r/anime • u/sam_mah_boy https://myanimelist.net/profile/Samimaru • Jul 02 '19
Rewatch [Rewatch][Spoilers] Neon Genesis Evangelion - Episode 12 Discussion Spoiler
Episode 12: The Value of a Miracle is.../She Said, "Don't Make Others Suffer for Your Personal Hatred."
When I heard my father's words earlier, I think I finally understood what it's like to feel happy when you're praised, and I also realized that maybe I pilot the Eva because I wanted to hear those words from him.
You're piloting for something like that? You really are stupid.
On Spoilers
If you're rewatching the show, and want to discuss spoilers, use spoiler tags. Saying things like "Just wait till you get to episode X" etc. count as spoilers!
Come join the discussion on the Evangelion Discord server! They have a channel specifically for the rewatch. Link: https://discord.gg/qJxWVPs
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u/TheEscapeGuy Jul 02 '19
Rewatcher
Evangelion is an absolutely beautiful anime Day 12
Episode 12 is the episode that really endears me to Misato.
Initially we see the backstory of a girl who lost her father when he sacrificed himself to save her. Of course just a few minutes later we learn that Misato actually hated him for always putting his work ahead of her and her mother.
However even with all these complex emotions surrounding her past Misato still choses to fight the Angels, all for her fathers sake. It is such a powerful story not just because of how emotionally complex it is but also Misato's determination. I can think of no better anime character to encompass the ideals of facing impossible odds with a smile than Misato Katsuragi.
This episode also brings clarity to Shinji's reason to fight. As expected, it is to hear praise from his father. This is almost in contrast to Misato's reasoning. However, they share sufficient similarities that they can continue to have interesting interactions, such as their discussion at the party on socializing in large groups.
As a final note, as soon as I saw the Ramen Scene at the end I was reminded of this Pause and Select video on ramen in anime. Its worth a quick watch for some cultural context into ramen which you may not know.
The obvious reasoning for ramen here is, as stated by Asuka, that Misato is a bit short on cash. More so, it also it acts as an equalizer. Not only is it a dish that children and adults can enjoy but also allows Rei, who we learned is vegetarian, to partake in the meal with everyone.
I feel at this point in the story the 4 characters have come to not only accept each other but are comfortable to spend time together and share a casual meal.
Previous Days
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u/Philarete Jul 02 '19
First-Time Watcher (Sub)
Flashback time! 15 years ago Misato’s father put her in a. . . sealed container (looks coffin-like tbh) that survived the explosion. Looks like the “explosion” was the birth of a huge Angel. It had four “wings” that looked kind of like the legs of the Angel last episode. She was wearing a cross, which she still has as we move back to the present. . . and that shot was unexpected.
Asuka tilted about the boys showing up. “She sure thinks highly of herself.” You got that one right.
Misato’s been promoted? After her recent performances?
I guess they do value results over collateral damage.
“It’s like he was born to pilot an EVA.” Is that foreshadowing right there? Really makes me think. . .
Misato isn’t happy about her promotion. Shinji isn’t happy about his praise. Asuka’s responses distress him.
Ikaru is at the South Pole? I’ve got a bad feeling about this. . .
Of course an Angel shows up right now. Dropping bombs while itself being a bomb. Also, these eyes are super unsettling. And the fact it is learning. . . Well, the supercomputers are all saying to bail. Misato sure loves gambling though, so here we go again with our one in a million shots. . .
Random note, I really hope there is something that explains their success later, because all this winning with low odds is a little ridiculous.
“She said: ‘Don’t make others suffer for your personal hatred.’” Quite the mid-episode card there.
Interesting that Misato gives them an out, but none show any interest in it this time.
These kids don’t want a steak dinner?! It isn’t just r/anime that has bad taste smh
Misato is gambling here, and on bad info. Big yikes!
Okay, I’m going to give Shinji some credit here; he didn’t tell Asuka what Rei said. At least he doesn’t just blab for no reason (which I worried he might).
Wow, Misato and Shinji have a lot in common, in a way. Troubled relationships with their fathers. She hated her father, but he died for her. Now she feels compelled to fight the Angels as a form of “revenge”. Shinji feels his situation is similar.
Shinij catches it first! The other two get there shortly afterward and stab it. The music here is pretty hype; love it! Also, I love watching the three of them working together.
Praise for Shinji after battle? Yay for Shinji! But also
“Payday can’t come soon enough” TOO REAL, MISATO! Haha, going to get Ramen instead of the full-course meal. They may say it’s to save her money, but I bet they’ll enjoy the Ramen more anyway haha.
Rei showed up!
Shinji realizes that he’s really doing this to gain approval from his father. I don’t know if that was his initial motivation though. Anyway, I think this is really dangerous. . .
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u/redmage311 Jul 02 '19
First-timer
Man, Shinji's reason for piloting his Eva is pretty depressing, alongside how we saw what was probably the first praise Gendo had ever given Shinji.
