Board Thread:Manga/@comment-27321453-20180708204808/@comment-26495049-20180709082718

This chapter is the very first time I've lost faith in Isayama's ability as a writer.

Sasha's death is just one issue. Yes, there are some here who were upset over her death, but Isayama had originally planned to kill her back in Season 2, 50+ chapters ago, so we all knew it was coming sooner or later.

What I'm concerned about is the way he did it. Compare it with the pure shock we experienced when Marco's body was revealed, followed by the horror of seeing his actual death scene. Or the epic sacrifices of Armin and Erwin. Sasha's death just felt... hollow. Like Isayama shoehorned it into the story, saying to the fans "Boom. There, she's dead now. How's that for my not willing to kill off any major characters?"

But my biggest worry from reading this chapter is how the story seems to have hit a dead end. Yeah, the Survey Corps' attack was successful. Successful in turning the entire world against them, that is. And the only way they can save themselves is by using the threat of a world-ending apocalypse as a deterrent. All this latest chapter shows is them gearing up for this inevitability, without any hint that another solution is in the works.

Why is this a problem, you may ask?

Because it's boring.

This situation reminds me of the Cold War. One of two things can come out of it. Either 1. Threats continue to be thrown around, but nothing is happens (which is boring), or 2. The rumbling occurs. Problem is, Isayama has drawn the rumbling so many times now, that actually going through with it wouldn't be as impressive as if it came as a surprise reveal (for example as part of the final fight for humanity between Eren and Zeke).

The main reason I got hooked into Attack on Titan in the first place was how the story takes twists and turns and that nearly every chapter brings a new revelation or opens up new possibilities that leaves you wondering what's going to happen next. Unfortunately, the last couple of chapters left me feeling empty and not at all excited for the upcoming chapter.

I hope Isayama still has an ace up his sleeve, I really do.