The Ending Of Attack On Titan Season 4 Episode 1 Explained

Those who haven't watched any of "Attack on Titan" Season 4 are in for a bit of a shock from the first moment. Indeed, the first episode of the final season tells us a new story. Instead of following up on Eren or any of the other Eldians still on Paradis island, we are treated to a modern-day story from the mainland. This is the first time we've seen Marley since the flashbacks to Grisha's life in Season 3.

Set sometime after Season 3, Episode 1 of Season 4 follows a group of mainland Eldian soldiers fighting the final battle in Marley's war against the Mid-East Allied Forces, also known as the Mid-East Alliance. The protagonist of this episode, Falco, is a candidate for being one of Marley's next Titan Shifters. Though he and his friends are sympathetic to the Marleyan cause, it's clear that most average Eldian foot soldiers do not share the same sentiment.

Eldians are an oppressed ethnicity within the Marleyan empire and are often treated as fodder. We see Eldian troops being forced into suicide missions and being transformed into mindless Titans against their will. Despite this, the unique Eldian ability to become Titans make them a valuable part of Marley's army.