Attack on Titan Episode 51: Thunder Spears

The Beast Titan and other Titans stand outside Shiganshina District while the Scout Regiment waits on the Wall. Behind the Scouts, a character known as Reiner hardens the fingers and toes of his Armored Titan to climb the Wall. Erwin orders the Scouts to avoid fighting the Armored Titan. Eren asks why there is no order to attack, and Hange replies that Erwin is observing the enemy, believing Reiner and his companions have a plan.

Erwin notices a quadrupedal Titan next to the Beast Titan, carrying cargo on a makeshift saddle. He suspects it is an Intelligent Titan that scouted their approach and reported it to Reiner, and considers the possibility of more such Titans. The Beast Titan roars, and smaller Titans charge towards the Wall, targeting the Scouts' horses trapped on the Titan side. Erwin realizes the enemy's goal is to capture Eren by eliminating their escape and resupply options, effectively caging them in.

Armin informs Erwin that the Armored Titan is nearing the top and Bertholdt's location is unknown. Erwin acknowledges this, stating his primary concern is losing the horses. He orders Dirk Squad and Marlene Squad to join Klaus Squad at the gate, then instructs Levi Squad and Hange Squad to take down the Armored Titan using Thunder Spears.

As Scouts move, Erwin calls back Levi and Armin. He asks Levi to protect the horses and take down the Beast Titan when possible. Levi agrees and joins other squads at the gate. Erwin then tells Armin his plan for the Armored Titan.

The Armored Titan reaches the Wall's top, observing smaller Titans fighting the Scout Regiment. Reiner notices the horses are tethered together, making them an easy target. He realizes a blade was removed from his neck and that he narrowly avoided death. He spots Erwin alone on the Wall but refocuses.

A flash of light signals Eren's Titan transformation in the streets below. Eren runs deeper into Shiganshina, forcing Reiner to choose between pursuing Eren, who could escape over the southern Wall or even to Trost District, or attacking the horses. Reiner considers that letting someone who mastered hardening in two months escape would be a significant loss, especially if he masters the Coordinate ability.

Reiner concludes Eren's move is a feint, as a genuine escape attempt would involve using omni-directional mobility gear to scale the Wall before transforming. He realizes the Scouts are forcing him to choose between the horses and Eren. Frustrated, Reiner slides down the Wall to pursue Eren.

Minutes earlier, Armin relayed Erwin's plan to use Eren as bait to Hange. Mikasa was skeptical, but Hange explained that if Reiner ignored Eren, Eren could flank the enemy Titans and attack the Beast Titan, creating a pincer movement with Levi and the Scouts. Even if Reiner didn't follow the plan, it would cause confusion. Hange agreed to the plan, but before they and Levi Squad executed it, Armin reminded them that Bertholdt was still hidden. To prevent a repeat of Eren's previous defeat by the Armored Titan, Armin suggested fighting away from the Walls.

As Eren waits for Reiner in Shiganshina, he reminds himself he has beaten Reiner before. He hardens the backs of his Titan's fingers. Reiner charges, and the two grapple. Eren, drawing strength from fighting in his hometown, strikes Reiner's head with a hardened fist, cracking his armor and knocking him down.

Outside Shiganshina, new recruits of Klaus Squad move the horses. Floch asks Marlo where to put them, and Marlo replies they should be spread out. Veteran Scouts fight Titans overhead. Marlo sees a Titan for the first time as Levi kills two Titans chasing the recruits.

Seeing the recruits are safe, Levi tells veterans to eliminate smaller Titans before the Beast Titan acts again. He finds the situation pathetic. On the Wall, Erwin shares a similar sentiment, observing the Scouts struggling with three- to four-meter Titans and suffering many casualties. He reflects that the sacrifices of veteran soldiers were necessary for the Scouts to reach this point.

Erwin recalls his cadet days, when he spoke of his father's theory. He had hoped to prove it as a Scout but stopped talking about it after joining. He realized he fought for his own dream, unlike other Scouts who fought for a greater purpose. He found himself in a leadership role, giving orders and inspiring others, which required him to deceive his comrades and himself into making sacrifices. He remains drawn to the basement, hoping to reach it before he dies to learn the truth Grisha Jaeger left behind.

Eren and Reiner continue fighting, with Eren gaining the upper hand. Eren discovers that focusing all his hardening on one spot makes it stronger, allowing him to easily smash Reiner's armor. However, Eren becomes overconfident and misjudges Reiner's counterattack. Reiner grabs Eren's Titan by the ankle and swings him into a building.

Seeing Eren in distress, Mikasa wants to help, but Hange tells her to wait for Eren to create an opening.

Before the expedition, Hange developed a new weapon, the Thunder Spear, using technology previously hidden by the Interior Police. She wanted a weapon against the Armored Titan, as blades were ineffective and they couldn't rely solely on Eren. While plugging the Wall is important, they must stop Reiner and Bertholdt, who were responsible for breaking the Wall.

In the present, Eren and Reiner grapple, and Eren throws Reiner off. Reiner realizes he cannot defeat Eren alone. Hange leads her squad and Levi's to attack the Armored Titan. Reiner is surprised by their ability to damage him as Hange and Mikasa impale his eyes with Thunder Spears, blinding him with explosions.

From behind, the rest of Hange and Levi Squads fire Thunder Spears into the Armored Titan's back, disengaging before the explosions. Jean shouts that it worked, as the armor around Reiner's nape is peeling off. Hange calls for them to finish him, but Conny and Sasha hesitate to kill their former friend. Jean rallies them, and they join the other Scouts in attacking. Multiple Thunder Spears pierce the Armored Titan, and Reiner panics just before they explode.