Attack on Titan 2×07 Review: “Close Combat”

The secret is out, and now the real battle begins. “Close Combat” did not skimp on the action, portraying a brutal fight dripping with power and betrayal.

The fight between Eren and Reiner was probably the best thing about “Close Combat” — good thing, too, as it took up the majority of the episode. From Eren flashing back to training and the techniques that Annie taught him to the way the fight resembled an MMA match, this is one of the better fight sequences in Attack on Titan. I was actually really proud of Eren in this episode; he used skill and strategy as opposed to just succumbing to rage and using his anger. After seeing all of the other Titan-human shifters, it’s clear that Eren’s Titan form is pretty basic (except for whatever the heck was going on with Ymir), so I appreciate that they introduced martial arts techniques that give him more of a fighting chance with Titans that are bigger and stronger than he is.

I also appreciate the flashbacks, because it helps give a little more depth to some of the characters — including some of the ones we’ve lost along the way. In “Close Combat”, the flashbacks aid in reminding us just how deep the betrayal goes. Mikasa’s concern that she simply couldn’t behead Bertolt and Reiner — when that was most likely their best and possibly their only chance to kill them — is indicative of just how much the group trusted them. Mikasa doesn’t show much loyalty to anyone besides Eren and Armin. And Connie doesn’t even realize what happened, so the hurt will cut even deeper once he learns the truth. (Poor Connie! He’s really having an awful…few…days? What even is the timeline on this show, I swear.)

Do we have any idea who the second person Bertolt ate was? I feel like they have to be at least semi-significant, or they wouldn’t have bothered pointing it out. Considering the first person was Ymir, is it possible that the other person is also a Titan shifter? And did he actually eat them, or is he just holding them in his mouth, like Annie did with Eren?

What a terrible place to end the episode! That’s the most offensive cliffhanger of all time. It will be agony waiting for next week’s episode.

Author: Jamie Sugah

Jamie has a BA in English with a focus in creative writing from The Ohio State University. She self-published her first novel, The Perils of Long Hair on a Windy Day, which is available through Amazon. She is currently an archivist and lives in New York City with her demon ninja vampire cat. She covers television, books, movies, anime, and conventions in the NYC area.

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