Attack on Titan Season 2 Overview and Review
Introduction
Attack on Titan Season 2 continues the epic anime saga after a four-year wait, returning with 12 new episodes of Titan-slaying action. This comprehensive Attack on Titan Season 2 review covers all episodes, explaining key story developments and twists in a beginner-friendly way. Season 2 picks up immediately after the events of Season 1, plunging viewers back into humanity’s desperate fight against the Titans. With intense battles, shocking Titan revelations, and deeper character development, Season 2 had a lot to live up to following the blockbuster first season. Below, we provide an overview of the season’s story (all episodes explained in summary) and offer a review of its highlights, themes, and overall impact. (Note: Spoilers for Attack on Titan Season 2 ahead.)
Season 2 Story Overview
Attack on Titan’s second season originally aired in Spring 2017 and spans 12 episodes. It adapts the “Clash of the Titans” arc from the manga, a storyline that delves into the mysteries of the Walls and the identities of certain Titans. Season 2 wastes no time thrusting us back into chaos: moments after Season 1’s finale (the defeat of Annie, the Female Titan), a new crisis emerges inside Wall Rose. The Survey Corps finds Titans within humanity’s walls and faces an unexpected intelligent foe – the enigmatic Beast Titan. Meanwhile, beloved supporting characters like Sasha, Connie, Ymir, and Christa (Historia) step into the spotlight, each with crucial roles in this chapter. Below is a breakdown of the season’s two main narrative phases, covering all episodes and major events.
Mystery of Wall Rose and the Beast Titan (Episodes 26–30)
The season opens on a grim discovery: a Titan is found embedded inside Wall Sina, confirming that the walls themselves are made of hardened Titan flesh. Hange Zoë presses the Wall Cult’s Pastor Nick for answers, but he refuses to divulge the church’s secrets. Almost immediately, chaos erupts as word comes that Wall Rose has been breached and Titans are pouring into human territory. The Survey Corps splits up to warn villages and investigate.
During this frantic scramble, Captain Miche Zacharius encounters the Beast Titan, a massive ape-like Titan never seen before. In a chilling scene, the Beast Titan speaks human language and even snatches Miche’s gear to inspect it, demonstrating intelligence. Miche is killed, and the Beast Titan leads the other Titans deeper into Wall Rose. This is a terrifying new threat – a Titan who can command others and communicate.
Elsewhere, we follow 104th Corps members stationed in Wall Rose’s interior. Sasha Braus rushes to her hometown and heroically saves a young girl from a small Titan using only a bow and arrow, in one of Season 2’s most harrowing moments. Connie Springer returns to his village, Ragako, only to find it in ruins. Strangely, a Titan is lying immobile on his house – and Connie swears he heard it mutter “welcome home” in his mother’s voice. This eerie incident plants a seed that Titans might actually be transformed humans, a theory that gains more evidence later.
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As no breach in the walls is found, two Scout teams take refuge at the ancient Utgard Castle overnight. Here, Ymir and Christa (whose real name is Historia) get focus. Under a moonlit Titan attack on Utgard, the situation turns desperate. Surrounded by Titans, Ymir reveals a long-kept secret – she is a Titan Shifter. Ymir transforms into a smaller, agile Titan to protect Christa and their friends, savagely fighting the invading Titans. Thanks to Ymir’s intervention, the Scouts hold out until reinforcements, led by Commander Erwin Smith and Hange, arrive to eliminate the Titans. In the aftermath, Christa finally shares her true name (Historia) with Ymir, fulfilling a promise between them and deepening their bond.
Revelations and Climactic Battle (Episodes 31–37)
With the immediate threat handled, the Scouts regroup on Wall Rose. They still wonder how Titans appeared inside the walls with no breach. The answer soon literally comes out of hiding: two veteran members of the 104th, Reiner Braun and Bertholdt Hoover, reveal themselves to be the Armored Titan and Colossal Titan in a jaw-dropping twist. This moment is one of the most iconic in Season 2 – Reiner, in a state of emotional conflict, bluntly confesses their identities and tries to persuade Eren Yeager to come with them. When Eren hesitates, Reiner and Bertholdt transform, triggering an all-out battle.
A furious fight ensues on the spot. Eren, betrayed and enraged, transforms into his Titan form and engages Reiner’s mighty Armored Titan. Their showdown is a highlight of the season – a brutal hand-to-hand clash where Eren must recall his hand-to-hand combat training (courtesy of Annie’s techniques) to find a way to crack the Armored Titan’s nearly impervious skin. High above, the Colossal Titan (Bertholdt) looms over the wall, using scalding steam to keep the Scouts at bay. The battle is intense and evenly matched until Bertholdt’s Colossal Titan collapses off the wall, aiding Reiner and allowing them to capture Eren and the wounded Ymir.
