Attack on Titan Season 1 (Fall of Shiganshina / Trost / 57th Expedition / Stohess) reviewed as a destination page: worth watching, arc structure, scores, and who it is for. Hub: Attack on Titan. Episodes 1–25 this season (overall 1–25).
Hook
Fall of Shiganshina / Trost / 57th Expedition / Stohess is 25 episodes of WIT Studio dark fantasy that opens with Shiganshina’s fall, rebuilds through Trost, and weaponizes the Female Titan hunt — WIT Studio teaching you that hope is a military budget item.
This page is for sequential viewers deciding whether Season 1 is a binge, a weekly ritual, or a skip — spoiler-free advice up top, full-arc depth after the warning.
Quick Information
- Season: Season 1
- Episodes: 25
- Arc: Fall of Shiganshina / Trost / 57th Expedition / Stohess
- Studio: WIT Studio
- Air window: April 7, 2013 – September 29, 2013
- Kagex score: 9.1 / 10
- Where to watch: Crunchyroll / Hulu / Netflix (region-dependent)
Should You Watch Season 1?
Yes if you finished prior seasons (or you are starting fresh — begin at Episode 1). Season 1 is not a random highlight reel — start at Season 1 Episode 1 if you are new.
Worth bingeing? If you like moral pressure, military logistics, and reveals that rewrite earlier seasons. Who bounces? Viewers who only want Titan fights and skip politics — those hours are load-bearing here.
Spoiler Warning
Full Season 1 spoilers follow. Stop above for a clean first watch of this season.
Season Story Overview
The giant hand of a Titan above Wall Maria, humanity’s outermost Wall, ominously looms over the onlookers below, gaping in awe. The narrator explains how on that day, humanity received a grim reminder, and how they lived in fear of the Titans and were disgraced to live in the cages they called Walls. Earlier that day, beyond the Walls, the Scout Regiment are traveling through a forest when they encounter a Titan. The soldiers attempt to assault it in an effort to establish humanity’s first base outside their own Walls. Closing in, they break into five groups, with some as bait and some as attack, and start using their omni-directional mobility gear and launch an attack. left|thumb|200px|Eren argues with Hannes Within the safety of the Walls, a child, Eren Jaeger, awakes from a dream crying. Mikasa Ackermann asks him why he is crying, but Eren is unable to remember what he was dreaming about. While returning to the Shiganshina District, Eren and Mikasa encounter a group of soldiers guarding the gates, including their family friend Hannes, who are all laughing and drinking on the job. Eren, voicing his concerns that the soldiers will not be ready in the event of an emergency, is reassured that the Walls are 50 meters high, taller than any known Titan, and there has not been an incident in the past 100 years. After speaking his mind on the situation, with Eren comparing their situ…
Episode 1 — “To You, in 2000 Years: The Fall of Shiganshina, Part 1”
The giant hand of a Titan above Wall Maria, humanity’s outermost Wall, ominously looms over the onlookers below, gaping in awe. The narrator explains how on that day, humanity received a grim reminder, and how they lived in fear of the Titans and were disgraced to live in the cages they called Walls. Earlier that day, beyond the Walls, the Scout Regiment are traveling through a forest when they encounter a Titan. The…
Kagex note: Episode 1 (overall #1) sits inside Fall of Shiganshina / Trost / 57th Expedition / Stohess. Watch for how fear becomes policy — not just who swings the blade.
Episode 2 — “That Day: The Fall of Shiganshina, Part 2”
thumb|left|200px|Hannes cries as he confesses his lack of courage to face the Titan As crows begin to feed on the dead citizens of Shiganshina District, a religious man is frantically reciting words from his book. Townsfolk are screaming and running as the Titans roam the district, and the man is eventually confronted and eaten by a Titan, his book falling to the ground. A woman flees to a dark alley, covering her mo…
Kagex note: Episode 2 (overall #2) sits inside Fall of Shiganshina / Trost / 57th Expedition / Stohess. Watch for how fear becomes policy — not just who swings the blade.
Episode 3 — “A Dim Light Amid Despair: Humanity’s Comeback, Part 1”
Keith Sadies, the commandant of the 104th Cadet Corps, is psychologically breaking down the new cadets as a rite of passage to break them down so they can rebuild them as soldiers. As an officer and his attendant pass by, they notice Sadies does not subject a few cadets to this abuse and the officer simply notes that their expressions distinguish them from the rest of the group as being present to the fall of Wall Ma…
Kagex note: Episode 3 (overall #3) sits inside Fall of Shiganshina / Trost / 57th Expedition / Stohess. Watch for how fear becomes policy — not just who swings the blade.