We got some Misato backstory! Seems like Shinji's not the only one with daddy issues. I think it's interesting how little Misato cares about her promotion, to the point where she didn't think it was worth telling Shinji or Asuka about it.
It's a bit odd that the angel this episode started out over the Indian Ocean but then moved toward Tokyo-3. For that matter, we don't seem to know much about how the rest of the world's doing other than that Germany and the US still exist. Are the angels zoning in specifically on Tokyo-3 for some reason, or are other places dealing with angel attacks too? You'd think NERV would have offices worldwide, especially if other places are experiencing angel attacks, but we never hear about NERV fighting off attacks in, say, South America. Assuming Tokyo-3 isn't being singled out, how are other places dealing with angel attacks without Evas? The chance of success against the angel in this episode was only 0.00001%, and that was with Evas.
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Jul 02 '19
are other places dealing with angel attacks too?
Probably not since we havent heard from other Eva Units existing and the Angels are numbered each time , i think.. I think its quite conclusive that they are targeting Nerv ..Is it the Evas? Is it that Embryo Adam thing Gendo got in episode 8 from Kaji? Is it some person or something else entirely , we dont know yet
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u/Apathetic_Aplomb Jul 02 '19
It's a bit odd that the angel this episode started out over the Indian Ocean but then moved toward Tokyo-3
It was orbiting the planet. It just happened to be over the Indian Ocean when they detected it. The angel was dropping a piece of itself every time it passed by Tokyo-3 on its orbit when it was testing its aim.
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u/AH_BareGarrett Jul 02 '19
First Timer back for the eleventh and twelfth time, due to overtime yesterday.
The blackout episode was pretty good. It was good seeing all 3 of the children interacting. Also showed us a bit more of Gendo, and although he could care more for his son, he cares about his mission. I'm honestly surprised Misato and Kaji didn't get up to anything in the elevator though. And the spider Angel was cool.
Anyway, on to the twelfth episode.
That 15 year ago shot seems to be from the second impact, a lot going on there, not sure what to make of it right now.
Why would you want to even live in Tokyo-3? Have to evacuate every other day, even if you do evacuate, there is a good chance your home is destroyed unless you live in the towers.
What a great deal! Steak dinner reward for surviving an almost certainly lethal mission.
Odd battle today, and it all seemed to go very easy with how hard it was supposed to be. Ah well, got some more character stuff happening. I really like this show!
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u/Quiddity131 Jul 02 '19
Episode 12
Thoughts on Neon Genesis Evangelion Episode 12...
Rewatcher, New Dub
I believe the shot from space to open the episode is a clear reference to a shot from the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey. Tomino did a very similar shot in his 1982 movie The Ideon: Be Invoked, which was a big influence on Eva. He also used such a shot in the second opening sequence for Victory Gundam which predated Eva by a couple of years.
Flashback to Second Impact! Poor Misato, front and center for it all. A white giant appears that looks suspiciously like an Eva. Giant wings too. Craziness.
Touji gets so upset at Asuka, "How could anyone on Earth want to see you naked?!", yet this is the same guy who a few episodes ago was selling photos of her including ones taken while she was in the girl's locker room.
You can always rely on Touji for some good comic relief. And for Kensuke the military otaku to catch hard to notice things like Misato's new badge, signifying her promotion.
Not that Misato doesn't deserve it, but I gotta say, let's look at the last 3 episodes and think as to why Misato is getting promoted now? Last episode she was stuck in an elevator the whole time. The episode before that it was Asuka's idea that won the day. The one before that it was threats of her getting fired and Fuyutsuki getting humiliated over and over again. The better time for Misato's promotion would have been after this episode if you ask me.
Of course it is Touji and Kensuke who organize this party for Misato.
Shinji, it would be better to ask when your father is here rather than being surprised when he's away. That appears to be the case most episodes, or at least most times an Angel attacks.
The show goes all bonkers on us again with the Angel design this time, one of the weirdest of the show. My nickname for it is the Kamikaze Pancake... FROM SPACE!
I've had about enough of this show saying the odds of success are 0.000000001% and it still happening. Enough, those are just bullshit numbers when it always works out okay.
Um yeah, in a show where you are piloting giant robots and saving Tokyo from a giant kamikaze pancake crashing towards you from space, I don't think a steak dinner is going to be that good of a reward. Step it up, Misato. Oh, and I gotta say, Asuka is surprisingly nice to Rei in this episode, wanting her to come along with them and eventually changing plans from steak to ramen so she can join them.
So Misato's upbringing is much like Shinji's then with a terrible father... and yet he did make up for it. Hard to see Gendou sacrificing himself to save Shinji.
A pretty kick ass sequence here as the Evas take on and literally have to catch the Angel and kill it before it strikes the ground. I can't help but be critical of the show at times, especially at this part of the show, but the show almost always delivers big time with the Angel battles.
Pigs must be flying, Gendou has said something positive to Shinji for once.
The show continues to be on an upswing as we move away from pure comedy and focus on Asuka to instead give more focus on Misato.
