Do we like them?

Do we like Erwin Smith?

A character from Attack on Titan (2009-2021)

Our score: 8 out of 10. Yes, we'd back him. He's a brilliant leader who asks a great deal of his people, but he asks even more of himself, and his cause is worth it.

Erwin Smith is the commander of the Survey Corps, the branch of the military that ventures outside the walls protecting humanity from man-eating Titans. He's calm, sharp and persuasive, and he inspires fierce loyalty. His trusted right hand is Captain Levi. He is also known for the long-distance scouting formation, which cut Titan-related losses on expeditions.

He's a gambler who treats every expedition as a calculated risk. He cares about his soldiers, but he's willing to ask them to give their lives for a bigger answer. That ruthlessness is why he's more than a plain hero. He knows what it costs, and he never asks anyone to carry a weight he wouldn't carry himself.

Late in the story his personal dream of learning the truth about the world pulls against his duty to his soldiers. In the end he leads a desperate charge at the Beast Titan, giving the speech that rallies the Corps. Levi then has to choose between saving Erwin and saving humanity's future. The choice is painful, and it shows how much Erwin's people loved him, flaws and all.