Episode 4 — “The Night of the Closing Ceremony: Humanity’s Comeback, Part 2”
left|thumb|200px|Reiner helps Armin and takes his bag In the year 850, over two years after enlistment, the 104th Cadet Corps is undergoing a fitness assessment. The cadets are doing a run with weighted backpacks, but Armin Arlelt is exhausted and is scolded by the commandant, Keith Sadies. Reiner Braun decides to help Armin by picking up his bag. Sadies critiques the overall abilities and teamwork demonstrated by ea…
Kagex note: Episode 4 (overall #4) sits inside Fall of Shiganshina / Trost / 57th Expedition / Stohess. Watch for how fear becomes policy — not just who swings the blade.
Episode 5 — “First Battle: The Struggle for Trost, Part 1”
While Eren is running on top of the Wall, the Colossal Titan charges at him, destroying the upper portion of it. Eren sees that the Titan aimed for the cannons, realizing that the gate being destroyed is not a coincidence either – the Colossal Titan is intelligent. With his omni-directional mobility gear, Eren rushes towards his opponent, while dodging the Titan’s slow attack. However, just as Eren is about to strike…
Kagex note: Episode 5 (overall #5) sits inside Fall of Shiganshina / Trost / 57th Expedition / Stohess. Watch for how fear becomes policy — not just who swings the blade.
Episode 6 — “The World the Girl Saw: The Struggle for Trost, Part 2”
thumb|left|200px|Armin in griefAfter witnessing the deaths of his Squad 34, which included Thomas Wagner, Nack Tierce, Milieus Zeremski, Mina Carolina, and his best friend Eren Jaeger, Armin comes out of a state of shock to find Conny Springer shaking him. After snapping out of his trance, Conny asks Armin what happened to the rest of his group. Christa’s friend states that they were obviously wiped out and criticize…
Kagex note: Episode 6 (overall #6) sits inside Fall of Shiganshina / Trost / 57th Expedition / Stohess. Watch for how fear becomes policy — not just who swings the blade.
Episode 7 — “Small Blade: The Struggle for Trost, Part 3”
As Titans continue ravaging Trost, the cadets in charge of supplying gas are seen begging Captain Woermann not to leave the HQ. Without proper manpower, any Titan attack would cut off soldiers on the front from resupplying runs and leave everyone vulnerable. While Woermann says that he must leave to oversee the organization of reinforcements, the cadets imply that he simply wishes to go to the safety beyond the inner…
Kagex note: Episode 7 (overall #7) sits inside Fall of Shiganshina / Trost / 57th Expedition / Stohess. Watch for how fear becomes policy — not just who swings the blade.
Episode 8 — “I Can Hear His Heartbeat: The Struggle for Trost, Part 4”
Armin wishes to be left behind to die and allow Mikasa and Conny to live. However, the two brush off his pleas and prepare to make a run for the supply headquarters. Armin knows they will not get past all the Titans and looks back at the mysterious Titan currently looking for more Titans to kill. thumb|left|200px|Armin suggests using the mysterious Titan He stops and suggests that Mikasa and Conny kill Titans close t…
Kagex note: Episode 8 (overall #8) sits inside Fall of Shiganshina / Trost / 57th Expedition / Stohess. Watch for how fear becomes policy — not just who swings the blade.
Episode 9 — “Whereabouts of His Left Arm: The Struggle for Trost, Part 5”
Before the Colossal Titan breaks through Wall Rose, the Scout Regiment departs on their latest expedition. Among the townspeople, Eren, Mikasa, and Armin watch their departure. One of the townspeople spots Captain Levi, and then says that in battle, he is as mighty as an entire brigade. Levi, hearing this, gets a little irritated. Squad Leader Hange Zoë makes a joke that they would be heartbroken if they knew how muc…
Kagex note: Episode 9 (overall #9) sits inside Fall of Shiganshina / Trost / 57th Expedition / Stohess. Watch for how fear becomes policy — not just who swings the blade.
