Sure, you learn that proper. I really imagine Yelena is an important character of season 4 in Assault on Titan, and that’s not simply because I really like her. Her sarcasm, wit, and intelligence are solely the floor as to why she’s essential. Whether or not you like her or hate her, I’m right here to undergo all of the the explanation why she is totally underrated and why she is an important character to the plot.
It goes with out saying that there will likely be spoilers for just about your entire Assault on Titan plot. Learn at your personal danger! Earlier than we get into it, do you know the Assault on Titan Homicide Thriller Recreation Has Been Introduced? It’s very thrilling!
On the time of penning this, it’s the twenty first of January, 2026. Joyful birthday, Yelena
She Lied… So?
Okay, I do know the heading is a stretch, because the lies she instructed had been large ones. However hear me out for a second.
When everybody sits across the campfire consuming Hange’s stew (which regarded yummy), we discover out that she lied about who she is and the place she got here from, and that she is definitely from Marley. She explains that she wished to be seen as a hero who may save the world… and who wouldn’t?
Though mendacity about her background, it’s honest to provide her the good thing about the doubt. She initially comes from a rustic crammed with warfare. After assembly Zeke, whom she views as a ‘God’, she lastly had the motivation to need to make a distinction and a change to the world. She actually wished to assist the Eldian folks. Whereas euthanising them into extinction isn’t one of the best ways to go, she discovered that means and a will to go on within the circumstances she was given.
When she arrived at Paradis with the opposite volunteers, she sat with Hange and Levi and defined the scenario and why Marley launched the entire Pure Titans. She goes on to speak in regards to the technological developments Marley has made, and that Eldia is years behind.
We all know she and the opposite volunteers spent years on the island serving to the Eldians. From constructing prepare tracks to even getting them new weapons. Yelena solely desires to assist folks, and I imagine that her seeing Zeke as a God, all she wished was to have the identical influence on the Eldians and be a hero.
The Marlyean Mikasa
Like Mikasa, Yelena is totally dedicated to Zeke… one other Jaeger. Mikasa has all the time been beside Eren and has supported him, and Yelena is similar with Zeke. Mikasa does finally go in opposition to Eren to cease the Rumbling, and Yelena does do one thing related with Zeke.
By the top, Yelena is conscious that Zeke is manipulating her. With Yelena’s plan gone down the drain, each the Jaeger brothers ignoring her, she’s confronted with remorse and nothing else to struggle for. Which leads me to…
The Redemption Arc
Numerous the characters change all through the present. For instance, Gabi realises that ‘There have been by no means any devils on the island, solely folks’. Additionally, Jean steps up as an enormous important character in direction of the top of season 4. I may write an entire characteristic on him as a personality and the way Marco enormously influenced him to turn into the hero he didn’t know he could possibly be. However, I’ll save that for an additional time.
Yelena is similar, and you could not realise it at first. Because the Rumbling begins and all the things goes downhill, she realises her plan is ruined. She modifies as a personality, and her snarky and assured manner is not any extra. Personally, I first seen this when she referred to as out to Eren to cease proper earlier than he went in opposition to Reiner. He ignored her, and continued.
From this second, she turns quiet, and her willpower for the euthanasia plan disappears. She has no struggle left in her and even tells Floch to ‘simply get it over with’ whereas he holds a gun to her head… Which says sufficient.
She additionally lastly provides the Survey Corps the knowledge they had been asking her about, the place Eren is heading with the Rumbling, which is data she refused to provide for many of the present.
One of many closing scenes reveals her and Onyankapon in Marley, cleansing up the destruction the Rumbling had brought on. Should you look intently, you’ll see she’s even crying earlier than she turns round to talk to him.
Together with her lastly serving to the Survey Corps and sure residing with the guilt of her plan, I really imagine she feels remorse. That is why she stayed in Marley to assist with the aftermath of what the Rumbling did.
