Hange Zoe sacrificed herself in Attack on Titan Season 4 Part 3 for the Alliance to get on the plane and face Eren. But is her death worth it, and did she really have to die? If she hadn't stayed behind, would the Alliance make it out on time?
Spoiler Warning: There are major spoilers for Attack on Titan in this article.
Is Hange’s Death Worth It?
Deciding whether a character’s death is worth it or not is rather complicated. As avid fans of Attack on Titan, we know that no one is safe in the shounen anime. After Sasha’s death, we learned to expect that anyone could die in the series.
But if we are to answer this question based on what happens to the Alliance after, we can say that Hange’s death was worth it.
Without her buying them some time, the Alliance could not have left and ended the Rumbling.
Was It Necessary for Hange to Die?
Let's have a quick recap on the members of the Alliance: Hange, Mikasa, Jean, Armin, Connie, Levi, Annie, Reiner, Pieck, Gabi, and Falco. Who had the best chance to stop the Colossal Titans among these characters?
While Connie, Gabi, and Jean have proven their skills over time, we must choose from the Ackermans or the Titan shifters.
However, they cannot afford to lose them early on as they are needed to face Eren. This might be the reason it was Hange who was left behind.
Her skills and experience with Titans guarantee that she can give the Alliance their much-needed time to escape.
It was unfortunate that she had to die, of course, as it would have been good to see her in the Alliance during the battle against Eren.
Her great mind would have given the Alliance more options and strategies, but maybe it was also necessary for her to die so that Armin could step up and maximize his full potential.
The Importance of Hange's Sacrifice
The Alliance would not have made it on time if no one stayed behind. The Colossal Titans were too close, and the plane was not in perfect condition to fly. In short, there had to be someone to delay the Titans for the Alliance to leave.
As mentioned earlier, there was no one else perfect for the job other than Hange. But what if Hange was with another person or if two other characters were left behind instead of one?
While this is a good option, it would've meant that the Alliance will lose two more people instead of one.
Choosing to face the Colossal Titans guarantees death, so whether two or three people decide to face them, all of those characters will die.
Nonetheless, Hange Zoe was one of the most influential characters in Attack on Titan.
It is a shame that she had to die, but we can all agree that her choice was the best one in that situation, and her contribution was essential for the Alliance to keep moving forward.
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