At what point did Eren Jaeger transform from Attack On Titan's lead protagonist into one of the story's villains? After a lengthy time jump, Attack On Titan season 4 picks up with Eren Jaeger and his Survey Corps friends infiltrating the mainland of Marley - the enemies who kept them oppressed and imprisoned for over 100 years. Eren masquerades as a wounded soldier and takes advantage of an eager young recruit to mobilize his allies through secret letters, before finally coming face to face with Reiner in episode 5 - their first meeting since the battle for Paradis Island. But in the gap between Attack On Titan seasons 3 and 4, Eren Jaeger has clearly undergone a huge transformation, and not just in the hair department.

Having come to know the people of Marley, Eren admits he understands why Reiner and his friends attacked the Eldians living behind walls. He gets that Marley has been brainwashed into believing the island-dwellers are evil demons who'll destroy the world, and realizes that those who attacked his home genuinely believed they were doing the right thing. Eren also knows how guilty Reiner must feel after infiltrating the walls and learning the truth - that Paradis Eldians are just regular people. Finally, Eren acknowledges that Marley is just like Paradis. Aside from a few higher-ups controlling everything, most Marleyans are innocent, normal folks with families and livelihoods. But just as it looks like Eren may be trying to reach out and empathize with his enemy, he abruptly transforms into the Attack Titan, intentionally killing an entire building of civilians.

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This shocking moment cements Eren's transition from Attack On Titan's hero to a genuine villain who has abandoned all moral principles to right the wrongs his people have suffered over the past century. But when, exactly, did Eren turn bad in Attack On Titan?

Eren Jaeger in Attack On Titan

The answer is an ambiguous one, with several different moments that could be argued as the "beginning" of Eren's downfall. Potentially, Eren's transformation started the moment he swore to wipe out every single Titan and earn his freedom. After choosing this path, Eren couldn't turn back, even after realizing that gaining freedom involved killing innocent people. Alternatively, Eren's corruption might've began after reaching the ocean in Attack On Titan season 3. Instead of being excited at finally glimpsing the fabled expanse of water, Eren could only think about his enemies beyond the horizon. It was here that Eren once again resolved to do whatever it took to reclaim the freedom of the Eldians on Paradis Island.

However, the real moment Eren became a villain occurs a little earlier, during Attack On Titan season 3's medal ceremony. Fresh from the reclamation of Wall Maria, the Survey Corps are honored with awards by the newly-appointed Queen Historia. As Eren makes contact with Historia, he experiences some kind of frightening vision that leaves him aghast. While Attack On Titan manga readers will know exactly what Eren sees here, the anime has already revealed enough to determine this as the moment Eren's soul started rotting. The Founding Titan, which Eren possesses, can only unleash its full power when wielded by someone with royal blood. As Eren kisses Historia's hand, that connection is established. Furthermore, Grisha Jaeger's backstory revealed that the Attack Titan shares its memories with every holder. By connecting to his Titan's timeline through Historia, Eren sees the past, present and future mapped out before him, and witnesses something that proves there's no other way forward than destroying Marley for good.

The medal ceremony makes sense as a turning point for Eren, as his behavior has been drastically changed ever since. Eren might've been having doubts about his path and morality before touching Historia, but afterward, he turned into a totally different character, refusing to celebrate the ocean's discovery and killing with reckless abandon. How far into darkness will Eren go as Attack On Titan season 4 continues?

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