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Spoilers below.

While watching the first season with my brother, I asked him whether there would be any mention of the politics in this show. He told me to wait for it. And while it is very pleasing to have had the first half of this season focus primarily on politics and relationships between institutions, it was unfortunately a very worrying turn for it.

One of the first things people will hear about attack on titan, after learning it's one of the greatest animes ever made, is about it's controversies. Specifically, how it's creator is supposedly a neonazi, or how the work perpetrates antisemitism and fascist ... ideals bled over seemingly from the author's own perspective - one of the most notable occasions is when we finally truly learn Historia's history, and the Ackerman's. Although not the worst conspiracy theory that can be presented, the seed of antisemism and even anti-korean sentiment has been planted, watered, and it is blooming.

Although I've been trying to steer clear of spoiler for the sake of my brother, a Vice article by Gita Jackson entitled "Everyone loves Attack on Titan. So why does everyone hate Attack on Titan?" explores fascism and antisemitism in the show. During my cursory read of it, a quote by Isayama, the creator, stood out:
“Being a writer, I believe it is impolite to instruct your readers the way of how to read your story.”
Is it truly, with 100% certainty, possible to do that? Is it possible for an author to not in any way influence how someone will read their story? Of course not. Subtext, metaphors, themes, all those exist for a reason and they are all biased towards the auhor's perspective of an issue, whether intentional or not. And so, the tropes and mechanisms used to convey that perspective will be skewed towards the author's opinion as well, even if those are harmful. And boy, are some of the mechanisms used for storytelling in the third season harmful.

The mere idea of a select group of people with immense power, politically and magically, who are both inferior and superior to others at the same time should set off alarms in people's head of the racism and antisemitism propaganda using this rethoric to dehumanize minority groups. Yet it is a main focus during the season, with Historia's family (who are royals, and thus control the population) having powers to erase and manipulate memories (more or less brainwashing, isn't it?) and pass down Titan abilities to their heirs via ritualistic sacrifice (hoo, boy, blood libel and death rituals now?). Being titans, they are extremely powerful, and at the same time seen as scum by the rest of the population for all the damage other titans have done to humanity. And of course, the mentions of shadow governments, of taking back the power, the false king... While one of these tropes on it's own isn't enough to set off any alarms usually, all of them being used together paints a pretty bad picture.
(And, if I'm allowed to be nitpicky for a moment, the righteous heir and seeming saviour is blonde and blue-eyed? Really? Alright.)

I can't much speak on the anti-korean sentiment present in the series, as I'm not versed in the history behind it and have only read a couple of articles about it, but the inclusion of characters named after Japanese war heroes who are pretty largely hated by most Korean people for their hand on their suffering is also iffy at best, although they were presented in earlier seasons anyway.

It can't be denied however that the quality of Attack on Titan continues to rise and surpass expectations. The writing, character dynamics, the soundtrack and most importantly the art — oh, how the art and animation shines as times goes on. It's unfortunate these fleas behind our ears amounted to real worry in the end, and that they were proven right. I'll continue watching, but it'll be hard to not notice whenever similar tropes and themes pop up again. Not if, because from the looks of where the narrative is going, they will.

This is a very personal story, evident from the title itself, but the author really invites the reader to delve deep into her mind as we read. Most of the people who will come across this manga will be familiar with at least some of the feelings and experiences described here, be it the loneliness or the shame, but in a way it's good to know others feel this way, too. The manga really does ground us in a way few other works I've read manage to do, being filled with the very essence of the author's life in such a practical way.

The art ... style is good — the simplicity makes it so the intent between each panel is very clear, and the pink reminiscent of a "classic girl's color", or even the lesbian flag, does it's work to make what's really important pop out to the reader immediately, as good composition ought to do, and it's not overwhelming in any of the chapters. It's not a classic manga in the way that we expect dialogue + a few thought boxes here and there, and coming in hoping for such will disappoint you immediately. It's a memoir, despite it's medium, so it ought to be treated as such.

Of course, in being a memoir, it's not as comedic or dynamic, and (I do suspect it is a translation issue more than anything) there are some stiff moments in the writing, but it doesn't impede the ability of the author to describe deeply cuttng experiences in such a way that leaves us baffled until the next time she does it again. The final chapter, especifically, feels like a gut punch after the other.

I'd recommend this to anyone feeling stuck in one place, or anyone who doesn't see a future ahead, because even if it doesn't manage to pull us out, it's good to know these experiences aren't exclusive. Unique, sure, but just a part of being human.