For over a decade, Attack on Titan kept viewers on the edge of their seats with a story full of political intrigue and emotional surprises. It was one of the most talked-about anime series of the 2010s and 2020s. Yet, as the final episodes aired, many fans were left confused or even upset. Some complained about how certain characters ended up. Others didn’t understand Eren’s choices. A few believed the entire message of the story had been ruined.
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However, a closer look at the anime shows something very different. The ending of Attack on Titan is not only thoughtful, but is the only ending that makes sense. The ending ties together the anime’s biggest themes and leaves a lasting impact. Even if some moments feel strange at first, the ending stays true to what the story was always about.
Eren’s Tragic Fate Was the Only Ending That Made Sense
Eren’s Ending Fit His Character
Eren Yeager was the heart of the story, and his journey was always going to be complicated. Many fans were shocked by what he did in the final season. After all, he had started as a passionate boy who hated Titans and dreamed of freedom. But as the story grew darker, so did he. When he saw the future through the Attack Titan’s powers, he felt trapped by what was to come. He believed that everything had already been decided. By the end, he had caused the deaths of millions of people with the Rumbling. This turn might seem extreme, but the decision didn’t come out of nowhere. Eren had always been driven by strong emotions. Eren’s decision came from a mix of fear and desperation. Eren wanted freedom more than anything else.
Once he saw the future through the power of the Founding Titan, he realized he had no way to escape what was coming. In his own words, he had “always been moving forward.” Eren believed that if he became the world’s greatest enemy, then maybe his friends could become its heroes and be free. Eren made himself Enemy Number 1 in hopes of uniting the world and creating a better future. This was a dark plan that came from his deep love for his friends. His final tears in front of Armin showed that he still cared but felt trapped by fate. His ending was tragic, but it made sense. In the end, Eren was still the boy who wanted freedom. But he learned too late that freedom gained through destruction isn’t really freedom at all.
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The Story Was Always About Cycles of Violence
The Cycle of Revenge Had to Be Broken Eventually
Image via MAPPA
One of the strongest parts of Attack on Titan is how the story never gives a straight answer regarding whom the real enemy is. The Titans are the enemies at first, but by the time the Marley arc begins, the truth comes out: humans were behind the horrors all along. It was clear the story had become about cycles of hate. Marley hurt the Eldians, and the Eldians struck back, then the world feared them even more. On and on the hate went, with no one willing to stop the cycle. Eren’s choice to begin the Rumbling was not just about revenge. It was the result of years of pain and war.
Related
The 10 Greatest Titan Battles in Attack on Titan, Ranked
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Attack on Titan fans will never forget the best battles involving the Titans, including both pure Titans and the nine Titan Shifters.
Eren’s Rumbling was the most extreme example of what happens when people believe violence is the only answer. He thought that by crushing his enemies, he could break the cycle. Instead, he became part of it. But the story didn’t end with destruction. The story ended with people making a different choice. The Alliance, made up of former enemies, came together to stop Eren because they believed there had to be another way. By letting Armin and the others stop him, the story gave hope for a better future. The message was clear: violence may feel powerful, but that always leads to more pain. That final choice showed that cycles can be broken.
Mikasa and Armin were Allowed To Shine
While Eren Lost Himself in the Future, His Friends Saved the World
Image via MAPPA
While Eren’s journey turned dark, his closest friends, Mikasa and Armin, were forced to grow in new ways. Their choices in the final episodes gave the story its emotional core. From the beginning, Mikasa’s story had been about her loyalty to Eren. She protected him and rarely questioned his choices. But when the time came, she made the hardest choice in the anime: killing the person she loved to save the world. When she made the final decision, she had to let Eren go. She kissed Eren goodbye, knowing she could never have the future she wanted. But by doing that, she saved the world. Some wanted a happier ending for her. But what she did was far more powerful than any perfect love story.
Armin, meanwhile, became the hero he was always meant to be. At first, Armin didn’t seem like the kind of person who would save the world. He wasn’t a strong fighter like Mikasa or a bold leader like Erwin. But he had something even more important: empathy. He believed in people. He looked for peaceful solutions, even when others gave up. When everything fell apart, it was Armin’s words that mattered more than weapons ever did. Together, Mikasa and Armin proved that the quietest characters sometimes carry the greatest weight. They didn’t just survive the story, they completed it.
The Titans Were Finally Erased for Good
The End of a Curse
One of the most satisfying parts of the ending was seeing the curse of the Titans come to an end. For many years, the Titans brought pain and fear to the world. They turned friends into monsters and caused war after war. Once Eren was gone, the power of the Titans vanished with him. The shifters returned to their human form and the nightmare that began all those years ago finally came to an end. No more Walls and no more terror.
This moment felt like a true ending. Not just for the characters but for the entire world of the story. The Titans had always represented fear, control and inherited pain. Their disappearance meant more than safety. It meant freedom. For the first time, the world could move forward without being held hostage by ancient power. The people who were once seen as weapons became people again. This gave the story a real sense of closure. Even if peace didn’t come right away, the worst part of the nightmare was over.
The Ending Reflected Real Life in an Honest Way
Peace Was Never Going to Be Clean or Simple
Image via MAPPA
Some viewers hoped for a happier ending. A peaceful world without war for eternity. Maybe even a wedding. But Attack on Titan never promised fairy tales. The story promised truth, and truth can be messy. Instead, the end showed the pain of war and the price of freedom. In real life, change is slow. Peace is not a magic spell, it’s something people build over time. There was still fear, but there was also something new: a chance. People who had once been enemies were now talking.
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The final scenes didn’t pretend that everything would be okay. As long as human beings walk the earth, there will be conflict, and conflict will inevitably lead to war. Some cycles just cannot be broken forever. That kind of ending reflects real life. The story respected its audience enough to show that truth. And that honesty gave the ending its strength.
People Will Debate the Ending Forever and That’s a Good Thing
The Debate Proves the Ending Worked
Many great stories have endings that divide people. That’s not always a flaw. Sometimes, it’s a sign that the story matters. The fact that so many people are still talking about Attack on Titan’s ending means its ending worked. The message made people feel something. The story didn’t take the easy road or try to please everyone. Attack on Titan asked big questions without giving easy answers. That’s why fans are still talking about it.
Was Eren right or wrong? Could peace have come another way? These questions don’t have simple answers, and that’s okay. Not every fan will agree with the choices made in the final episodes. Attack on Titan told a story about war, pain, love and hope. Its ending honored all those themes in a way that was emotional and honest. The story finished what it started and left behind a message that still matters. No story is perfect, and Attack on Titan had its rough edges. But at its heart, the ending stayed true to the message that guided the anime from the start: freedom has a price.
