Disclaimer: This review is with the benefit of hindsight from multiple rewatches.
I'm surprised this one has very few reviews. It is one of the most heartbreaking episodes in a show full of heartbreaking episodes, and definitely the most tragic at this point. Hell, even the ''enemy'' cries in this one.
Concluding the 57th Expedition Beyond The Walls arc, this episode does not give us a break from all the pain we've endured so far. There are so many heartbreaking gut punching moments:
- We are shown the families of Levi's squad, whom we've come to care and have just witness their tragic demise. Subtle is the intention of the scene here, as the family members recieve the news of the Scouts return with mild melancholy instead of joy, indicating that death is an expected result and they should be prepared.
- A tough decision by Erwind and Levi to leave some bodies unrecovered. Two scouts ask for their friend Ivan's body to be recovered but are deny permission. Imagine if it was Armin's body left on the field and our protagonist try to explain to the commander how they were childhood friends and being deny their wish to bury him. Just another day in Erwins and Levi's'life as Scouts higher ups, making tragic but necesary calls.
- The two scouts that went for his friend body, everything about that short scene is sad. They lose the body, one of them dies while the other tries to help him. This leads the next big moment, probably the climax for this episode.
- Leaving the bodies of their fallen comrades, and getting that unbelieveable shot of Petra's body and Levi looking back in inner devastation.
- After that is done, Levi gives the scout Ivan's scout patch, trying to comfort him. I bet so many people started crying with the soldier in that scene, absolutely emotional. But alas, that wasn't Ivan's patch, that was Petra's, Levi took it before (shown on screen). That's how much Levi cares about his subordinates. He's willing to surrender his own grief to help his comrade. Even more emotional.
- Now we reprise the scene of the scouts returning of their expedition from the first episode, now with Eren and Mikasa on the other side. They are greeted with disapointment, mean sarcastic comments and harsh criticism. Being in the mids of absolute defeat, they get kicked while they are down even more by the very people they are trying to protect.
There are even a couple of kids reprising the roles of Eren and Mikasa in the crowd cheering for them, which finally breaks Eren.
- We are not even done. Petra's freaking father comes directly at Levi, and what he mentions will tear you a hole in your heart. Even the most badass, most collected and coolest soldier humanity has can't handle this.
- Erwin gets harrased by the crowd, demanig answers for the body count. Just like Levi, he mantains his composture while dying inside.
- Finally the narrator (Armin) wraps it up the punishment for this catastrophic failure, coming this time from within the walls. The people that need the most support are getting none of it, the opposite in fact.
The theme of Levi as a character is present here. The tragedy of being the strongest character is to watch all your teammates die in battle eventually.
Our heros can't catch a break. After an expedition filled with misery, we end this arc with one of the most downbeat episodes and endings in the whole show, even after 95 episodes. This show is relentless.
Like always, the dialogue, animation, scenery, soundtrack, sfx were top notch but we have to mention the music in this particular case. The piano at the final minutes was crucial.