The traitors flee with Eren and Ymir as captives, aiming to escape to their mysterious homeland. What follows is a high-stakes rescue operation. Commander Erwin Smith leads the remaining Survey Corps and even some Military Police in pursuit, resulting in a chaotic confrontation in an open field. Erwin shows incredible resolve – at one point, he is gravely injured (losing an arm to a Titan) but still bellows for the soldiers to “Advance!”. Amid the frenzy, Eren eventually regains consciousness and tries to fight his former friends. Ymir, torn over her decision, ultimately chooses to ally with Reiner and Bertholdt (hoping to protect Historia by keeping her away from the looming conflict), so she leaves Historia with the Scouts and departs with the warriors.
The climax reaches emotional heights when the group is ambushed by additional Titans, including one particularly infamous foe: the “Smiling Titan,” the same Titan that killed Eren’s mother years ago. Eren, still in his human form and unable to transform again, falls into despair as he and Mikasa face this nightmare from their past. In that moment of anguish and fury at his own helplessness, Eren unknowingly unlocks a new power. He strikes the Smiling Titan’s hand, and suddenly all the mindless Titans in the area heed Eren’s will – they swarm the Smiling Titan and tear it apart, then even turn to attack Reiner and Bertholdt. This ability, later known as the Coordinate, is a game-changer: Eren can control other Titans. Thanks to this, Eren and the Scouts narrowly escape, while Reiner (carrying Bertholdt and Ymir) retreats under the onslaught of Titans.
In the aftermath, humanity has survived another day, but the weight of these revelations is heavy. The Survey Corps confirms what many suspected: the Titans that appeared inside Wall Rose were actually the people of Connie’s village, Ragako, transformed into Titans. This grim discovery means that Titans were once human – a fact that changes everything the characters understand about their enemy. Eren now possesses a terrifying yet vital new power, and the true enemy pulling the strings (the Beast Titan’s mysterious controller and the forces behind Reiner/Bertholdt) remain at large. Season 2 ends on an ominous note with a glimpse of the Beast Titan and its human handler, teasing the larger secrets of the world that will be explored in Season 3.
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Review of Attack on Titan Season 2
Attack on Titan Season 2 had a high bar to meet after the phenomenon of Season 1, and overall it delivers a gripping if shorter chapter in the saga. One notable aspect is the shift in narrative focus. While Eren Yeager is the protagonist, much of Season 2 gives spotlight to side characters and their development. Early on, Eren, Mikasa, and Armin take a backseat as Hange, Connie, Sasha, Christa/Historia, and Ymir drive the story. This shift might feel surprising, but it enriches the world by showing events through other characters’ eyes. For instance, Sasha’s bravery and Ymir’s complex backstory greatly enhance the emotional depth of the season. Ymir in particular emerges as a standout; a relatively minor character in Season 1, she becomes one of the most intriguing figures of Season 2 as we learn about her past and see her heroic sacrifice for her friends. The portrayal of Reiner and Bertholdt also earns praise – their reveal as traitors is handled with excellent tension, and we even get insight into Reiner’s fractured psyche and guilt. These character-focused moments make the Titan conflict feel more personal and complex.
Despite being only 12 episodes long, Season 2 is packed with major plot revelations and high-stakes action. The shorter season format results in a brisk pace (especially in the second half), as the story hurtles from one big moment to the next: the Beast Titan’s introduction, the Warrior reveal, and Eren’s coordinate power all happen in quick succession. This all-killer-no-filler approach keeps viewers on the edge of their seats. However, some viewers felt the first few episodes started a bit slow or disjointed, as the narrative jumps between multiple groups (Sasha’s story, Connie’s story, etc.) in the aftermath of the supposed Wall Rose breach. Once the pieces move into place by the midpoint, the payoff is tremendous. The battle at Utgard and the epic showdown between Eren and Reiner provide the kind of adrenaline and drama Attack on Titan is known for.
From a production standpoint, Wit Studio maintained a high quality of animation and sound in Season 2. The action sequences are fluid and visceral – the Eren vs. Armored Titan fight, for example, is a brutal brawl that’s beautifully choreographed. The Titans remain horrifying in design, and the show doesn’t skimp on the visceral impacts of combat. The use of CGI is a bit more noticeable in some scenes (like large group shots of soldiers on horseback), but overall the dynamic visuals impress. The musical score by Hiroyuki Sawano continues to elevate every scene, and the Season 2 opening theme “Shinzou wo Sasageyo” (“Dedicate Your Heart”) by Linked Horizon became an instant fan favorite for its rousing call to arms.
