"That was way too sudden."
"Reiner and Bertholdt are the Armored and Colossal Titans?"
"What even is this?!"
"My head's spinning."
"Didn't they use to talk about how their biggest dream was returning to a home they could never go back to? Now you're telling me they are the Colossal and Armored Titans—the ones who let the titans in that killed their own families?"
"No way... maybe they're lying?"
"But that episode was so emotional! I thought Eren had finally found big brothers in the Survey Corps—people who shared his pain, who vowed to drive out the titans together… and now they're the traitors?"
"I can't accept this. Old Thief, give me my tears back!"
"I'd have sooner believed Erwin was a titan before I suspected Reiner! I really liked those two early on."
"Maybe Reiner just lost it? If he were a titan, why would he say that straight to Eren? Asking him to leave together instead of destroying more walls? If they're the enemy, then they're responsible for Eren's mother's death—there's no way he'd go with them!"
This episode… it was explosive in every possible way.
Ymir transformed into a titan in the first half, and in the second half, Reiner and Bertholdt casually said they were titans too.
Then there's Annie, also a titan, and Eren turning in the middle of the street.
It's like their entire Survey Corps class... was just one giant titan nest.
Have all the humans shown capable of titan shifting from episode one till now? All came from Eren's class.
This fact alone left many viewers in denial.
They had grown attached to these characters after a whole season.
Annie, then Ymir, and now these two?
But even then, it's just words—Reiner and Bertholdt saying they're titans isn't hard proof.
Then came the most expensive moment in the whole 'Attack on Titan' production so far.
Eren, though suspicious thanks to Armin's theories, still couldn't believe it. Even hearing it directly from Reiner, it didn't sink in. He thought they were talking nonsense, traumatized or confused.
But Eren's lack of cooperation brought Reiner back to reality.
Then… that music started.
One of 'Attack on Titan's most iconic tracks from Jing Yu's past life: "YouSeeBIGGIRL/T:T".
A haunting female vocal rose softly, then higher.
Seeing Eren resist, Reiner's expression turned painful.
"Yeah... why would you come with us? What was I thinking?"
"Have I lost my mind? I've lived here too long... three years with you guys... We're still just kids. We didn't know anything. If I hadn't met people like you, maybe I wouldn't have become such a coward—so weak and indecisive."
That pain on Reiner's face—it was the struggle of a man about to betray his friends.
A friend whose mother died because of him.
The visuals showed storm clouds looming over the wall, streaks of sunlight piercing through like golden blades. Truly, a "city under black clouds, armor gleaming like gold in the sun" kind of moment.
"As a warrior, I'll take responsibility for everything I've said and done."
Reiner's eyes hardened. He removed the bandage around his arm, bitten by a titan.
The wound was healing rapidly, just like when Eren had used his power.
"Reiner, are we doing this? Right here?" Bertholdt asked, face pale but serious.
"Yeah... right here. Let's settle this."
The music swelled.
Mikasa, our queen, struck in a blur—severing Reiner's arm and slashing Bertholdt's throat with surgical precision, protecting Eren and urging him to run.
The chorus built. The camera pulled wide.
Eren's shocked face. Mikasa's killing intent. Reiner's severed arm. Bertholdt is bleeding from the neck.
The climactic note burst forth, blending perfectly with the scene.
From the top of the wall, the Colossal Titan's ribcage appeared—hooked into the thick wall like monstrous claws. Bertholdt had only partially transformed to anchor himself with his chest bones.
With a roar of steam, he scattered would-be rescuers.
One massive hand reached out, grabbing the unconscious Ymir like a rag doll. The other swiped at Eren, who narrowly dodged.
Then a second titan's hand grabbed Eren tightly.
The Armored Titan—Reiner's full transformation.
In just 30 seconds, millions of Great Zhou viewers were left stunned.
Eren, held in Reiner's titan hand, tears in his eyes.
"Going home—to the home I can never return to—that's my only wish."
Words Reiner had once told him personally.
Memories of their three years together flooded back—brotherhood, laughter… all gone.
Eren bit his hand. Boom. He transformed midair.
The two titans stood face to face on the wall.
"YouSeeBIGGIRL/T:T" faded out.
Ending theme rolled.
And across Great Zhou, in neighborhoods, internet cafés, and night food stalls with TVs playing the show…
Ten seconds of dead silence.
Then, a chorus of collective shouting:
"That's it?!"
"You're ending it there?!"
"I CAN'T TAKE THIS OLD THIEF ANYMORE!"
"He's sick in the head. I tolerated all his cliffhangers before, but THIS one? This was cruel."
"I swear I'm going to roast him. Before I just joked about it, but ending the episode there?!"
"What kind of maniac does this?! He's doing this on purpose—for ratings! Making us suffer for a whole week? Just to save a few minutes of plot?"
