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Attack on Titan Chapter 120: How Eren’s Unwavering Resolve Divided the Fanbase
In Attack on Titan’s pivotal Chapter 120 “Momentary,” protagonist Eren declares his absolute determination to “advance without end,” a declaration that fundamentally challenged reader expectations and split the fanbase into opposing camps. This moment represents a critical turning point where the series questions whether the main character’s convictions represent justice or tyranny.
What Happened
In Chapter 120 of Attack on Titan, Eren Yeager makes an unequivocal declaration: he will “advance without end,” committing himself to a path of absolute determination. This moment marks a dramatic shift from his earlier characterization as a freedom-seeking youth driven by pure desire to escape the walls. The chapter’s title, “Momentary,” captures the fleeting nature of this pivotal instant where Eren’s true nature appears to be revealed.
Voice actor Yuki Kaji’s performance in this scene underwent a subtle but deliberate transformation—shifting from the “pure voice of a young boy” to a “cold, unwavering tone filled with conviction.” This vocal shift underscored the production team’s intention to signal a fundamental change in Eren’s psychological state.
Why It Matters
Chapter 120 represents more than a narrative turning point; it fundamentally challenges the moral framework that readers had constructed over thirteen years of serialization. Since the series’ debut in 2013, audiences had unconsciously accepted the premise that Eren represented the “righteous side” of the conflict. This chapter shattered that certainty.
The declaration raises profound questions about the nature of freedom versus tyranny, and whether Eren’s pursuit of liberation masks a deeper desire for control. This ambiguity is precisely what makes the moment so significant—it forces readers to confront the possibility that their protagonist may not embody the values they believed he represented.
In the broader context of 2020 anime and manga industry trends, Attack on Titan joined works like Jujutsu Kaisen and The Promised Neverland in interrogating the ethical foundations of their protagonists’ actions. This represented a significant shift away from traditional “good versus evil” narratives toward more philosophically complex storytelling.
Background
Attack on Titan began serialization in 2009 and received its anime adaptation in April 2013. Over the course of thirteen years, the narrative evolved from a straightforward tale of humanity defending itself against giant monsters into a complex exploration of power structures, freedom, and destiny.
From Chapter 1 onward, Eren’s defining characteristic was his pure desire to venture beyond the walls—a yearning that drove every major decision. However, as the series progressed, particularly following Season 2’s revelation of internal political corruption within the walls, the narrative began deconstructing the simple binary of “giants equal evil, humans equal good.”
By Chapter 120, Eren had gained access to the Founding Titan’s power and knowledge of future events. The chapter reveals that despite knowing his predetermined fate, Eren chooses to “advance”—a choice that recontextualizes his entire character arc as something far more tragic and complex than initially apparent.
Key Points
- Chapter 120 presents Eren’s declaration to “advance without end” as an absolute commitment that contradicts his earlier characterization as a freedom-seeker
- The fanbase split into three distinct groups: those supporting Eren’s resolve, those viewing him as an aspiring dictator, and those questioning the meaning of his decision itself
- The chapter’s power lies in its deliberate ambiguity—Eren’s actions can be interpreted as either righteous self-defense or the path toward tyranny
- Eren’s decision appears to represent not freedom but rather a “desperate resistance against predetermined fate,” suggesting his choice is ultimately tragic rather than triumphant
- The production team intentionally employed subtle vocal and visual cues to signal Eren’s psychological transformation
- This moment exemplifies a broader industry trend toward questioning protagonist morality rather than accepting their righteousness at face value
Timeline
- April 2013: Attack on Titan anime series begins, establishing Eren as a freedom-seeking protagonist
- 2015: Season 2 introduces complex political structures within the walls, complicating the moral landscape
- 2020: Chapter 120 “Momentary” published, presenting Eren’s pivotal declaration
- Fall 2020: Attack on Titan Final Season anime begins airing, coinciding with broader industry trend of protagonist moral interrogation
- 2021: Final chapters (119-139) reveal the full context and consequences of Eren’s decision
Perspectives
The Supportive Interpretation: One faction of the fanbase viewed Eren’s resolve as a necessary act of self-defense. These readers interpreted Attack on Titan as fundamentally a story of humanity defending itself against external threats, with Eren as a hero fighting for his people’s survival and freedom. This group tended to favor traditional “good versus evil” narrative structures common in shonen manga.
The Critical Interpretation: A second group saw Eren’s declaration as the moment he transforms into a dictator. These readers approached the series from political and ethical perspectives, viewing Attack on Titan as an exploration of power dynamics and the corrupting nature of absolute authority. They recognized in Eren’s resolve the classic trajectory of a revolutionary becoming a tyrant.
The Philosophical Interpretation: A third, perhaps most analytically sophisticated group questioned whether Eren’s decision should be morally evaluated at all. They argued that the true meaning of his resolve—whether it represents freedom, control, or something else entirely—was itself the central question the narrative posed. This group viewed the ambiguity not as a flaw but as the work’s greatest strength.
The comparison to Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion is instructive. When Lelouch’s desire for “justice” is revealed as fundamentally rooted in a hunger for domination, the revelation is presented as a clear moral fall. Attack on Titan’s approach is more subtle: Eren’s declaration resists such clear categorization, forcing readers to construct their own moral frameworks rather than accepting a predetermined one.
Insights
Chapter 120 demonstrates that Attack on Titan transcends the boundaries of conventional shonen manga to function as philosophical inquiry into the nature of freedom, choice, and destiny. The chapter’s true power lies not in what Eren decides, but in the impossibility of definitively judging that decision.
The fanbase division reveals something profound about how audiences construct meaning from narratives. For thirteen years, readers had unconsciously accepted a particular moral framework. When the series challenged that framework, the resulting confusion and debate reflected not a failure of the storytelling but rather its success in forcing genuine ethical reflection.
Eren’s declaration, viewed through the lens of subsequent chapters, emerges not as a triumph but as a tragedy—a desperate attempt to resist a fate he already understands to be inevitable. This recontextualizes his entire character arc from a story of heroic liberation to one of doomed resistance against predetermined destiny. The parallel to works like Fire Emblem: Three Houses, which similarly explores the tension between predetermined fate and individual agency, suggests this theme resonates across contemporary media.
The ultimate significance of Chapter 120 may lie in its demonstration that Attack on Titan functions as a work of serious artistic merit rather than mere entertainment. By refusing to provide moral certainty, by embracing ambiguity, and by forcing readers to confront the limitations of their own ethical frameworks, the series achieves something rare in popular media: it becomes genuinely thought-provoking rather than merely emotionally engaging.
As time passes and the series concludes, fan reception will likely evolve. Current divisions between supporters and critics may eventually give way to broader recognition of the work’s philosophical sophistication. Attack on Titan will endure not because it provides clear answers about freedom, power, and justice, but because it asks these questions with uncompromising complexity.
