WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Attack on Titan Episode 86, "Retrospective," now streaming on Funimation, Hulu, and Crunchyroll.
In the latest episode of Attack on Titan, Keith Shadis and Theo Magath sacrificed themselves to blow up the only ship that the Jaegerists could use to chase and obliterate the resistance. Magath, during his final chat with Shadis, told the Eldian commander that his death is going to be remembered as a heroic act that saved the world. However, such a scenario is highly unlikely.
The anti-Eren resistance's peaceful plan went down the drain the moment Floch realized their true intention. A bloodbath ensued with the Azubimoto's flying boat at stake. During that time, Keith Shadis, the former instructor of Paradis Island's Cadet Corps, arrived and pointed out the ship that the Jaegerists stole from Marley. If left undamaged, it could easily catch up and destroy the flying boat they were trying to hijack. The unlikely duo decided to infiltrate the ship and sink it.
The two veteran soldiers looked back at their lives, with both of them concluding to have lived a life filled with more regrets than achievements. Both of them deeply regretted a great deal of their past. When Shadis revealed his motivation for his suicidal bid being "looking for a time to die," Magath consoled him by stating that the Eldian instructor will be a hero who saved the world. Shadis returned the sentiment, and only then did the two veterans exchange names. The next scene showed Magath pulling the trigger, which subsequently detonated the ship's supply of gunpowder.
Even though the duo's final mission is indeed heroic and saved the resistance's main mission from certain doom, it is highly likely that Shadis' death has lost all of its chances of being known. Keith Shadis' appearance, though much appreciated, is unprecedented. Even though he killed his fair of Jaegerists to assist his former students, it is highly likely that only Magath is aware of his presence during this particular battle. Even if a few Jaegerists saw him on site, Magath and a few Jaegerists were the only ones who knew how the Eldian instruction met his demise. Unfortunately, all of them have died during the explosion.
The resulting explosion was strong enough to blast through the ship's sides, and there's a good chance that the duo's bodies have already been blown to smithereens. Without any trace of his presence, the world will only be mourning the heroic death of Theo Magath. Even though Magath proclaimed Shadis as one of the heroes who saved the world, Keith Shadis' death is already written off before it's been etched in the annals of history.
Theo Magath and Keith Shadis' heroic sacrifice allowed the small resistance to push forward. While the group is mourning the Marleyan commander's demise, they are completely unaware of the Eldian instructor's contributions to the operation. It is also highly likely that it will remain that way as only ash remains of Shadis' corpse. Worst of all, Keith Shadis is not necessarily an impactful character. The majority of Attack on Titan fans will also probably forget of his end as the anime features more dramatic scenes including the main cast.
