Attack on Titan is a bleak, dystopian anime that isn't exactly known for its romantic subplots. Still, there are a few characters who do develop feelings for one another over the course of the series, even if those relationships are far from the central focus of the show.
And with the series so focused on other storylines, it’s natural that some of the romantic feelings seem to come out of left field. While characters like Eren and Mikasa are clearly into one another, others are more surprising when it comes to their interests.
Grisha And The Titan Who Ate Eren's Mom
When the first season of Attack on Titan opens, Grisha Yeager remains a pretty mysterious character. Eren's father goes on unexplained trips and alludes to doing very important work in his basement -- all of which is later explained when Eren realizes he's inherited the Attack Titan.
Of course, the later seasons delve further into Grisha's backstory, revealing an even more surprising detail about him in the process: not only has Grisha been married and had a son before coming to Paradis Island, but his previous wife was turned into a Titan -- the same Titan that ate Eren's mother. Yikes. That’s a twist that most fans didn’t see coming, though it does sort of bring his story full circle.
Historia And Ymir: A Pleasant Surprise
LGBTQ+ relationships are still far too uncommon in mainstream anime series, and that's why Ymir and Historia's feelings for one another came as such a pleasant surprise from Attack on Titan.
While the two never explicitly acknowledge their romance (no one really does in the series), there are numerous moments that suggest their feelings went beyond mere friendship. Unfortunately, they’re separated before any real resolution can happen. At least they got to say goodbye.
Historia And The Farmer: No Really, Who Is This Guy?
After multiple seasons spent alluding to feelings between Historia and Ymir, Attack on Titan never delivers on that promise. Instead, after Ymir disappears with Reiner and Bertolt (and is later eaten for her power), Historia winds up embracing her role as queen. That includes marrying and producing an heir to the Reiss family legacy.
This is partly to avoid having to inherit Eren’s Titan, and that plan led many to believe Eren could have been the father of Historia’s baby. Sadly, all the speculation was for naught, as he really just ends up being some nameless farmer.
Historia And Reiner: An Odd Couple
Perhaps almost as strange as Historia's sudden marriage to a random farmer is the one-sided crush Reiner seems to have on her throughout the series, despite the fact that the two rarely interact with one another.
Even years after joining the Survey Corps with her, Reiner still brings up his crush, suggesting it goes beyond simply finding her attractive. That’s a bit unexpected, especially since they don’t seem to talk or have much in common.
Sasha And Niccolo: Who Doesn't Love A Man With Food?
Although it's unclear if Sasha ever returned Niccolo's feelings for her, Attack on Titan sets up some kind of romantic narrative between these two in its final season. This was an abrupt development and one that only received any attention after Sasha's death -- leaving fans to wonder why it needed to be included at all.
Prior to Niccolo’s introduction, it seemed Sasha could wind up with one of her fellow soldiers, like Connie or Jean. Giving her a fling with someone else could have worked, but it needed more development.
Bertolt And Annie: Where Did That Come From?
When season 2 reveals that Reiner and Bertolt are the two Titans who attacked Shiganshina District years ago, it quickly becomes clear that the pair were working with Annie. During conversations later on, it also becomes obvious that Bertolt has a pretty huge crush on their friend -- but the revelation is so out of left field, it needs to be on this list.
Prior to the flashbacks chronicling the trio’s assault on Paradis Island, viewers never see Annie and Bertolt interact. She seems to have some kind of relationship (or rivalry) with Reiner, but there’s never anything to suggest she and Bertolt could become a thing.
Armin And Annie: Opposites Attract?
Armin and Annie have a few interesting moments during season 1, all of which allude to them understanding one another better than the rest of their comrades. However, with both of them fighting on opposing sides of the war between Eldia and Marley -- and Bertolt's obvious crush on Annie -- it never seemed anything would actually come of it.
Fast-forward to present-day Attack on Titan and Armin has clearly inherited some of Bertolt’s tendencies, alongside his Titan — including his interest in Annie. That’s not something most fans were expecting, but most are happy that at least someone can have a happy ending.
Eren And Historia: A Fleeting Fling
In the later seasons of Attack on Titan, Eren and Historia tend to agree on what needs to be done to save Paradis Island from Marley and the Titans — and this understanding leads to them developing a bond that’s often seen as romantic. Add in the few flirtatious scenes between these two, and it seems there could have been something between them.
Given how heavily the series has emphasized Mikasa and Eren as its main couple, it’s a little surprising it would diverge from that, even briefly. Arguably, those scenes serve to highlight Mikasa’s jealousy, but they’re still a strange turn for Eren.
Gabi And Falco: A Rarity For Attack On Titan
Gabi and Falco balance each other incredibly well, and the fact that the two would go on to develop romantic feelings for each other isn't all that far-fetched.
In this instance, it's more surprising that the two actually live through all of the anime's antics and stay together long enough to acknowledge those feelings. Both could be considered rarities by Attack on Titan standards.
Jean And Mikasa: A Surprising Turn Of Events
While Jean's feelings for Mikasa are apparent from the beginning of Attack on Titan, most fans didn't expect his crush to actually go anywhere. However, the anime continues to reference them over the course of its four seasons, and manga readers know that the relationship does eventually go somewhere -- a turn most weren't anticipating.
Since Mikasa and Eren spend the majority of the series with their feelings for each other on full display, it's definitely safe to say no one saw a Jean and Mikasa relationship coming. However, it does make some sense, given how long they’ve been comrades and all they’ve been through together.