Is it just me, or does the final season of Attack on Titan feel way more depressing than everything before it?

Dec 9, 2:54 PM

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Sep 2025

I’m about halfway through Part 1 of the final season right now, and even though I know this series has never been “sunshine, lollipops, and rainbows,” something about this stretch hits a lot heavier. The atmosphere feels darker, the stakes feel more hopeless, and the characters all seem weighed down in a way that’s different from the earlier seasons.

Maybe it’s the shift in perspective, the moral ambiguity, or just how much trauma has piled up by this point — but it really feels like the show has crossed into a whole new level of bleak.

What do you think? Does the final season feel more depressing to you too, or is it just because everything is finally coming to a head?

Dec 9, 3:03 PM

Rally-

Online

Nov 2017

1171

RubyZiggy07 said:
I’m about halfway through Part 1 of the final season right now, and even though I know this series has never been “sunshine, lollipops, and rainbows,” something about this stretch hits a lot heavier. The atmosphere feels darker, the stakes feel more hopeless, and the characters all seem weighed down in a way that’s different from the earlier seasons.

Maybe it’s the shift in perspective, the moral ambiguity, or just how much trauma has piled up by this point — but it really feels like the show has crossed into a whole new level of bleak.

What do you think? Does the final season feel more depressing to you too, or is it just because everything is finally coming to a head?

You should probably highlight the fact that you're referring to the first part specifically in the title. Most of us will probably be talking about the entire season in retrospective.

Rally-Dec 9, 3:37 PM

Dec 9, 3:34 PM

AhmedJafar1

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Sep 2015

503

Yes. Starting from the time skip at the end of season three, the story rakes a more depressing and darker tone compared to everything before. That Shounen-esque adventure-like feel more or less disappears.

Dec 9, 3:47 PM

Ahohite-killer

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Dec 2024

1396

ya Sasha dies ofc its the saddest/most depressing season 😔

Dec 9, 4:12 PM

Dragon456hon

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Aug 2019

This is the part where you feel that Attack on Titan is no longer the Attack on Titan you're used to watch

Yesterday, 2:07 AM

Rayane-47

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Aug 2021

1100

That Cabin Secret Reveal Really Fucked Them Up...As It Should Be, Plus...Seeing

Fucked Them Up Even More, It's Definitely Depressing

Yesterday, 2:39 AM

Merve2Love

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Apr 2020

4051

Just you. AoT was never a "happy" story^^
Not even in season 1.

Yesterday, 4:08 AM

chaps28

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May 2023

100%. Early AOT had the shonen optimism of “hey, let’s band together and defeat the titans! Go team!” But later AOT strips that away as we become more aware of the realities of the world

Yesterday, 6:50 AM

Phantom_373

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Aug 2022

2552

I mean honestly attack on titan starts to feel way different after season 3 but yeah I can somewhat agree

Yesterday, 10:13 AM

#10

Tuna_Ryota

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Apr 2021

I was never really optimistic… depression was always a part while watching.
Everytime I went positive, there was really fast something sad following up.
But at the end of the days, we all confirm that, AoT is easy top 3 anime’s of all time!!!

Yesterday, 1:21 PM

#11

eyedek666

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May 2024

Merve2Love said:
Just you. AoT was never a "happy" story^^
Not even in season 1.

this is true, but I agree with OP that it’s noticeably more bleak in the final season.

6 hours ago

#12

nhkam

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Aug 2021

484

Dragon456hon said:
This is the part where you feel that Attack on Titan is no longer the Attack on Titan you're used to watch

Totally agree. I felt it wasn’t anywhere near the AOT I watched and loved for years.

6 hours ago

#13

nhkam

Offline

Aug 2021

484

Maybe it was the switch to MAPPA (where I didn’t know what the characters looked like anymore), or the beginning of the gloominess, I began thinking the same thing as you.

I couldn’t stand where it was going so much that I dropped the 2nd half after many years of watching/enjoying it.

1 hour ago

#14

LucisCael

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Feb 2022

161

For sure, the darker atmosphere is actually the reason why Season 4 is my favorite, I remember when I was done with Season 3 and watched the first 2 episodes of Season 4 I was like "I really don't know how to feel about the focus on the military, it feels off" and then I watched a bit more and I was like "man this is so depressing I think I'm starting to love it"

LucisCael54 minutes ago

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Is it just me, or does the final season of Attack on Titan feel way more depressing than everything before it?

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