As the final season of Attack On Titan airs, Eren Yeager’s character arc becomes increasingly complicated and messy. Once a young boy determined to kill all the Titans and see beyond the walls, Eren has grown into a darker character who’s willing to do anything in his pursuit of freedom.
Eren Yeager’s stubbornness and brash attitude have certainly landed him in hot water. These outbursts go far beyond picking fights with Jean in the Survey Corps dining hall. His actions have led to negative consequences repeatedly, often to the benefit of himself. Eren has often fallen victim to his selfish desires, resulting in tragedies that have left viewers wondering if they’ve been rooting for the bad guy all along.
10 The Death Of The Special Operations Squad
An elite group hand-picked by Levi Ackerman, The Special Operations Squad was a powerful force. The five-member group boasted a death rate of over 200 Titans. Nothing seemed to stand in their way until the fateful fight with the Female Titan. It was during this 57th expedition that every member’s (except Eren and Levi) journey brutally ended.
Many factors played into their deaths but one large factor was Eren. He was conflicted on whether he should trust the squad to take down the Titan or trust his own strength. Ultimately, he trusted the squad. This is largely due to his fear that, if he transformed into a Titan, he will be unable to control his actions and cause more damage. Unfortunately, this cowardice and indecision cost the squad precious time which ultimately resulted in their deaths.
9 His Mother’s Death
Eren has been proving his stubbornness since Attack On Titan’s first episode. As a young boy, Eren decides he wants to leave home and join the Survey Corps. He tries to hide this information from his family but is outed by Mikasa. His mother objects, not understanding why her son would want to risk his life just to see beyond the walls.
Eren is quick to disregard his mother’s concern, only thinking of his desires. After a heated argument, he storms off and returns after the walls have been breached. Eren finds his mother crushed by their collapsed house and in the path of a hungry Titan. Eren is left knowing his final interaction with his mother was words of anger.
8 His Hesitance In The Sewer While Fighting Annie
After discovering fellow Scout Annie is the Female Titan, the team comes up with a plan to trap and capture her. However, Annie becomes suspicious of Mikasa, Armin, and Eren when they try to lead her below ground where she would be unable to transform. Knowing it was a ploy, Annie transforms into a Titan and begins destroying the city.
Mikasa and Armin plead with Eren to transform and fight Annie. Eren struggles to believe that he could be betrayed and doubts his friends even after witnessing Annie’s transformation. His unwillingness to accept that he’d been fooled means he’s unable to transform. This results in the death of numerous bystanders and his fellow Scouts.
7 Being Kidnapped Frequently
It becomes a long-running joke in Attack On Titan’s first three seasons that Eren is likely to get himself kidnapped. Despite everyone’s efforts to keep him safe, Eren frequently does what he thinks is best and constantly puts himself in danger.
This results in him being kidnapped 3 times and each time needing to be rescued. It’s this arrogance that results, once again, in the deaths of hundreds of his fellow Scouts.
6 The Death Of Sasha Braus
The most heartbreaking scene in Attack On Titan is the death of Sasha, and the events that lead to her death can all be traced back to Eren. As Willy Tybur exclaims for the world to destroy Paridis, Eren lurks underneath the stage preparing for a rampage. The Scout Regiment caught wind of Eren’s planned attack on Liberio and plan to help safeguard him. Eren knows that the Scouts will come to his aid and is aware that he is unable to win this battle on his own.
During this brutal fight, Gabi, a young girl planning to inherit one of the 7 titans, witnesses the deaths of her friends as they are crushed by Eren’s transformation. Gabi then seeks to find and kill enemies. Her determination gains her access to the airship where the Scouts have regrouped and are celebrating their victory. Gabi uses their lowered guards against them, points her rifle at Sasha, and fires. Sasha bleeds out, surrounded by her friends who blame Eren for her death.
5 His Fight With Mikasa And Armin
Unsure of Eren’s intentions with the Founding Titans’ power, the Scouts imprison him on their return to Paradis. Armin plans to talk to Eren to figure out whose side he’s on but Eren escapes. While Mikasa and Armin sit in a dining room, Eren confronts them with his hand slit. Understanding the implication, they sit and listen to Eren’s demands.
Eren proceeds to say awful things to Mikasa, causing her to cry. Angered, Armin swings at Eren but is easily taken down. Eren continues to beat Armin, calling him weak and useless. Eren orders the Yeagerist to imprison his best friends. Having hurt everyone for the sake of freedom, Eren must now move forward on his own.
4 The Rumbling
The Walls finally crumble and the Titans emerge as Eren achieves his ultimate goal: to start the rumbling. Now, the world will live in fear of Pardis and Edlians will finally be free. Though his goal is to kill the outside world, Paradis must suffer casualties.
With no regard for the lives of his people lost, Eren continues forward with his plans. The horror of this mass murder is what brings together the Marlyans and Eldians to stop Eren.
3 The Death Of Hange Zoë
As the team prepares to head off on a flying boat to fight Eren, they are interrupted by Yeagerist Floch. Floch ruptures the boat’s fuel tank before Mikasa manages to injure him. The team realizes they need to repair it to continue their mission but worry about how long it will take.
Their fears increase when they feel the ground move and realize the Rumbling is near. Knowing someone needs to stay behind to fight off the Titans, Hange names Armin the new Commander and flies off, sacrificing themself. After witnessing another commander die, the team is determined to stop this needless death and put an end to Eren’s plan.
2 Every Time He Controlled The Past
The plot twist that Eren was controlling everything from the beginning is the best twist in Attack On Titan. With his Founding Titan and Attack Titan, Eren can manipulate the past.
His actions forced his father, Grisha, to murder the Reiss family so that he could inherit the Founding Titan. He also used these same powers to send Dina Fritz, Grisha’s first wife, to eat his mother and spark his hatred for the Titans.
1 His Relentless Quest For Freedom
From the very beginning of Attack On Titan, Eren’s actions were only motivated by freedom. Since he was a young boy, he dreamed of a world beyond the walls. This pursuit of adventure led to his discovery that freedom comes with a price.
Eren paid that price in every way – he lost his family, his friends, and himself. Nothing could stop him, and it was this stubborn attitude and selfish desire for freedom that ultimately resulted in his death.
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