"I'm speechless. Best episode in 'Attack on Titan' yet, right?"
"Honestly… I think this is the most shocking single episode Old Thief has ever made. I never expected 'Attack on Titan' to hit this level."
"Absolutely insane. Masterpiece."
"Every episode surprises me, but when I look back, all the clues were there."
"I'm dizzy. This show is unreal. I've watched a ton of Old Thief's works, and nothing's gotten my blood pumping like this. 'Attack on Titan' hits different. I'm addicted."
"At first, I thought it was just a re-skinned Evangelion, but Titan's world-building and character depth are on another level. It's not like 'Ultraman' for kids. It hurts."
"Your mom gets eaten by a titan, and then you spend three years being brothers with the killer? No wonder Eren cried. That betrayal cuts deep."
"I almost cried. Poor Eren."
"I'm legit mad. I liked Reiner and Bertholdt so much. Last week, when they got hurt saving Krista, I was moved. Now I just want Eren to destroy them."
"Crush the traitors!"
"Next week's fight scene better be perfect."
"I'm too hyped. Gotta rewatch it on Qingyun Video."
"Same. I'm starting over from Season 1, Episode 1. I need to see how many clues were hidden."
Episode 3 of Season 2 reached a peak viewership of 15.7%, with an average of 15.01%.
That number was insane.
If things kept up, 'Attack on Titan' might break the all-time viewership record in Great Zhou. That would be the real surprise—if it didn't.
Right now, it was just 0.03% away from Xingtong TV's all-time hit, 'Great Zhou Court' Drama.
If 'Attack on Titan' breaks 15% again next week, it will become the highest-rated series during its airing period.
The only thing standing in its way?
Jing Yu's other god-tier series: 'Mobile Suit Gundam SEED'.
After all, 'Gundam SEED's ratings were also crazy. Plus, it had a broader demographic. Kids couldn't understand the plot, but those cool mecha fights? Pure dopamine.
Still, 'Attack on Titan' was catching up.
Gundam SEED's fragmented early episodes made it hard to compete with Titan in terms of impact and discussion.
Ratings might be close, but 'Attack on Titan' had the edge when it came to sparking conversation.
Everywhere online, about 50–60% of people were talking about 'Attack on Titan', 20–30% about 'Gundam SEED', and the rest about other Great Zhou shows.
Even on Qingyun Video, orders for 'Attack on Titan' surged.
At this point, no one doubted Jing Yu's plot anymore.
Call it formula, call it coincidence.
Everyone near Eren… not a single one was normal.
Annie, Ymir, Reiner, Bertholdt, and now Krista, always speaking in riddles.
Who knew how many more hidden twists were buried in earlier episodes?
Viewers began second watches from Season 1, Episode 1—and the deeper they dug, the more they found.
Remember when Eren first transformed in town? Everyone looked on in fear as he reverted.
But standing next to Armin and Mikasa, Reiner and Bertholdt didn't look scared. They looked… strange. Sad. Like hunters seeing prey.
Back then, people just thought they were chill.
But now? Total foreshadowing.
When the Colossal Titan breached the wall a second time, everyone from the training corps was there—except those two. Obvious now, huh?
And when Annie was outside the wall tracking Eren, Reiner got caught in her hand. Yet he suddenly went god mode, broke her fingers, and escaped.
We thought Reiner was just strong.
Now we know—it was all acting.
Insane.
The deeper the fans went, the more they realized how deep Jing Yu had planned this.
Even the haters who used to call the twist "nonsense" shut up.
Because now, with all the analysis threads, it was clear: the signs were always there. Reiner, Bertholdt, Annie… even Krista and Ymir had little hints early on.
Back then, viewers complained about "too much screentime for side characters." Now? All foreshadowing.
Every bit of slow pacing? All part of the plan.
The more people studied it, the more they believed 'Attack on Titan' was a masterpiece.
That intricate setup… the careful progression…
Even just halfway through, most viewers already considered it a legendary work—confident it wouldn't fall apart at the end.
That was how 'Attack on Titan' fans felt in Jing Yu's past life, too.
The early arcs were so tight. It was hard to believe it was written by a manga newbie.
If the start was this good, surely the ending was already planned out?
Surely it wouldn't crash?
Many viewers shared that hope.
But the world is unpredictable.
In the end, 'Attack on Titan' would rise—and fall—because of editing.
Its explosive success early on was thanks in part to editorial oversight.
And the final ending? There were rumors that the original author had faith in it only because his editor insisted it was genius, the "perfect ending."
But after serialization, fans weren't happy. The author reportedly felt miserable.
The same thing happened to 'Naruto: Shippuden'—a change in editors completely shifted the story's tone.
Still—for now—'Attack on Titan' fans in Great Zhou were riding the same emotional rollercoaster.
Unstoppable hype. Unshakable faith.
And an unforgettable cliffhanger.