TV-Series
Description
Djel Sannes is a member of the Military Police Brigade and a key operative of the First Interior Squad, the secret police force responsible for protecting the monarchy and maintaining the stability of the Walls by any means necessary. A tall man with short dark hair and noticeable dark circles under his eyes, Sannes projects an intimidating and weary presence.
Sannes is defined by an extreme and unwavering loyalty to the king and the ideology of the Walls. He genuinely believes that the prolonged period of peace without war inside the Walls is a direct result of the brutal, secret work performed by the First Interior Squad. He sees himself and his colleagues as necessary guardians who dirty their hands to eliminate threats, allowing the rest of humanity to live in ignorant safety. This conviction leads him to look down upon the Survey Corps, whom he regards as wasteful and ineffective.
His dedication is paired with a casual cruelty and a degree of carelessness. Sannes admits to finding pleasure in inflicting pain on the helpless, justifying these acts through his belief that he is serving the greater good. This is evident in his handling of Pastor Nick of the Wall Cult. Under orders, Sannes and his partner Ralph brutally torture Nick to death for divulging secrets, then clumsily stage the murder to look like a robbery, leaving obvious signs of torture on the body and torn skin on his own knuckles.
Within the story, Sannes serves as an obstacle and an antagonist during the Royal Government arc. After murdering Nick, he is captured by the rogue Survey Corps members Hange Zoë and Levi Ackerman, who seek information about the true royal family. Initially, Sannes proves to be exceptionally resilient, refusing to talk even under severe torture, including having his fingernails pulled out and teeth broken. He remains steadfast in his faith that his comrades will complete their mission and thwart the Survey Corps' coup d'état.
However, his psychological resistance is eventually shattered by a deceptive ploy, leading him to break down and reveal that the Reiss family is the true royal lineage, a confession that becomes a pivotal piece of intelligence for the Survey Corps. This breakdown also reveals a buried layer of guilt and regret. As the torture continues, Sannes becomes overwhelmed by the realization of the immense pain he has inflicted on others throughout his life, and he tearfully asks his torturers to kill him as a form of compensation.
Key relationships define his character. He works closely with his partner Ralph, and feels a deep sense of betrayal when he believes Ralph has given up their king's secrets, though this belief is part of his captors' deception. He also shares a complex connection with Kenny Ackerman, another violent agent of the king. While Kenny once killed many of Sannes's comrades, Sannes holds no grudge, instead admiring Kenny’s later devotion to King Uri Reiss, a sentiment Kenny himself notices and remembers in his final moments.
Sannes demonstrates a notable development through his ordeal. He transitions from a confident, self-righteous enforcer of the king's will to a broken, regretful man who acknowledges his own monstrous actions. By the end of the uprising, after Historia Reiss is crowned queen and the old regime falls, Sannes is shown imprisoned. With his wounds healed, his expression is one of surprising calmness, as if freed from the burden of his brutal duties. He leaves Hange with a warning that their respective roles are cyclical; by overthrowing the king's agents, they have simply taken on the role of those who enforce order, and one day someone will rise up against them, too. As a soldier of the First Interior Squad, Sannes was proficient in the use of anti-personnel vertical maneuvering equipment, designed for combat against human opponents rather than Titans. He was also highly skilled in the brutal trade of interrogation and assassination.
Sannes is defined by an extreme and unwavering loyalty to the king and the ideology of the Walls. He genuinely believes that the prolonged period of peace without war inside the Walls is a direct result of the brutal, secret work performed by the First Interior Squad. He sees himself and his colleagues as necessary guardians who dirty their hands to eliminate threats, allowing the rest of humanity to live in ignorant safety. This conviction leads him to look down upon the Survey Corps, whom he regards as wasteful and ineffective.
His dedication is paired with a casual cruelty and a degree of carelessness. Sannes admits to finding pleasure in inflicting pain on the helpless, justifying these acts through his belief that he is serving the greater good. This is evident in his handling of Pastor Nick of the Wall Cult. Under orders, Sannes and his partner Ralph brutally torture Nick to death for divulging secrets, then clumsily stage the murder to look like a robbery, leaving obvious signs of torture on the body and torn skin on his own knuckles.
Within the story, Sannes serves as an obstacle and an antagonist during the Royal Government arc. After murdering Nick, he is captured by the rogue Survey Corps members Hange Zoë and Levi Ackerman, who seek information about the true royal family. Initially, Sannes proves to be exceptionally resilient, refusing to talk even under severe torture, including having his fingernails pulled out and teeth broken. He remains steadfast in his faith that his comrades will complete their mission and thwart the Survey Corps' coup d'état.
However, his psychological resistance is eventually shattered by a deceptive ploy, leading him to break down and reveal that the Reiss family is the true royal lineage, a confession that becomes a pivotal piece of intelligence for the Survey Corps. This breakdown also reveals a buried layer of guilt and regret. As the torture continues, Sannes becomes overwhelmed by the realization of the immense pain he has inflicted on others throughout his life, and he tearfully asks his torturers to kill him as a form of compensation.
Key relationships define his character. He works closely with his partner Ralph, and feels a deep sense of betrayal when he believes Ralph has given up their king's secrets, though this belief is part of his captors' deception. He also shares a complex connection with Kenny Ackerman, another violent agent of the king. While Kenny once killed many of Sannes's comrades, Sannes holds no grudge, instead admiring Kenny’s later devotion to King Uri Reiss, a sentiment Kenny himself notices and remembers in his final moments.
Sannes demonstrates a notable development through his ordeal. He transitions from a confident, self-righteous enforcer of the king's will to a broken, regretful man who acknowledges his own monstrous actions. By the end of the uprising, after Historia Reiss is crowned queen and the old regime falls, Sannes is shown imprisoned. With his wounds healed, his expression is one of surprising calmness, as if freed from the burden of his brutal duties. He leaves Hange with a warning that their respective roles are cyclical; by overthrowing the king's agents, they have simply taken on the role of those who enforce order, and one day someone will rise up against them, too. As a soldier of the First Interior Squad, Sannes was proficient in the use of anti-personnel vertical maneuvering equipment, designed for combat against human opponents rather than Titans. He was also highly skilled in the brutal trade of interrogation and assassination.