Was Floch's decision to save Erwin's life entirely due to a pragmatic desire for humanity's well-being, specifically their need for a "devil" to make tough choices? Or was there an element of Cruel Mercy involved, since he admitted that killing Erwin would let him off easy? Or both?
Did Eren genuinely sympathize with Ymir Fritz? Or was he being a dishonest Manipulative Bastard so that he could awaken the Titans in the Walls?
Eren's true intentions with his plan to use the Rumbling to destroy all life outside of Paradis. In particular, his statement that when he learned that humanity was beyond the Walls, he was "disappointed." Was he disappointed that anti-Eldian sentiment and general bigotry was so prevalent outside of Paradis? Or was he disappointed that humanity existed at all? Is his plan a genuine attempt at giving his homeland the freedom they deserve, or is Eren committing mass murder just to fulfill his own selfish desires? An interview with Isayama does suggest the latter more than the former.
There's also his confrontation with Armin and Mikasa, where he gives Mikasa a cruel"The Reason You Suck" Speech and gives Armin a No-Holds-Barred Beatdown when he retaliates on her behalf. Are his words about hating Mikasa and his cruel behavior towards them genuine, or is it him attempting to dissociate himself with them to either ease his own or their guilt over them having to oppose each other. The ending winds up confirming it to be the latter.
Armin in Chapter 126. Was his dropping himself into the jaws of Connie's Titanized mother a Batman Gambit to get Connie to come to his senses, or was he actually planning on sacrificing himself? Considering that Armin is a rather intelligent and somewhat manipulative individual, but also a person with Survivor Guilt who is borderline suicidal, either is possible.
Jean in 127 when he pummels Reiner. Was it because of his resentment for killing his best friend Marco? Or was it because the latter’s self-loathing over killing many people he cared about reminded him of himself? On the next chapters, it seems like it’s leaning more towards the latter.
No one would deny Erwin Smith was a great leader and a beloved character who remains revered even after death. The question is, just how much support would he have for Eren's Rumbling plan in the final arc; among the majority who have a definitive 'yes' or 'no' answer, there is a near-even divide between people who believe he would support global genocide to save Paradis and those who believe he would not.
Some fans like to joke about saying that Marco actually interpreted Reiner and Bertholdt's discussion about "my (Reiner's) Titan" and "the hole we opened" as something else. Out of context, the discussion sounds very gay.
With Chapter 135 opening and dialogue, the actions of Ymir Fritz are getting questioned. The shot of her staring at the pigs as she leaves the pen leads to wondering if she really was turned into The Scapegoat by other slaves or her desire for not being enslaved anymore was placed onto the pigs and she intentionally let the pen open to let them escape. Internal monologues, usually courtesy of Armin or even Zeke, imply that Ymir has a lot more control than initially believed. That her control over the previous Nine Titans extends to the ones of the present, including actually being capable of manipulating them from The Paths. Specific mention goes to the Will Of Ymir, with her goal being the eradication of humanity itself, which could read as her being the Greater-Scope Villain of the entire series, even implying that Eren's desire for freedom and willingness to commit atrocities to achieve it were amplified by Ymir's will.
with Isayama does suggest the latter more than the former.