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AOT Theories Part 3
🕑 Added 2025-01-13 10:07:45 +0000 UTCI’ve been thinking a lot about this show and I’m just info dumping things here in an attempt to make sense of it all or keep track because it’s a lot!
Some of these things have come to me after editing my videos and picked up on little stuff that I missed on the initial watch.
Castle Utgard is on the edge of Wall Rose leading into Wall Maria. We know that the expanse of these walls is MASSIVE so territory that stretches far beyond the imagination. In Castle Utgard, there are items that are luxurious but also reminiscent of another time and place. Ymir picks up a can that she can read that Reiner can’t BUT the can is also of a herring which is a salt-water fish. There’s no salt water in close proximity meaning that at some point in time, before the existence of these walls, there was trade, or people would travel to an ocean to fish.
Based on 3 x 1 – we know there’s an ocean not far away because we see what looks like an older Eren and gulls in the background along with the sound of waves swilling. He’s at an ocean. The infographic mentions that not much is known about Ymir’s town, but it was beyond the walls. We know there is a wall though in Ymir’s town suggesting that the town itself was fortified.
What this implies to me is that the area encompassed within the walls was once separate territories that ruled themselves, had their own language, their own trade but functioned as independent or were principalities. Ymir is not the first Ymir. There is someone that came before her that is the original Ymir and is a revered figure. The line ‘blessed with immortality’ I think does not mean they’ll be granted immortality through worshipping Ymir but recognise Ymir as having the ability to shift between human and titan form thus blessing her with presumed ‘immortality’ – this is 60 years ago.
When Ymir is ‘executed’ she’s not stabbed like I thought. It looks like she’s injected in the same way Eren was by Grisha. This traps her body in the Titan form which explains WHY she looks so different to the likes of Reiner, Annie, and Bertholdt. That to me seems like someone has created the means to turn people into Titans as a punishment for going against the established order either by worshipping a figure that’s been condemned OR a prior monarchy since we now know that Reiss are the true royal family. They also aren’t able to shift back – this appears to be a unique quality available to a certain race of people? Ymir only gained that ability through eating Marcel. She even says she’ll be eaten by the ‘Warriors’ as punishment for stealing that ability. Does this mean that they can also weaponise this ability of being unable to shift by turning regular people into Titans to act as a makeshift army for their own design? Because it’s implied that’s what happened with Connie’s village. That people are being forced to transform against their will but have no way of turning back. They become trapped in their bodies and lost to that Titan urge and lack of control.
Are the people that barged in and targeted Ymir and her followers before trapping them in Titan bodies as ‘punishment’ are from the same place as Reiner, Annie, and Bertholdt? Is the practice an old practice that was condemned and disallowed so as a result all those following this old belief system were cast out and punished. That’s why Ymir is so worried about being eaten because she not only stole the power but is seen as a ‘criminal’ in the eyes of their people. It could be that it’s sacrilegious rather than treasonous? Impersonating a revered figure that they admire and look up to? But again, it begs the question of how Grisha knows to use this injection material. It must be something known to both sides, or Grisha originates from the area that Reiner, Bertholdt, and Annie are from and has honed this ability.
Has King Fritz’s family over the centuries waged war and conquered other territories to establish themselves as rulers? But that still does not fully explain the walls unless they coerced people with the ability to shift into believing that it was for a greater cause and a noble duty to protect the people within, and its conquered territory from the perceived threat that is Titan Shifters who were perhaps a disenfranchised group of people that opposed being colonised and subsumed into the monarchy that was established. Perhaps the narrative of Titans as evil was created in an attempt to unite the conquered humans so they would not rebel or create an uprising against their colonisers (The Fritz Royal Family) – it becomes a form of subjugation hence the desire to hide the fact that there is a connection between humanity and Titan shifters e.g. the walls. Humanity has a common enemy that unites people and leads to them not questioning what goes on outside due to fear. It keeps people in line. Whilst hiding the truth allows for the Fritz Royal Family to perpetuate their control and keep their people trapped within the walls as ‘protection’ whereas to Reiner’s people it appears to be nothing more than a cage?
