A Dim Light Amid Despair: Humanity's Comeback, Part 1

Zetsubō no Naka de Nibuku Hikaru (絶望の中で鈍く光る) is the third episode of the Attack on Titan anime. It was produced by Wit Studio and Production I.G. This episode shows the first trials of Eren, Mikasa and Armin's military training and introduces the rest of the 104th Trainees Squad members.

Overview
Keith Shadis, the instructor, starts breaking psychologically some of the new recruits a a manner of rite. The appearance of Sasha Blouse eating a potato in front of him makes her suffer a hard punishment. That night, Eren tells his new comrades about Shiganshina District, the Colossal Titan and his will to join the Survey Corps. This makes Jean Kirstein mock him and the two start hating each other as soon as they continue to argue. The next day, the recruits start training with the Three Dimensional Maneuver Gear, but Eren is not good at it. He asks for advice from Reiner Braun and Bertolt Hoover and the following day he manages to balance with a broken belt. Keith notices this and gives Eren a new belt. He then says that Grisha's son has really become a soldier.

Summary
Keith Shadis, the instructor of the 104th Trainees Squad, is psychologically breaking the new recruits as a rite of passage to break them down so they can rebuild them as soldiers. As an officer and his attendant pass by, they notice Shadis does not subject a few recruits to this abuse and the officer simply notes that their expressions distinguish them from the rest of the group as being present to the fall of Wall Maria two years earlier. These trainees are shown to be Annie Leonhart, Mikasa Ackerman, Reiner Braun, Bertolt Hoover, Eren Yeager and Ymir (ironically, Armin Arlert isn't spared). As their instructor continues to go down the line, he notices Sasha Blouse eating a stolen potato. Everyone is stunned at her complete lack of tact in eating the potato at that exact moment. As Shadis attempts to understand why she is eating the potato, Sasha splits her potato in half and gives him a piece before smirking, saying that they can share it.

Later, Eren, Armin, Marco Bott, Connie Springer, and Mina Carolina watch Sasha do her punishment of "running until you drop," but notice that this punishment did not faze her as much as when she was told she would not be given any dinner. Marco, one of the trainees, remembers that Eren was not fazed and Eren reveals that he and Armin are from Shiganshina. The rest of the group is surprised and begin pressing Eren for details of the Colossal Titan.

This leads to other trainees crowding around Eren at dinnertime and he describes the appearance of the Colossal and Armored Titan. He becomes sick as he remembers his mother being eaten at which point Marco suggests they no longer question Eren and force him to bring up things he would rather not bring back. However, Eren simply attributes this to eagerness to begin his training and kill all the Titans with the Survey Corps.

Jean Kirstein interrupts Eren and mocks his decision to join the Survey Corps. Eren does not appreciate Jean's desire to join the Military Police simply to live in the Interior Walls and the two prepare to fight each other.

The bell signaling the end of dinner rings, breaking the tension and the two drop their disagreement with each other. As people begin to leave, Jean catches a glimpse of Mikasa and becomes smitten with her. He attempts to start a conversation with her but only manages to say that her hair is beautiful.

She acknowledges that compliment and Jean follows her outside where he sees her with Eren. As Mikasa reprimands Eren for letting his emotions get the better of him, Eren remarks that Mikasa's hair is too long and she begins to wonder how short it should be. Jean is devastated and wipes his "faith in humanity" onto Connie's shirt as he looks on, completely dejected.

Sasha has completed her punishment and falls to the ground when she smells food. She instinctively grabs it and it is revealed that Krista Lenz has brought bread for her. As Sasha is practically worshiping Krista, Ymir comes by and Sasha wolfs the bread down before falling asleep from exhaustion. Ymir questions Krista's motive in helping before taking Sasha to her bunk.

The next day, the trainees begin practicing with the 3D Maneuver Gear. Eren utterly fails to keep himself steady and takes extra tutoring from Armin and Mikasa, which control the gear quite good, especially Mikasa. He knocks himself out and Mikasa and Armir help him to recover. At dinner, other trainees mock his performance especially after his pledge to kill all Titans.

Back at the dorm, Connie and Jean do not offer any suggestions and Eren goes to Reiner Braun and Bertolt Hoover for help. Although they are reluctant at first, the group exchange their stories of how they first encountered Titans. After talking about their motives, Reiner gives Eren some tips about the Gear and they part as friends.The next scene shows Eren back at the practice rigging as Shadis let him try to balance himself on the 3D Maneuver Gear one last time before he will be shipped to the landfills. At first, it appears Eren can maintain his balance and his peers begin cheering, but just as quickly, Eren flips upside down again. Shadis has him put back on the ground and after a few moments of contemplation, has Eren switch equipment with Thomas Wagner. Eren easily keeps his balance and Shadis reveals his gear was defective, impressing everyone as Eren could keep his balance, even for a while, with the broken equipment.

After seeing this, Shadis mentally notes to Eren's father, Grisha Yeager, that his son has become a soldier. Later, a training session is shown, in which Eren is able to keep up with Mikasa, showing that he has mastered the gear.

Anime and Manga Differences

 * When Eren is at the dining room feeling embarrased for his failure at balancing, a small column of steam emerges from the bandages of his head. This could be both a sign of his shame and a reference to his Titan healing abilities.
 * Part of the conversation between Eren, Armin, Reiner and Bertolt happens while they walk through the field, while in the manga, they just talk at the bedroom.

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