean equipment lost, and transport and scouting capabilities. The whole scouting formation will be maimed. (3) If they instead had used his powers it would have been very easy... Petra & co. blind the FT, Eren gives the coup de grace. The end. It's so simple that the only reason they couldn't have thought of it is that the writer wanted to kill more people to show us more drama. That's why I say it feels forced. It's not just a plot device, it's a blatant plot device.
|
Answers to each bolded sentence.
1) Have you ever thought that they might've tried that already? As of now, the cannons can be loaded with two types of cannonballs: Grapeshot, which is, as stated, just a means to slow down a Titan despite its "shrapnel"-like content; and the Explosive rounds, which is low on accuracy, thus not that effective for Titan killing either. You can find that in the eyecatch (aka commercial bumper) of Episode 5. And just to enlighten, it's been about 70 years since the invention of the 3DMG. Most likely it had gone through several innovations since, then, but it is still the most effective offense humans have against the Titans. And the development of anti-Titan weapons went into stagnation due to many factors that the author had not yet revealed. I mean, the majority of people are content staying within the walls, so the front for weapons development found a very big hurdle. No interest means no investment. The reason for the creation of the 3DMG was due to desperation (from what I think) because... well, I'll let the prequel (Before the Fall) explain the events of that time.
2) They didn't have enough time. Remember, Eren's life depends on the result of the Scouting Legion's next expedition. To the eyes of the court, he's still under observation, but with all that's going on, especially with the suspected Titan-shifters invading the human populous when Wall Maria was breached and then sabotaging Titan research (Bean & Sawney), Erwin had to make a call to sniff them out before they do more damage. Eren didn't factor into that because he didn't have enough training on his form and with evidence pointing that he lacks control over it, plus with the suspicion already set that these invaders are looking for Eren.
Now, the expedition itself is a trial. It was just something for the Legion to test the waters, so to speak, (and put results on the table that Eren
can be a reliable asset for retaking Wall Maria, if ever the court is hounding for some) but even then, Erwin and co. already prepared for the worst-case scenario, which is they'll be attacked by someone like FT. Whether or not Erwin actually expected the attack, none can be sure, but he did make the necessary preparations for such an event, thus minimizing casualties and ensuring the safety of their "prototypical" weapon against the Titans. That requires foresight and making certain calls that means the death of his own men.
3) Sigh, hingsight is fucking 20/20, ain't it? Besides, you keep talking about plot but not at all factoring the
human factor into the equation here. If the author really wanted to stick to some "plot," he would've made more issues with the characterization of certain characters. Despite it all, the reason Eren didn't bite while they were being chase by FT is because he wanted to find camaraderie again, much like the one he had before the Battle of Trost (a whole monologue that is completely absent in the anime, unfortunately). He wanted people who trusts him and people he trusts, in turn. This trust thing is a give-and-receive scenario, and Petra put that into action by asking that Eren trust them and Levi's decision to keep moving forward.
The second instance was pretty much the same, because they were still tasked to protect Eren. He's also, without doubt, the newbie of the group, thus he isn't as well tuned and in-sync as the rest of the squad. That would prove more of a hindrance than an asset in the fight. They're still uncertain over whether or not Eren can retain some sense in his Titan form, which would help with coordinating attacks, but they have neither the time nor the chance to risk doing that, what with a formidable enemy, who has killed countless soldiers already, breathing down their necks.
To shorten it, that scene was mostly character-driven because it played with Eren's emotions and thoughts. His decision in this episode was because of the first time he trusted his squad and that turned out for the best for them and the Legion as a whole, but he only realized too late that not trusting his own powers might just be as bad as not trusting his comrades' at all. Because of this decision to gamble the life of his comrades by retreating while they stay and fight... well, the outcome is this. And he regretted it right after.
.
Friendship and Rivalry. These two have it 
Author
