Warning: Spoilers for Attack on Titan season 4 episode 17
One of the most shocking moments thus far in Attack on Titan season 4 is Levi's unceremonious demise, but the question of whether he is really dead could be up for debate. The much-anticipated final chapter of Attack on Titan, season 4 part 2 premiered on January 9, delivering a healthy dose of the show's classic Titan fight scenes and behind-the-scenes strategizing. Amidst all this, Levi's death flies surprisingly under the radar, which is significant in considering the impact of his death and whether it's actually official.
The first part of season 4 leaves off with Eren about to go up against Reiner and the Marleyan army, but it also leaves Zeke and Levi in an uncertain situation elsewhere. Having captured Zeke, Levi rigs his mutilated body with a Thunder Spear that will blow up if he tries to move, and in a desperate moment, Zeke does just that. But while Zeke survives in a Titan's stomach as hinted at in season 4 part 1, the first episode of part 2 sees Hange arrive with a group of Jaegerists and pronounce Levi dead when she finds his body. This is a shocking and perhaps even unjust ending for one of Attack on Titan's most significant characters, especially given that it technically happens offscreen between the season's halves.
However, some key details could hint that Levi isn't quite dead. For one, Hange evades letting any of her captors take Levi's pulse to confirm it. She also takes a quick opportunity to dive into the river with his body and escape, during which Floch exclaims "they're getting away!" His use of "they" rather than "she" implies that at least Floch thinks Levi could still be alive. As one of the most deadly and popular characters in Attack on Titan, Levi is certainly a good candidate for a resurrection at death's door, and the show seems to be purposefully implying the possibility. At the same time, the logistics for how Hange can revive Levi are troublesome, and season 4 might need him to stay dead.
Although Hange has escaped with Levi's body, she's still far away from help, and the rest of the cast is occupied with Eren and Reiner's Titan fight. Thus, even if Levi isn't dead yet, it's hard to imagine how Hange can save him alone in the wilderness. The only times characters have come back from such significant mutilation is when Titan powers get involved, which raises a troubling question: will Hange have to turn Levi into a Titan somehow in order to save him? This would require that the Scouts have Titan serum on hand and a way for Levi to eat one of Attack on Titan's Titan shifters after he transforms, all of which is quite implausible. On top of this, turning into a Titan simply seems incompatible with Levi's character, given his repulsion towards them.
The implications for season 4 if Levi stays dead, however, might make a bit more sense. While the quiet, sidelined nature of his death seems to be setting up an opportunity for resurrection, it could also be the perfect end for Levi's character. He has always been a low-key and dedicated fighter, so a sudden, almost random death without fanfare might be the way he'd prefer to go out. After all, as an Ackerman Levi doesn't fear death in the face of fulfilling his duty, which is reflected in the gamble he takes with Zeke. Furthermore, the way Hange is shocked to find Levi's body after he's been killed mirrors the way Levi discovers his own dead comrades in his backstory OVA, "No Regrets," which makes his death a poetic parallel. And finally, the death of one of their most respected and capable leaders could be exactly the rallying point that the Scouts need to take down both Marley and the Jaegerists moving forward.
Ultimately it's impossible to discern yet whether Levi is really dead or still somehow alive. There's compelling evidence and reasoning for both outcomes. Viewers will just have to wait and see what happens to Levi and Hange in the next episodes of Attack on Titan season 4 part 2.
Attack on Titan season 4 is streaming now on Netflix.