Attack on Titan is one of the greatest productions of all time, provided we exclude the final season. It possesses a magnificent flow, incredible immersion, and legendary plot twists. Beyond that, it offers an expansive roster of characters. All these elements combined create a cult masterpiece. The series features many brilliant and deep characters. I am not including the protagonists, Mikasa and Eren, here. To me, they aren’t particularly interesting characters. In fact, I’ve already written a post critiquing Eren. Today, I’ll be talking about Floch—Eren’s loyal follower, who infuriated some viewers and entertained others in the final season.
How Was Floch Introduced?
We first see Floch in Season 3, Part 2. Like many other soldiers, he joined the Survey Corps with a high sense of curiosity and honor. When he first meets our main characters, he quickly realizes that he is fundamentally different from them.
Later, during the operation to retake Shiganshina, he is assigned to guard the horses. As viewers, we initially see Floch as a mere side character. There is no obvious difference between him and any other recruit guarding the horses until Erwin’s speech. During the Beast Titan’s bombardment, most of the veteran soldiers lose their lives, and Floch falls into a state of terrified despair, failing to fulfill his duty. When Marlowe barks at him to do his job, Floch gives a hauntingly pragmatic answer: “What’s the point? What’s the point of guarding the horses if there’s no one left to ride them?” Floch’s words are true, and this is annoying. Indeed, why protect the horses if no one is coming back alive? Realizing this, Levi and Erwin devise a plan. Then comes that legendary, hair-raising speech. Here, Floch asks Erwin another question: “If we’re going to die anyway, are you telling us to die fighting?” He adds: “No, if we’re going to die regardless, it doesn’t matter how we die, even if it’s by disobeying orders, right?” Erwin acknowledges this and continues, encouraging everyone (except Levi) to lead a suicide charge.
Why Did I Survive?
Following this charge, the Beast Titan wipes out everyone, including Erwin. This distraction allows Levi to attack him. On the other side, our protagonists are fighting a separate battle against the Colossal Titan. As a result of this battle, Armin is completely charred but still breathing. Eren, wanting to use the titan injection on him, pleads with Captain Levi. As the argument unfolds, Floch suddenly appears with Erwin on his back. As viewers, we are shocked. We think, “What are you doing here?” Floch claims there must be a reason why he survived that hell. When he asks himself why he lived, his answer is to keep Erwin alive, leading to a heated confrontation with Mikasa. Erwin was a “devil,” and saving that devil was Floch’s duty. Floch couldn’t have survived for nothing; he had to have a purpose. This trauma is what transformed him into the man we see in the final season.
Everything for Eldia
Upon learning that there are humans outside the island who want them dead, Floch joined Eren’s plan and became his greatest supporter. Floch had now become Eren’s spokesman and Erwin’s “sacred heir.” They needed a devil to defend themselves, and that devil could be no one but Eren. The priority was his own nation. This extreme patriotism shaped Floch’s ideology, leading him to believe that the end justifies the means. Alongside the Yeagerists, he did everything to defend the island. He showed his loyalty even before his death, never abandoning his cause until his very last breath.
The One Who Speaks the Plain Truths
Through his actions, Floch earned the hatred of many, but in my opinion, he also earned respect. He didn’t walk around with the hypocrisy of characters like Mikasa and Armin. He personally demonstrated the true nature of war time and again. War is bloody. Civilians, unfortunately, always suffer. Because of this, Floch didn’t indulge in useless pangs of conscience. He acted with cold-blooded efficiency. Of course, he took his actions to extremes and failed to draw a line for himself. Destroying the entire world so Eldia could live was not—and could not be—acceptable. However, from another perspective, there was no real alternative solution for the Eldians. In a way, Floch and Eren were right. Floch showed us these cruel and plain truths with his blunt attitude. In a sense, he said what we were all thinking. Perhaps that is why he made us so uncomfortable while watching. We saw ourselves in that darkness. Floch, as a mirror, reflected the “justified evil” within us.
Even Isayama Didn’t See It Coming
In several interviews, the series creator, Hajime Isayama, admitted that he hadn’t anticipated Floch evolving into such a character. You might ask, “He’s the author, isn’t he? How could he fail to predict his own character’s trajectory?” However, this is a common occurrence in fiction. Sometimes, a background figure gains unexpected significance and fundamentally alters the course of a story. These are known as “breakout characters.” For those interested, you can find other similar examples here.
Hajime Isayama Source: Kayıp Rıhtım
Isayama revealed in interviews that Floch was initially created for one purpose only: to carry Erwin back. That was his sole reason for existing in the series. Later, Isayama needed someone to give voice to Eren’s ideas. Creating a brand-new character from scratch would have been a waste of time, especially since the series already had a vast roster. Floch, a veteran haunted by trauma and open to radical ideologies, became the perfect fit for Isayama’s needs.
My Take on Floch
His evolution into this version of the character significantly enhanced the viewing experience. I personally prefer his cold-blooded, loyal, and outspoken persona over his former cowardly self. Of course, he managed to infuriate me at times. He was a truly well-written antagonist who succeeded in being genuinely hated. He wasn’t a villain without a cause; on the contrary, he had a goal he deemed “noble.” He labored toward that goal until his very last breath, fighting with everything he had. He transformed from a mere background extra into a character who now commands the spotlight and countless fan edits.