We do have a great dynamic between Eren and Mikasa but I probably need more information on this topic before I know what to say. – SpectreWriter10 years ago
I want to agree that gender roles mean nothing in the grand scheme of things (as in gender doesn't affect people's rank or skills) but I feel like the main characters reciprocate some gender stereotypes. Eren is the headstrong male hero who beats all odds through willpower (as does Goku and every lead male) and Mikasa is... generic. The animators put a lot of effort into specializing other character's features and hers are undefined in comparison, as if they didn't want to ruin her ability to be appealing to everyone's idea of an ideal anime girl. It's a nice change that she is the most skilled in combat I suppose, but she's also so desperate, stupid and irrational when it comes to her LOVE for Eren. She's literally blind to everything but him and that makes her like a boring loves struck school girl. I don't think their coupling is better to explore the gender issue topic than say, Armen and Annie. There's a lot of gender involved in them too though... Why couldn't they just let Annie be a badass rouge? Why did she need to feel regret at the end and cry, because she's a woman? Would we have accepted that in a male character and not seen that as weak? This topic could be explored deeply from both sides! – Slaidey10 years ago