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Without spilling any blood, we will overthrow the government. And in front of the people, we'll reveal that the system as they know it has all been a lie. | 
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| — Erwin to Pyxis | ||
Old Story (昔話 Mukashibanashi?) is the 3rd episode of the 3rd season and the 40th episode overall of the Attack on Titan anime, produced by Wit Studio and Production I.G.
Overview
Historia recounts the circumstances of how she grew up on a farm as an unwanted child with a distant mother. She saw her father, Rod Reiss, for the first time when he came to see her after Wall Maria fell, but men in black coats intervened before he could take her away. Rod had them spare Historia under the condition that she live a quiet life far away under the name "Christa Lenz." In the present day, Rod apologizes for that and informs Historia that she has royal blood and is the only person who can save humanity.
Meanwhile, Erwin meets Pyxis and discusses the overthrow of the government. When Hange arrives, they inform Erwin about Historia's royal lineage, and he tells Pyxis his plan to expose the puppet government and install Historia as the new queen. As dawn breaks, Erwin is called outside by the First Interior Squad to account for the murder of Dimo Reeves. He names Hange as his successor before he leaves and shortly thereafter, he and the Scout Regiment are placed under arrest.
Summary
Historia helps on the farm
Historia Reiss remembers how she told Squad Levi about her upbringing. As a young girl, she grew up on a farm doing chores and other tasks, while her mother ignored her, spending her days reading. As Historia learned to read herself, she began to realize that her situation was not normal, as parents were supposed to care for their children. One day, Historia tried to hug her mother like she had read about; however, her mother vehemently shoved her away, and lamented the fact that she was not able to kill Historia. Even so, Historia was happy to have gotten any attention at all. That was the last time she saw her mother in a long time, as she went to live elsewhere for a period of time.
Five years ago, after the fall of Wall Maria, Historia met her father for the first time. He was Rod Reiss, the lord who ruled the land they lived on. Rod said that she would be living with him from now on, but before he could leave with her and her mother, he was approached by men in black suits, including Kenny Ackermann. Kenny grabbed her mother and when Historia called for her, her mother denied that Historia was her child, saying that she had nothing to do with her. Hearing this, Kenny asked Rod for confirmation and Rod reluctantly agreed. Historia watched as Kenny killed her mother, whose last words were wishing that she had never given birth to her. Kenny would have killed Historia as well, but Rod intervened and had her sent away to live a quiet life under the new name, Christa Lenz.
In the present, Rod hugs Historia and apologizes, saying that he had no choice in order to protect her. He tells her that she is special and has royal blood. The Reiss family is the true royal family and because of that she is the only person who can save humanity. He takes her with him to the place where it all began.
Sannes realizes he was tricked
Meanwhile, Djel Sannes is reunited with Ralph in a prison cell. He attacks his comrade, thinking that he betrayed him, but Hange Zoë admits that it was a ruse and Ralph had only been reading from a script while being threatened with a knife. Sannes breaks down on learning that his betrayal of the King was his fault alone, but warns Hange that the role he plays is one that another will step into to start the act all over again, so humanity will never be done with the sort of work they have. He wishes them luck.
After leaving the prison, Hange lashes out at the nearby furniture over their frustration with Sannes. Hange blames it on a cockroach when Levi Ackermann walks in on them. He brings Hange over to the rest of the squad where they fill them in on how Eren Jaeger will likely be eaten. According to the conversation Eren wrote down, Hange speculates that Ymir used to be a Titan until she ate a comrade of Bertholdt Hoover and Reiner Braun. A Titan that eats a human with the power of the Titans will turn back into a human and inherit that power. Thus, if the government has their own Titan, Eren will be eaten and his Titan power will be transferred to someone else.
Erwin and Pyxis discuss overthrowing the government
That same night, Dot Pyxis meets with Erwin Smith. He apologizes for the visit and says that he read Erwin's letter. Pyxis asks if Erwin is serious, and Erwin confirms that if they want to retake Wall Maria they will have to overthrow the government, but his plan will not require military forces to take action if his guess is correct. While they wait for news to arrive, Erwin tells Pyxis a story about his father.
Shortly thereafter, Hange and Moblit Berner arrive, bringing news of Historia's lineage. Erwin informs Pyxis of the true royal family and how Squad Levi is currently trying to rescue her. Once they do, they will install her as Queen and force the fake King to relinquish the crown. Pyxis agrees to back his plan.
Erwin names Hange the next commander
After Pyxis leaves, Erwin hands Hange the results of his investigation into the Reiss family. One of his soldiers also comes in to inform him that the First Interior Squad is making a ruckus out in the city, claiming that Erwin organized a murder. Erwin orders Hange to get away from here while he acts as the face of their organization. He informs Hange that they will be the next commander of the Scout Regiment and places the Scouts under Hange's command.
It is dawn outside when Erwin arrives to find Dimo Reeves's grieving family around his body. One of the MPs addresses Erwin and explains a story about how Reeves kidnapped Eren so that the Scouts would not have to turn him over to the government. Then the Scouts killed Reeves to keep him from talking. The MP charges Erwin and the Scouts with a violation of clause six of the Humanity Charter; prioritizing one's gain over the safety and longevity of humanity. For this, all Scouts are to be apprehended. Hange and Moblit get away, but the rest of the Scouts at headquarters are arrested.
