The Door of Hope (Episode)

"Reiner is dead. If you need Marcel, I'll be Marcel."

- Reiner Braun convincing Annie Leonhart to continue their mission

The Door of Hope (希望の扉) is the 3rd episode of the 4th season and the 62nd episode overall of the Attack on Titan anime, produced by.

Overview
Reiner recalls his youth when he trained as a Warrior so that his Eldian mother and Marleyan father could live together. Faced with many struggles and shortcomings, Reiner's dream kept his resolve alive. He recalls his final days in Warrior training when he, Bertholdt Hoover, Annie Leonhart, and Marcel Galliard were sent to Paradis Island to reclaim the Founding Titan. On their journey, Reiner learned that Marcel set up Reiner to inherit the Armored Titan instead of his brother. Reiner's shock was worsened when, shortly afterward, a Titan consumed Marcel. The Warriors lost hope for their mission after Marcel's death, but Reiner's determination to live and succeed spurred his comrades on. Arriving at Wall Maria, the Warriors began their attack.

Meanwhile, Falco continues to struggle with his Warrior training, becoming more and more convinced that he has no hope of inheriting the Armored Titan and saving Gabi's life. On his way home from the Warriors' headquarters, Falco meets a wounded soldier who wants to speak with him.

Summary
Reiner lies in his old room and recalls his childhood. Reiner never knew his father, a Marleyan man, as intermingling between Eldians and Marleyans was strictly forbidden. As a result, he chose to join the Warrior program in the hopes of becoming one of the Nine Titans so that he and his mother would become honorary Marleyans and would finally be able to reunite with his father.

One day after a training run, Zeke, another candidate, announced to the candidates that an attack on Paradis Island was being planned to commence in a few years, and that the time for the next Warriors to be chosen was drawing near. However, only six of the seven candidates would be chosen to inherit their Titans all at once. Reiner was ecstatic to hear that he would soon become a Marleyan. Porco Galliard, annoyed at Reiner's optimism, reminded him that the only positive trait he had demonstrated as a candidate was his intense loyalty, which would not be enough to gain one of the seven Titans in Marley's possession.

Reiner, believing Porco to be making light of the Warriors' mission, threatens to report him for treason, resulting in Porco angrily striking him. As Marcel Galliard separates the two, Porco proceeds to mock Reiner before leaving with Zeke. Bertholdt helps Reiner up, who despairs at the thought of not being chosen for one of the Titans. Bertholdt reassures him that there is still a chance for him to be chosen based on his loyalty. As the two go to catch up with their fellow candidates, Bertholdt asks Reiner if he is okay with becoming a Marleyan if it means he only gets to live thirteen more years. Reiner responds that, in thirteen years, he will be a hero for having defeated the devils living on Paradis Island and will make his parents the proudest of all.

Elsewhere, on Paradis Island, a young Eren Jaeger watches the sky and hopes that something interesting will happen. His friend Armin approaches with a book in his hands. As the newly-chosen Warriors used their Titans in battle with Mid East Forces, Marleyan officials observed from a safe distance. They observed the abilities of the Female, Armored, Jaw, Beast, Cart, and Colossal Titans, and one official admitted to nearly having some sympathy towards the inhabitants of Paradis Island, the future victims of the Colossal. Magath conceded that the new Warriors' abilities far surpassed those of the previous Warriors due to their rigorous training since childhood, but worried at the idea of entrusting children with retaking the Founder.

An incredulous Porco is furious to find out that Reiner has inherited the Armor, despite being the weakest candidate. Reiner responds mockingly that it was actually Porco who was the weakest candidate, and Marcel has to restrain his brother to stop him attacking Reiner. Porco breaks down crying, and Marcel apologizes to Reiner.

A parade was held for the four Warriors, during which Reiner spotted his father among the crowd. He followed the man to his kitchen. Reiner explained that, since he and his mother were now honorary Marleyans, they would be able to live together with his father. He was interrupted by his father, who demanded that he leave, angrily telling him that should Reiner's heritage be revealed, his entire family would be killed as a result.

After arriving at Paradis Island the Warriors traveled to the Walls on horseback. While camping in the middle of the night, Bertholdt wondered whether it was true that the King of the Walls would not unleash the Founder, but Reiner implored him to believe in Marley's research. Marcel was similarly dejected, and Reiner began to worry that his comrades were having second thoughts about their mission, reminding them of all the harm the residents of Paradis Island brought to the world. Ignoring Reiner's words, Marcel apologized to him again, confusing Reiner. Marcel revealed that Galliard, not Reiner, was supposed to be chosen for the Armored Titan, and Reiner was only chosen after Marcel intervened, in order to keep his brother safe.

Reiner was left dumbfounded, to the point that he was unable to react when a Titan, awoken by the rising sun, rose up out of the ground and attacked him. He was only saved by Marcel, who pushed him out of the way and was grabbed by the Titan instead. The remaining Warriors fled as Marcel was devoured.

After running for some time, Reiner stopped at a tree to catch his breath. Noticing that he was all by himself, Reiner freaked out, fearing that Annie and Bertholdt had met the same fate as Marcel. His thoughts were interrupted by a sudden kick from Annie, who observed that this had been the first time Reiner had outperformed her in a foot race. Annie told Reiner and Bertholdt that, had they not fled, the three of them could have captured the Titan and kept the Jaw Titan's power in their possession.

