Attack On Titan Season 1 Episode 19 Recap – Bite: The 57th Exterior Scouting Mission, Part 3

Orders

Levi shoots an acoustic shell to reveal their position. The captain addresses his squad that they shouldn’t act on their feelings alone. The mission is to do everything possible to keep Eren unharmed, even if it causes their death.

Eren sees the reinforcements dying while fighting the female titan behind them, but Gunther and Eld tell him to push forward at full speed. Eren argues that they’re the ones most suited to fight her. He can’t imagine letting everyone die without doing something, and Petra tells him to follow the captain’s orders. It dawns on Eren that he can fight on his own using his powers, but Petra stops him.

Levi tells him to do it if he wants. He recognizes that Eren is the type who can’t be restrained no matter where you put him. Levi reminds him of his inexperience. Should he trust himself or the entirety of the Scout Regiment? Even Levi himself isn’t sure of the outcome, so he invites him to do his best without regret.

Eren looks back, but Petra tells him to trust them. He remembers their discussion back at camp, where Levi explains how he can stop his titan form without killing him by carefully cutting his limbs and letting him regenerate. Eren doesn’t know how well he can regenerate, but Levi tells him there are risks, and they risk their lives working with him. Hange asks if they can experiment on him, which Levi reluctantly allows, and Hange invites Eren to learn as they go.

An Experiment

They try and put him inside a dry well to test his powers but find that he can’t transform even after biting his hands. Levi asks him to figure it out, or their plans will be for nothing. After exiting the well, Oruo notes he’s more human than they thought, and Gunther argues that it’s better than getting hurt for no good reason. Eren reaches out with his wounded hand for a fallen spoon, but he transforms suddenly, only in his right arm.

Levi tells his squad to stand down as everyone arms themselves to fight him. Hange arrives in joy at his sudden transformation. Eld and Oruo demand an explanation for Eren’s sudden outburst as Levi tells them to stand down. Eren yells at them to keep quiet while Hange salivates at the opportunity to touch his titan flesh. It turns out to be smoking hot without skin. Eren finally pulls himself out and realizes the squad doesn’t trust him fully.

That night, Levi tells him that the squad pulled their swords with no ill intention. Hange shows him the spoon from the previous incident, and they surmise that he needs a clear goal to transform. Self-harm alone doesn’t cut it. The squad sighs in relief as they realize he didn’t do it on purpose.

The Trap

They all bite themselves in sympathy for Eren and admit their mistake. They were too scared that they acted harshly. Now they’ll be relying on him as he relies on them.

Eren remembers Petra’s self-inflicted bite wound and tells Levi that he’ll continue with them. Another reinforcing scout dies, and the female titan rushes to catch up again. Yet, with men dying behind them and so much uncertainty, the squad maintains their trust in the captain. Eren figures he should as well.

Suddenly they pass by other scouts hiding in the trees and on the ground. Erwin calls the command, and a slew of wires and explosions attack the female titan as she scrambles to defend her weak spot.

Levi takes his leave and puts Eld in the lead. Eren realizes they planned to catch the female titan alive. Now they have her restrained, and Erwin and Levi are eager to see who’s inside.

Our Thoughts

Look back three episodes ago; who could have seen this coming? I didn’t. This show is a relentless thrill ride. Rating: 4/5.