History Tearjerker / Attackontitan

* The devastating symbolism behind Season 3's first opening, Red Swan. With Eren looking to the future of every battle he must still face and losing all his innocence in the process as he ignores the manifestation of his childhood self to look across the ocean. Then we have Levi's child footpad upbringing and all the unresolved issues that torment Erwin and Historia. And we even get ''that'' shot of Eren's palm from Chapter 99! Is peace a dream that can never be achieved?!

* Annie sadly telling Marlow that an ordinary person is all she wants to be, right after they talk about how Marlow is an ordinary person who wants to do something better, but is being swept away in the sheer volume of people who aren't willing to change.

* Marlowe is killed as the Beast Titan hurls rocks at the advancing recruits, with his last thoughts being about how Hitch is probably still asleep in bed and that he may have had unrequited feelings for her after all.

*** The anime reminds us that Ramzi and Halil were far from the only children to suffer this terrible fate. During the montage of civilians fleeing, one girl is seeing sobbing as the world burns around her, an woman holding her children tight as they cry out in panic and despair.

** Hange is forced to kill their former comrades in order to protect themself and the wounded Levi. They agonizes over the current situation with the Rumbling and admits they wish they could just live peacefully with him away from the all-too familiar horrors they've faced.

** Reiner and Annie '''finally''' confess to the full truth of Marco's murder to their former comrades; Jean takes the news about as well as you would expect, and after beating the shit out of Reiner asserts he would never forgive him for it.

*** Him sobbing and desperately apologizing to the refugee boy he just saved from the mob. But "saved" isn't the right word... he just granted him a respite until the Rumbling. And sure enough, that same refugee boy dies in utter terror under the Wall Titans' feet. Right after seeing his friend get crushed by the rubble being kicked around

** This final chapter presents a singular interpretation that is perhaps the most depressing of all: [[AllForNothing none of this mattered]]. For all of Eren's plans to save Paradis and the Eldians, Paradis is unceremoniously destroyed and the Eldians are more than likely still persecuted, potentially more than ever following the Rumbling. Paradis's destruction proves that any success Armin had as an ambassador did not survive into the future. The efforts of the Eldians to protect themselves and their home were ultimately fruitless, and the horrors of the Titans will very likely begin again as the cycle renews itself. Ultimately, there is nothing left but the utter indifference of the passage of time toward all of the uncontrollable, insane, vicious, evil mayhem that has transpired. [[HistoryRepeats The anime heavily implies that the bombardment and the kid encountering the tree happens 20,000 years after the Rumbling]], which may either bring a degree of bittersweetness that nobody in the cast lived to see this or may just make the whole point worse.

** Eren had actually talked to all of his friends in the Paths, apologizing for what he has done and explaining the reasoning to them. However, he locked those memories and made it so that they would only be restored after his death. Cue the collective [[realization MyGodWhatHaveIDone]] from all his friends when they realize Eren's true intentions.

** Eren had actually talked to all of his friends in the Paths, apologizing for what he has done and explaining the reasoning to them. However, he locked those memories and made it so that they would only be restored after his death. Cue the collective MyGodWhatHaveIDone from all his friends when they realize Eren's true intentions.

---> '''Zeke:''' What a beautiful day it is... if only I'd realized that earlier. Well, after all the killing I've done, that's asking for too much...

** He may be a twisted and nihilistic mass murderer, but it's hard not to feel at least a little bad for Zeke upon seeing his utterly broken face once Eren decries his euthanasia plan as a complete joke and admits to manipulating him to unlock the power of the Founder. Zeke has been working towards his plan for almost his whole life and put everything on the line for both it and the sake of his long lost brother, and Eren, in keeping with his recent [[JerkWithAHeartOfJerk jerkassery]], just throws it right back in his face

-->'''Magath:''' I can't be proud of myself. I went against my will and followed the orders of my country and told those kids to destroy the Walls. Now I realise how happy I would've been if those kids could've lived normal lives.
-->'''Shadis:''' Even if you aren't proud of yourself, I think you're a good person and those kids probably do as well.
-->'''Magath:''' Thanks... what is your name?
-->'''Shadis:''' Keith Shadis, you?

--->''"You really love making life hell, don't you, Eren? Fine, we’ll do things your way! I'll see this through to the end!"''

--->''"You really love making life hell, don't you, Eren? Fine, we’ll do things your way! I'll see this through to the end!'''

-->''You really love making life hell huh, Eren!? Fine, we’ll do things your way!'' '''I'll see this through to the end!'''

-->''You really love this hell huh, Eren!? All right,'' '''I'll follow you until the end!'''

*** Connie overpowers Samuel, and Armin recovers and tackles Daz, before they can destroy the boat. Daz pulls his gun out, but cannot bring himself to shoot, instead tearfully begging him to stop moving. Samuel again asks Connie why they are no longer on the same side. Connie tries to answer... only to remember Bertolt's words from nearly five years ago: “Someone has to be the one to do it. '''Someone has to bet he one to stain their hands with blood.”''' Connie proceeds to kill both Daz and Samuel without hesitation, before crying out in grief at what he has done. The dream that they had together has ended in a nightmare.

-->''Rest here forever,''
-->''My most beloved,''
-->''My dear''

---> '''Jean''': "Eren! You... Oh, you ''Bastard''!"