Out of all the characters in Attack on Titan, Floch Forster has possibly developed the most. When Floch was first introduced, he openly admitted that he was a coward. When the Beast Titan attacked his squad at Shiganshina, he panicked and initially wanted to give up. When Erwin first told his troops about his plan to perform a suicide charge against the Beast Titan, Floch suggested that they abandon Erwin and run away. Floch is firmly introduced as a spineless coward who will choose his own life over others.
That version of Floch is long gone now. In the latest episode, "Retrospective," Floch fearlessly faced off with multiple Titan Shifters, Marley soldiers, and the highly trained Scouts, just to stop them from intervening with Eren's plan. Unlike before, Floch has shown great courage in the face of danger and a willingness to sacrifice himself for a cause. How exactly did Floch develop from a frightened coward to a brave leader of the Jaegerist?
Where Did Floch's Fear Come From?
To understand Floch's character it's important to understand exactly where his fear comes from. During the Beast Titan's attack on Shiganshina, Floch wasn't just afraid to die. He was afraid to die a pointless death. This is one of the reasons why Floch agreed to go on the Shiganshina mission in the first place. He wanted to be a hero like the other Scouts. Floch breaks down when the Beast Titan attacks because he knew that he was going to die and his death wouldn't change anything.
Floch only agreed to the suicide charge against the Beast Titan because Erwin convinced him that his death wouldn't be meaningless. All of their comrades who had died before that point gave up their lives for a reason. It was up to them to do the same by sacrificing their lives. Erwin's speech motivated Floch to be courageous in the face of death.
Erwin's skills as a leader and ability to motivate others inspired Floch. He advocated for Erwin to be saved over Armin because he believed that he was the only person who could lead them to the future. Erwin's tactics may have been deemed immoral or unethical but they were effective. Floch believed that only a "devil" could lead them to salvation.
Floch Wants To Be Like Erwin
The events of Shiganshina completely changed Floch as a person. Erwin's actions became the standard that he tried to live up to. Because Erwin was ruthless and willing to make sacrifices, Floch attempted to do the same. During the invasion of Liberio, he tried to cause as many casualties as possible, to both soldiers and civilians.
Floch also respects others that are willing to act in the same amoral savagery that he believed Erwin did. After seeing Eren's conviction and willingness to kill anyone in order to protect Paradis, he became a loyal follower. He was willing to follow any of Eren's orders without question because he believed that Eren was the "devil" he was looking for.
Floch believed that Erwin's will lives on inside of Eren. He would gladly betray his commanders, perform a coup against the government, and murder people who used to be his friends if he believes that it will save Paradis. It doesn't matter how heinous the act is because every atrocity confirms Floch's belief that he is acting as Erwin would.
Floch is Still Afraid
The fear that paralyzed Floch in Shiganshina is still inside of him but it has grown in scope. He is no longer afraid of dying a pointless death. He's afraid that Paradis and the Eldians will die a pointless death. Floch, along with the rest of the Jaegerists, truly believes that wiping out the rest of the world is the only way to secure Paradis's freedom.
Floch still has dreams of being a hero like he did when he first joined the Scouts. These fears for Paradis and his dream of being a hero have pushed him to become the person he is now. Right as Floch was about to destroy the boat, he thinks about how this will make him a hero of the new Eldian Empire. Floch was willing to sacrifice anyone, including himself, to protect what he believed to be Paradis's only chance at survival.