We know that Reiss is the true royal family. It implies that the Fritz family took the throne by force and relegated Reiss to a mere ‘noble’ position. What if part of the attack on humanity waged by Titan Shifters is to re-establish the rightful ruler that had more sympathetic views towards those that have the ability to shift. I’m leaning into becoming a Titan is a biological weapon used as both a form of punishment against those who disobey and soon became a means of defiance in that people were able to harness the ability to weaponize it. Mostly because ‘being hated for being born’ that we see Annie and Ymir refer to could be less to do with the Titan part and more to do with being from a different race of people that were seen as ‘lesser’ and ‘demeaned’ by a group who viewed themselves superior. Perhaps the idea of superiority comes down to this link to Ymir and the Blood of the King. I initially thought that Historia was the blood of the King, and she still could be but what if there was a schism? Ymir seems to be the founding figure and maybe she was the original monarch or was upheld to be because she had the ability to shift that was unfathomable at the time. She could be revered because she has an ability that no one else has. Then from there could the blood of the King be her descendants which include Rose, Maria, and Sina?
Could the lineage at some point have split into rival factions vying for the throne – between Fritz and Reiss but Fritz was more successful. Then the Fritz family establish this idea that their Kingdom and the people that originate there have superiority over that of others, that they are the ‘blood of the King’ and therefore everyone outside of that is condemned as lesser and unworthy leading to colonisation and/or a genocide committed against anyone viewed as not belonging to their race. Then could Ymir and her worship of the blood of the King be reference to the opposing lineage and that’s why she was punished? Or could it be because they’re worshipping the true origin and history and have to be executed as a result because this is not the image that the Fritz Royal Family wish to present.
We know that they are hiding the truth. We know that they have no intention of letting the common people know the truth. They are concealing something in relation to the walls that Historia and her family know. Reiner’s people are searching for something which seems to be an object. Could that be connected to the basement? Ymir’s punishment then could be a combination of refusing to buy into the state narrative that was being perpetrated at the time and were secretly worshipping the origins or foundation of the world as they know it – perhaps they are a recently conquered territory. I keep flipping between this idea that the soldiers arresting Ymir are either Reiner’s people or humanity’s attempt to perpetuate the narrative that that Fritz Royal Family have no connection to Titans or Titan Shifters due to being disgusted by such an ability? Like an internalised self-hatred. It does seem like perhaps that Ymir originates close to Castle Utgard or nearby.
I have no clue anymore. My mind is genuinely spinning.
Long story short:
There were numerous towns that were free during Ymir’s lifespan. They were conquered at some point and trapped within the walls. Fritz Royal Family are hiding the truth because humanity needs to be bonded together for a common goal to prevent rebelling and uprising against a colonial force. We know that other towns had other languages and trade systems. Becoming a Titan, I’m beginning to believe is a biological weapon because without the ability to shift back you are trapped within that body unable to fully communicate and perhaps unable to rebel by spreading the ‘truth’. Yet, we also see this biological weapon being used to create armies that can be controlled and directed by the Beast Titan implying that this knowledge is not new or is available to both warring factions.
In order to hide the truth and perhaps their connection to the Titans, the Fritz Royal Family erase the history and perpetuate the idea that they are of superior origin to those who can shift or have links to Titans and use this as a justification to cleanse anyone they believe to be lesser hence the whole idea of being ‘hated from birth’ implying that it’s less to do with Titans and more so to do with race and culture with this branch of humanity seeing themselves as superior to others. Reiner, Bertholdt, and Annie must be people but a different race of people that have been at war with humanity for centuries, targeted because of the Fritz family wanting to hide the truth of their own origin. Like a perpetuated self-hatred.
