Attack on Titan: Episode 04 Review by Skie

Japanese Title: Shingeki no Kyoujin
Reconnaissance Report by: Skie
Progress: Episode 4


attack on titanThis series began strong and has continued to tell its story with impact and aplomb. It is brutal, gritty, and simply does not shy away from the terrible implications of a society trying to flourish under threat from nearly invincible predators. The main characters are thrown into difficult situation after difficult situation and come out tattered – not broken or heroically accomplished, but worn. This is a delightful change of pace from many other anime I’ve experienced that try to take on the post-apocalyptic setting.

I was worried Titan would follow in the footsteps of Naruto with the dunce of a main character, the super talented support, and the middling third wheel coming up against a basic training setting, but I was relieved to find that this was not the case. While the training montage and introduction of various side characters was swift – a single episode of storytelling – it didn’t feel too fast. Sure, it was quick, but if the scenes had been drawn out much longer or other spotlights shone, it would have felt less like a cliff notes montage and more like a filler episode.

There are a few quirks here and there – the pacing for the training, or the awkward reappearance of the Super Titan – but the writing and acting and art more than make up for it. There is decided character development that has me hooked, multiple threads of a deliciously complex metaplot are being sewn, and the art has remained consistently high quality.

The end of the fourth episode leaves us in a cliff hanger and the emergence of a new leader with a new paradigm that ensures the show remains a must-see!

Score: 9.00/10.00