Critics and viewers often highlight this episode as a major turning point for its:

: It transitions from a "survival horror" show about monsters into a "politically driven betrayal show," often compared to Game of Thrones .

: After a message from the arrested Commander Erwin, Levi leads the squad back into the Trost District. The episode concludes with a dramatic ambush where Levi's past mentor, Kenny the Ripper , arrives and kills several Scouts, including Nifa. Why the Story is "Solid"

: Despite the lack of Titans, the high-octane human-to-human combat featuring ODM gear is widely praised as some of the best in the series.

: It begins to peel back the layers of Levi’s mysterious past and focuses heavily on Historia Reiss , who is revealed to be much more important to the monarchy than previously thought.

Attack on Titan Season 3 , Episode 1 (Episode 38 overall), titled shifts the series from titan-on-titan combat to a more human-centric, political thriller. Episode 38: " Smoke Signal " Plot Summary