Episode 15 explored Zeke’s past in the deep dungeons. We finally learned the story of why and how he became one of the most hated character in the series.
I am sure you don’t hate him as much you used to, after learning about his tragic life incidents and his noble intention of ending this cycle of hate.
We are at the final episode of Attack on Titan, and here’s everything that you need to know before you sit down to watch Episode 16.
1. Episode 16 Preview and Speculations
In the preview, Yelena and Onyankopon confront Jean, Armin, and other survey corps members, who are held behind bars. I am a little shocked to see that Onyankipon knew all about this plan from the very beginning.
Niccolo is mad at them and tries to hurt them through the bars. Judging from his intense anger, it’s safe to assume that someone must have said something harsh about Sasha.
Yelena greets them with a little bow before them, and she isn’t looking down upon them at all. She must be revealing the true intention of euthanization behind their inhuman actions.
2. Episode 16 Release Date
Episode 16 of the Attack on Titan: The Final Season anime, titled “Above and Below”, has been released on Sunday, Mar 28, 2021.
Since this anime runs on a weekly schedule, new episode releases are seven days apart.
I. Is Attack on Titan on Break This Week?
Episode 16 of Attack on Titan: The Final Season will be released as per schedule. No such delay has been announced.
3. Episode 15 Recap
Episode 15 takes us back to the streets of the Eldian Interment zone when Zeke and his family were facing all sorts of horrors and traumas of living as Eldians in the Marleyan society.
I. A Boy Who Hated Wars
Marleyans used to look down upon the Eldians and treated them a little better than animals. Back in those days, Zeke was training hard to become an honorable Marleyan soldier and inherit a titan.
But no matter how hard he tried; he always fell behind everyone else. All he ever wanted was to live a peaceful life with his family.
But this simple dream was too far-fetched for him because of the differences in ideologies between his parents and grandparents.
II. Zeke’s Tragic Childhood
On one side, his grandparents tried to brainwash him with the Marleyan’s version of history, and on the other side, Grisha taught him how noble the Eldian King was.
Everyone just tried to impose their beliefs on him. His father was always occupied with the Eldian restoration movement and treated Zeke as a tool to accomplish his goals.
III. Zeke Yeager, A Weapon for Restorationists
After one such awful day, when Zeke was returning home, he met Tom Ksaver, the one who inherited the Beast Titan and played catch with him for a while.
He rushed back home to tell his father about his new friend and found out that his parents were trying to use him as a weapon for the Eldian restoration mission.
Grisha and Drina tried to impose their dreams upon Zeke and sent him back to the training camp. Watching his son lag behind others, Grisha was devastated and gave up on his son.
IV. Zeke’s New Friend
Being treated as someone ‘unwanted’ at such an early age was a huge trauma for Zeke.
With time, he kept getting detached from family and spent more time playing catch with Ksaver. Ksaver told him about the horror of living a life as titan, explaining to Zeke why he decided to focus on titan science.
V. Zeke Turned His Parents In
Just when he gave up on becoming a Marleyan warrior, he overheard few warriors talking about the restorationists hidden in Libero.
The restorationists were supported by an inside agent named Owl, and Marley had enough evidence to laugh a large-scale operation on them.
Zeke tried to warn his parents about this threat and urged to them to live a simple and peaceful life. But Grisha shut him down. Zeke knew that he and his family would be turned into titans if they were caught.
He shared everything with Ksaver, who advised him to report his parents. He did exactly what Ksaver told him to do, and this reckless move saved his and his grandparent’s life.
VI. The Euthanization Plan
Years later, Ksaver told him about the secrets related to Titans and Ymir. According to him, Ymir could alter the body structure of her subjects.
He explained that years ago the Eldian empire suffered from a deadly disease and the Eldian King asked Ymir to make all Eldians immune to that disease.
Ksaver added that this could only happen if the Founding Titan came in contact with someone with royal blood.
Zeke thought that if he could ask Ymir to remove their ability to give birth to children, the cycle of hatred will eventually end, and no more Eldian children will have to go through the horrors he went through.
VII. Ksaver’s Tragic Story
Ksaver was moved by Zeke’s idea of euthanization. He shared his life story of how he tried to escape from this life of captivity and lead a normal life by marrying a Marleyan woman.
But all his delusions were shattered when his wife out about his Eldian origin. She slit their son’s throat and then her own to pay for her sins.
VIII. An Agreement Among Yeager Brothers
The very next scene takes us to the day Zeke confronted his half-brother in the streets of Libero. He explained to Eren the essence of the euthanization plan to attain world peace.
Surprisingly, Eren agrees to this plan, and the Yeager brothers agreed that all this unending violence resulting in countless deaths wouldn’t have happened.
IX. Zeke’s Ultimate Salvation
Coming back to the present, Zeke is in a bad shape with a thunder spear attached to his body. Even the slightest movement can result in a huge explosion.
Our bad-mouthed Captain Levi tortures by cutting his limbs. It was hard for me to watch this after learning everything he went through.
“Mr. Ksaver, I hope you are watching me.”
Zeke Yeager
That’s what Zeke shouted after blowing himself up along with Levi.
4. About Attack on Titan
Attack on Titan is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Hajime Isayama. Kodansha publishes it in the Bessatsu Shonen Magazine.
The manga began serialization on September 9th, 2009, and ended on April 9, 2021. It has been compiled into 34 volumes.
Attack on Titan follows humanity settled within three concentric walls to protect themselves from the terrifying titans that prey on them. Eren Yeager is a young boy that believes that a caged life is similar to that of cattle and aspires to go beyond the walls one day, just like his heroes, the Survey Corps. The emergence of a deadly Titan unleashes chaos.
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