AOT S4E25 - Night of The End

I believe that the writer based attack on titan on WW2 and even based the paradis island on a place in germany

Armin did suggest diplomacy during their attack on Marley. He couldn’t understand why Eren chose violence when that was possible. Surprised you missed that.

I'm not 100% sure but I believe part of the reasoning for the odd shots in this episode is because of the animation studio being rushed to get everything done and so the simple scenes without moving parts were a way to save time and budget for the important animations coming up in the rest of the show which are amazing!

nah the slowest episode of the show is 100% season 1 episode 9 (if im not mistaken) where armin has to come up with a plan to defend eren because its just been revealed to higher officers that he’s a titan. this is right after the struggle for Trost. that whole scene went on for the ENTIRE episode. personally, my least favourite episode.

The author has some questionable political opinions and has been accused of denying some pretty serious historical events, I suggest looking into Isayama once you finished the show

Armin has always been one who always wanted to talk first. An example when he tried to speak to Bertorld on the way to the basement and when they got help from the volunteers during the time jump. To be fair the Islanders tried to talk to the rest of the world during the four year time skip but the rest of the world never gave them the chance. Which brings back what Armin and Hange said that “they were labeled guilty without knowing them - that is the Paradis Eldians, and how having the whole world hate them was something that unified the rest of the world.

I would say zeke was one of the only characters who was able to step outside of the conflict, although obviously his solution was interesting to say the least lol

Them being in a forest is a callback to an earlier episode's title, "Children Of The Forest" and also the theme of it. Notice how most of them were children being forced into violence. They are all stuck in the forest fighting with one another, but by the end of the episode, they "escaped" the forest together.

Thanks for another excellent commentary. To be honest, this is one of my favourite episodes of season 4, totally unskippable. What it looks like for an alliance under this kind of pressure and history/baggage to form. There's something really impactful about hearing the characters talk it all out. Say all the things. Air all the sins (and air the themes - especially with Marco returning again). It's not always right for a show to do that but I enjoy it when it comes later and feels earned. I think the realism/familiarity with many conflicts and atrocities happening right now is a real strength of the show. I personally think that is exactly what Isayama wanted to do - not "note for note" as you say, on purpose, for broad interpretation but shining a light on what may seem inevitable or reasonable from inside the world of those committing atrocities.

the environmental shots are definitely budget saving lol, also notice the continuation of "get the kids out the forest' motif. They are in the forest and Gabi gets hurt due to the adults negligence.