Episode 10 — “Response: The Struggle for Trost, Part 6”
thumb|left|200px|Marco stops Daz Inside the Walls, the soldiers are put on stand by. One of them, Daz, tells Marco that he is unable to fight anymore, as his comrades were devoured right in front of him while he was just happy not to end up like them. However, knowing that he might be the next one to die, he takes out his sword in an attempt to end everything, but Marco stops him. In an attempt to calm him down, he p…
Kagex note: Episode 10 (overall #10) sits inside Fall of Shiganshina / Trost / 57th Expedition / Stohess. Watch for how fear becomes policy — not just who swings the blade.
Episode 11 — “Idol: The Struggle for Trost, Part 7”
On top of the Wall, Eren undertakes Dot Pyxis’ orders, despite being unsure about his power. Pyxis smiles after hearing Eren‘s answer, declaring him to be a real man. Afterward, he calls for a meeting to draw up a plan. Even though Armin believes that his plan is overly optimistic, Eren reassures him, saying that Pyxis knows the situation and will plan accordingly. left|thumb|200px|The soldiers are in disarray When t…
Kagex note: Episode 11 (overall #11) sits inside Fall of Shiganshina / Trost / 57th Expedition / Stohess. Watch for how fear becomes policy — not just who swings the blade.
Episode 12 — “Wound: The Struggle for Trost, Part 8”
thumb|left|200px|Mikasa tries to talk to Eren The plan to lure Titans to the corner of Trost continues, even though the soldiers try to avoid combat as much as possible, a fifth of the men are lost. Commander Dot Pyxis, however, states that the soldiers do not die on their own as his orders are what send them to their death. Saying that this is a critical point in mankind’s survival, Pyxis declares that as long as hu…
Kagex note: Episode 12 (overall #12) sits inside Fall of Shiganshina / Trost / 57th Expedition / Stohess. Watch for how fear becomes policy — not just who swings the blade.
Episode 13 — “Primal Desire: The Struggle for Trost, Part 9”
The elite soldiers continue to lead the struggle to defend Eren. However, Rico’s squad, excluding Rico herself, is completely wiped out in the battle, leaving only her and one female soldier. As they are forced to retreat to the boulder’s location, they witness the arrival of more Titans heading their way. thumb|left|200px|Jean escapes from Titans At this time, Jean is attempting to take a dead soldier’s omni-directi…
Kagex note: Episode 13 (overall #13) sits inside Fall of Shiganshina / Trost / 57th Expedition / Stohess. Watch for how fear becomes policy — not just who swings the blade.
Episode 14 — “Can’t Look into His Eyes Yet: Eve of the Counterattack, Part 1”
While Eren is still imprisoned, the news of a Titan siding with humans is spreading. People inside Wall Sina, however, do not want to believe such rumors as they think that an operation to retake the Walls will fail and they will have to cope with refugees and food shortages. Some of them even go as far as to claim that the Titan may side with the refugees. On the other hand, the inhabitants of Wall Rose consider Ere…
Kagex note: Episode 14 (overall #14) sits inside Fall of Shiganshina / Trost / 57th Expedition / Stohess. Watch for how fear becomes policy — not just who swings the blade.
Episode 15 — “Special Operations Squad: Eve of the Counterattack, Part 2”
With Eren now being an official member of the Scout Regiment, he is escorted to their former HQ. Riding horses to get there, Oruo Bozad explains to Eren that it is in fact an old castle they remodeled. In the end, it ended up being useless for the Scout Regiment, but it will now serve as a hideout for Eren. Afterward, Oruo attempts to intimidate Eren, but thanks to his horse stepping on a rock, he bites his own tongu…
Kagex note: Episode 15 (overall #15) sits inside Fall of Shiganshina / Trost / 57th Expedition / Stohess. Watch for how fear becomes policy — not just who swings the blade.
Episode 16 — “What Needs to be Done Now: Eve of the Counterattack, Part 3”
thumb|left|200px|ODM gear inspection With the two test subjects killed, the soldiers are being investigated for an unauthorized use of omni-directional mobility gear. A soldier cannot believe that one can get punished for killing Titans, but another one says that they were valuable test subjects for them after all. They point out that they were all tired and the cadets are being targeted. Armin says that in reality, …
Kagex note: Episode 16 (overall #16) sits inside Fall of Shiganshina / Trost / 57th Expedition / Stohess. Watch for how fear becomes policy — not just who swings the blade.
