The Best Aspects of Eren's and Mikasa's Relationship

Highlights

Eren and Mikasa’s relationship is a complex mix of love, jealousy, and unspoken desires in Attack on Titan’s tragic romance.
Eren’s genuine feelings for Mikasa are revealed through subtle actions and conversations, showcasing a deeper connection between the two.
Despite their love, Eren and Mikasa face a heartbreaking reality of never truly being together, portrayed beautifully in the series’ final moments.

As a devoted fan of Attack on Titan, who has spent countless hours immersed in this extraordinary story, I must say that the bond between Eren Yeager and Mikasa Ackerman is undeniably one of the most captivating aspects of this series. The scenes depicting their reunion and interactions are a testament to the deep emotional connection that has been built over the years, and it resonates powerfully with viewers like myself.

Throughout the course of “Attack on Titan”, the relationship between Eren and Mikasa was often discussed. Some viewers considered her more as an adoptive sister because she had been raised by his family. However, others believed that due to their limited time living together and the way they were portrayed by other characters, a romantic connection might be suggested instead.

In the finale of “Attack on Titan,” it was strongly hinted that Eren harbored feelings for Mikasa, and she felt the same way about him. In a world created by Eren using the Founding Titan, they escaped together to spend the rest of his life with her. However, their romantic tale hides depths of sadness when you delve deeper.

Becoming The In-Law

The Best Aspects of Eren's and Mikasa's Relationship

One amusing aspect of Eren and Mikasa’s initial bond is her protective, motherly attitude towards him. Often, he reminds her that he isn’t her brother or child when she reprimands or rescues him from danger. This behavior stems from his inherent need to be recognized as self-reliant. By the close of season 2, Mikasa acknowledges Eren’s impact on her life in response to his actions. This realization shifts Eren’s perception of Mikasa, even admitting he felt envious of her. In an earlier interview, Isayama hinted at a kiss between them during that moment, but was unsure about developing a romantic storyline further. However, Eren’s reactions make it clear that there is a mutual attraction.

In “A Jest on Titan“, Eren and Armin engage in a short dialogue, during which Armin notes Eren’s recent aggressive attitude towards Mikasa. Later, it becomes clear that despite rescuing her, Eren desired to continue being her support and protector. This realization leads Armin to surmise that Eren’s ego has been bruised. Characters like Historia and Rico also take turns playfully ridiculing Eren or Mikasa about their hidden emotions at various moments.

A Timeless Promise

Eren and Mikasa’s relationship started when Eren gave her a scarf because she was cold. Though he sometimes struggles with moral decisions, Eren truly cares when he intends to do good. In the depths of Paths, while with his half-brother Zeke, Eren recalls this moment fondly. Just before this, Eren had harshly told Mikasa that he disliked her. It’s during these moments where we see a glimpse of Eren’s internal conflict. In an alternate world, when they run away together, Eren reveals his affection for Mikasa by returning it in kind.

In an effort to escape their troubles and find tranquility, the two of them lived out their dreams, far from the turmoil of endless conflict. Yet they were aware that such a peaceful life was unattainable for them. At one point, Eren urges Mikasa to get rid of her scarf so she wouldn’t feel alone without him and could live a long life. Towards the end, Eren, overwhelmed by his misdeeds and Mikasa’s personal developments, appears devastated. We can’t help but wish things had turned out differently for them. However, their love remained everlasting.

What is Love?

In chapter 123, Eren inquires about Mikasa’s feelings towards him. Some spectators interpreted this as an attempt by Eren to determine if the course of events could be altered because he recalled this dialogue from the past. However, given that Attack on Titan adheres to a fixed timeline, this indicates that regardless of his motives, the end result remains unaltered. The “future” Eren perceived himself questioning was not necessarily an effort to reshape the future, but rather a sincere inquiry. Essentially, he would have asked the question even if he hadn’t foreseen it.