Annie ordered the two of them to follow her back, with the intention of retrieving the new holder of the Jaw Titan, and then returning to the Marleyan ships that dropped them off to report their mission as a failure. Reiner protested that they could not return. Annie corrected him, saying that he was the only one who could not go back, as he would be forced to give up his Titan to another Warrior for his failure. Reiner pointed out that all three of them might be punished for their failure, before arguing that it would be pointless to pursue the Jaw Titan's new owner, as none of their Titans would be fast enough to catch them in their new Jaw Titan form. He also argued that the only way to ensure that none of them were punished would be to return from the mission with some sort of success. Angered at Reiner's attempt to manipulate her, Annie lost her temper and brutally attacked Reiner, repeatedly kicking him in the face. She ranted that she does not care about Eldia or Marley, and simply wants to go home. When she finally relented, Reiner retaliated by knocking Annie to the ground and began strangling her, declaring that "Reiner" was dead and that he would become Marcel if they needed it. He then vows that they will all return home together.

After using his Colossal Titan to break a hole in Wall Maria, Bertholdt exited his Titan and was terrified to see a Titan approaching him. Strangely, the Titan ignored Bertholdt. As he made his way through Shiganshina District in his Armored Titan form, Reiner reflected on his motivations for becoming a Warrior and on Marcel's decision to sacrifice himself to save him. Deciding that he didn't want the mission to end while he still understood nothing, Reiner charged at Shiganshina's inner gate, ready to destroy it.

Annie awoke in a refugee camp inside Wall Rose with Reiner and Bertolt. Reiner embraced his companions, vowing to become a true Warrior.

While with the refugees, the three met a man from a small village in the southeast of Wall Maria that was destroyed by the Titans. He explained to them that his village did not get word of Wall Maria being breached due to how isolated they were. He told them about how he had not realized what was going on until he heard the Titans' footsteps and opened a window to find one staring at him. He claimed that after that, he did not remember anything, other than the fact that he left three children behind when they escaped. The man was later found hanging from a tree, having apparently committed suicide.

The three eventually joined the military, being placed in the 104th Cadet Corps. On his first day, when asked by his instructor why he had joined the military, Reiner declared that he was going to save humanity.

One day Annie tried to locate the true king of the Walls by tailing a member of the Military Police Brigade. She was quickly discovered, and attempted to convince the man that she was his illegitimate daughter, coming to reconnect with him, but the man easily saw through her ploy. Lashing out in self-defense, Annie fled and managed to escape the man through the sewers.

The next morning, the boys of the 104th Cadet Corps attempted to use Bertholdt's bizarre sleeping position to predict the weather, before Reiner sends them on their way lest they miss roll call.

That night, Annie informed them of her encounter with the Military Police member. Fearing that her face was seen, Annie suggested that the three return to Marley and turn over what little information they had found. Reiner refused to agree to this, arguing that what they had uncovered would not justify the five years that they had spent on Paradis Island. Reiner proposed to destroy Wall Rose instead, noting that they would have the perfect opportunity to do so when their Cadet Corps graduates in the Trost District, as the Scout Regiment will be leaving on an expedition that day. Once the Wall is breached, the three would move into Wall Sheena with the rest of the refugees. Annie noted that Reiner's friends would likely die in the process, but Reiner insisted that he did not care for any of his fellow trainees, to Annie's disgust. As the three headed back to the training grounds, Bertholdt revealed that he was having a recurring dream about the suicide victim whose story they stole.

Sometime later, during ODM training, Reiner noticed Eren losing control of his gear. He tried to convince Eren to take a break before he got himself killed. Frustrating and despairing, Eren asked Reiner what he must do to improve himself. Recalling his own struggles as a Warrior candidate, Reiner simply told him to not get discouraged and continue moving forward. He helped Eren to his feet, assuring him that if anyone would be able to exterminate the Titans, it would be him.

Remembering all of his experiences of Paradis Island, Reiner loads a rifle and sticks the barrel in his mouth, preparing to commit suicide. Before he can go through with it, however, he is interrupted by the sound of Falco training outside. As he watches Falco leave, Reiner has an epiphany: the new Warrior candidates are his reason to keep on living.

As Falco laments the idea of Gabi Braun inheriting the Armored Titan, he finds himself outside of a hospital for Eldian soldiers who were traumatized during the Marley Mid-East War. One of the soldiers, who Falco had attempted to help upon their return to Liberio, invites him to sit down with him. Falco notes that the man seems to be recovering well, and the man admits that he is in fact not suffering from any form of psychological trauma and is only pretending to do so because he does not want to go home to face his family. Noticing Falco's injuries, the man asks if he came from his Warrior training, which Falco confirms. He admits that he likely will not inherit any of the Nine Titans which, to Falco's surprise, seems to please the man. Falco tells the man that there is another candidate that he does not want to become a Warrior, before lamenting that he will likely die without accomplishing anything meaningful. Moved by Falco's words, the man begins to muse on what motivates everyone to step into hell, noting that some people are forced to by outside forces, while others force themselves. He concludes that those who force themselves likely see something beyond the hell they are placed in, but that they will never know what that thing is if they do not continue down that path.

Warrior Candidates
''A unit of child soldiers consisting of Eldian "devils." Under command of the Marley army, they undergo harsh training and are selected based on their grades, skills, behavior, personality, and devotion to Marley. As only "devils" can inherit the Nine Titans, the existence of Eldians is crucial for the defense of Marley. As such, Eldians selected to become Warriors are granted "Honorary Marleyan" status along with their immediate family.''

Trivia

 * This episode reuses scenes from To You, in 2000 Years: The Fall of Shiganshina, Part 1 and That Day: The Fall of Shiganshina, Part 2 in its depiction of the Fall of Wall Maria.

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