Hello! Moon here. Author of the 'Aruani on Fort Salta' series on AO3 @moonspirits. Passionate Armin Arlert defender and fellow crazy shitposter. Reblogging SnK, TG, Noragami, FMAB and Mushishi.
Armin is basically your guide to leaving the forest. He is what Humanity needs to retain its Humanity.
Armin is hated on so much after S4 for being "useless" and "not living up to Erwin" but people forget, Erwin was so good because he had YEARS of experience. When Erwin died, he was what, 40-ish? At 15-19, Erwin was much the same as any ordinary cadet, you can see in the flashbacks in S3 Part2, a very young Erwin crying with a wounded/dead soldier and trying to fend off a Titan.
He had dreamed, wished, maybe even fantasized this moment for years. But Armin had never expected to see Annie, moving, breathing, living, real under these circumstances.
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A novelization of Annie stuffing her face with pie, looking like a squirrel when she meets the man who has fallen in love with her. Armin finds out what Annie experienced in the crystal.
Comments on erotica are so funny because a lot of the people in those sections are trying to compliment the author without directly saying "awesome job, I jacked it to this!"
I was trying to see it in the arrangement of stars and galaxies, but it's just. A fucking. It's a fucking. Question mark. Floating in space. Not a constellation, just a floating goddamn question mark. I want to scream.
In the world of Attack on Titan, war and conflict shape every aspect of life. At the centre of this struggle are the Scout Regiment, fighting for the survival of humanity.
Many of these characters are fueled by traditional motives - they fight for their families, their honour, and to be called heroes.
But this cycle of violence, driven by the same old reasons, is leading nowhere.
It’s tiring.
Eren isn’t the only character fighting for freedom, they all are. But it seems unattainably distant.
In this world where hope often dies before it can take root, there's a need for something – or someone – different. Someone who doesn't just continue the cycle, but who can break it and bring about a new dawn.
This is where Hange Zoë comes in.
The Perfect Scout
Unlike many others, Hange isn't just fighting for the sake of fighting - they are defining what it is we're fighting for.
Hange’s strength is not only in combat but also in what they represent. While many characters in Attack on Titan are essential for rallying around a cause and fighting for it, Hange is among the few who define the cause in the first place.
While many are driven by the dark winds of revenge and hatred, Hange's heart pulses with a different force.
Insatiable curiosity.
An undying thirst for knowledge that offers a beacon in the gloom.
They live to uncover the secrets of the world, extend the boundaries of human knowledge, and protect their spiritual and physical home.
Despite experiencing tragedy and loss, Hange remains committed to this goal. They believe that through progress, discovery, and knowledge, the truth of the world will be revealed, and with it, the possibility of freedom.
I mentioned earlier that the Scout Regiment fights for humanity's survival, and while this is certainly something that they do, it isn’t the ONLY thing that they do, and I’d go as far as to say, it isn’t even the goal.
The purpose of the scouts was to learn, to advance, to push forward, and by doing that, survival is achieved as a by-product.
And in that sense, nobody embodies the scouts better than Hange.
Spark
It’s no secret that everybody loves Hange. It’s kind of impossible to hate them.
But Hange wasn’t always the exuberant and enthusiastic figure we see in the series.
Like many characters, Hange was once disillusioned, angry, and cynical about the world.
But that all changed with one simple act.
One day, out of frustration, they kicked the head of a titan, only to be surprised by how bizarrely light it was. How can the head of a creature so massive weight next to nothing? It went against everything they had learnt.
And it was that simple act that set them on a path to of scientific inquiry into the mysteries of the world.
This small moment was a turning point. It ignited Hange’s passion for research, a flame that burned so fiercely that it bordered on recklessness or appeared as madness to everyone else.
But in this fire, Hange saw a light that many failed to perceive. Hange saw something.
Hange began to believe in a way out, a path dependent on discovery, collaboration, knowledge, and finding solutions. After all, this is the core ideal of the Scout Regiment, not war or death or mere survival.
But it isn’t easy to hold onto this idealism in the grim world of Attack on Titan.
Over time, Hange faced roadblocks, stagnation, frustration, and the deaths of comrades and friends. They had to learn to stay focused, and to keep moving forward despite the obstacles.
And that’s perhaps when they faced their biggest challenge.
After becoming Commander of the Scout Regiment, the burden of leadership weighed heavily on Hange. The demands of duty, politics, and bureaucracy constrained their research. The compromises and hypocrisies necessary for leadership were agonising.
Yet, despite these challenges, Hange never lost themselves. They knew what it meant to be a scout, and they knew what their fallen comrades would have wanted.
I know I’ve beat this drum to death, but I can’t stress how important it is to understand the core principles of the Scout Regiment.
Finding the truth in search of a solution. Pushing forward. Advancing. And Exploring.
Erwin Smith is a character loved by many. But it’s crucial to understand, that while he was undoubtedly the greatest leader the scouts ever had, he didn’t embody their core principles. Or rather, he did not embody them to the extent Hange did.