As someone who has had their fair share of heartbreak and unrequited love, I can certainly empathize with Eren in this situation. It’s painfully obvious that he doubts Mikasa’s loyalty, unable to accept the idea that someone could genuinely care for him. In chapter 130, we see the depth of his skepticism as he grills Zeke about Mikasa’s feelings towards him.

In Another Life

As a gamer reflecting on Attack on Titan’s gripping storyline, even Eren and Armin acknowledge their actions might deserve eternal damnation. Yet, amidst their regret, there’s a glimmer of hope. Post-Cour 2, an intriguing spin-off emerged, featuring the poignant ending song “Itterashai”. Fans are buzzing with theories suggesting that this piece could be Mikasa talking to Eren in his dreams as he pays her a visit. In the climax, Mikasa weeps, thinking she’s still dreaming, but then she sees Eren standing before her.

The butterfly should especially be of note, as in Japanese symbolism, it signifies reunion, rebirth, and a departed spirit. The singer, Ai Higuchi sings this ED as well as the previous one, “Akuma no Ko”, which focuses on Eren as he approaches a field of flowers and seemingly disappears. Fans speculate that this is Eren after his own death and on his way to greet Mikasa. Higuchi would also independently write a “sequel” song to “Akuma no Ko”, “Massarana Daichi”, which is Mikasa’s response to Eren; similarly to SiM‘s “Under The Tree” and “The Rumbling”.

In the Attack FES event, voice actors Yui Ishikawa and Yuki Kaji reenacted a scene where Eren returns to Mikasa. In Japanese, when Mikasa says “itterashai” to Eren, it’s similar to saying goodbye for the day, responding to “ittekimasu,” which means ‘I’m going.’

Together, this means “I’m leaving”, “Okay see you later/when you get back”. In Japanese households, these are known phrases. When one returns, the dialogue goes, 「ただいま」(“tadaima”), and 「おかえり」 (“okaeri”); “I’m back/home”, “Welcome back/home”. The latter set up dialogue is reenacted by the two voice actors, making for an emotional reunion between the two. Moreover, an image was taken, resembling official art of Eren attempting to properly wrap a scarf around Mikasa. A similar emotional comparison is the Japanese dialogue of the reunion between Sora and Kairi at the end of Kingdom Hearts II.

A Love Without Regrets

Outside of the main storyline, voice actor Yuki Kaji has featured in drama CDs (companion audio dramas) and expressed insights into Eren’s feelings towards Mikasa. For instance, in chapter 123, Eren regretted not having shared ice cream with her, while during chapter 112, he was secretly contemplating his deep affection for her as he pushed her and Armin aside. After the final episode aired, Kaji revealed that following his death, Eren continued to keep an eye on Mikasa.

As a die-hard fan of Attack on Titan, I remember in the initial storylines by Hajime Isayama, Eren, my favorite character, would thank Mikasa for saving him during their scarf scene. Just before he was devoured by the Bearded Titan, his final thoughts were of Mikasa – a moment that holds deep meaning since it happened right after he rescued Historia, who eventually became Armin’s role in the final draft. Last year, there was buzz around Princess Mako marrying Kei Komuro, and with their striking resemblance to Eren and Mikasa, Japanese media made quite the spectacle of it, turning this likeness into a viral meme.

As a dedicated fan, it’s evident that the official art and merchandise consistently emphasizes the significant bond between our beloved characters, Eren and Mikasa. To add to this, in an official guidebook for Attack FES, Marina Inuoe (Armin’s voice actress) and Shiori Mikami (Historia’s voice actress) express their endorsement of this pairing. Interestingly, Mikami also hinted at her character’s fondness for a memorable scarf scene from season 2. With so much more of the Attack on Titan franchise yet to be adapted, it seems we might be in store for even more exciting developments centering around Eren and Mikasa.

2024-08-16 21:34

The Best Aspects of Eren’s and Mikasa’s Relationship