Attack on Titan: How Eren, Armin, and Mikasa Have Changed From Season 1 to 4

By Sideshow

Attack on Titan centers around the lives of best friends Eren Yeager, Mikasa Ackerman, and Armin Arlert. During the anime series’ pilot episode, we meet these three children as they survive inside a fortified wall. No one knows how the wall really got there, but they all know from what it protects them: Titans.

Eren, Mikasa, and Armin all have similar misgivings about their place in life, though with varying plans on how to achieve something beyond the so-called livestock pen they call home. The pilot illustrates Eren’s ambition, Mikasa’s loyalty, and Armin’s optimism. What we all wonder is — whose viewpoint will get these three the furthest?

Season 1 gives us hints and hope. By season 4, however, most of those predictions have been gobbled up like Titan fodder. And it’s because our main characters have changed so drastically — or not changed enough — that we hardly know who they are anymore. With that in mind, let’s analyze how Eren, Mikasa, and Armin have changed from season 1 to 4 of Attack on Titan.

*WARNING! This article contains spoilers for Attack on Titan season 4.

Eren Yeager

Season 1

Eren Yeager is a passionate, courageous young man who has always protected the people he loves. He wants to become a Scout in order to eliminate Titans and help humanity achieve a future outside the wall. No matter what, he doesn’t want to be a caged animal just waiting for Titans to break through the wall and destroy everything.

When Eren’s mother is eaten by a Titan, Eren’s thoughts turn toward vengeance. He still wants the same thing — freedom — but there is a bloodthirsty quality to his vows that clouds his starry-eyed conviction. Additionally, once Eren learns he can transform into a Titan, his own impressive perseverance and this newfound ability combine to form someone who knows exactly how he can get what he wants. At this point, though, it’s just to save his Scout Regiment family from Titans.

Season 2

In Attack on Titan season 2, Eren is as angry as ever, but now he has the skills to back up his impulsivity. He’s learning how to control his Titan form better. He’s also a better human soldier. However, Eren is also completely controlled by his emotions. Whenever he can’t help someone, especially Historia Reiss, he flies into a blind and guilty rage. Eren beats himself up mercilessly for his failures, shouldering huge amounts of guilt, regret, and the burden to protect his loved ones … at all costs.

However, Eren also gains access to former Attack Titan memories this season. He witnesses his father, Grisha Yeager, murder an entire family and then force Eren to eat him and inherit the Titan. Eren is disgusted by his father’s actions and can’t fathom why he would commit such horrific acts. This also contributes to his self-sacrificial nature, as he feels he is unworthy of life when so many have suffered to preserve him.

Season 3

Everything changes for Eren once he learns about the Marley Empire and the oppressed Eldian people. His fight for freedom reaches a global scale. At the end of Attack on Titan season 3, Eren looks haunted by his mission. Little joy is left, and he can’t even enjoy seeing the ocean with Armin — even though it was their lifelong dream. Finally, Eren asks, very seriously, if killing everyone outside of Paradis will bring him and his friends peace.

Season 4

Attack on Titan season 4 asks the audience to question everything they’ve ever known about Eren and his world. Eren seems apathetic and his rage is more quiet, yet far more intense. Plus, he can access past and future memories of anyone who held the Attack Titan. That has to take its toll.

In season 4, Eren has plans upon plans. We can’t trust him anymore. For a lot of the season, many viewers even thought he had sided with his half-brother Zeke to carry out a genocidal plan borne of internalized prejudice. There’s relief when Eren turns against Zeke. Yet the stress comes back tenfold as Eren unleashes “the rumbling” upon the world. He vows to obliterate anyone outside of Paradis. And yet, the island isn’t faring well, either, with buildings and people crushed by rubble, Titans, and other warring humans.

So, is Eren Yeager irredeemable at this point? While his plans may still come from a place of wanting to protect his friends, we have to ask, at what cost?