The Wings of Freedom (Episode)

"The position calls for a certain quality― a mindset of continuously pursuing understanding. There's no one more suitable than you. I leave everyone in your hands."

- Hange Zoë nominates Armin Arlelt as their successor

The Wings of Freedom (自由の翼) is the 30th episode of the 4th season and the 89th episode overall of the Attack on Titan anime, produced by. It is the second of three episodes, available only on Japanese streaming services, that constitute the episodic version (各話版) of Special 1.

Overview
The Scouts and Warriors arrive in Odiha to prepare the flying boat for flight. Annie Leonhart declines to continue on with the group, believing that her father must be dead and there is no longer a reason for her to fight. However, Reiner Braun and Pieck Finger agree to continue on with the Scouts to Fort Salta, which is believed to be Eren Jaeger's next destination.

As they begin fueling, Floch Forster staggers into the back of the hangar and shoots at the flying boat, rupturing its fuel tank before he is killed by Mikasa Ackermann. This delays their planned takeoff and the line of Wall Titans appear in the distance. Hange Zoë passes command over to Armin Arlelt and stays behind to buy the group time to leave before eventually succumbing to the heat of the Titans' bodies.

Summary
As Eren Jaeger guides the Wall Titans in their march, he considers how there has always been a wall of some kind before him. Armin Arlelt used to tell him of fantastic lands beyond the Walls, and Eren would imagine the people who could witness such things would be the freest people in the world. Now he has arrived at that view, and it is littered with the bodies of those crushed by the Titans.

After nightfall, their ship arrives in Odiha, which has already been abandoned, even though the Titans have yet to arrive. As the Scouts, Warriors, and Azumabito clan work to prepare the flying boat, Armin suggests they keep the explosives the Jaegerists had previously strapped around it and bring them along.

As the night passes, Falco Grice comes to and realizes that Theo Magath, and likely his family as well, are dead since the Titans have already flattened the majority of Marley. Pieck Finger wants to comfort him, but does not have the words.

Outside, Mikasa suggests that Annie practice with the new omni-directional mobility gear since she is not used to it yet, but Annie does not see the point. She does not plan to continue on with them and has no urge to save humanity. Annie feels sorry for the Azumabitos, working so hard for any possibility of saving their country, but she no longer has the will to fight.

Mikasa notices Annie staring at Armin, and asks when "this" happened. Though Annie is not inclined to share, Mikasa is sympathetic and tells Annie that she is not alone, but Armin will be getting on the flying boat with them to chase after Eren. Annie is well aware, and asks Mikasa if she will kill Eren to save humanity. Mikasa says she will not. He has simply gone far away and she is bringing him back.

Elsewhere, Levi Ackermann has gotten up despite his extensive injuries because he wishes to be there when they question Yelena, who has woken up following the breaking of her arm.

When questioned by the gathered soldiers on the ship, Yelena tells them of a fortress in the mountains of southern Marley involved with airship research. She suspects that will be Eren's next target. He will want to remove any danger the airships pose.

Yelena acknowledges that between the two brothers, Zeke lost, but tries one last time to convince the group that what Eren is doing now is proof that the euthanasia plan was the only solution. Hange Zoë agrees, having failed to show Eren another way for their island to be safe.

As the combined forces prepare to leave, Pieck asks Kiyomi Azumabito to take Falco and Gabi Braun with her when she leaves on their ship. She will lock the two children in their cabin so they cannot leave.

Once the sun is up, Hange has the Scouts check their equipment, but Levi's hand shakes as he looks at his grip, given his missing fingers. Despite this, he says two is all he needs.

Nearby, the Warriors say their farewells to Annie, and Reiner Braun apologizes for dragging both her and Bertholdt Hoover into continuing their mission when they might have gone home instead. Annie tells him that she has had to stop herself from killing him multiple times, but smiles. He asks her to take care of Gabi and Falco, and she agrees. The Scouts wave to her as she boards the ship.

Pieck affirms to Hange that she and Reiner wish to go with them, following Magath's wish for them to work together for a solution. Hange is pleased, but Pieck refuses a request to ride the Cart Titan, causing Levi to note that Hange's affection for Titans is still unrequited. Hange asks Levi if their comrades are watching them, but Levi does not like how Hange is beginning to sound like him.

The Azumabitos begin to fuel the flying boat when Floch Forster staggers into the back of the hangar, having been pulled by their ship since it left Paradis. He shoots at the flying boat and the crew until Mikasa uses her ODM gear to shoot one of its hooks into his neck, but by then he has managed to puncture the boat's fuel tank. The Azumabitos work quickly to patch it, but they need an hour and the earth has begun to rumble beneath them. Floch dies, still believing in his cause.

When asked for a plan against the oncoming Titans, Armin volunteers to stay behind and slow them down. Reiner disagrees, saying that they will need him against Eren. Hange declares that Reiner will not stay either and that they need to save their Titan power. As their leader, Hange will take responsibility for having led them to this point and remain behind. They designate Armin as the next commander of the Scout Regiment and in a moment of levity, remind Armin that Levi is now his subordinate and that he should work him hard.

As Hange leaves, they walk by Levi, explaining that it is now their turn and they want to make as cool an exit as possible. Understanding, Levi lets them go without asking for more than for them to dedicate their heart, a phrase he has never used in front of them before.

Hange fights alone, toppling the foremost Titans to buy the crew enough time to fuel the plane, but they are not able to fill the tank before one of the engineers tells them to start the engine due to the proximity of the Titans. The heat from the Titans is immense, setting Hange's cloak on fire and ultimately consuming them. However, both the flying boat and the ship manage to escape the harbor.

Port of Odiha
''A coastal city located in the southeastern part of the continent of Marley. It has huge port facilities, and many of its citizens work in the water transportation industry. Not only does it overlook the sea in the southeastern part of the city, but also the river that traverses the continent to the south, making it a key point in the trade that connects the southern side of the continent and Marley. The northern side is surrounded by high mountains. If the Rumbling were to come, it would come over those mountains in the north.''

Trivia

 * Ian Dietrich is erroneously depicted with a Scout Regiment logo on his jacket rather than the Garrison Regiment logo.