It makes me sad that many people are reluctant to see Historia as a lesbian and that she returns Ymir’s love😥 If Ymir were a boy, I bet this wouldn’t be the case, since Hisu boldly says things like “As long as I’m with you I’m not afraid” and has a breakdown when Ymir leaves. It’s weird how just a few years ago, most accepted them as THE canon couple of snk but nowadays there’s more dissent. Anyway, I’m really glad to find a great writer like you who understands their relationship so well 💖

Well, we don’t know she’s a lesbian! She could very well be bisexual. (Ymir, on the other hand, bluntly agreed she had no interest in men, so I think it’s safe to say she’s a lesbian.) That being said, Historia also has not explicitly canonically shown interest in a man, so she might well be a lesbian.

But yeah, Yumihisu is canon. It’s like denying that Ash and Eiji in Banana Fish have romantic feelings for each other–they certainly love each other in a way that is almost spiritual, in a sense, and their love has many facets, but Historia and Ymir, like Ash and Eiji, absolutely have a romantic component to their relationship. To say otherwise is to misread the text. Historia and Ymir never kissed that we saw, but she thinks of Ymir whenever she needs inspiration to keep living (like in the cave). In contrast her current relationship with Farmer-kun is like… miserable. She’s miserable. Historia can of course move on and find someone and be happy, that’d be beautiful too and I don’t fault people who want this, but Yumihisu was definitely a thing.

But Ymir has been out of the plot so long, it’s understandable there isn’t much content right now. I really hope Ymir’s memories via Porco play a role in jump-starting Historia’s positive development again.

Thank you so much for talk so good about Ymir is been time since I read good things about her

I’m always up for making posts stanning the queen’s Queen.

Why I have the feel that people never like Ymir how a character and people only like her for the ship? I have the same feel with Historia,sometimes I think that people only cares for the ship and is good but would be good care in the same way for the character too.

I actually never once had this impression–the opposite. I think Historia is excellently written as a character, as is Ymir–until her death ~~which I still think was poorly written.~~

Both of them have arcs about learning to do what they want to do, instead of being codependent–aka unhealthily obsessed with proving their worth through serving others at the expense of themselves, because they don’t believe they will ever be loved. They are foils. Historia I believe will overcome this flaw (and made tremendous progress in the uprising arc), whereas Ymir tragically did not (a character does not have to overcome their flaws to be well done).

However, it’s also true that the most important character in Ymir’s arc is Historia, and the most important character in Historia’s arc is Ymir and has always and will probably always be Ymir. There is nothing wrong with that. Mikasa’s primary relationship is with Eren, and Gabi and Falco’s with each other as well. That doesn’t mean no other characters or nothing else in their arcs matter, but it does mean that their relationship is vital to their development. It’s not forced or just in there as fanservice (there’s actually not fanservice/ sexualization of Ymir and Historia); it’s natural and shows how Ymir loves Historia because she sees herself in her, and believes she’s a person who deserves to be loved. And Historia sees this in her relationship with Ymir, because she knows Ymir did love her. It’s thematic, tying into many of the story’s themes about self-worth and abuse done to children and second chances and hope, even in the middle of the worst circumstances imaginable.

Ymir’s death was sad, but she still got that second chance at life and through her, even though she’s dead, I do believe Historia will get her second chance (and therefore be a great mom to her baby) as well.

If people talk about the ship a lot, it’s because there is a lot packed into that ship. Despite its ending, it’s how I believe an excellent romance can be incorporated into the main plot and only add to the story’s quality as a whole. And because of its plot importance and thematic importance and character growth imporance, it is really excellent lesbian representation which like, is sorely lacking in general media.

I think it’s annoying how Erwin and Bertholdt don’t get a fraction of post mortem treatment like Sasha. I have such rotten luck with characters. Bertholdt, one of the most tragic characters ever, has almost no one who cares for him alive to mourn him. His father is dead, Ymir is dead and we’ll probably never get Reiner mourning him. I just want to see someone cares that he is dead, is that too much to ask?

I mean… yeah. I agree. Those three deaths–Erwin’s, Bertolt’s, and Ymir’s–I think have a lack of closure. I think Erwin’s death was at the very least satisfying in terms of his arc closing, but Bertolt’s wasn’t even that. But Erwin was still such an important character that the info dumps & timeskips directly following it are kind of poorly placed in terms of pacing. I do think we will get some kind of reflection on Erwin, especially as Levi takes focus again (and he almost certainly will). I hope Bertolt gets more of a reflection as well; he and Reiner were so close. And Ymir, obviously, with Porco and Historia.

