OVA
Description
Farlan Church, also known as Furlan Church, began as a delinquent operating in the Underground District beneath the capital before Wall Maria fell. He initially tested Levi Ackerman's strength by arranging a fight between Levi and thugs, aiming to recruit Levi into his gang. Witnessing Levi defeat them alone, Furlan instead chose to join Levi, though the specific circumstances of their partnership remain unclear. Completing their trio with Isabel Magnolia, they gained notoriety for illegal activities, largely fueled by Levi's combat skills. They acquired vertical maneuvering equipment, trained themselves proficiently, and used it to navigate the Underground City, aiding their operations and fueling aspirations to reach the surface.
Furlan possessed a calm, level-headed demeanor, contrasting Isabel's energy. He maintained focus, understood when seriousness outweighed leisure, and disliked situations spiraling out of control. Demonstrating pragmatism, he readily accepted defeat when the outcome was evident. His profound trust in Levi led him to follow Levi's decisions and leadership without question. Despite frequent disagreements with Isabel, they achieved high synchronization and cooperation during missions, requiring minimal verbal communication.
Their underground activities led to capture by Erwin Smith of the Survey Corps. Facing Levi's forced recruitment through blackmail, Furlan and Isabel chose to follow him into the military, viewing it as a path to citizenship and life above ground. However, their enlistment also served a covert government mission: assassinate Erwin Smith and steal a document in his possession. They accepted this partly due to the official's promise of surface citizenship and payment for an injured comrade's medical treatment, though the latter aspect was not revisited after joining the Scouts.
During his first Survey Corps expedition beyond the Walls, Furlan assisted Levi in confronting an Abnormal Titan. Showing evident fear and unease facing a Titan, he rallied upon seeing Levi engage. He and Isabel executed a coordinated attack, slicing the Titan's knees simultaneously to enable Levi's killing blow. The next day, amidst heavy rain, Levi left their squad to pursue Erwin and complete the assassination. Furlan advised caution against this plan, but Levi dismissed his concerns.
Shortly after Levi's departure, Titans attacked Furlan and Isabel's squad. During the chaotic retreat, Furlan's startled horse fell, pinning his leg. As he struggled to free himself, Isabel used her vertical maneuvering equipment to distract the Titans. She slipped during an attack, left dangling from a Titan's back. Another Titan lunged, crushing her between them. Furlan freed himself, but witnessing Isabel's death provoked him to confront the Titans directly. He realized too late his fall had critically damaged his equipment. Squad leader Flagon Turret intervened, distracting a Titan and ordering Furlan to retreat, but Flagon was consumed. Furlan was then grabbed by another Titan. As it lifted him, he spotted Levi returning and offered a final wave, replicating their customary farewell gesture from the underground. The Titan consumed Furlan just before Levi could reach him. Levi killed the Titan and retrieved Furlan's remains, but Furlan was already dead.
Furlan's death, alongside Isabel's, profoundly impacted Levi, triggering intense rage and grief. When Erwin arrived, Levi initially blamed him and attacked. Erwin countered that Titans were the true cause, arguing humanity's ignorance and confinement within the Walls were the core issues. This confrontation led Levi to commit fully to the Survey Corps and Erwin's vision. Furlan later appeared symbolically among fallen Survey Corps members in Erwin Smith's thoughts during the Battle of Shiganshina, representing Erwin's contemplation on whether their sacrifices held meaning.
Furlan possessed a calm, level-headed demeanor, contrasting Isabel's energy. He maintained focus, understood when seriousness outweighed leisure, and disliked situations spiraling out of control. Demonstrating pragmatism, he readily accepted defeat when the outcome was evident. His profound trust in Levi led him to follow Levi's decisions and leadership without question. Despite frequent disagreements with Isabel, they achieved high synchronization and cooperation during missions, requiring minimal verbal communication.
Their underground activities led to capture by Erwin Smith of the Survey Corps. Facing Levi's forced recruitment through blackmail, Furlan and Isabel chose to follow him into the military, viewing it as a path to citizenship and life above ground. However, their enlistment also served a covert government mission: assassinate Erwin Smith and steal a document in his possession. They accepted this partly due to the official's promise of surface citizenship and payment for an injured comrade's medical treatment, though the latter aspect was not revisited after joining the Scouts.
During his first Survey Corps expedition beyond the Walls, Furlan assisted Levi in confronting an Abnormal Titan. Showing evident fear and unease facing a Titan, he rallied upon seeing Levi engage. He and Isabel executed a coordinated attack, slicing the Titan's knees simultaneously to enable Levi's killing blow. The next day, amidst heavy rain, Levi left their squad to pursue Erwin and complete the assassination. Furlan advised caution against this plan, but Levi dismissed his concerns.
Shortly after Levi's departure, Titans attacked Furlan and Isabel's squad. During the chaotic retreat, Furlan's startled horse fell, pinning his leg. As he struggled to free himself, Isabel used her vertical maneuvering equipment to distract the Titans. She slipped during an attack, left dangling from a Titan's back. Another Titan lunged, crushing her between them. Furlan freed himself, but witnessing Isabel's death provoked him to confront the Titans directly. He realized too late his fall had critically damaged his equipment. Squad leader Flagon Turret intervened, distracting a Titan and ordering Furlan to retreat, but Flagon was consumed. Furlan was then grabbed by another Titan. As it lifted him, he spotted Levi returning and offered a final wave, replicating their customary farewell gesture from the underground. The Titan consumed Furlan just before Levi could reach him. Levi killed the Titan and retrieved Furlan's remains, but Furlan was already dead.
Furlan's death, alongside Isabel's, profoundly impacted Levi, triggering intense rage and grief. When Erwin arrived, Levi initially blamed him and attacked. Erwin countered that Titans were the true cause, arguing humanity's ignorance and confinement within the Walls were the core issues. This confrontation led Levi to commit fully to the Survey Corps and Erwin's vision. Furlan later appeared symbolically among fallen Survey Corps members in Erwin Smith's thoughts during the Battle of Shiganshina, representing Erwin's contemplation on whether their sacrifices held meaning.