Summary
In the final chapters ofAttack on Titan, shortly before Hange Zoe sacrificed themselves to give the Alliance the chance to escape The Rumbling and fight Eren Jaeger, they named Armin Arlert their successor and new commander of the Survey Corp. This decision was questioned by some fans, but mainly by Armin himself. While his contributions to the Survey Corp’s battle against the Titans and subsequently Marley are monumental, he’s the one who’s the most critical of himself.
He questions whether it was right for him to bechosen over Erwin Smith to be revived and turned into the Colossal Titan, and he questions Hange’s decision to make him the commander in such extreme circumstances as The Rumbling. But is he right to believe this, or was Armin the perfect fit for the Corps’s final commander ofAttack on Titan?
Armin Arlert, A Promising Mind
The Young Cadet Makes a Name for Himself
Early on, during his academy days, Armin had already caught the attention of instructors like Keith Shadis. His cunning mind made him stand out among the other cadets. Shadis noted that while he lacked physical prowess like Mikasa, Annie or Reiner, he was incredibly smart. This cemented his position among the Top 10 cadets of the 104th. Shortly after his graduation, he was involved in the Battle of Trost, and he immediately made a name for himself during the battle. His plans ensured the survival of several soldiers and the defeat of many titans.
Armin quickly enlisted in the Survey Corp,following his best friends Eren and Mikasa. There, he once again contributed to the Corp’s efforts. He aided in the capture of the Female Titan, as well as the discovery of the Colossal and Armored Titans. Later, during the Battle of Shiganshina, his plan and sacrifice allowed Eren to take down the Colossal Titan. Even at a young age, Armin’s genius repeatedly ensured survival and victory for the people within the walls. While his colleagues had physical prowess and skill, and Eren had his titan powers, Armin was still the one who led the Survey Corp towards victory thanks to his cunning mind.
Older, Wiser, and Powerful
The New Colossal Titan
After being revived and taking the Colossal Titan,Armin becomes a Titan Shifter. While before he only had his brains to aid him and others in battle, he was now the holder of the Colossal Titan, giving him insurmountable power without equal. Armin would seldom use his newfound powers, but they proved vital when the Survey Corp needed them most. It was Armin who destroyed the Marley port and its navy, crippling their ability to fight back. And most importantly, it was Armin who destroyed Eren’s Doomsday Titan and stopped The Rumbling.
Ironically, a man who despises violence now holds the greatest destructive power of all. As the Colossal Titan, he can raise a nation to the ground by simply transforming. But more than that, it made him essentially indestructible, ensuring his genius also endured battle, unlike before. While he needed to take a step back and guide others, he could now step into battle.
The Survey Corp Ideology
Armin Embodies The Quest for Freedom
The Survey Corp is defined by their endless quest for knowledge and freedom. They are the wings that fly beyond the walls. Since he was a little kid, Armin has been defined by his unquenchable thirst for knowledge and progress.He wanted to know the world beyond the walls. From birth, he was already the embodiment of the Survey Corp ideology.
I wonder if…just maybe…there was another, different path.
Erwin sought to find the answers to Titans and the world beyond. Hange sought to lead humanity into technological progress and evolution. And Armin sought to know everything about the world and humanity. He was chosen because of his brilliant mind, his tenacity, and his unrelenting search for freedom. Armin Arlert represented the best of the Survey Corp, the best of Erwin and Hange. He was the perfect fit to be the Survey Corp’s final commanderand take down Eren Jaeger.
Attack On Titan
Based on Hajime Isayama’s widely popular manga, Attack on Titan is a dark fantasy anime set in a world where humanity lives behind walls to protect themselves from massive creatures known as Titans. Over the course of four seasons, the story takes plenty of unexpected twists and turns, almost evolving into a different type of series in the process.
