For me, the frustrating thing about Attack on Titan is that it never seems to let me enjoy it in peace.  Even as elements of the story suck me in it whacks me over the head with something incredibly annoying – Kaji Yuuki screaming, Kaji Yuuki trying to be brooding, Isayama’s naked nationalism, his misguided historical allegories, anything Gabi.  I know that will never change at this point and it’s silly to hope that it will, but hope is a persistent and annoying thing that’s not easy to let go of.

The curiosity factor is, however, real.  I’m morbidly fascinated in seeing where Isayama takes all this world-building, and with four seasons invested in the plot and (a few of) the characters, where both end up.  I thought the bit with Eren and Falco was rather well-done, and I had the exact reaction Eren’s grandfather (yes, that happened) did.  Whatever else you think of Eren, for him to so obviously put a trusting child at grave risk is chillingly callous and self-serving.

Jeager-san (if he has a first name I’m not aware of it being revealed) rightfully scolds Eren over this while presumably having no idea who it is he’s speaking to.  Eren almost certainly does know who he’s speaking to (especially after the old doctor reveals his name), but keeps his poker face just the same.  Eventually the old man breaks down when talking about his family and the staff come and drag him away, but events later in the episode show that his warning to Eren pretty much fell on deaf ears.

Meanwhile the Tybur family arrives on the scene.  The current head of the family – and thus the de facto power in Marley – is Willy, and he’s played by the great Kazuhiko Inoue, no less.  He adds a welcome gravitas to the narrative, and it’s clear that Willy is determined to shake things up in Marley in a way no one in his family has before.  Willy is an interesting character but his perspective and background drags the story into uncomfortable territory yet again, and as he (presumably) grows in narrative prominence I fear that could get a lot worse.

Meanwhile Eren uses Falco as his tool once more, this time inviting Reiner to a secret meeting to reveal his true identity.  The fact that Eren would willingly choose to do this indicates that their meeting is likely to drive the story forward, possibly rather dramatically.  Given the extensive history between these two just what this meeting produces seems pretty unpredictable, but the status quo obviously can’t continue now, so the only thing that’s certain is that change is coming.