Training concludes and the recruits are now in the king’s army. But does that mean that they will live in peace safely in the inner city? Or does the horror for them truly begin?  You’re going to have to click the link to find out.
The episode picks up right were the last left off with combat exercises and field marches in the forest. Naturally during the field run Armin starts to fall behind with threats by Shadis that if this were real he’d be Titan food. Reiner takes Arim’s field pack from him in order to help, but Armin determined not to be a hindrance to the others charges forward reclaiming his back and keeps pace with the pack. Later  the group  uses their 3D Maneuver gear  to attack make shift titans for training on how to kill them by slicing layered cushions on the nape of the titan’s necks as that is their only weakness.

It is here we are introduced to more recruits, but we’ll get to them during my thoughts on the episode. Shadis is doing his examination on the groups stating various things such as Jean being the one of the best at Maneuvers with the 3D gear, however his sword skills are lacking.  Sasha is unconventional and  creative, but unpredictable with  both her movements and combat skills. Mikasa is considered one of those rare prodigies that excels highly in everything, While Eren despite being an all around average student makes up for his short comings with a determination and drive seen by few if any recruits.

Yet another day draws closer and we see the troops doing human combat skills. Naturally Eren does not see the point in this as humans do not fight humans, only titans. Proof of this is shown as other students either slack off and only do the exercised just going through the motions or in Sasha and Connie Springer’s case re-enacting a scene from a Kung Fu film.

It is also here we meet Annie Leonhart who is just walking out on the field drill all together. Eren confronts her along with Reiner saying that they are soldiers and need to be training. However Annie voices Eren’s sentiment saying it’s pointless. So Reiner decides to prove its not pointless, but is easily thrown to the ground by Annie. Eren is then giving   his shot and Annie assumes a unusual fighting stance to them and proceeds to drop Eren effortlessly using a form of martial arts uknown to both Eren and Reiner. When asked how she learned it she merely replies that her father taught her and walks off.

We then cut to the night before graduation with everyone once again in the mess hall. Naturally Jean is being himself stating once again that there was no point to this since they are never going win a battle against the Titan’s as no one ever has before. He also calls his friend Marco out who states he wants to join the King’s force, but Jean states he merely wants to do that so he can be safely away in the inner most wall with no chance of seeing the titans. And also just like last time Eren gets in Jeans face about it. Those two once again nearly comes to blows, but rather than bells Mikasa intervenes causing Eren to back off. Jean however this time in a fit of jealousy of Eren’s relationship to Mikasa…still not figuring out that they are step siblings I guess actually proceeds to pick a fight. However, Eren being one of the best in terms of close combat takes Jean out easily using the same technique Annie used on him, despite him only seeing it used once and it was on him.

Shadis soon investigates the ruckus caused by the two. However at poor Sasha’s expense Mikasa quickly covers for Eren, stating that Sasha let loose a massive fart, to which Shadis simply asks again and leaves.  Sasha then mortified confronts Mikasa, but is quickly subdued with food, though force fed by Mikasa.

Graduation night falls upon us and we learn that only the top ten students are given placement in Military police, but are allowed to transfer freely as they see wish. Everyone else is wall guard. The top ten are of course the 10 people we have seen and know most about out of the recruits. Following the graduation ceremony everyone freaks when they learn Eren wants to forgo his position with the MPs and be a Recon scout. Mikasa and Armin also announce they will follow him despite Eren’s protests.

The next day we see the new Recon Troops and are introduced to Commander of the troops Erwin and commander Levy, who is less than thrilled with their reception.  We also get to meet Hannes again who has become a captain of a whole garrison who is happy to see the children graduate, apologizes to Eren and Mikasa about his inability to save their mother during the initial attack. Eren say’s that he’s no longer an ignorant child and that he realizes it’s not Hannes’ fault and proceeds to run off. Hannes however  ponders if it’s a good thing that Eren grew up in such away however praying for the boy not to die.

We then cut to either later in the day or the next day, the transition is not entirely clear on this one. With Eren and some of his platoon cleaning and reloading the wall’s defense cannons and shooting the breeze with eachother. Sasha however comes up shaking with anticipation revealing that she has stolen some meat and wants to share this with everyone. However because the whole city is on food rations this is a criminal act punishable by confinement and in a soldiers case she could be locked up in solitary. After locking up the meat and stating she can’t wait to have it with some bread accompanied by a rather creepy insane laugh at the thought of an actual sandwich, have I mentioned that Sasha is a thief and a little nuts when it comes to food? Despite everyone’s shock and protest they eventually relent and say that they’ll join her in that sandwich. Eren feeling that humanity has finally regained it’s dignity and that they can win against the titans looking out over the city.  As if to answer that ray of optimism and hope a bolt of crimson lightning flashes behind Eren and the Colossal Stands behind him looming over the wall. The titan then immediately kicks a massive hole in the walls front door and the resulting concussion blast knocks the soldiers, Eren included from the wall. Luckily thou everyone survives using their 3D gear to grapple to the walls side, that is for a soldier named Samuel. Samuel is unconscious and falling fast, Sasha however in a crazy stunt releases her cables and runs straight down the wall vertically and shoots a cable which grabs Samuel stopping his decent the cable goes through his shin and thigh, while Sasha supports him and herself with a single cable through the wall. Everyone then realizes the horror is the whole is massive and will let the titans through thus enabling a second town massacre.  The episode with Eren climbing back up to the wall face the Colossal titan on his own.

 This was another character development episode that gives way to the oncoming fight in the next episode.  We are finally introduced to our core cast of 10 which is both a good and bad thing. It’s good because we finally know whose who and we can start picking out our favorite characters. And bad because that pretty much means nearly everyone we met along the way that isn’t that core ten is expendable. The animation was well done and we get to see more character personalities, though I wish they would give Mikasa a little be more of a personality. Right now all I am really getting from her is she’s there because Eren is there and she’s gonna go were he is gonna go. Sure her motivations are to ensure she doesn’t lose her last family member, I just kinda want more from her. Especially because everyone seems to play her up as this prodigy that can be the ultimate savior. Eren still continues to be Eren. He’s full of anger and angst, but at least now he’s accomplished his goal of being a soldier and is on the road to becoming a recon troop giving him.  Sasha continues to be my favorite character  used as a fart decoy and is a foodie to the extreme. Her rescue of Samuel however is insanely cool and showing why she’s gonna be something to watch because only she would pull a stunt like that.  This episode also goes to show that no matter how bright and optimistic some one becomes that darkness is right there to eclipse it if not almost immediately.