Erwin's father shares his theories with his son
As he is taken away, Erwin reflects on the story he told Pyxis. Erwin's father was a teacher and Erwin asked him a question in class one day that he declined to answer. At home, his father privately explained to him that the government history books were filled with contradictions and mysteries. Erwin shared this information with the other kids he knew and eventually the Military Police came asking about his father. His father died in an accident that same day, and Erwin realized that the government had him killed.
Erwin's father had a theory that the King altered the memories of humanity when they entered the Walls in order to make them easier to rule. It would justify killing his father for getting close to the truth. However, Erwin has come to realize that the government is not interested in protecting humanity so much as their land and wealth, and that they will kill anyone who threatens that authority. In the end, there was no justification for his father's death aside from human greed.
Squad Levi camps in the woods
In Stohess District, the Military Police hand out fliers for the arrest of the Scout Regiment. Jean Kirschtein takes one before he, Armin Arlelt, and Mikasa Ackermann leave the city for their camp in the woods. Armin tells Levi that if it is true, the Scouts will be disbanded and he heard that the Military Police are searching for them and covering all the roads. Levi says the wagon with Eren and Historia will take a day to reach Reiss territory so they will have to use that time to come up with a plan. Before they can discuss further, Sasha Braus announces that she hears footsteps.
Currently Publicly Available Information
Intelligent Titans (with power to transform)
An Intelligent Titan is conceived when a Pure Titan lacking intelligence consumes some other Intelligent Titan. By consuming an Intelligent Titan, it gains consciousness as well as the consumed Titan's powers.
Characters in order of appearance
- Historia Reiss
- Conny Springer
- Sasha Braus
- Jean Kirschtein
- Levi Ackermann
- Eren Jaeger
- Mikasa Ackermann
- Armin Arlelt
- Alma (killed in a flashback)
- Rod Reiss
- Kenny Ackermann
- Ralph
- Hange Zoë
- Moblit Berner
- Djel Sannes
- Bertholdt Hoover (flashback)
- Ymir (flashback)
- Reiner Braun/Armored Titan (flashback)
- Erwin Smith
- Dot Pyxis
- Dimo Reeves (corpse)
- Roger
- Flegel Reeves
- Caven
- Mr. Smith (killed in a flashback)
- Deltoff (flashback)
- Gerald (flashback)
- Aurille (flashback)
Cast
Japanese
- Hiroshi Kamiya as Levi
- Shiori Mikami as Historia Reiss
- Daisuke Ono as Erwin Smith
- Romi Park as Hange Zoë
- Yui Ishikawa as Mikasa Ackermann
- Marina Inoue as Armin Arlelt
- Kishō Taniyama as Jean Kirschtein
- Yū Kobayashi as Sasha Braus
- Masahiko Tanaka as Pyxis
- Kazuhiro Yamaji as Kenny
- Yusaku Yara as Rod Reiss
- Michiko Neya as Alma
- Masaki Terasoma as Sannes
- Rintaro Nishi as Moblit
- Kousuke Takaguchi as Ralph
- Isshin Chiba as Roger
- Saori Terai as Caven
- Tasuku Hatanaka as Flegel
- Kenta Okuma as Soldier
- Naomi Maruyama as Dimo's wife
- Taichi Takeda as Resident
- Keisuke Misaizu as Military Police
English
- Matthew Mercer as Levi
- Bryn Apprill as Christa
- J. Michael Tatum as Erwin
- Jessica Calvello as Hange
- Trina Nishimura as Mikasa
- Josh Grelle as Armin
- Mike McFarland as Jean
- Ashly Burch as Sasha
- R. Bruce Elliott as Pyxis
- Phil Parsons as Kenny
- Kenny Green as Rod
- Heather Walker as Alma
- Bruce DuBose as Sannes
- Jerry Jewell as Moblit
- Andrew Love as Ralph
- Daniel Baugh as Roger
- Stephanie Young as Caven
- Cris George as Flegel
- Clifford Chapin as Conny
- Additional Voices:
- Christopher Guerrero
- Kyle Igneczi
- Alejandro Saab
- Daman Mills
- Steph Garrett
- Linda Leonard
- Philip Annarella
- Zach Archibald
- Garrett Schenck
- Katelyn Barr
Soundtrack
- Historia remembers her childhood - 2Volt
- Rod decides to spare Historia's life - 巨♀~9地区
- Sannes warns Hange that she's taken his place - 2chi城
- Hange suspects that Eren's going to be eaten - 進撃pf20130218巨人
- Erwin tells Pyxis that he's planning to overthrow the government - AoTs3-3spens/21石 1st part
- Erwin tells Pyxis that he plans to make Historia the new queen - 0Sk 2nd part
- Erwin is accused of Reeves' murder - AOTs2M他1
- Erwin tells Pyxis about his childhood and his father's theory - attack音D
- MPs search for the Scouts in the woods - AoTs3-1000略