104th Training Corps Arc - Attack on Titan
The 104th Training Corps arc is the third story arc of Season 1 of Attack on Titan, taking place over the course of episodes 3 and 4, and the third story arc of the Attack on Titan manga , from chapters 15 to 18.
The 104th Training Corps Arc, Part 1
Season 1, Episode 3 – “A Faint Light Amidst Despair: Humanity’s Return, Part 1”
Episode 3:
- Aired on April 21, 2013 (original version) on May 17, 2014 (English version)
- Directed by Kiyoshi Fukumoto
- Written by Hiroshi Seko
Episode 4 depicts the arduous training in Trost District, a town bordered by Wall Rose, that the 104th Training Corps undergoes. In the episode's opening, Blouse Sasha is punished for eating a potato during a briefing and must run around the camp until sunset without food or water.
Eren Jaeger develops animosity towards Jean Kirtchstein , whose goal of having a safe and easy life within the walls of the Military Police Brigade completely contradicts Eren's own goal: to join the Reconnaissance Regiment and "Kill every last Titan."
The episode focuses in particular on their Omni-Directional Mobility Device , a piece of equipment that allows the scout to "fly" using two grappling hooks and cables attached to his waist. Eren struggles to balance on the cables meant to simulate the equipment's movements and asks Reiner Braun and Bertholdt Hoover, two other recruits, to help him train, as almost all of the other recruits have mastered the technique and passed the test. They train together, but Eren shows little to no improvement. Eventually, Eren manages to pass the test the next day after it is discovered that the Omni-Directional Mobility Device he was using is faulty.
The 104th Training Corps Arc, Part 2
Season 1, Episode 4 – “The Night of the Closing Ceremony: Humanity Returns, Part 2”
Episode 4:
- Aired on April 28, 2013 (original version) on May 24, 2014 (English version)
- Directed by Makoto Bessho
- Written by Yasuko Kobayashi
It is the year 850, five years after the Fall of Shiganshina . The recruits, now two years into their enlistment, are undergoing hand-to-hand combat training with each other. Eren spars with Reiner, disarming him. He then spots Annie Leonhart. Annie seems to be avoiding the training and challenges her to spar with him. She easily overcomes him twice, disarming him with ease. She also spars with Reiner, who is warned by Eren not to back down against her. Reiner is also quickly disarmed, much to her surprise. Annie speaks of her disapproval of the current system, believing it to be hypocritical that only the best graduating soldiers are allowed to join the Military Police Brigade , when their strength would be better used in the Reconnaissance Regiment. Reiner tells Annie that he believes she is not fit to be a soldier.
Mikasa Ackerman, Reiner Braun, Bertholdt Hoover, Annie Leonhart, Eren Jaeger, Jean Kirstein, Marco Bott, Connie Springer , Sasha Blouse, and Krista Lenz graduate among the top ten recruits of the 104th Training Corps, respectively. This means they can choose to join the Military Police Brigade to avoid fighting the Titans, but Eren declines and joins the Scout Regiment, the Titans' first line of defense and combat. Mikasa and Armin join him, along with several other recruits, including Annie Leonhart, Krista Lenz, Ymir, Connie Springer, and Thomas Wagner, who consider joining as well.
On their way through the Trost District, Eren and Mikasa encounter Hannes, the garrison town guard from Episodes 1 and 2, who has now been promoted to captain. Hannes led them away from the wreckage of their home in the Shiganshina District and helped them escape inside Wall Rose. Hannes apologizes to Eren again for not staying to fight the Smiling Titan that devoured Eren's mother, Carla Jaeger, explaining that he wasn't brave enough and congratulating the recruits on their graduation.
The recruits celebrate their graduation during their patrol, positioned at the cannons atop Wall Rose. Thomas Wagner apologizes to Eren for doubting his intentions in joining the Reconnaissance Regiment, now believing Eren's motives after listening to his impassioned speech when he chose not to join the Military Police Brigade. Sasha also reveals that she stole meat from the high-ranking officers' warehouse for them to eat together, unafraid of being caught despite her harsh punishments for eating food in the previous episode.
Episode 4 ends with the sudden appearance of the Colossal Titan. Eren manages to pierce Wall Rose in a blinding flash, which breaks through the gate again, allowing the Titans to pass through. Surprised and overcome with emotion, Eren momentarily loses his composure, but quickly regains it and calls for a counterattack, leading the Scout Regiment into battle against the Colossal Titan at the wall and the many normal Titans entering through the destroyed gate. He vows to seek justice against the Titan who destroyed his hometown five years ago and is responsible for his mother's death.
