A few years before the attack on Trost District, the members of the 104th Trainee Squad arrive at the city of Trost in order to sharpen their Titan killing skills. Jean is notably agitated at being back in his home District, likely because of his less then stellar relationship with his mother, and he gets into an argument with Sasha when she steals some of his "kills." In order to settle this dispute, Commander Pixis decides there is only one thing for it: a cooking competition! Suffice it to say, Hilarity Ensues.
Tropes:
- Beware the Silly Ones: While Sasha is still a rather silly character in this OVA she gets a moment to show off her impressive marksmanship by killing the colossal boar, with one shot, using a bow and arrow.
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Big-Lipped Alligator Moment: Even in an already silly episode the scene where Pixis eats Sasha's meat, then has a fantasy of slaying Titan's whilst philosophizing about how tasty the meat is, before becoming Titan sized himself and watching Armin, Krista, Connie, Mikasa and Jean becoming Titan's themselvesnote , is pretty ridiculous even for this episodes standards. - Breather Episode: After the previous OVA's rather grim tone this episodes plot is a lot more absurd and silly as it involves Jean and Sasha going toe-to-toe in a cooking completion with the soundtrack as intense as a normal Attack on Titan episode would be.
- Chekhov's Gun: The omelette that Jean's mother makes for him is what Jean uses to win the cooking match at the end of the episode.
- A Day in the Limelight: The OVA focuses very heavily on Jean and his attempts to win a cooking competition between him and Sasha. The opening even seems to lampshade this by replacing almost every frame of Eren in the opening with Jean.
- Embarrassing Nickname:
- For Sasha it's being called "Potato Girl".
- For Jean it's being called by Jean-Boy.
- Epic Fail: Armin, somehow, manages to break both of his legs running up a flight of stairs when Jean asks him to break into the officers guarders to steal some meat. Even though he only landed on one leg.
- Get A Hold Of Yourself Man: Played for Laughs when Sasha slaps Reiner when the latter decides to go home instead of fighting the Colossal Boar whilst given one of Attack On Titan's usual over-the-top speeches.
- Interquel: Much like the previous OVA this episode is set in-between episodes 3 and 4. It's also set in-between episodes 3 and 3.5 and thus is given the designation of 3.25.
- Mundane Utility: Pixis decides to abuse his authority over the 104th cadets, after hearing Sasha and Jean argue, by ordering them to settle their differences in a cook off to be judged by himself (since Pixis is hungry). One of his attendants even lampshades that they should have taken away his hip flask when they had the chance.
- Not So Above It All:
- Reiner, who definitely tries to act like the Only Sane Man of his team. However after Sasha slaps him and gives him an impassioned speech about why they should hunt the Colossal Boar he ends up getting roped into the general craziness of the premise.
- Annie to a lesser extent. She never really seems interested in the cooking challenge and, after Armin breaks his legs, decides to bail on Jean. Despite that she still shows up with Jean and Armin to the kitchen as well as the judging ceremony as stoic as ever.
- Once Done, Never Forgotten: Sasha's infamous potato moment is still as well remembered by her fellow trainees as it was for the audience themselves. She even notes that she thought they would have all forgotten about it by now.
- Serious Business: In order to settle a squabble between Sasha and Jean Pixis decides to hold a cooking competition (because he was hungry) with the rest of the trainees in attendance (with the exception of Eren and Mikasa) acting like they are about to watch an epic brawl for the ages.
- Soundtrack Dissonance: The score still uses its epic over-the-top nature even though the episode really doesn't warrant it.
- Straight Man: Eren and Mikasa are the only ones in this OVA who act in any way normal, Eren mostly just seems confused about what's going on, while Mikasa just seems indifferent to the whole thing.
- Took a Level in Kindness: Jean is a pretty big dick at the start of the episode especially since he starts shouting at his mother when she starts embarrassing him at the barracks. However, after remembering all the good times he shared with her, and how much he loved her omelettes, he's shown being a lot nicer by the end of the episode. Not only does he congratulate Sasha for a good match he even decides to visit his mother before they get shipped out.
- Unusual Chapter Numbers: Much like the previous OVA this one is set in-between episodes and thus is given the designation of 3.25.
- Used to Be a Sweet Kid: Flashbacks of Jean in his childhood with his mother show him to be a rather kind-hearted kid and a bit of a Momma's Boy. Apparently puberty really did a number on him.
- Workout Fanservice: During the episodes scenes of Sasha and Jean's teams cooking their respective meals there are a couple of totally necessary shots of Mikasa working out in shorts and a workout bra that show off her impressive abs.