5 Favs snk girls and why please

1) Historia Reiss. Her arc means so much to me. Her martyr complex, her lack of self-worth, her suicidal tendencies are all highly relatable. The scene in the cave is still one of my favorites, and I am deeply invested in her arc and how it turns out. Her relationship with Ymir is also one of the best lesbian representation examples I can think of.

2) Annie Leonhart. I love her kind heart masked by a life that hasn’t allowed her to be kind at all. She isolates herself, but she also reaches out and helps Eren train, saves Connie, protects Armin, etc. She cares deeply about people but has never been allowed to show it.

3) Mikasa Ackerman. Her arc is really lovely, and I’m looking forward to what seems to be set up for more Mikasa focus. Her comforting Gabi and saving her is exactly what she needs to be doing to overcome her flaw of clinging too hard to Eren.

4) Gabi Braun. I know the fandom hates her but in terms of pacing and overall direction, I genuinely think her arc is one of the best written ones in the entire story. She’s getting redemption right now I think. I love that she’s facing consequences for what she’s done to Sasha, but she’s also a child.

5) Ymir. Her story was so beautiful and her relationship with Historia inspiring. Her death still leaves me grumpy, but I do think that her memories will come into play for Historia’s sake via Porco.

Also, shoutout to Sasha. She’s amazing.

casanovakevin:

step on me please

Could you rank all the titan shifters (as in the humans themselves) in order of how much you like them and why? Including both current ones and predecessors. (I guess except for shifters like the 1st king and Miss Tybur because they aren’t developed characters just parts of the plot)

1) Armin Arlert. He’s my favorite character because of his complexity and relatability, and I love how his flaws are still present, and how he’s basically a covert hero for the entire story. His flaws are that he underestimates himself and has major insecurity and a lack of self-worth, as shown in his heroic sacrifice. He really doesn’t value himself completely because, like Erwin, a foil of him, he values ideas over individuals in some ways–however, he still struggles to reconcile that with a very real and very present compassionate side, as shown in how he understands that empathy and talking to Marlay is the best way forward, not bam bam kill them.

2) Eren Jaeger. He’s such a unique protagonist, and despite his anger issues and the things he’s doing now, he’s compelling, sympathetic even if you can’t excuse his actions, and just really intriguing. I think Eren’s current spiral is completely understandable but also not excusable, obviously, and I love his foiling with Mikasa, Armin, and Hisoria. He’s desperate and scared, and he’s a child who was forced to grow up too fast and now he’s an adult who is repeating the same mistakes adults made with him. It’s tragic to the core.

3) Annie Leonhart. I love Annie and if she doesn’t come back to the plot soon I’mma cry. I love her contrast with Mikasa, Eren, and Armin–all of them really–and how she really, really wanted to be a kind person and wanted to save individuals (like how she saved Armin during the Female Titan Arc) and get back to her father even though he was abusive because at least he loved her. Despite her cold personality, she wanted to be liked and loved, and I really want her to have that chance for however brief a time.

4) Ymir. I love Ymir and her relationship with Historia, and I’m still bitter about her ending lol. But her compassion and the way in which she foils Historia is excellent, and I do not believe her role is over in the story just yet even if she is dead.

5) Reiner Braun. Reiner’s development over the Marlay Arc has been amazing. I always liked him but this really made him grow in my eyes. I desperately want him to have the chance to redeem himself by saving Gabi and Falco–which does not mean letting either of them take over his titan.

6) Bertolt Hoover. I loved Bertolt. I really do still love him, and I think his ending should have been better written in terms of what it meant for his character because I think the ball got dropped a bit there. His “Somebody” speech from the Clash of the Titans Arc is exactly why that arc is my favorite arc, and that speech moves me to tears with how visceral and raw the emotions are every single time I read it. He just wanted somebody to find them and see them and save them. And, no one did for him.

7) Zeke Jaeger. I actually don’t like Zeke but I think he is a fascinating, compelling character and a fantastic villain (yes, I do think he is the final antagonist). He foils Levi in that he and Levi are both mentor figures for Eren. I don’t believe his “I was always on Paradis’s side!” spiel at all, but I do utterly sympathize with the role his father forced on him.

