Memories of the Future
Eren and Zeke relive their father’s memories in episode 20 of Attack on Titan Season 4. Zeke is determined to find out how Grisha Jaegar brainwashed Eren and betrayed his master-plan. Zeke believes that it was Grisha who manipulated Eren and intends to relive the past to figure out if that’s true.
Grisha appears to have become a doctor in order to pursue the King and steal the Founding Titan. All of his recent activities – building relationships and gaining trust – suggest that he may be on track to confirm Zeke’s suspicions. ..
As the pair relive Grisha’s memories, their father awakens and looks around the candlelit basement, calling out for Zeke and believing it’s all a dream. Eren even decides to agree with Zeke, just so they can stop reliving these painful memories.
Grisha finds King Reiss’ base and the hidden compartment holding the power he seeks. He chooses against acquiring it, his love for Eren compounds him to head home instead. It’s at this point where Zeke realizes that the whole restoration mission for Eldia may not be his father’s master-plan after all.
Mikasa reveals to Grisha at dinner that Eren wants to join the scout regiment. Eren gives an impassioned speech, refusing to live a life of ignorant bliss and wanting to discover what’s really out there. The thing is, that ignorant bliss is ironic given that explains Zeke’s current frame of thinking and what’s to befall the city.
Grisha reveals the key to the basement to his son, who is eager to explore it.
The Titans first attacked the walls because they were angry and resentful of the King of the Wall. But now that Grishaa has taken the power, he is not really following through with his promise to save the world. In fact, he is actually doing everything he can to ruin it. He has killed his family and taken control of the Founding Titan power, but this is not really the whole story.
Grisha, a doctor, was standing in front of the children when he saw the Attack Titan. He realized that it has a special trait and that is able to see the future. This explains how Grisha saw Zeke in his basement.
Eren’s ancestors have been driven by his future memories, which has led to the present moments. Eren’s words in this basement convince his father to follow through with how time should continue, encouraging him to slaughter the family and take the Founding Titan power for himself. ..
In the aftermath of this bloodshed, a crazed Grisha stumbles outside and begins to have doubts over his birthright and what’s happened. In fact, he ends up seeing Zeke in front of him. Zeke is seen hugging his much-older son, Eren. The older Zeke tells the younger Eren that he knows the extent of Eren’s ideas and that he needs to stop him. ..
The Episode Review
This week’s episode of Attack on Titan is a strong one, exploring more of the past and providing a more clear understanding of what’s really going on. It seems that Zeke has been wrong all along, while understanding more of the past leads us to realize Eren has been influencing the entire chain of actions leading up to this very moment.
It’s a pretty shocking reveal in truth, and one that’s matched by a lot of interesting and important memories from the past. Only this time, we know what Eren and Zeke’s true motivations are.
This episode is important, and leaves the door wide open for where the rest of the season may go from here.