Episode 17 — “Female Titan: The 57th Exterior Scouting Mission, Part 1”
The Scout Regiment soldiers enter the area beyond the Walls, beginning the expedition. Shortly afterward, Miche Zacharius notices a Titan with his keen smell and even though Hange Zoë is interested in it, the support squad rushes to deal with it in order to keep the Titan away from the main squad. As they engage the Titan, Sasha watches in fear, but her squad leader tells her to focus and just let the supporting squa…
Kagex note: Episode 17 (overall #17) sits inside Fall of Shiganshina / Trost / 57th Expedition / Stohess. Watch for how fear becomes policy — not just who swings the blade.
Episode 18 — “Forest of Giant Trees: The 57th Exterior Scouting Mission, Part 2”
After the Female Titan leaves for Eren, Reiner asks Armin about his omni-directional mobility gear while tending his wounds. Armin replies that it seems to be working properly. Reiner then notes that they have only one horse, with Jean attempting to call his own. He thinks to himself about what they will do, knowing that someone will have to be left behind. Meanwhile, Armin seems to be spacing out, remembering his en…
Kagex note: Episode 18 (overall #18) sits inside Fall of Shiganshina / Trost / 57th Expedition / Stohess. Watch for how fear becomes policy — not just who swings the blade.
Episode 19 — “Bite: The 57th Exterior Scouting Mission, Part 3”
Still being chased by the Female Titan, the squad begs Levi for orders, proposing to engage in a fight with the Titan. However, Levi tells them to cover their ears and, much to their surprise fires an acoustic signal in order to remind them of their job, which is making sure that Eren is not injured even if it costs their lives. This leaves Eren surprised as he was under the impression that they were just keeping wat…
Kagex note: Episode 19 (overall #19) sits inside Fall of Shiganshina / Trost / 57th Expedition / Stohess. Watch for how fear becomes policy — not just who swings the blade.
Episode 20 — “Erwin Smith: The 57th Exterior Scouting Mission, Part 4”
Following the capture of the Female Titan, Eren questions its identity, wondering if it is an abnormal or something like the Colossal Titan. Oruo and Petra interrupt his thinking and tell him to focus on getting farther in and standing by. Meanwhile, Levi readies himself to strike the Female Titan, however, Erwin is not satisfied with just trapping the Female Titan and orders the soldiers to fire the rest of the wire…
Kagex note: Episode 20 (overall #20) sits inside Fall of Shiganshina / Trost / 57th Expedition / Stohess. Watch for how fear becomes policy — not just who swings the blade.
Episode 21 — “Crushing Blow: The 57th Exterior Scouting Mission, Part 5”
As the soldiers continue their retreat, Erwin and Hange discuss the way the Female Titan escaped. Erwin believes that it used the same tactic as the Colossal Titan, using omni-directional mobility gear to flee in the steam. Hange argues that back then, Eren‘s gear was destroyed and he had no stamina left after his transformation, however, Erwin claims that using Eren as a basis for their inference was wrong, seeing t…
Kagex note: Episode 21 (overall #21) sits inside Fall of Shiganshina / Trost / 57th Expedition / Stohess. Watch for how fear becomes policy — not just who swings the blade.
Episode 22 — “The Defeated: The 57th Exterior Scouting Mission, Part 6”
As Levi questions whether Eren is dead, Mikasa assures him of the opposite. She explains that the target appears to be intelligent and its purpose was to capture Eren the whole time. However, Levi states that its goal may have been to eat Eren, so it would be more reasonable to assume Eren‘s death. Mikasa returns the favor and blames Levi for not doing his job properly, who then recalls that Mikasa is Eren‘s close fr…
Kagex note: Episode 22 (overall #22) sits inside Fall of Shiganshina / Trost / 57th Expedition / Stohess. Watch for how fear becomes policy — not just who swings the blade.
Episode 23 — “Smile: Assault on Stohess, Part 1”
left|200px|thumb|Hitch humors Marlo Annie has a dream of being trained by her father before waking up in her room. In the Stohess District of Wall Sina, the Military Police are ordered to escort the Scout Regiment convoy once they enter the capital. The superiors put all the work on the cadets. The Military Police are shown to be lazy and corrupt which one of Annie‘s colleagues, Hitch, reveals she joined the police f…
Kagex note: Episode 23 (overall #23) sits inside Fall of Shiganshina / Trost / 57th Expedition / Stohess. Watch for how fear becomes policy — not just who swings the blade.
