The One Part Of Attack On Titan Even Fans Find Frustrating
At this point, it's no secret that "Attack on Titan" is one of the most popular anime series ever released. Indeed, the series ranks No. 1 in popularity on MyAnimeList.com, overtaking other upper echelon contenders such as "Death Note" and "Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood." The series has been praised by fans and critics alike for its breathtaking visuals, captivating characters, incredible action sequences, and of course, the abundance of plot twists littered throughout the series.
Indeed, much of the show's storyline relies heavily on hidden agendas, subtle foreshadowing, and plenty of shocking revelations. Perhaps the greatest example of this is Eren Yaeger's (voiced by Yuki Kaji) ability to transform into a Titan, which is not given a concise explanation until the midway point of Season 3 — even then, there is still so much more about his ability that we have yet to learn. Prior to Season 3, we as an audience are mostly in the dark regarding Eren's ability and are forced to simply accept that he can transform without ever understanding why. We learn the truth bit-by-bit, through subtle clues and surprising twists, and while much and more of the fanbase seem to find this unique style of storytelling very engaging, there are some who absolutely dislike the way that the story of "Attack on Titan" unfolds.
Some fans find the show's subtle storytelling to be boring and slow
Fans on Reddit have heavily criticized the series' storytelling, claiming that they find much of the story uninteresting or underwhelming due simply to the way that story is told. "That s*** was boring," wrote u/Bluemoondrinker. "Im sorry but I dont need the same plot point explained to me over and over and over by 5 different characters every single episode." "Dont forget the "mastetful story telling" people talk about so much," replied u/Jealous_Performer_28. "Oh look this insert certain scene or phrase is related to insert another scene or phrase but we didnt understand it yet." The user went on to further criticize the series' overuse of foreshadowing, claiming that the writers only use it because they can't come up with any good ideas.
Other users echoed these sentiments, with many arguing that "Attack on Titan" becomes incredibly slow and boring at times, and that the series' "shocking twists" were often unimpressive. "The big mystery reveal I waited 6 years for was underwhelming," wrote u/TheBlessedBoy99. "I remember being really bored during parts of Season 2 and Season 3 part 1." "It's 'subtle' nature is not really doing it for me, especially in the 3rd and 4th seasons," echoed u/psihius.
While many other users throughout the thread defended the series' storytelling, the general consensus amongst the more critical fans was that the "subtle storytelling" and the overreliance on foreshadowing make much of the story uninteresting. Although there are no doubt plenty of fans out there who still consider the "Attack on Titan" to be one of the greatest anime ever created, it's clear that some fans are fed up with the series' sluggish pace.