Eren, Mikasa, and Armin finally venture into Eren’s basement in Episode 20 of Season 3, titled “That Day.” This pivotal moment marks a significant turning point in Attack on Titan, revealing long-held secrets and fundamentally altering the understanding of the world.
The Significance of the Cellar
The cellar has been a looming mystery since the very beginning of Attack on Titan. It represents the answers to the origins of the Titans, the world outside the walls, and Eren’s father, Grisha Yeager’s, true motivations. For Eren, the cellar holds the key to understanding his past and his purpose in fighting the Titans. For the Survey Corps, it offers hope of a strategy to finally defeat the Titans and secure humanity’s future. The anticipation leading up to this moment is intense, built up across three seasons filled with brutal battles, heartbreaking losses, and tantalizing hints. The actual contents of the cellar prove even more shocking and transformative than viewers could have imagined. It’s not just a room filled with information; it’s the catalyst for a complete shift in perspective for the characters and the audience alike.
Inside the Cellar: Unveiling the Truth
Entering the cellar is a deeply symbolic moment. After years of fighting and struggling, Eren, Mikasa, Armin, and Levi finally descend into the darkness, only to emerge into the light of a truth they could never have foreseen. The expectation is that they will find weapons or blueprints to defeat the Titans. Instead, they discover something far more profound: Grisha Yeager’s journals. These journals meticulously detail Grisha’s life before arriving at the walls, revealing a world beyond the confines of Paradis Island.
The journals contain photographs, a revolutionary technology unseen by the people within the walls. These photographs depict Grisha and his family in Marley, a nation that views Eldians (the ancestors of those within the walls) as devils responsible for historical atrocities. The revelation that humanity exists outside the walls, and that they are the enemy, completely shatters the established narrative. The story is no longer just about survival against mindless monsters; it’s about a complex history of oppression, prejudice, and cycles of violence. This truth changes everything for Eren, driving him down a darker path as he grapples with the implications of his heritage and the true nature of the world.
FAQs: Delving Deeper into the Cellar Revelation
Here are some frequently asked questions regarding Eren’s journey to the cellar and its profound impact:
What specifically is found in Grisha Yeager’s basement?
Grisha Yeager’s basement contains his journals, photographs, and crucial information about the outside world, the history of Eldia and Marley, and the true nature of the Titans. The journals detail his life from childhood in Liberio, his involvement with the Eldian Restorationists, the tragic fate of his sister Faye, and his eventual mission to Paradis Island.
Why was the cellar so heavily guarded and considered so important?
The cellar was significant because Grisha Yeager had injected Eren with the Titan serum and transferred the Founding Titan power to him. Grisha knew the information inside was crucial for Eren to understand his abilities and the true history of the world, allowing him to fulfill his destined role. The Survey Corps also believed it held the key to defeating the Titans.
How did the information from the cellar change Eren’s perspective?
The information in the cellar completely shattered Eren’s understanding of the world. He went from believing he was fighting for humanity’s survival against mindless Titans to realizing that humanity was divided and that he was part of a group persecuted by the rest of the world. This revelation fueled his anger and desire for revenge against Marley.
What impact did the cellar have on the other characters, like Mikasa and Armin?
For Mikasa, the revelations in the cellar confirmed her suspicions that there was more to the world than they knew. For Armin, it provided him with the context to understand the world he had dreamed of seeing since childhood, a world far more complicated and dangerous than he imagined. Both Mikasa and Armin were profoundly affected by the shift in understanding of their place in the world.
How does the cellar connect to the larger narrative of Attack on Titan?
The cellar serves as a pivotal turning point in the narrative. It shifts the focus from simply surviving against the Titans to navigating complex geopolitical conflicts and exploring themes of prejudice, revenge, and the cycle of hatred. The information revealed in the cellar dictates the course of the remaining seasons, driving the characters’ actions and shaping the narrative’s ultimate conclusion.
What role did the photographs play in conveying the truth?
The photographs were crucial because they provided irrefutable visual evidence of the outside world. They proved that humans existed beyond the walls and that the people of Paradis Island were not the last of humanity. The photographs shattered the centuries-old propaganda and forced the characters to confront the reality of their situation.
Why did Grisha Yeager entrust this information to Eren?
Grisha entrusted the information to Eren because he believed that Eren, as the inheritor of the Attack Titan and eventually the Founding Titan, was the only one capable of understanding and using the information to achieve their goals. Grisha hoped that Eren would use the knowledge to either restore Eldia or find a path to peace.
How did the discovery in the cellar affect the Survey Corps’ strategy?
The discovery fundamentally altered the Survey Corps’ strategy. They realized that their enemy was not just the Titans, but the entire world. They began focusing on gathering intelligence about Marley and the other nations, eventually leading to their own invasion of Marley.
What were the immediate consequences of the cellar’s revelations?
The immediate consequences were a period of shock and disbelief, followed by intense debate and strategic planning. The Survey Corps had to re-evaluate their entire worldview and decide how to respond to the new reality. They began preparing for potential conflict with Marley.
Was there anything not revealed in the cellar that became relevant later?
While the cellar revealed significant information, it didn’t offer a complete picture. The nuances of Ymir’s curse, the true motivations behind the King Fritz’s “vow renouncing war”, and the full extent of Eren’s future memories were still mysteries that would be unraveled later. The cellar was a starting point, not the final answer.
What is the significance of the title of the episode, “That Day?”
The title “That Day” refers to multiple significant events throughout the series, most notably the day the Colossal Titan breached Wall Maria and the day Grisha injected Eren with the Titan serum and transferred the Founding Titan. It highlights the cyclical nature of the story and the interconnectedness of these pivotal moments.
How did the anime adaptation handle the cellar reveal compared to the manga?
The anime adaptation faithfully adapted the manga’s depiction of the cellar reveal, maintaining the emotional impact and the shocking nature of the revelations. The visual presentation of the photographs and the reactions of the characters were particularly well-executed, enhancing the overall impact of the scene. Some even argue the anime’s presentation amplified the feelings of despair and hope that coexist within the events unfolding.