User blog comment:DementedP/Isayama's take on Episode 23/@comment-11533966-20130917161241/@comment-7418318-20130917193105

With that much strength the first revolution would have already shattered his spine and smashed his brain to the top of his skull, killing him before he felt it.

Now for the one who's watching it might have seemed cruel, but for the victim it's a lot less pain than having his legs bitten off and landing in a Titan's stomach still alive and conscious.