On the downside, the primary complaint about Season 2 was its length. After a four-year gap, only getting 12 episodes left fans craving more. The season answers some burning questions (revealing the identities of key Titans and confirming that Titans are human) but also leaves many mysteries hanging. The much-teased secret of Eren’s basement, for instance, isn’t addressed at all in Season 2. In many ways, this season feels like a bridge between the setup of Season 1 and the deeper lore explored in Season 3. It’s a highly impactful bridge, but it ends just as the story’s scope is expanding. As one reviewer noted, at 12 episodes it can feel like a “transitory period” between the meatier arcs of the first and third seasons. The finale is exciting and satisfying in its own right, but it clearly positions the story for bigger revelations to come.
Overall, Attack on Titan Season 2 succeeds in delivering some of the series’ most exciting and pivotal moments, despite its shorter run. It balances thrilling action with significant story developments that deepen the overarching mystery. Fans who enjoy the mix of horror, action, and political intrigue in the series will find Season 2 rewarding. The season’s focus on secondary characters and its explosive plot twists (like Reiner and Bertholdt’s betrayal) add layers to the narrative, making the world of Attack on Titan even more immersive. While it might leave you with more questions than answers by the end, Season 2 is a must-watch chapter that sets the stage for the revelations of Season 3.
Conclusion and Final Thoughts
In conclusion, Attack on Titan Season 2 delivers a tight, intense ride that enriches the saga’s lore and raises the stakes for our heroes. It’s a season filled with payoff: long-simmering mysteries about the Titans start to unravel, and the true enemies begin to emerge from the shadows. From the terror of the Beast Titan’s first appearance to the emotional crescendo of Eren’s newfound power, Season 2 offers plenty of memorable moments for fans to savor. Though it’s shorter than the other seasons, it’s packed with critical turning points and character growth that push the story forward in a big way. If you’re following the series, Season 2 is essential viewing — both an satisfying continuation of the story and a tantalizing setup for the even larger revelations in Season 3.
Attack on Titan Season 2 FAQ
Q: When did Attack on Titan Season 2 air, and how many episodes does it have?
A: Season 2 aired in Japan from April to June 2017 and consists of 12 episodes in total. This was a much shorter season compared to Season 1’s 25 episodes, due in part to production decisions and the desire to maintain high animation quality.
Q: Do I need to watch Season 1 before starting Season 2 of Attack on Titan?
A: Absolutely. Season 2 continues directly from the events of Season 1, with no time skip in the story. Important plot points (like the aftermath of the Female Titan battle and the established characters’ relationships) will make much more sense if you have seen Season 1. Attack on Titan is a continuous narrative, so each season builds on the previous one.
Q: What are the main highlights of Attack on Titan Season 2?
A: Some major highlights of Season 2 include: the introduction of the Beast Titan (a mysterious Titan that can talk and strategize), the reveal that Reiner and Bertholdt are the Armored and Colossal Titans, Ymir’s backstory and her Titan transformation at Utgard Castle, and Eren unlocking the Coordinate power to control Titans in the climactic episode. The season is also known for its character-focused moments, like Sasha’s rescue scene and the deepening bond between Ymir and Historia.
Q: Does Attack on Titan Season 2 explain how Titans came to be or where they come from?
A: Season 2 provides strong hints but not the full explanation. It confirms that Titans were once human (for example, the Titans that invaded Wall Rose were actually the transformed citizens of Ragako village. This is a huge clue toward the truth of the Titans’ origin. However, the complete backstory of the Titans and the world’s secrets (such as the contents of Eren’s basement and the history of the walls) are not fully revealed until Season 3 and Season 4. Season 2 sets the stage for those revelations by raising questions and partially answering a few (like who some of the Titan shifters are).
Q: Is Attack on Titan Season 2 as good as Season 1?
A: Season 2 is generally very well-regarded, though opinions vary. Many fans love Season 2 for its shock revelations and tighter pacing. It delivers some of the most jaw-dropping moments of the series (the Titan identity reveals and Eren’s new power) and develops side characters richly. The animation and music remain top-notch. The main criticism was its short length and slightly slower start, whereas Season 1 had more episodes to build the world and featured constant battles like the Battle of Trost. Overall, if you enjoyed Season 1, you’ll find Season 2 rewarding – it’s a crucial chapter that amps up the mystery and sets up even bigger events in later seasons.
Q: Where can I watch Attack on Titan Season 2?
A: Attack on Titan Season 2 is available for streaming on platforms that licensed the anime. Globally, services like Crunchyroll and Funimation (now part of Crunchyroll) have the subbed and dubbed episodes. In some regions, it may also be on Netflix or Hulu if they carry the show. Always use legal streaming sources or purchase the Blu-rays/DVDs to support the creators. Season 2 is typically bundled as a single 12-episode package on these platforms.
