User blog comment:XGlass Reflection/Ch. 50 Review~ Lesbian love!/@comment-13234254-20131009155627/@comment-10733658-20131011092925

I think it's a very complicated thing, since we still don't know much of anything. I think we can easily label them as Antagonists, as they oppose the primary character and cause conflict to move the plot along. But we've also got Isayama's notes about the changes in episode 23, in which he explicitly states Annie isn't evil. We also have his choice to portray them as both dangerous foes, but also extremely sympathetic characters at the same time.

Their statements and actions seem to suggest this isn't something done out of malice or cruelty, and that they are all very deeply bothered by what they've done. We really don't know the reasons they have for what they are doing, nor do we know how much of it was their own choice. What we do know is that they feel remorse, that the 104th are people they care about as friends, and that they are STILL willing to go through with things regardless of their personal feelings. We see a parallel drawn between them and Erwin, as people willing to throw away their humanity and do terrible things. Their actions are defined by desperation.

Annie makes comments about wanting to just save herself, but also expresses great admiration for people with strong principals.

Reiner obsesses over responsibility, duty, and selflessness.

Bertholdt focuses on feelings of helplessness, and lack of choices or control.

What little we know about their superiors is that Ymir is terrified of them. Completely and utterly terrified of them, but also confident that Historia would be safe with them.

Plus all the other mysteries, which kind of.....makes it impossible to know the reasons, the motivations, and the origins of the conflict. All we know is that the whole thing is a complicated mess of emotions, shady morals, and children caught up in things much bigger than themselves.