Tropes:
- Abusive Parents: This episode focus on Zeke's backstory, and it shows just how horrible Grisha and Dina were to Zeke, forcing him into a role he didn't want and only caring about him as a tool to destroy Marley and free the Eldians. They showed little to no real affection to him unless it related to their plans, and even though Zeke was scared that they would get caught and sent to Paradis as punishment, they'd angrily rebuke him for not thinking of the plan. It's not really surprising that Zeke ended up turning Grisha and Dina in.
- Bearer of Bad News: Tom Ksaver made Zeke realize that his parents didn't love him and were using him for their own agenda.
- A Day in the Limelight: For Zeke which reveals his Dark and Troubled Past and his true plan for the Founding Titan.
- Driven to Suicide: Tom Ksaver's Marleyan wife killed their son, and then herself, when she found out Tom was an Eldian.
- False Reassurance: In the flashback where Zeke asks Eren if he's on board with his Eldian Euthanization Plan, Eren makes a bunch of carefully-worded statements to make it sound like he's agreeing to it without specifically saying so. He never technically lies to Zeke, but he never actually agrees to Zeke's plan and hides what he actually intends to do.Eren: "If the Eldians in this town had never been born, then none of them would have to suffer and die in the plan that you and I are about to carry out. This world was never our birthright. It's a hell to be saved from. I'll do it, Zeke. When the moment comes, I'll bring 2,000 years of Titan domination to an end. Until then, we both keep moving forward. Alright, brother?"
- Foregone Conclusion: By the time the audience learns that Tom Ksaver was the holder of the Beast Titan, it becomes easy to guess what was his ultimate fate.
- Genocide from the Inside: When Ksaver revealed to Zeke that through his research on Titan genetics he discovered that the Founder could potentially change the Eldians on a physiological level Zeke concludes that it could sterilize the entrie Eldian race. The two then worked together in secret to come up with Zeke's current plan to use the Founding Titan to sterilize every Eldian around the world.
- I Just Want to Be Normal: Heavily implied from what is shown of Zeke's past: he just wanted to be a normal child, instead of having the role of Eldia's savior forced on him by his parents. And Zeke's happier memories of his childhood seem to be all from the times he was doing normal activities, like playing catch with Mr. Ksaver, or hanging out with his grandparents.
- Jerkass: The Marleyan janitor at the tower Zeke and his family visit due to his racism. He is nice at first, until he notices their Eldian armbands. He then splashes dirty water on them saying they “defiled” his workspace with their presence, even though they got a permit to be there. He then recites the Marleyan propaganda about their kind ravaging the world and condemns Grisha and Dina for “pumping out more Devils” (having Zeke) saying they should all be wiped out. All the other Marleyans verbally assault them as they leave, with one saying they ruined his day just for showing up.
- Non-Action Guy: Tom Ksaver would remain in Marley because the military deemed his Titan useless for combat, so he would use his time to research on Titans, mainly their powers and origin.
- Parental Substitute: Ksaver ended up being one for Zeke.
- Straw Nihilist: Both Ksaver and Zeke are revealed to be this thanks to the respective Dark And Troubled Pasts. After Ksaver's wife killed herself and their son after finding out his Eldian heritage Ksaver believed that it would have been better for everyone if he had never been born. Zeke, after suffering from persecution by the Titans and watching his parents put their revolution over raising him, agrees and one of his goals in the present is to sterilize the Eldian race because he thinks it would be better if no future Eldians are born into a world that inherently hates them.
- Taking You with Me: Revisiting his memories leads Zeke to trigger the Thunder Spear lodged in his stomach, intentionally blowing himself up in hopes of escape and killing Levi.
- Villain Episode: This episode follows Zeke's point of view and, while it does portray him sympathetically, there is no doubt that Zeke is a villain once the true extent of his plan is revealed.
- Well-Intentioned Extremist: Zeke's ultimate plan is revealed to be to use the power of the Founding Titan to alter the bodies of every Eldian around the world so that they can't give birth which will lead to the genocide of the entire race in 100 years. Zeke believes that this is the kindest thing he can do for the Eldians as it means that no babies will be born into a world that inherently hates them, and the world will be free of the terror of the Titans.
- Whole Episode Flashback: Most of the episode is a flashback Zeke is having of his past after Levi brutalized him in the previous episode. Only at the very end does it cut back to the present.
- Wham Episode: Through Zeke's flashback the audience finds out that his true goal is to use the Founding Titan's power to sterilize every Eldian around the world in order to end Eldian persecution and save the world from the Titans. He then ends the episode by deliberately triggering the Thunder Spear in his stomach intending on taking out Levi and himself.
