Attack on Titan Episode 10: Response: The Struggle for Trost, Part 6

The episode opens with Armin Arlert's quiet, melancholic narration, a necessary reminder of the horrors that brought them to this precipice. He recounts the original fall of Wall Maria, the sudden appearance of the Colossal Titan and Armored Titan, and the subsequent retreat of humanity. Five years later, the Colossal Titan returned, and then, the inexplicable emergence of Eren Yeager from a titan’s nape, a being that fought on humanity’s behalf. This background sets the desperate tone, reminding us how little they truly understand.

Eren, Mikasa Ackerman, and Armin find themselves trapped, their backs to a wall, facing the terrified and aggressive Garrison. Captain Kitz Verman, a man consumed by fear, trembles as he demands answers, his finger hovering over the cannon's firing mechanism. Eren, still dazed and recovering, looks vulnerable, while Mikasa prepares for inevitable conflict, her blades drawn. The soldiers, mirroring Kitz's panic, see only a monster, not a potential savior.

Away from the immediate confrontation, the pervasive fear among the cadets paints a bleak picture of morale. Samuel Link-Jackson weeps openly, relieved but shattered by the day's events, while Marco Bott tries to offer a calm presence. Even Sasha Braus, usually so stoic, huddles in pain, her request for the infirmary a stark reminder of the physical and psychological toll. Their reactions reflect the widespread panic and despair gripping the survivors, moments before a new, unseen blast rocks the city.

The blast, a cannonball meant for Eren, reveals a gruesome, temporary salvation: the steaming skeletal ribcage of a titan, shielding Eren, Mikasa, and Armin. This raw, biological construct, rapidly evaporating, leaves Armin in disbelief, realizing Eren's conscious control over this power. Inside this grotesque, steaming sanctuary, a small patch of untouched purple flowers serves as a stark, poetic contrast to the violence and decay surrounding them. Eren emerges from the titan’s nape, confused by his steaming hands, aware they cannot remain, as Kitz Verman will surely fire again.

Eren clutches the key around his neck, a tangible link to his past and a new, desperate future. A fragmented memory surfaces, of his father, Grisha Yeager, injecting him with a mysterious serum, promising answers in their basement. He shares this with Mikasa and Armin, explaining his father's role in his transformation. This truth becomes their driving purpose, shifting Eren's focus from simple survival to a quest for understanding.

With Kitz Verman consumed by paranoia, intent on firing again, Eren proposes a desperate choice: escape alone as a titan, or trust Armin to negotiate. Mikasa's protective fury flares, but Eren's unwavering trust in Armin's intellect silences her. Armin is overwhelmed, the weight of their lives, and perhaps humanity's fate, resting on his words. A quick calculation reveals their imminent doom, triggering a flashback to a childhood of being rescued, his persistent feelings of inadequacy rising to the surface.

Armin's internal struggle turns as he realizes Eren and Mikasa never saw him as weak; they saw him as the visionary who first spoke of the outside world. This realization, that his dreams inspired theirs, ignites a newfound confidence. Seeing the unwavering faith in his friends' eyes, Armin discards his equipment and steps forward, a lone figure walking into the cannon's sights. He prepares a speech that must save them all.

With cannons poised, Armin screams his desperate logic to the terrified Garrison: Eren is not humanity's foe; the titans themselves attacked him. He argues that the titans recognized Eren as a human ally, making him an invaluable weapon. His words begin to sway some soldiers, their weapons wavering. But Kitz Verman, blind with terror, remains unconvinced. As Kitz's arm drops to give the order, Armin performs a desperate, formal salute, offering his life if it will spare his friends, while Mikasa and Eren brace for a final, violent stand.

Just as Kitz Verman is about to seal their doom, Commander Dot Pyxis appears, grabbing Kitz's arm, his calm presence cutting through the hysteria. Pyxis dismisses Kitz, his judgment clouded by fear, saving Eren, Mikasa, and Armin from certain death. Pyxis's faint smile, acknowledging Armin's brave salute and logical argument, signals a shift in authority and perspective. The immediate threat is lifted, but a new, larger challenge looms.

Commander Pyxis takes the trio to the wall's summit, offering a strategic overview of Trost, its importance as a defensive point for Wall Rose. He displays an eccentric yet pragmatic nature, more interested in Eren's utility than his origin, even joking about titans while drinking from a flask. He asks Eren directly about his powers and the basement, listening intently, his focus entirely on humanity's survival. Pyxis then presents a daunting task: can Eren, in his titan form, carry a massive boulder and plug the breach in the gate?

Armin and Mikasa are shocked by the sheer scale of the request, understanding the immense burden it places on Eren. Eren gazes out at the ruined city, at the titans below, pondering his own untested limits against the glimmer of hope Pyxis offers. After a tense moment, Eren accepts the mission, looking Pyxis in the eye and admitting he doesn’t know if he can succeed, but he will try. With this agreement, preparations begin for a desperate counterattack, the fate of Trost, and perhaps all of humanity, resting on this single, audacious plan.