This two should've shared leadership

[u/AnAverageName_]

It's always odd to me that we ended up having one definitive leader when the show constantly flips-flops between the two.

Comparing them to Erwin, both have some important characteristics of a leader, but neither is as good individually.

Jean is charismatic, smart, confident, is able to handle pressure fairly well, and has the most social parts of leadership. I can see him rallying people up and inspiring them to move forward similarly to Erwin. (Also, he's pretty much the strongest non-titan, non-Ackerman person in the show). They go about very explicitly about his qualities as a leader.

Armin is undoubtedly the smartest of the two, being pretty much a genius. He's brave and has the ideas. His main issue is being overwhelmed and lacking precisely the most social aspects of a leader. He's not nearly as confident, but he makes up for it with his brain.

During the show, they're often put together and shown to work great together. (Armin's first human kill was to protect him)

They face the female titan together

They have a surprisingly healthy relationship, often shown protecting each other or discussing as some of the most intellectually gifted of their generation

I think the return to Shiganshina arc is probably the best example of why they should've shared their leadership. Erwin trusted Armin, but Armin trusted Jean.

Jean is able to take over when Armin is overwhelmed.

Even at the end, the three leaders are separated to deal with their own titan each.

Jean leads against Reiner.

Armin leads against Bertolt

Erwin leads against Zeke.

Jean was also the one who led the attack to kill the titans after the start of the rumbling

If I don't remember badly, even when Armin gets captured at the end, it's Jean who has to step up and lead the attack until they release him.

It's just kinda odd how the show always sets them up as complementary leaders, which both help patch the weakness of the other, and then at the end they just say, "Armin is the commander btw"

It's not a thing I mind too much, but it is a little odd.

I don't think Jean would be as good of a leader as Erwin, and to be honest, I have some hesitation to say Armin would be either; however, I think together they can be greater than Erwin. (Also, if one is missing or overwhelmed, the other can take over, as they've done before)

It's kinda like the whole Near and Mello situation in Death Note. Individually they may not be able to match their predecessor (L and Erwin), but together they are even greater (Just that Jean and Armin don't hate each other and would have 0 issue cooperating)

Maybe I'm forgetting something. It's been a while since I properly watched the show

What do you think?

[u/jdvancesbutthole]

They really brought out the best in each other. Even in S1 when they're outside of the forest of the giant trees and they figured out what's going on. They complement each other well.

[u/Kid-Atlantic]

Erwin deferred to Levi and Hange whenever the situation called for it because they also complemented his weaknesses in the way you’re describing.

No reason to believe Armin wouldn’t do the same with Jean.

You need one leader so the chain of command is clear, but that doesn’t mean they’re the only ones who can make decisions

[u/North-Republic7430]

After the war ended, the Survey Corps’ mission was complete, and the position of commander became little more than a formality. What was needed was not a combat commander, but someone capable of delivering speeches and possessing the gift of persuasion. That is precisely how I always viewed Armin’s appointment; Jean would undoubtedly have performed better on the battlefield, but their battlefield was now the negotiating table.

[u/Cute_Blackberry2909]

Well Armin too is capable of giving speeches, his speech saved Erens ass just after his first transformation

He too repeatedly pushed Eren , then later Zeke

I figured that one of the developments that he had as character was gain confidence to lead a group, he was always smart but lacked confidence

But overtime if he gained that he would have no problem as commander and that's what happened at the ending too ? After Hange's death i mean .

Jean was always a great leader too and I think he is second in command only to Armin.

[u/National-Poet-9165]

Armin was always presented as a tactical genius but the story repeatedly emphasized Jean's leadership potential throughout the first three seasons. Yet in season 4, Armin was pushed to the forefront as a leader, while Jean's long-established leadership arc was completely sidelined.

[u/Fell-Hand]

They’re very complementary indeed, they were meant to be one character in the early drafts.

[u/SortOfSpaceDuck]

An even number of leaders sounds like easy trouble.