Colt and Reina: A Woeful Sibling Transformation Story
How they gained redemption for the Chimera Ants.
Colt (and his pre-Chimera Ant human form named Kurt) and Reina are secondary characters in the Chimera Ant Arc but are still considered important characters when considering the redemption of the Chimera Ants. Especially Colt, who guides the Chimera Ants through his direct actions into redemption, whereas Reina’s cause for the redemption of the Chimera Ant’s is more to do with an act of kindness on a smaller scale done by a single Chimera Ant.
Colt and Reina’s Origins: Meet Kurt and Reina
When we are first introduced to Kurt and Reina, we see the two happy siblings on a walk, on their way home from fishing and excited to show the fish they caught to their mother. There is a moment of panic where Reina is attacked by a small creature to which Kurt brandishes his fishing pole as a weapon and swats away at the thing causing it to run away. They are able to return home safely after this minor scare. Unbeknownst to them, this confrontation would prove to be a sinister foreshadowing of what was to become of them the very next day.
When they arrive home, they sit down and eat the fish they caught for dinner and Reina excitedly recounts to their mother how her older brother saved her earlier and there is a joyful agreement at the table on how Kurt will always be there to protect Reina since it’s his role as her older brother. This moment of tenderness between them as a family only makes what happens next that much more tragic.
Colt and Reina Getting Eaten by the Chimera Ant Queen
This is the moment that both Kurt and Reina are captured by one of the Chimera Ants. We see Kurt stand in front of his little sister, Reina, in order to protect her, holding up his fishing pole like a sword again despite how futile it is in the face of the great Chimera Ant beast in front of them. After this, they are taken to the Chimera Ant Queen and eaten by her. Getting her taste for the human species, she decides that this is the most nourishing species that will enable her to birth the strongest king. Later on, we witness the hatching of a Chimera Ant (that proves to be Kurt now transformed into Colt, the Chimera Ant) from a cocoon. We don’t get to see what’s happened to Reina, her cocoon hatching, or even what she looks like as a Chimera Ant until almost the end of the Chimera Ant arc. This is why I will mainly focus on Colt’s actions that led to the Chimera Ant’s redemption before focusing on Reina since she’s largely absent from the whole arc.
Colt as a Chimera Ant
Beginning with Colt’s righteousness as a Squadron Leader
Colt is the first human-looking Chimera Ant born from the Chimera Ant Queen and is the first one that is able to speak which is something that amuses her. He is the only Chimera Ant Squad Leader that is solely focused on providing food for their queen and only wanting to fill the necessary quota of humans set. Most other Chimera Ants take pleasure in torturing and eating humans as a pastime which is something that Colt does not agree with or see value in as their only job is supposed to be providing food for the queen. In these actions, Colt is reminding the other Chimera Ants of their former humanity and sets an example for them in how they should act to a higher moral standard. He greatly disapproves of the other ant’s killing of humans as that wastes potential food for their queen. He is loyal to a fault and righteous in how he conducts himself, only doing what is necessary. He does not take pleasure in taking humans but knows it must be done in service to his queen, only wanting everything to be as efficient as possible.
One of his most notable acts of righteousness is when he prevents the group from taking a child to be eaten, stating that it would not be nourishing enough for the queen, and goes on to take an adult male instead as seen in the series of gifs below.
Here, we also see an interaction with his mother. Although he does not remember her, there does seem to be some kind of recognition on his face or it could simply be confusion at the peculiarity of her so tightly hugging the child despite him already stating that he would not be taking it. It is also sad to witness how distraught and gaunt their mother has become within this episode as we find out from the other villagers that she has been endlessly searching the woods for her children, barely eating nor sleeping. This only makes this interaction more emotion-filled as neither recognizes the other except for the audience themselves.
Colt Surrendering to the Humans
Colt can be seen enabling redemption for Chimera Ants in the eyes of the humans. There is bravery in this action of him turning to the humans for help. He knows they may attack him in the air before he can even reach them, but that is a risk he takes in order to get help for his beloved Chimera Ant Queen who has been deadly injured in birthing the Chimera Ant King. Both Hunters are shocked by this display of human-like surrender through the waving of the white flag and decide to trust him and follow him even though they know it could be a trap.
Colt’s Vow
They try, but it is already too late to heal her. We witness the Chimera Ant Queen’s sad final farewell, asking about the Chimera Ant King’s health and bestowing a name for him before her final breath — Meruem meaning the light that illuminates all, her wish for what he would become someday.
It is after this, that Colt notices movement in her stomach and reaches to retrieve a tiny baby from within her. Colt then names the minuscule baby Reina, showcasing a brief hint of a memory of his love for his sister. Even though he can’t remember her, her name and his need to protect her, just like the baby in his hands, still remains.
Morel takes pity at the scene and tells Colt that if he vows to never eat or cause harm to another human then he will never let harm come to them. Colt agrees. Through his vow, Colt has redeemed the Chimera Ant’s in the eyes of the humans as he has shown them that the ants are capable of gaining back their humanity.
Reina’s side of the story
We do not see Reina the entire Chimera Ant Arc until almost the very end. Bloster, as seen above, decides to stay in the village in order to help Reina find her mother. Reina is small and frightened, hiding behind him as she’s wary of the villagers but ultimately Bloster is able to guide her to her mother’s house.
Reina Reuniting with her Mother
In this way, a small karmic cycle is closed as Reina is able to reunite with her mother. It is emotional to see her mother immediately recognize her despite her insect-like transformation in looks. It’s a tear-jerking reunion and through Bloster’s small act of kindness towards Reina, we are reminded how the Chimera Ants used to be human and are capable of empathy.
Conclusion
Colt and Reina’s story is ultimately a tragic one. I am upset that we never got to witness a reunification of the family or even the siblings. However, I am hopeful that this is something that may happen in a future season, if we ever get one. They were both able to cause the Chimera Ants to be redeemed in their own way: Reina, through Bloster’s small act of kindness and Colt through his ultimate surrender and empathy for humans.
I hope you’ve enjoyed the article! Please tell me if you agree if Reina and Colt brought redemption to the Chimera Ants or if there was a better way it could have been done. What do you think of their stories, are you satisfied with how it ended? What else would you like to see in the future with their story?
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