When Reiner told Gabi and the rest of his family about the 104th, he described Mikasa as someone who’s blindly loyal to Eren: a boy “whose head is filled only with revenge.”
He didn’t refer to Mikasa (or Eren) by name, and I doubt Gabi knows the name of the solider who saved her anyway, but I find it rather poignant that Gabi was first “introduced” to Mikasa as someone who’s blindly loyal to a child’s need for revenge no matter what. Given the chance to prove Reiner’s words true, Mikasa instead saves Gabi, of all people, from a child’s revenge—instinctively, immediately, and without hesitation.
Okay but can we all give a huge round of applause for Sashas parents for not succumbing to revenge and taking their anger out on Gabi. Here we have them face to face with the person who killed their daughter and have every right to feel bitterness and hatred towards her.
And what do they do?
They take responsibility for how screwed up their world is by admitting that the faults and tragedies that continue to repeat themselves time and time again, is because Adults have continuously sent children to hell without taking any responsibility for themselves. Something we’ve seen plenty of with characters like, Annie, Eren, Reiner, so much tragedy and pain experienced by children when they shouldn’t have to go through that in the first place.
Here, in a world where we see plenty of hatred, violence and rage. They choose kindness. They choose mercy. A shining example that there is still good in humanity, even when things get bad.
midnight-in-town 