8) Pieck. She’s just cool, man. And I’m terrified for her.

10) Porco. I actually quite like Porco, though he’s kind of a brat. But I think he made the exact same mistake he accused Reiner of making during the most recent battle and messed things up for everyone, and I hope that jumpstarts some development for him.

11) Eren Kruger. Again, I quite like him, but he was only around for a few chapters. I am curious if we will access his memories again as well.

12) Grisha Jaeger. Grisha, you are a bad dad. I know he tried to do better and largely did with Eren, but he still cursed his kid and I just. I have a hard time with that. And poor Zeke.

Oh, I’m counting Marcel with Lady Tybur. They’re cool but just kinda there.

aindart:

Hello! I share this series of paintings of some of the female characters of SNK, Disney style.
Personally, I do not usually identify with Disney stories, however, I can not deny that in terms of animation, character design, backgrounds, etc. are geniuses! and then, this idea came to me 🤔
I hope you like it.







"The queen and the anti-princesses"
Acrylic on spun paper.

❤💪

Mikasa’s Arc is Fantastic

While I get that Mikasa’s arc is very different than most female characters’ arcs, I honestly feel sad when people reduce her arc to not having developed (she’s developed as much as Armin has; they’re both still clinging to their flaws but are starting to see that they’ll have to overcome them–Armin’s flaw is not fear of battle, for the record: it’s self-hatred and a lack of confidence in his decisions, which sacrificing himself for everyone didn’t exactly fix).

But onto Mikasa’s arc. I have a bit of a pet peeve about this notion that Mikasa loves Eren out of an “Ackerbond” (which Isayama has said doesn’t exist) rather than out of a complex character trait that is both a flaw and strength. Way to diminish a female character’s choices and character arc, fandom.

Sorry, I needed to salt a little. Back to the main point. Mikasa is not fighting against a random worldbuilding element. She’s fighting against choices inflicted on her by an early childhood trauma, and her arc is deliberately set up to parallel Armin’s and Eren’s. All of the main three’s arcs are about expanding their ideals to include a complex world, not just Mikasa’s. Mikasa’s arc is literally about learning that there is more to her world than just Eren. It’s not about realizing her love for Eren is wrong (though again, I expect Eren to die 100% and Mikasa 100% to survive so I’m not expecting a happy ending for Eremika) but realizing that there is more to her world that is beautiful than just Eren. It’s about seeing cruelty and beauty coexisting, gray instead of just black and white.

Mikasa’s love for Eren is just this: beautiful and yet a flaw. She reached this realization, and then regressed. Because it’s almost as if regression in an arc is also a motif in SnK (cough Historia cough).

In some ways Mikasa’s role is literally a deconstruction of the stereotype that a female deuteragonist love interest will be able to save the main male character (please can this misogynistic trope disguised as female empowerment die). That’s pretty damn feminist imo. In fact, Isayama shows that he understands that romantic love in general cannot save you, though it can help you save yourself, even more with how Ymir cannot save Historia yet her influence can inspire Historia (and I expect it to again thanks to Porco’s memories).

Like Ymir couldn’t save Historia by encouraging her to live her life for herself but sacrificing her own life for Historia, and like Mikasa can’t save Eren by being his sword, Falco can’t save Gabi by being stronger than she is, because even if nothing had happened and they had stayed in Marlay, Gabi’s personality is such that she will do what she wants to do, and Falco is constantly chasing her and trying to rescue her from herself like Mikasa is trying to rescue Eren from himself. Gabi is the only one who can save Gabi from herself. The story can’t make that clearer.

Historia is the only one who can save Historia, and Eren is the only one who can save Eren. Mikasa is starting to realize that, but it’s slow.

Someday I will write a full fledged meta on how Yumikuri and Eremika parallel each other and both reinforce this theme, and Galco as well (since it’s the only one of these three I expect to have a happy ending) but for now have my rant since I’m grumpy after seeing complaints about Mikasa everywhere after each episode and seeing no one saying the same thing about Ymir or about Falco when they have such deliberately parallel flaws.

**To clarify since I got a message about it, this meta is not about a specific post at all! Just the general way the fandom seems to read Mikasa. Most meta writers give her a great analysis and I didn’t mean to imply otherwise**