Mikasa vs. Eren: Love, Hate & Regret in AOT: Final Chapter
Eremika's Tragic Love story and the Determination to "Fight"!
From portraying Mikasa prettier from Eren’s perspective to letting her slice Eren’s head off, Isayama has presented us with one of the most tragic love stories in the anime universe. With the conclusion of Attack on Titan and the tale of the boy who sought freedom finally at its end, we are left with nothing but broken hearts as we bid farewell to the masterpiece that has been with us for over a decade.
What has left us even more heartbroken than the ending, is how the two most beloved characters parted ways, sealing the damned fate of their love. In this article we will be down a deep analysis of Eremika’s relationship dynamics and why they were never meant to be together in a happy setting!
Before we begin, make sure you have read the recaps of the Final Chapter Part 1 and Part 2 so that you have a refreshed memory of what Eren was holding for Mikasa!
Table of Contents:
Survival, Dedication & Family
The story of this ill-fated couple began when Eren rescued a 10-year-old Mikasa as she was about to be abducted by gang members looking to sell her because of her Asian heritage. Until that point, Mikasa was very dependent, described as a chicken by Eren, that could always be eaten by predators.
Eren’s presence and his continuous motivation to pull her out of her dependent persona led Mikasa to be submissive and protective of Eren. But this behavior was nothing but a triggered sense of taking Eren as her only savior. A host that she must protect like the O.G Hallucigenia who was embedded in Ymir to protect her from her predators.
AOT: Final Chapter, “To You, 2000 Years From Now”!
The title “To You, 2000 Years From Now” seemed like a cool detail for introducing the protagonist Eren. But as years passed, we guessed that it was Eren’s message to Mikasa. It was his memories that reflected the early life of Ymir, the mother of the Titans.
Later it was revealed that the adult Eren orchestrated everything to ensure his younger self would protect child Mikasa. People like Armin, Grisha, Historia, and Eren Kruger were pawns in the grand scheme. Adult Eren only wanted the protection of his friends and most importantly the peace and security for Mikasa.
AOT: Final Chapter, “From You, 2,000 Years Ago”!
The chapter “From You, 2,000 Years Ago“, sheds light on Eren’s feelings for Mikasa. When he inquires what he means to her, she responds saying he is family! It was kinda heartbreaking to see Mikasa not fully confessing her feelings.
This pulled Eren to move forward with his ruthless plan. Many fans believe that if Mikasa had intervened to stop Eren, the Rumbling would have never happened. Eren would have lived the remaining years, before passing the Attack Titan to his friends.
AOT: Final Chapter, “See You Later, Eren”!
It has now been revealed that Eren was not the only architect of his relentless freedom mission. While he certainly had to perform the mass genocide to eliminate the Elidan curse forever. It was Ymir who sought the real freedom.
Ymir decided to cease the creation of Titans after Eren agreed to include Mikasa in his plan. Ymir allowed Eren to be manipulative because she longed to leave this world. She yearned for someone who could understand her pain.
Mikasa was the ideal candidate for Ymir. She is loyal to Eren and loves him. Ymir, on the other hand, loved Fritz, which led to pain and suffering. From there, Ymir decided that Mikasa would be the one to break the Eldian curse. She can break free from the curse of love.
On the other hand, Eren never knew how his life would end, or who would end it. He never knew that the peace that he sought would be given to him by none other than Mikasa. Ymir just wanted Eren to put every piece of the puzzle together to give humanity the chance it deserves.
Our Verdict
There is no doubt that the last episode left us all with watery eyes. The bittersweet feeling of bidding farewell to this gem was as painful as it was satisfying. Isayama did justice to the love story, the characters, and most importantly, to the boy who sought freedom.
The plot twist that the story will keep on repeating itself in a never-ending cycle is the one thing that saddened us. Making the fate of Eremika even more unbearable. Nevertheless, in the love of this epic and timeless tale, we will carry the call of Shinzou wo Sasageyo! in our hearts for years to come.
