Attack On Titan Season 1 Episode 20 Recap – Erwin Smith: The 57th Exterior Scouting Mission, Part 4

Reason for Secrecy

Oruo tells Eren to stop overthinking as they need to get further ahead. Levi prepares to cut the human from the titan off despite her hand covering her nape, but Erwin stops him and calls for another barrage of fire from his squad.

Christa and the others worry that the titans are starting to climb the trees, but their leaders expect a withdrawal order soon. None of them know what the explosions at the center are all about, and Reiner wonders how they brought cannons to this place.

Jean and Armin move away to escape the titan who’s trying to climb after them. Jean finally figures out that they moved to the forest to lure the female titan in and capture her. More specifically, the human controlling her inside.

Eren questions why this has been kept from them, as even the veterans don’t know about it. Oruo and Petra reprimand him for suggesting that leadership don’t trust them, but Eld thinks he has a point. The reason for secrecy could mean that there’s a spy that has invaded within their ranks.

Armin, on the other side of the forest, arrives at the same conclusion as well.

Eld assumes only the highest in their ranks were told of the situation, as they were already members before the attack five years ago. In that case, it couldn’t be helped. These are probably the same ones who killed the test subject titans, and that was why Erwin approached Eren that one time. Oruo feigns that he also knows the secret, but Petra knows he’s lying and is trying to imitate Levi again.

Answers

It dawns on Eren that they may uncover the secrets of their enemy using the titan, but many of their men have died already. Eld asks him if he thinks the commander was wrong in his judgment.

Armin realizes that this gambit was necessary despite the many casualties. The commander chose to throw away a hundred lives to save more. Armin explains that to create change, people should make sacrifices, no matter how harsh they seem.

Eld tells Eren that the Scout Regiment chose Commander Erwin as humanity’s hope. Even Captain Levi trusts him completely.

Levi and Miche finally attempt to break the female titan, but it manages to harden the hands covering its nape. Erwin commands them to send a barrage to its wrists in response. Levi tells the titan that he relishes having her trapped and asks if he should cut her limbs first.

This causes her to screech, sending titans from all over to rush into the center. Mikasa and the others rush in to help, and Sasha warns her that it sounds like a scream of a cornered animal fighting for its life. They should be careful.

Counterattack

Erwin calls his artillery to prepare while a support team fights the incoming wave of titans. Despite the scouts’ best efforts to stop them, the titans manage to surround the female titan and devour her.

Sensing defeat, Erwin calls for a retreat. He didn’t expect the enemy was willing to risk being eaten in defense of its secrets. Before leaving, Erwin tells Levi to restock his gas and blades. They send out a blue signal to everyone.

Levi’s squad and the others prepare to retreat, excited to see their captive’s face. Petra thanks Eren for trusting them and making the right call, while Oruo insists he was acting like a brat and should know his place.

Suddenly, a green flare shoots from an unknown spot, leading Gunther and the others to follow. This puts them in a dangerous spot, as the enemy attacks Gunther and his squad with their ODM gear. Just as Erwin suspected, the enemy is among them.

Our Thoughts

The mystery is killing me, and I can’t stop watching. Rating: 4.2/5