‘Attack on Titan’ Season 4 Unpacks Annie Leonhart’s Backstory
Attack on Titan Season 4 Part 2 has been digging into the past, first by exploring the history of the Titans and now by unpacking the backstory of an individual character. The anime brought back Annie Leonhart in episode 81, and Attack on Titan Episode 82 delved into her background and the motivations behind her actions.
[Warning: This article contains spoilers for Attack on Titan Episode 82, “Sunset.”]
‘Attack on Titan’ Season 4 brought back Annie Leonhart
Attack on Titan Season 4 Part 2 is wrapping all its storylines, including the one centered on Annie Leonhart. A member of the 104th Cadet Corps, Annie was revealed to be the Female Titan back in season 1. When Paradis Island’s military caught her, they froze her in the same substance Titans’ hardening is made from. And when Eren activated the Rumbling and undid all of the hardening, he freed Annie from her prison.
Last week’s installment closed on that cliffhanger, but Attack on Titan Episode 82 reunites viewers with Annie at long last. Following some threats and some banter, she convinces her former comrade Hitch to help her escape the military’s clutches. And as they ride off on horseback together, Annie gives Hitch her “life story.”
Episode 82 unpacks Annie Leonhart’s backstory
Attack on Titan Season 4 spent plenty of time digging into Reiner’s history and motivations, so it’s only fair the anime would unpack Annie’s reasons for serving Marley. Episode 82 takes fans back to her early years, when she was abandoned as a baby and raised by someone hoping to boost his status by making her a Warrior.
Annie’s adoptive father turns her into a killer, someone who doesn’t believe human life matters at all. But just before she sets out on her mission to Paradis Island, he begs her to come home. It seems the man had a change of heart sometime during her upbringing. He came to care for Annie as his own daughter, and his emotional farewell leaves her with a new perspective on life.
As Annie tells Hitch this, she admits she’s done horrible things for the sake of Marley. However, she also reveals she’ll do anything to get back to her father — even repeat the same mistakes all over again. Fortunately, that’s probably not why the anime brought her back. But what purpose will Annie serve as season 4 nears its end?
What role will the character play in ‘Attack on Titan’ Season 4?
Annie Leonhart may be determined to return to her father, but that’s probably not the full reason Attack on Titan Season 4 brought her back. The anime seems like it’s building to another confrontation — this time between Eren and, well, everyone else.
Episode 82 sees Armin attempting to win Gabi’s trust, appealing to her and Falco in order to make peace with the other Titan Shifters. It seems impossible to stop Eren at this stage of the game, but could a team-up between Eren’s friends and the soldiers from Marley be on the horizon?
If so, Annie’s likely to join the group in their efforts to save the world, especially if her father’s life is at stake. Only time will tell if she gets to keep her promise. She might get a chance to redeem herself for her previous actions as well.
New episodes of Attack on Titan drop every Sunday on Crunchyroll, Funimation, and Hulu.
