Board Thread:Manga/@comment-27321453-20180608184740/@comment-24407809-20180615195108

I'm still not sure where this idea that comic relief characters are untouchable came from, but even so, I'll stick to my argument that Sasha was no longer effective as comic relief, having effectively been replaced by Hange (and, in his own sardonic way, Levi) as the comic relief character.

Lots of characters who have fans die. Erwin placed number 1 in the most recent popularity poll conducted, and he's dead. Marco and the original Squad Levi still have tons of fans, but they're all gone. And even if Sasha does have fans, I've noticed that her death hasn't had the effect on fandom that you and Fire Eater are claiming it did. The reactions I've seen on the wiki and on the Discord have been fairly amiable, with the most severe reactions being along the lines of "I cried when I read the chapter," but nothing beyond that. No one is threatening to boycott the series because Sasha of all people died.

I don't see how becoming a meme makes you untouchable. There are Titans that have become internet memes, and we don't get bent out of shape when she dies.

I agree, Sasha didn't have much weight in the plot, which is where it matters. If you don't have weight in a story, then there's no point in continuing to take up space that could go to developing more important characters, or to introducing interesting new characters.