The walls and the people within are colonised over time and previously existed as independent territories. We know that Titans randomly appeared 100 years ago. This appears to be because they are forcing people to unify behind a common enemy to maintain control and prevent questions emerging as to what Titans are or how they came to be or knowing that the King’s family have ties. Reiss family are the true monarchy and were usurped by Fritz and their claim to superiority.
Also did Eren eat his dad?! It’s hit me that we’ve not seen anything of Grisha since S1. We know that Eren has ate someone before and doesn’t remember it. He never talks about his dad at all which I find very strange. Maybe he doesn’t talk about his dad because he doesn’t feel like his dad is missing because he’s a ‘part of him’ and his memories serve as a guide? Honestly don’t know but wouldn’t be shocked at this point in time if that was the case.
This whole show has me baffled and confused.
Comments
Sophie Anders
Still early into S3 but there's so much information being thrown at me 😂
Nick
I very eagerly await your reaction to the rest of the show. I'm very interested to see how your theories evolve as more is revealed, especially as we transition to the (by episode count) second half of the show.
Eleonora Frizorger
I will not let you know if you are right or wrong but I should say that I am impressed yet again 💖
Sophie Anders
Aw Hann I am so honoured! Thank you!! Yes - I never make theories unless there's some evidence that I can use to back up my point! Of course, at this point I am still no closer to fully knowing what is going on BUT I am hoping to have an 'AH HAH' moment at some point where something is said or pointed out that causes everything from S1 and S2 to just click into place in my head. But hard to do at the moment as I know the information is there but I just don't have the right thread to bind it altogether! Which I love but omg it's so frustrating too because I am dying to know the truth of it all!! It's such a shame that people take a show like AOT and see it in terms of black / white when it is so incredibly complex! They are kids growing up within conflict and have no knowledge of another way of existing so of course cycles of violence are going to be replicated and repeated. I think a lot of my sympathy comes from my PhD being engaged with the Troubles so Northern Irish Civil Conflict between 1968 and 1998, and I focus a lot on children and how they are socialised into ethnonationalist hatred and violence because of their environment. I can see a lot of that replicated in AOT so far and that gets me so excited!
Hann
New subscriber here! I just binged everything on YouTube and came straight to patreon. I simply couldn’t wait! I am actually so impressed by your theories and the content you are putting out in general. I watched AOT when I was a teenager and looking back I definitely missed a lot of the more mature themes, so its amazing to go through it again with someone who can really understand what the story is getting at and express their takes in such eloquent ways. I had so much fun reading your predictions and I am genuinely impressed by how much you have gotten out of current available information. Your theories are so bold and creative yet actually logical and backed with evidence (I can see the phd in you shining through haha) your brain works in wonderful ways and I love the picture that you’re painting here with your theories. Keep up the great work and I am so excited for you to experience the rest of the series! Also can I just say I love love love how much compassion you have for the cast, like how you were able to empathise with them even when they make seemingly “stupid” decisions, and you remembering all of their names, even the ones that didn’t have as much screen time. One thing that really hit me when I rewatch AOT now that I am slightly older is how young the main cast were. They were kids, they never asked for any of this and it makes me so frustrated when others get mad at them for having emotions and reactions like a normal child would. Yea long comment but I’m so glad I found your channel! <3
Sophie Anders
