Facebook
Reddit
Email
Explore Reiner Braun’s character as he goes through his journey as a villain and a hero in Attack on Titan.
Reiner Braun is a major character in Attack on Titan who was once thought to be the villain by fans. But, he has layers of reasons for what he did. If anything, Reiner’s life story is a mix of tragedy. The nuance of his character makes answering this question even more difficult because the answer depends on who you ask.
When Reiner made his first appearance, he gave off the aura of someone who would be a great supporting character. However, it was only the beginning of a great plot twist. Reiner and the rest of Attack on Titan’s roster joined the Survey Corps and became a titan-slaying cadet. He was often seen with Berthold and sometimes Annie. They came from the same hometown, after all. However, he also grew closer to the other cadets, particularly Eren, who saw Reiner as an older brother figure.
But, Eren and the Survey Corps had to live a sudden twist of fate. Reiner, Berthold, and Annie turned out to be a threat to Paradis Island — they were the Titans who launched the attack on Shiganshina. This tragic event, though, affected Reiner in a way that made him succumb to a deep guilt. Throughout his character development, Reiner took the audience on an emotional roller-coaster.
Why Reiner’s Status as a Villain is Disputed
Reiner’s betrayal in the second season surprised fans when it first aired. If your favorite character in Attack on Titan is him, you might have felt the same. But, because now the series has ended, the full picture has become clear. He perceived his mission to annihilate Paradis Island as a noble purpose for Marley and himself.
Reiner was an indoctrinated kid when he was chosen as the Armored Titan holder. He joined the Marleyan Warrior Unit to win over his father. Reiner was born to an Eldian mother and a Marleyan father. Eldians were treated as second-class citizens, to the point that it was punishable by law to have a relationship with them. This unfortunate situation led Reiner’s father to despise his son.
However, Reiner believed he would get the acknowledgment he needed if he became an honorary Marleyan. Along with Annie, Berthold, and Marcel, Reiner set off for Paradis Island. Unfortunately, the mission resulted in Reiner’s worst experience of his life. Why? First, his mission leader, Marcel Galliard, was eaten by a titan shortly after they arrived on Paradis Island. Marcel was also the Jaw Titan holder, doubling the loss for the team.
Consequently, Reiner had to take the leadership role and push the mission to obliterate Paradis Island, starting from Shiganshina. However, it disturbed him emotionally, especially after he joined the Survey Corps as a disguise. Unlike Berthold and Annie, who were a bit distant, Reiner blended in well, too well. He realized the Eldians in Paradis Island were people, not devils, like how he was taught. He became too immersed in Survey Corps life, which became a problem when they decided to return to Marley. Reiner started showing split personalities.
For instance, when Marco overheard his conversation with Berthold, Reiner mercilessly fed him to a titan. Even Berthold and Annie seemed disturbed. However, Reiner switched back and stared in terror at what he had done. Even after returning to Marley, Reiner still regretted what he did and spiraled into a mental breakdown. His memory of the Survey Corps still lingered, yet his Warrior side opposed it.
This is what separates him from the concept of a villain. A villain is someone whose evil drives the plot, which is not what Reiner is. His regret and, eventually, redemption are more significant in his story. But, Reiner’s regret only explicitly showed in the fourth season. That is why fans who watched the anime ten years ago or are still catching up might think Reiner is a full-blown villain.
The Ambiguous Line between Hero and Villain in Attack on Titan
It can be difficult to pinpoint who the hero and villain in Attack on Titan are. For the most part, the story doesn’t put its characters into a permanent label of good or evil. Everyone has a reason why they do what they do.
The story of Attack on Titan puts most characters in a gray area, especially with Reiner. At first, he acts as a Warrior with a mission. Then, everything changes when he fights side-by-side with Eren and the Survey Corps, often saving his comrades from the brink of death. However, he is supposed to wipe these people out. His betrayal might hurt him just as much as it hurts the other Survey Corps members, even more so when Reiner sees what Eren has become.
Fast forward four years into the story, Eren confronts Reiner before he launches his first strike on Marley. As Reiner talks with Eren, he realizes Eren has turned into what he was in Paradis Island. Reiner, visibly shocked in horror, begs Eren to end his life, seemingly unable to bear his pain anymore. In this part, the audience sees someone who broke the wall and let thousands of people get smashed by Titans drown in regret.
This is where Attack on Titan starts to flip the role of hero and villain. The audience might believe that Eren attacking Liberio is justified and that it is the right action. However, it’s all about perspective. Eren is convinced Marley has to pay the price for the pain he has endured, the loss of his mother, and his life confined within the walls. On the other hand, Reiner believed he must eradicate the Eldians in Paradis Island. But, he later realizes what he did on Paradis Island is horrible and can’t be undone.
The lack of permanence in the label hero and villain in Attack on Titan elevates the nuance of its story. It digs deep into themes such as revenge, betrayal, guilt, and redemption. Reiner and Eren essentially undergo a drastic change in their character development, and most of these themes are present in their stories.
Reiner’s Relationship with Eren
Reiner and Eren are two sides of the same coin. Though Reiner chooses to make it right and atone for his wrongdoings, Eren doubles down and decides to wipe out anything that is not Paradis Island. Attack on Titan does well in portraying the two’s sense of brotherhood and ripping it apart to be a complicated part of the story.
During their tenure in the Survey Corps, Eren looks up to Reiner. He thinks of Reiner akin to an older brother. He primarily sees Reiner’s good qualities and admires how helpful and upstanding Reiner is as a soldier. Even after the higher-ups of Survey Corps declare their suspicion of Reiner and Berthold, Eren defends him, thinking Reiner would never betray the people of Paradis island.
However, since their first confrontation in Marley, the conflict between Eldians and Marley drives them even further apart. In the end, they are a foil to each other. The reason Eren attacked Liberio is the same reason why the Warrior Unit exists: an attempt to save the world, their respective world at least.
Why Fans Love Reiner
By the end of the series, Reiner is one of the fans’ favorites. His complex journey as a character shows a lot of depth and nuances. When he first appears, he seems like a great supporting character, someone who is capable and always there for whoever needs him in the Survey Corps. But everything takes a U-turn. Reiner goes from a kid seeking approval from his father and Marley to someone who can’t bear the pain caused by his past actions.
Reiner takes the audience on an emotional journey as his character displays heavy themes. He portrays an eerily realistic response to trauma and to the difficult situations he finds himself in. His most appealing aspect as a character is his inner battle with his past, which drives him to fight for what he truly believes.
Reiner’s story is closer to tragic redemption instead of villainy. He has one of the most tragic backstories in the series. In the second season, the audience sees everything from Eren’s and the Survey Corps’ perspectives, not Reiner’s. However, later in the story, fans see the world from Reiner’s and the Marleyan’s eyes.
To Marley and Reiner, Paradis Island is a threat to the world, considering they can unleash the Rumbling. However, to Eren, the rest of the world must be stopped. Deciding who is the hero and the villain in a story depends on whose perspective the story shows.
Looking For More?
Thank you for reading the article. We provide the latest news and create guides for Baldur’s Gate 3, Starfield, ARK Survival Ascended, and more. Also, watch Deltia play games on Twitch or visit his YouTube channel!
