User blog comment:SilenceInTheLibrary/Annie's Future/@comment-9096809-20130822000140/@comment-1971498-20130912134302

@Miskos3: Exactly, that's what I mean. The whole series is at a point where everything is morally ambiguous all while we don't even know anything to properly contextualize it all. Do we even know the reason why they're attacking the humans inside the wall? What exactly are the Titans? Why is the world of SNK set in medieval times even though it's hinted that it's set 2000 years from modern times? etc. The only thing I dislike about this kind of thing is how people get picky and judgemental towards certain characters, instead of just enjoying the show or analyzing it for what it is. Backstories aren't excuses, they can serve as explanations, it's only works like Naruto where repeated flashbacks give the narrative device such a bad name (even if it uses it well on occasion).

@68.81.92.39: Again, who's to say who deserves what? Annie isn't obviously portrayed as someone to feel sorry for, but her backstory so far gives everyone something to empathize with. Does that mean we have to sympathize with her? Up to the person, but at least Isayama has the maturity to balance it out by making her motives seemingly understandable but portraying her actions as being utterly brutal and sadistic in nature. I honestly don't see some sort of redemption arc for Annie unless the whole moral compass gets inverted (eg. if it turns out that the founders of the people behind the walls are actually complete monsters that did horrible things), and even then, that doesn't necessarily mean we'll instantly get treated with a happy ending for them. (consider shows like Shinsekai Yori or heck even Psycho-Pass for that matter where despite the understandable nature of the antagonist's ideals, their methods and goals are still horrible).