Sorry, but I beg to differ here. I’d the same impression 8-9 months back and it’s still the exact same now: Season 1 will forever be my favourite Season of this Franchise followed by the astounding buildup during the Season 2 and finally the Game of Thrones-like Season 3. Basically, Season 1 > Season 2 > Season 3. Okay, except that it’s not the exact same.
Before I get started, I just want to clarify that it is definitely not because of the lack of titan action by any means. Everything, or rather much of the developments, regarding this arc just happened to favour the Survey Corps and this, in my honest opinion, was a little bit of a disappointment. Throughout Seasons 1&2, Death was abundant to the point where it was as though it was being decided by nature quite literally but that tone of the show was drastically toned down this Season. Hange was in a very precarious situation but apparently it wasn’t as serious as it was demonstrated. I really hate to be this guy but this show really lacked the death of a ‘main character’ as in one of the characters we have been affiliated with for a good while. ‘Hopelessness’ was a big factor for this show and this theme was just thrown aside here. I’ll admit though this was my problem with the manga events too so it’s not the anime adaptions’ fault. If anything, this adaption totally exceeded the manga adaption but it just didn’t fix some of its other problems.
Secondly, the ‘convenience’ factor. I hinted above about everything just ‘favouring’ the Survey Corps and I’ll get more into that here. Just to be clear, that scene of the four nobles blowing up their cover during Erwin and Pixis’s little prank was totally fine but my main problem lies more with the people’s acceptance. Such things, such as a successful coup d’etat, never prevail so abruptly honestly and, despite the little Reeves Company + Hange bit and the Historia finishing off Rod’s titan bit, it was still a little too convenient. Rewatching this season has allowed to have a firmer grip on this. Odd thing to touch upon, moreover, is the lack of control from the Interior Military Police Officers this time around. I’ve a few more little nit picks from here and there but I won’t get into them now. Don’t get me wrong though, it was still a wonderful little civil war though, but it just wasn’t the best example and hence the little complaint. Season 1 nearly touched upon perfection in my opinion and Season 2 managed to hold on to that but this Season 3 kind of opened up a bit of flaws (not too big to downrate and similarly not too small to ignore), is pretty much what I’m indicating. Personal preference but I’m a big action fan and this season really didn’t have much to write home about (except for the Levi v Kenny Squad in Episode 3). Sure, there was the Squad Levi + Hange v Kenny’s Squad battle in Episode 6/7 but that wasn’t anything particularly memorable. Pacing of the show picking up a notch too didn’t exactly please me but I really feel as though Episodes 2-6 could’ve had an extra episode to flesh it out (here’s where most of the cuts from the manga happened in the first place). I’m not suggesting that the writer, Isayama Hajime, is to be blamed for this however by any means but I just think some of the cuts should’ve come on a later note in some way or another. Though, I’ve to say the rearranging of a few things proved to work much better this time around so props to the writer and the director for this.
On the plus side, the Character Developments this Season was abundant and a wonderful treat to have! Historia single-handedly became the best girl of the show in Japan and that goes to show just how splendid this Department was throughout this season. Much like Season 2 too, the mystery was superbly handled this season too and the Directing another glorious feat. Somehow, this anime adaption just manages to deliver more and I’m always loving that! Another mad props to the improve in quality of the Animation! It didn’t manage to bring back that ‘grim’ atmosphere of the previous two seasons but it was perfect for the theme of this particular season nonetheless! As always, the Sound Department excels thanks to Sawano Hiroyuki and the very talented Sound Directors so no issues here either. Op was just fine, nothing very hype-worthy like Linked Horizon’s pieces, but I think it lacked a bit of a kick into it to get you started with the episodes.
About the last sentence of the first paragraph though, here’s what I mean. 8-9 months back, my impression was as follows: Season 1 >>> Season 3 > Season 2 where Season 3 and Season 2 were pretty close. But now, it’s Season 1 >> Season 2 > Season 3 (the two are still pretty close though, mind you). I believe Season 2 is best for a rewatch honestly because you’ll come to appreciate the buildup in the mystery aspect a lot more once you learn of the truth of the world, the ‘basement’ revelations (or so it was for me). With all that said though, both Seasons 2&3 got a solid 9 (Season 2 with a 9.25[+0.25 after rewatch] and Season 3 with a 8.80[-0.40 after rewatch]) from me. What’s to come is undoubtedly one of the best arcs of the entire franchise and potentially in all of manga too but it isn’t entirely all hype-hype for me. Unpopular opinion but I feel as though the writer sort of overdid it in the next arc to make up for this arc and the Plot-Armour love story begins but I’ll be going with high hopes nonetheless! I still freakin’ enjoyed it despite the teany-meany flaws after all! |
