Eren Yaeger was a terror in Attack On Titan season 4, but he crosses a line by telling Mikasa he hates her. Why would Eren do such a thing?

Why does Eren Yaeger tell Mikasa that he "always hated" her in Attack on Titan season 4? Eren Yaeger isn't your typical anime protagonist. Since Attack on Titan season 4 began, the all-grown-up Eren has manipulated a young boy, decimated a town full of innocent families, gotten one of his closest friends killed, instigated a coup, and finally begun a genocidal, Colossal Titan-led march to wipe out the whole planet except for his friends. But Eren's most heinous crime comes during the long-awaited confrontation between Eren and the two people he loves most - Mikasa Ackerman and Armin Arlert.

In Attack On Titan episode 73, the three come together for the first time since Yaegerists took over Paradis Island. During this interaction, Eren cruelly accuses Mikasa of being biologically attached to him. The Ackerman clan was genetically engineered to protect members of the royal family, and when that latent power awakens, they have no choice but to obey (according to Eren).

Eren also claims that fellow Attack On Titan protagonist Mikasa Ackerman blindly follows him around because he triggered her initial transformation back when her parents were killed, and now she's compelled to serve him. Given how close Eren and Mikasa have always been, this brutal dressing-down is one of the most shocking moments in Attack on Titan history, but why does Eren do it?

Why Eren Says He Hates Mikasa in Attack on Titan

Eren hates Mikasa's supposed lack of free will and claims he always hated her for having no freedom. Eren points to Mikasa's headaches as proof her Ackerman bloodline is all that's keeping them together. Assuming Eren's words are honest, hating Mikasa is an extension of his ceaseless determination to end the subjugation of Attack On Titan's Eldians by any means necessary. Ever since he was a young boy, Eren has yearned to be free, but his definition of "liberty" has adapted significantly along the way. After discovering the truth of the world, however, Eren came to believe freedom meant taking extreme, genocidal measures. It stands to reason that Eren would hate anyone who willingly accepts being a slave to their bloodline without showing the same resolve to break free that he possesses - even someone as close to him as Mikasa.

But Eren's anti-Ackerman diatribe doesn't add up. The Ackermans were bred to protect the Fritz/Reiss lineage, and not only is Eren non-royal, he didn't possess the Founding Titan when Mikasa "awakened." Furthermore, no other Ackermans in Attack on Titan exhibit the same kind of devotion to a single person that Mikasa does to Eren. Levi and Kenny both take orders, but only as much as any other soldier in Attack On Titan. Levi never fawned over Erwin, nor did he change his hair because Erwin mentioned preferring a certain style. Levi doesn't experience the same regular headaches Mikasa does either, suggesting the symptom is unique to her. A more likely trigger for Mikasa's headaches is her loved ones dying or being in grave danger, as this is when they always occur (for example, after Eren is eaten the first time, or when Armin gets barbecued courtesy of the Colossal Titan).

Does Eren Really Hate Mikasa in Attack on Titan?

Entertaining the possibility Eren is lying about hating Mikasa, what motivation could he possibly have for being so callous towards someone who has been by his side for so long? As Eren progresses further down his path of genocide, the landscape of Attack On Titan is getting quite messy. Whatever his intentions, Eren perhaps doesn't want Mikasa and Armin rushing to his side and getting themselves caught in the atrocities he currently committing. Eren telling Mikasa he hates her and punching Armin could be a tactic to stop them from supporting him - as they did in Attack On Titan season 1 when his Attack Titan powers first manifested.

The reverse psychology might run deeper still. Eren telling Mikasa he hates her and beating up Armin tacitly encourages his friends to fight him without holding back in Attack On Titan's final battle. Both characters have been desperately sticking up for their misguided friend throughout season 4, but Eren's plan may depend on Mikasa and Armin fighting him with intent to kill. Given how high the stakes are by the finale of Attack On Titan season 4 part 2, Eren may want Mikasa and Armin to meet him on the battlefield with no regrets. He could make sure of that by acting despicably toward them, or it's possible that Eren really doesdes hate Mikasa for real by the ending of Attack on Titan.

Eren & Mikasa's Scene In AOT Season 4 Part 2's Finale Explained

In Attack On Titan season 4 part 2 episode 28, during a flashback to the Survey Corps' first jaunt off Paradis Island, Eren and Mikasa share another significant moment. With a night of partying just below them, Mikasa approaches a brooding Eren on the hilltop and gets the question "What am I to you?" Clearly thrown, Mikasa finally settles for "You're family," to which Eren reacts rather tepidly. In voiceover, present-day Mikasa wonders if she had answered that question differently, Eren's course might have been changed. This is a central question that has been lingering in the background for years of Attack On Titan: are Eren and Mikasa in love? Certainly, Eren's profession of hatred for Mikasa later in the show's timeline would seem to be a no, but it's also often true that the deepest hatred can only be born out of some kind of affection. In any case, this moment in Attack On Titan season 4 part 2's finale is crucial moving forward into part 3, as it drives home the significance of Eren and Mikasa's relationship. With Attack On Titan season 4 part 3 sure to deliver an epic battle between Eren and the Survey Corps, Mikasa will likely be the only one who can either win him back or put him down for good.

More: How Attack On Titan's Manga Changes Improve Mikasa's Ending