There’s nothing more terrifying than living in an anime universe where gnarly creatures run amuck coupled with corruption, war, and the ever-looming fear, especially if it’s Attack on Titan. This iconic dystopian shōnen anime ended in November 2023 with its finale leaving several fans, readers, and viewers shocked and in complete disbelief.
The anime had its fair share of deaths, losses, and shocking revelations, especially Eren’s arc. His journey toward darkness and eventual transformation into the anti-hero was not well-anticipated by readers. The author, Hajime Isayama, however, had a different opinion, pointing out Eren’s possibility of having a rather terrifying alternate ending.
Eren Jaeger’s violent acts in Attack on Titan
Attack on Titan is focused on themes like war, loss, suffering, and power which is established in the first episode. Throughout the series, Eren witnesses innumerable losses including his mother, Marco Bott, and eventually Sasha Blouse. He grapples with his inner conflict and identity as a Titan while trying to save himself and his loved ones in the process.
Apart from witnessing the deaths of his close friends and his mother, the betrayal from his comrades Reiner, Bertholdt and Annie triggered the trajectory of Eren’s journey as an antagonist that eventually pushed him into the dark abyss.
In addition to that, the origin of Titans along with Eldia’s involvement in war crimes and genocide was all the more reason and breaking point of Eren’s sanity which pushed him to an extent where he had an utter disregard for human life. However, these reasons won’t prevent him from his rotten end.
Eren’s descent into darkness in Attack on Titan
Hajime Isayama initially created Eren Jaeger as a boy witnessing innumerable tragic, traumatic, and horrifying events that eventually garnered sympathy for the protagonist, however, the controversy surrounding the series’ ending almost brought him to tears. To say the least, the protagonist’s transformation into an anti-hero was the last straw.
From “accidentally” destroying an Eldian family to unleashing havoc in Marley during the Liberio festival, Eren Jaeger has more to account for. To add to that, his initiating The Rumbling goes on to prove his potential as a notorious and menacing villain. Not to mention, he almost wiped out 80% of the population in the anime which further makes him the biggest possible threat to humanity in the series.
Furthermore, he has more to atone for, apart from claiming several lives that included unarmed innocent civilians and common folk who didn’t contribute to the war in any case. Hajime Isayama revealed in an interview with Crunchyroll why Eren wouldn’t survive even if there was an alternate ending. He quotes :
I think Eren would have had a rotten life. He would have an unfulfilling life, to be honest. And being inside of Paradis, he probably would have continued to be oppressed and possibly just extinct without anything he could do about it. Or he might have lived without knowing that his end was coming soon. He might have just continued to live the 13 years time limit.
In conclusion, his alternate ending would have him grappling with the constant fear of being surrounded by war, corruption, hunger, and poverty as well as Titans. Besides, he might die protecting his comrades or be devoured by a Titan as a powerless character in the series. All in all, his alternate ending would certainly be a horrifying one.
Attack on Titan is available for streaming on Crunchyroll.