Hange will never be as good of a leader as Erwin. But make no mistake. There is nobody that represents the scouts better than Hange.
And there’s no better example of this than a beautiful yet ever so tragic scene from season 4...
Hope
The entire reason the people in Paradis were forced to suffer was because of Marley. But the opposite is also true. The Marleyeans hate the Eldians, and the Eldians hate the Marleyeans. That isn’t an opinion. It is a fact established over centuries and a theme that is constantly reiterated.
And yet, somehow, before the final battle, we see an unlikely alliance form, we see connections built between former enemies.
But how did this happen? It seemed so impossible in the past?
But it did happen.
So who’s to say there’s no hope?
Who's to say it can't happen again?
Through their actions, this unlikely alliance follows the Scout Regiment’s mission of serving humanity and searching for hope. They didn’t know if they would find the answer, but they acted in the belief that it might be found one day.
And that’s when we see an ever so unfortunate yet beautiful scene. One that is saddening, but also one that can’t help but bring a smile to our faces.
To make us feel proud.
The Commander's Sacrifice
Hange dedicated the end of their life to preventing the most inhumane act imaginable. After all, it was not the future that Hange and their comrades had dreamed of.
In the hallowed silence left by Hange's sacrifice, those they entrusted with the torch of tomorrow found the strength to march forth, bearing the profound ideological and spiritual legacy that Hange had cherished in their heartbeats.
As a powerful personification of the Scout Regiment's spirit and core values, Hange was content to do their part in resisting the nihilism of their world and believing in something more. They were courageous enough not to succumb to despair and to seek something different.
While Hange’s death was tragic, Hange knew that Eren’s broken dream was not the answer.
They believed that as long as there was a chance, they would try to find it.
Hope is not enough to win a war. But when this hope ignites the fire in others to take action, they can pave the way for a future where wars are no longer necessary.
This is the lasting impact that Hange Zoë had on the world.
Hange died as they lived, daring to believe that there was a chance for something better out there.
Beautiful Differences
While many characters in Attack on Titan exemplify heroism, courage, and sacrifice, Hange stands out as a beacon of hope and curiosity in a world overrun by despair and hatred.
Hange’s insatiable desire for knowledge and understanding was their driving force, pushing them to explore the mysteries of the world even when faced with seemingly insurmountable obstacles.
Their unyielding belief in the possibility of a better world made them a symbol of resilience and hope amidst the darkness.
In the face of a world that glorifies war and condemns those who bear the torch of heroism, Hange's unique perspective was a breath of fresh air.
They refused to be swept up in the cycle of violence and revenge that consumed so many around them.
Whether you choose to admit it or not, many of the characters, if not almost all, are consumed, or perhaps even driven by one thing, malice.
Whether it’s Eren wanting revenge for his mother, Zeke’s detest for his father, Reiner’s hatred of the cruelty of the world, or Levi wanting to fulfil his promise to Erwin by killing Zeke, the fact is, a majority of the cast is driven by hatred. And that’s perfectly normal in this world.
But Hange was different.
They didn’t harbour a hint of malice.
Instead, they chose to focus on the pursuit of knowledge and understanding, believing that these were the keys to a brighter future.
Their legacy serves as a testament to the power of hope, curiosity, and the human spirit to overcome even the most daunting challenges.
Hange's death was a powerful reminder of the sacrifices that are often required in the pursuit of a better world. They gave their life to prevent a tragedy that would have forever scarred the world they loved.
Their actions were a testament to their belief in a brighter future, one where people could live in harmony without the constant threat of war and violence.
Hange Zoe - 14th Commander
In a world overshadowed by despair and hatred, Hange stands as a beacon of insatiable curiosity. They were a unique presence in Attack on Titan, choosing the pursuit of knowledge over the endless cycle of revenge that ensnared so many.
Their commitment to understanding, to believing in a better world, and their willingness to sacrifice for it, make them an enduring symbol of hope.
Hange may not have lived to see a world without war, but their legacy lives on, inspiring others to carry on the fight for a brighter tomorrow.
psst...
A few things...
First of all. I cannot stress enough how grateful I am for the support I received on my last post, especially those of you that went over to watch the full video on YouTube. The Gilgamesh video is now by far my most viewed video ever! (10,000 views for a channel with 80 subs is pretty crazy!)
Thanks for the lovely comments you left on my video, and thanks for letting me know you came from Tumblr!
If you liked this essay, check out the full video essay on my youtube channel!
Armin had once called it a nice favor on Marley’s part to let all of them be together, in the same building. Made him feel safer.
Annie had thought that it was done so that they could kill all of them together if needed. One bomb and everyone from the Colossal to the only remaining Ackerman would be blown to pieces.
Connie had said that both of them were correct, and then went to check his room for anything that seemed suspicious, especially after Pieck had informed them about the tapped gramophone in Zeke’s old room.