Episode 24 — “Mercy: Assault on Stohess, Part 2”
thumb|left|200px|Levi does not blame Eren for the death of his squad As Eren witnesses Annie‘s true identity, he recalls the time from a few days ago. While he and Levi are waiting for Erwin and others, Levi wonders why it is taking so long, claiming constipation issues to be the cause, much to Eren‘s amusement. Eren then apologizes for making a wrong choice; however, Levi once again states that it was not possible t…
Kagex note: Episode 24 (overall #24) sits inside Fall of Shiganshina / Trost / 57th Expedition / Stohess. Watch for how fear becomes policy — not just who swings the blade.
Episode 25 — “Wall: Assault on Stohess, Part 3”
thumb|left|200px|Eren vs. Annie In a church inside the Stohess District, there is a group of Wall worshipers in the middle of a ceremony. As a pastor recites the prayers, Annie in her Titan form falls on the building, killing many people. The pastor, much to his horror, witnesses a Titan running towards the Walls. While civilians are running away or hiding in fear, Eren is running after Annie. Watching this, Hange no…
Kagex note: Episode 25 (overall #25) sits inside Fall of Shiganshina / Trost / 57th Expedition / Stohess. Watch for how fear becomes policy — not just who swings the blade.
Story Analysis
Fall of Shiganshina / Trost / 57th Expedition / Stohess works because Attack on Titan treats survival as a political language: orders are sentences, betrayals are arguments, massacres are punctuation. Season 1 balances setpiece fights with barracks talk, chain-of-command rot, and the slow craft of realizing the walls were never the whole story.
Story score 9.2: the season earns its peaks by making earlier training and loyalty hours matter. WIT Studio does not soft-reset Paradis between arcs — scars stick, lies linger, and “necessary” plans become plot.
Compared with generic dark fantasy power trips, Season 1 keeps constraints visible: limited gear, limited trust, limited truth. When a plan looks miraculous, it is usually a gambit you were taught would cost blood — not a random aura.
Character Analysis
Core: Eren, Mikasa, Armin, plus Corps specialists (Levi, Erwin, Hange) and the 104th web (Jean, Connie, Sasha, Historia). Training, Trost, and the Female Titan hunt teach the 104th what “strong” costs before they can earn that word.
Characters score 9.0: growth is moral and strategic. Soldiers learn to doubt slogans. Friends learn that love can be a cage. Enemies learn that belief does not make you clean.
World Building
Season 1 expands Paradis → Trost and expedition reality. Institutions feel like machines with alumni ghosts, propaganda, and scout gossip — not costume sets.
Animation
WIT Studio Season 1: readable ODM, heavy Titan silhouettes, and faces that sell panic between orders. Score 9.0. WIT’s wire work and steam remain the early franchise signature.
Music & Voice Acting
Linked Horizon’s “Guren no Yumiya” is the franchise door — choir war-cry energy over Wall Maria panic. Early EDs keep the aftertaste of a world that already lost.. Score 9.1.
Best Moments
- Episode 1 — “To You, in 2000 Years: The Fall of Shiganshina, Part 1”
- Episode 5 — “First Battle: The Struggle for Trost, Part 1”
- Episode 10 — “Response: The Struggle for Trost, Part 6”
- Episode 13 — “Primal Desire: The Struggle for Trost, Part 9”
- Episode 15 — “Special Operations Squad: Eve of the Counterattack, Part 2”
- Episode 20 — “Erwin Smith: The 57th Exterior Scouting Mission, Part 4”
- Episode 25 — “Wall: Assault on Stohess, Part 3”
Pros & Cons
Pros: Peak dark-fantasy stakes; clear seasonal identity; characters who pay for their choices.
Cons: Requires prior seasons commitment through early training / Trost; dialogue-heavy politics before some finales.
Final Verdict
9.1 / 10 for Season 1.
- Story: 9.2
- Characters: 9.0
- Animation: 9.0
- Music: 9.1
- Enjoyment: 9.2
Season 1 is required sequential viewing if you care about Attack on Titan’s long game.
What Comes Next
Continue to Season 2.
FAQ
Episode count?
25 episodes in Season 1.
Watch order?
Sequential from Season 1 Episode 1 — do not start at Season 1 cold.
Where to watch?
Crunchyroll / Hulu / Netflix (region-dependent).
Is Season 1 the peak?
It is a load-bearing chapter; peaks depend on whether you value the pilot door, warrior reveals, Shiganshina war, or Final Season scale.
Studio?
WIT Studio for Season 1. Franchise credit: © Hajime Isayama / Kodansha / Production I.G / WIT Studio / MAPPA.
Keep exploring
Your turn
Where does Season 1 rank in your Attack on Titan list?
Favorite episode this season — and why?
