Attack on Titan Season 1 Episode 23 Recap – Smile: Raid on Stohess District, Part 1

Military Police

Annie remembers training with her father when she was younger. She wakes up the last of their group on the day Eren will be presented to the capital.

Annie’s antisocial attitude garners looks and jests from his colleagues. One of them defends her, saying she’s seen some real action back at Trost. Their superior briefs them on the day’s operation, where they must escort the Scout Regiment as they pass the streets. The Walls protecting the Royal Government don’t have any direct threats, so the Military Police rookies are curious why much security is necessary.

The officer waves the question off and sends the dirty work to Marlo while he relaxes in another room. Hitch complains about the blatant corruption in the Military Police but also notes it’s her reason for joining. Marlo claims he joined the force to fix its corruption from the inside. Annie challenges him, citing that those outside the flow cause trouble for the rest of the group.

Marlo brushes her off and calls for everyone to stand in position. Outside, they pass by a group of soldiers illegally selling military equipment to merchants. Marlo confronts them for breaking the law, but the officers laugh at his face and hand him a coin.

Marlo insists on arresting them but instead receives a beating from the officers. Annie stops the officers while Hitch apologizes and warns them that civilian witnesses are nearby. Marlo, in his frustration, reaches for his rifle. Annie challenges him to do it if he must, but she won’t help him. Marlo asks her if the guy he knew would have done it. She admits he might.

A Call for Help

Armin calls out to Annie from one of the alleyways after finishing her job. He’s wearing ODM gear on top of his rain gear and asks for her help to let Eren escape. They must buy time for the Scout Regiment to secure Eren‘s escape from his death sentence. Annie apologizes and refuses, but Armin begs her again, as she’s their only hope.

Annie asks her if he finds her a good person. Armin says she’ll look like a bad person to him if she refuses, so she puts down her rifle and finally agrees.

Annie leads Mikasa, Armin, and Eren through the streets, donning their rain gear, while Jean acts as Eren’s decoy at his carriage. Annie questions their escape plans as too many obstacles are on their way. Armin reasons that the diversion and relaxed security within the walls could be enough. He finds their escape route — a set of stairs leading towards an underground city that should lead to the outer gate.

Suspicions

Armin goes first, followed by Mikasa and Eren, but Annie refuses to join them. Eren tells her to come, saying she shouldn’t be afraid of the dark. Annie says she’s not a brave suicidal maniac like him. He won’t understand what a damsel like her could feel.

Eren says she can flip a grown man upside down and is nowhere near a damsel, but Annie insists she won’t help unless they stay above ground. Eren yells at her not to fool around, but Annie has already suspected them after finding the whole area deserted.

She asks Armin how she was found out. Armin admits ever since she used Marco’s ODM gear. He asks why she didn’t kill him then. Annie wonders herself and laughs as Mikasa unsheathes her blades.

Using the ring in her thumb, Annie transforms into a Female Titan.

Our Thoughts

The clues were there all along, flying above my head. Rating: 4.2/5.