I've also had another thought process that's similar but switched which I need to write out but along the lines of What if the people that the Fritz's originate from are all Titan Shifters. They colonised the humans around them and established themselves as the leaders, despite the Reiss family being the rightful monarch of the lands they've captured, and built the walls to entrap humanity whilst perpetuating the story that 'titans are the real enemy' because it would prevent humans from rising up and rebelling against their overlords as it would redirect their focus. And because they wanted to assimilate the family re-wrote history to hide their connection to Titan Shifters and possibly Ymir as in my mind she has to the founder of Titan Shifters based on the importance given to her. So the Blood of the King is not necessarily linked to Historia but could just be what the Fritz family, if they descend from Ymir and her lineage, use as a justification for conquering others and taking control. The whole injecting people and turning them into Titans and trapping them into the body as happened with Ymir and the almost cult she was indoctrinated into could be because they know the truth regarding the royal family and their connection, and in trapping them it limits them from being able to speak out and tell others, it gets rid of the threat because humanity sees 'titans' are monsters so will not engage. It's almost like ripping someone's tongue out to hide the truth. BUT it explains why there are Titans in the walls if the Fritz family have connections and are attempting to hide that matter to keep humanity locked within a cage. And if that is the case - if Eren ever learns the truth he is going to be hell bent on destroying anyone affiliated with Fritz in an effort to free humanity. It makes somewhat sense considering Ymir is so adamant that there is no life within the walls and that life outside is better because humanity is being trapped in a cage by a coloniser whose hiding the true lineage of his family to appear human but may very well NOT BE but the rest of humanity has bought this narrative over time and the true history has become lost and concealed through the use of secret police to hide it all. But then I'm not sure how this would tie in with the Beast Titan and Reiner, Bertholdt, and Annie unless it is as simple as the Fritz Royal Family perpetuating discrimination against Titan Shifters to uphold the image of themselves as being detached when in truth they are not. A hypocrisy that the people cast out maybe cannot come to terms with and thus enact revenge on Fritz and the interior as a result, and maybe know the truth of the Reiss family being the true rulers and wish to place Historia on the throne!
Eleonora Frizorger
My goal in life is become as intelligent as you are now 😂 I’m dying to see your reaction to the next episodes 😭 I would not dare to rush you so take your time and take care of yourself too. I really need you alive and well because I wouldn’t be able to live without your amazing content. Sorry for blabbering. I’m losing my marbles over here 😎
Sophie Anders
I actually think I would. Just drawing on my walls!
Wouter
Imagine living in the time where the anime (or even the manga) wasn't finished. Sophie would go crazy...
Anna Kyruin
I love reading these posts from you. You're asking all the right questions, so excited to see you get the answers. I just love how effectively and within such a short time the series goes from "Monster bad!" to "What are the implications and significance of the political hierarchy being upended in the past to the geographical and cultural clues we've been given?". Thanks so much for taking the time to type all this out.
Sophie Anders
Jesus christ!!
Matthew hoholek
Fun fact in you did the math from one side of the outermost wall to the other side the diameter is about the same size as the State of Texas
Hezer
Thank you for the theories, there's some very interesting thoughts here, but we'll have to wait to see them confirmed or denied. Excited to see you learn more as we go along the story.
Sophie Anders
Right?! But yes this show dominates my mind to the point that I'm having dreams about it haha!!
Krul
Thank you so much for sharing your theories with us! I love that you are not just passively following the story, but actively trying to make sense of all the implications of what is happening in the show. It is unfortunate that we still can't say much about your theories, but since you mention it in your post: In your review of season 1 you talked about the "indomitable human spirit" and of how everyone got together to persevere against the titans. I find it very chilling how that same spirit is now being weaponized and used for population control. It is one of the things I love about this show, even in its fantastic setting, it says so much about the nature of humanity and touches on themes that are always so relevant. I sometimes wish everyone would watch this show and learn from it, but the way its ideas can sometimes be misinterpreted is very scary at times.
Sophie Anders
This show is on my brain 24/7!!
Zarayut Ziri
🤤🤤🤤 very enjoy this theory.. and i cant stop smile, about how deep u are about Aot same as me, At my first watch my theory is worst than this one 😭
Sophie Anders
I cannot wait for the AH HAH moment where it all clicks!
Dermos IV.
I love your theories! I've seen a lot of AoT reactions and no one has come up with such complex theories and connected so many dots. (I'm not saying that anything you wrote is right or wrong!)
