It was the second-to-last week before the finale of 'Attack on Titan'.
In truth, the ending of 'Attack on Titan' that Jing Yu produced for Great Zhou followed the original manga quite closely.
The only real difference was that he trimmed away the most criticized parts of the original and borrowed elements from 'Code Geass's ending, giving Eren's death a sense of moral and emotional weight.
To put it plainly: the protagonist didn't die because he had to die—but he certainly couldn't die stupidly.
In the original manga, Eren dies meaninglessly. Paradis Island still lags far behind the rest of the world in terms of technology and national power. And now that the power of the Titans has vanished, they've lost the only means to protect themselves—while facing global wrath over the destruction caused by Eren's Rumbling.
In the Great Zhou version, more focus was placed on the collaboration between world nations and Paradis resistance members—like Mikasa and Levi—joining forces to fight Eren.
In reality, history shows that after defeating a powerful enemy together, allied countries rarely live in peace afterward. They usually descend into infighting—just look at the world powers after WWII.
But in fiction, audiences are generally okay with stories where defeating the enemy leads to world peace—or at least a period of peace.
That's the difference between art and reality. No matter how dark or brutal fiction becomes, it can't truly compare to real life.
Still, the reception for 'Attack on Titan' in Great Zhou was playing out exactly as Jing Yu expected.
The audience didn't know Jing Yu's true narrative intent—they thought Eren acted the way he did because he knew his life was nearing its end, and he wanted to shoulder the title of "world-destroyer" before dying.
In fact, most viewers supported Eren's actions.
After the airing of tonight's penultimate episode, the forums exploded with commentary:
"Kill them before they kill you! There's no right or wrong in war. If Eren doesn't do this, Paradis is doomed after he dies. Their tech is like a baby's compared to the industrial world. Better that he starts the Rumbling and resets the world himself!"
"Maybe so, but this 'Eren' feels more like a tragic villain than a hero."
"I think it's brilliant. A madman protagonist who wipes out the world? Love it."
"You people are terrifying. Have you ever thought about the innocent people in the world of the show? About their families, their children?"
"Come on, why would I watch a drama and empathize with nameless background characters? Do you feel bad when you play a PvP game and kill hundreds of minions? Do you wonder if they had families waiting for them to return home?"
"…"
"You… kinda have a point."
"Exactly. Some people are just hypocrites. Watching TV? 'Oh no, so cruel!' Playing GTA? You mow down pedestrians like it's nothing."
"It makes sense, but it also feels wrong…"
"Why overthink it? There's no absolute right or wrong here. If you're from Paradis, you'd want a leader like Eren. If you're from the outside world, Eren's a monster. It's all about perspective."
"Still, it's a weird feeling. The writer has never created a protagonist this controversial before. Just one episode left... not much room for a twist."
"I love it. We've had plenty of shows about ruthless main characters in the Great Zhou. Why's this one different just because it's from 'Old Thief' (Jing Yu)?"
Despite the controversy, the show remained popular, especially because Jing Yu removed scenes that might have alienated viewers. In this version, Eren was reimagined as a tragic hero sacrificing himself for his people—something Great Zhou audiences found deeply resonant.
Following this episode, 'Attack on Titan' fan communities across the country lit up with activity.
Yunteng Television had long prepared for the finale. They scheduled a three-day promotional blitz to commemorate the conclusion of the highest-rated TV drama in Great Zhou's history.
Even though the TV industry was declining, 'Attack on Titan's dominance—and its premiere on Yunteng TV—gave the network every reason to brag.
Jing Yu also cleared his schedule from Saturday to Monday to attend related events.
A few days passed in a flash.
And then… it was Saturday.
11 PM. The final episode of 'Attack on Titan' was about to air.
Fans across Great Zhou had already gathered in front of their screens.
Yunteng TV's ratings surged—hitting over 16% even before the show started.
Chat groups were buzzing:
"I'm here!"
"Finale night!"
"It's not even on yet, but I'm already saying it—thank you for this amazing journey."
"Please, no more deaths. The Sasha sniper scene still hurts."
"Too bad Eren's lifespan is limited. I really wanted to see him and Mikasa married with kids."
"Why did Old Thief have to include that 13-year Titan lifespan rule? It's killing me."
"He could've changed that rule easily. But he chose to let Eren die. Just accept it. A character who wants to wipe out the world can't be allowed to survive as if nothing happened."
"Fair point."
"Still... It's so sad. A whole year of episodes, and now it's ending. I don't even know what to watch next season."
"Old Thief has two romance dramas coming next—'Hyouka' and 'Ef: A Tale of Memories'."
"But I don't like romance! I want more action like 'Gundam SEED' or 'Attack on Titan'!"
"Then you'll have to wait until the Spring Festival release of 'Spirited Away'. I heard there's action in that, too."
"Old Thief's company is making more shows than ever, but he's personally involved in fewer. With 'Attack on Titan' ending, it really feels like the end of an era."
"End of an era? You think Old Thief is done? The TV era might be ending, sure, but the internet age is just starting—and he's a major shareholder in Qingyun Video!"
"I mean, he's doing fewer projects himself. Most of their new shows are based on worlds he created in the past. I'm just scared he's gonna coast on his old works and stop making anything new."
But as the clock struck 11, all chatter faded.
The final episode began.
Jing Yu, too, sat at home watching the broadcast.
The plot was straightforward—nothing complex to analyze.
The first half showed the world shaking in fear under the might of the Rumbling. Nations and even Eren's former comrades pleaded with him to stop. But he wouldn't listen. He even turned some old friends into mindless Titans.
But then… something felt off.
Why was Eren, who had absolute power, suddenly vulnerable to being stopped?
How did Armin get close to him so easily?
Was this sloppy writing?
Or…
As the episode progressed, Eren and Armin's final conversation began.
Jing Yu had completely rewritten it—cutting much of the original and adding new dialogue. He restructured it so Eren's every move had been a calculated plan:
He made himself the villain.
He pushed his friends away, on purpose, to turn them into heroes who could save the world by stopping him.
Would politicians still try to attack Paradis? Maybe.
But Armin and the others—the ones who saved the world—would now be hailed as heroes.
And that kind of public image could help shift global perception.
No longer were all Eldians seen as monsters.
Of course, the show glossed over a lot.
It looked clean on the surface, but couldn't hold up under intense scrutiny.
Still, most viewers weren't there to nitpick.
"So… Eren planned this all along?"
"Beating up Armin, insulting Mikasa—he scripted all of it?"
"He saw the future through the Founding Titan, so he chose this path?"
"Didn't see that coming. But honestly… I'm kinda moved."
"Still feels naïve—hoping the world will forgive Paradis because a few heroes stopped Eren?"
"Don't overthink it."
"It's a show. If you want realism, look elsewhere. This was a great ending. Better than Eren just wiping out the world."
"Honestly, I teared up. Thirteen years of struggle… and in the end, he became the Demon King, only to die at the hands of his friends."
"But Mikasa turning against Eren… that felt off. Early-season Mikasa would've followed him to the ends of the Earth. No way she'd kill him."
"Yeah. Eren was her world."
"If she ever finds out Eren wanted her to kill him… that's even worse."
"Oof. That ending cut deep."
"I kinda hoped the finale would reach the same peak as the 'Ocean Scene' last season. Guess it didn't quite get there."
"Be realistic. That arc was peak storytelling. This finale still deserves a 90 out of 100."
"Right! It's just not perfect. The pacing felt rushed, but it wasn't bad."
"Am I the only one completely moved by Eren?"
"Overall, it hit hard. It just didn't have the insane twist people were expecting."
"Not every ending needs a twist. Eren sacrificed himself to give Paradis a shot at peace. The Titans are gone. It's a calm ending, sure—but at least it didn't crash and burn!"
"Exactly. As long as it didn't flop, 'Attack on Titan' is a masterpiece. Even an average ending can't take that away."
As the ending played out, the final scene showed Mikasa laying flowers at Eren's grave, with the ending theme song playing softly.
But Jing Yu made sure not to include the infamous manga panel where Mikasa visits Eren's grave with her husband and child.
That scene from his past life had shattered him.
It felt like betrayal. The girl who loved Eren… moving on like that? With that imagery?
It was fine if fans wanted to imagine it—but you don't show that on-screen.
By avoiding these "landmine" moments and enhancing others, the final episode of Attack on Titan was widely praised.
Not perfect—but definitely above standard.
And most importantly—satisfying.
As the screen faded out and the words appeared:
"Attack on Titan Final Chapter – The End"
Countless viewers sat in silence.
It was over.
Next week, there will be no more 'Attack on Titan' at this time slot.
A wave of melancholy washed over them.