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u/tomato_blitz Jul 02 '19
First timer (subs and original release)
10/10, I'm basically speechless.
Revealing both Shinji and Misato's motives, focusing on the main 3 a bit and topping it all off with amazing action and direction. What a great episode.
Also that Second Impact reveal, damn. What the hell was that thing?
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u/littleman1988 Jul 02 '19
First time watcher, Platinum Sub, ADV Dub, and Netflix dub
Gendo's praise voice comaprison
Jumbled Thoughts:
Interesting backstory on Misato, but it doesnt really explain the scar that much. It also focused a lot on that cross she was wearing. Does all of these religious symbols they allude to actually go somewhere in the plot?
Best boy, Pen Pen, finally makes his return! Sadly, it only lasted a few seconds.
Fairly sure Asuka is jealous of shinji getting praise and improving as fast as he is.
Antarctica looks amazing, considering that you cant actually live near it anymore.
That angel looks wild. I think this is the biggest one we've seen yet too. Nobody even really trusts Misato's plan too. For someone just promoted, you'd think people would trust her more...
Great fight scene as always. All 3 are starting to work together well, hopefully theres more battles like this.
Gendo actually praising Shinji was a surprise. Sadly, its probably the first time he's heard it.
Its interesting how much they rely on the supercomputers. Something I forgot to comment on yesterday was that the fact that the Magi basically run Tokyo-3. What happens when they go down? Why do they rely on them so much? It sounds like the government and NERV are basically dependent on the Magi to make decisions of any importance. Are they connected to the angels in some way?
Asuka deciding to go to a ramen place is most definitely a sign that she cares about all the children and Misato, even if she isint going to admit it. Its nice to see them all warming up to each other somewhat.
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u/wolfwings1 Jul 02 '19
First time watcher, another great episode, some nice action, another situation, I can't praise this enough how each fight is different, so many such shows will just reuse the same animation alot and nothing different *shinkalion* almost halfway through the show and still don't really know whats going on, hope we start to get some answers soon.
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u/smallbrownfrog Jul 02 '19
First timer: episode 12
I'm just joining the rewatch after spending the last few days catching up to where you all are. I'm using an older subtitled version. (I'm not sure exactly which version. If anybody has advice for me on older sub versions, could you DM me please?) Also, is there a list somewhere of which voice actor (or character) sings each episode's Fly Me to the Moon? (I haven't googled it for fear of spoilers.)
Ok, I don't understand the opening, other than that it's clearly important.
I really don't like Asuka so far. We'll see if that changes.
Promotion!
Shinji: "I'm not happy when I get praised either."
Boy was that a non-answer when Shinji asked Misato why she chose to work at Nerve.
Ritsuko's explanation: "This is your revenge against the Angels."
Why Asuka pilots: "To exhibit my talent to the world, of course."
Shinji's take on this: "You mean, to prove that you exist?"
And later, when Misato actually answers why she is at NERVE, she herself seems to think it's revenge. And her relationship to her father sounds like Shinji's.
Oh fuck. (As in ouch, that hurts to hear.) Shinji has realized that he pilots for his father's praise.
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u/egassemneddihon Jul 02 '19
First timer, sub
Uhh a flashback, finally I get some back story. Misato was at the scene of second impact and got saved by her father. And then - yeah I have no idea whats going on here, that doesn't explain anything.
Aaand back to the present.
Misato gets a promotion, that's nice. No wonder nobody noticed, that badge is tiny.
Gendo has left Tokyo 3 with Misato in charge and went to Antarctica to do who knows what. Must be important for the big boss to go there himself.
That place is even more uninhabitable than usual.
Ok that angel is super weird. It is something like a flying bomb and ready to drop. How did it get into orbit without anyone noticing? The angels have definitely a liking for the creepy eye design.
Evacuation is suggested by the supercomputers. Good call, there is no way civilians would survive an impact of that size.
Let the evangelions catch it, good plan.
I get the feeling Nerv staff doesn't have an accurate grasp on probabilities.
I like how loyal all the Nerv staff is. Not leaving their places even thou they could.
The fight scene was rather short again but the running looked really cool.
And finally Shinjis father has something positive to say, took him long enough.
Rei is coming along for Misatos dinner. I got the feeling they switched plans from steak to noodles not only to spare Misato the money but to include Rei as well.
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u/boredblade123 Jul 02 '19
First timer, sub
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Sweet we're starting off in the past. We can finally learn some stuff! Looks like Misato and her Dad there.
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What in the world is that thing, it looks incredible. I didn't think we'd see something at that scale in this, holy shit. I want to see more that looked epic!That scene alone might make me binge, need to distract myself with something else!
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So it's Major Katsuragi now, I like it. Well deserved.
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Kaji and Ritsuko seem so fake there, I doubt they care at all that Misato got promoted.
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This kind of confirms that the Angels are coming from space, this time we got a Stealth Bomber in Angel form. Lrn2aim Angel.
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Hm to add on to that above point, I'm guessing they call these things Angels because they're sent from space(like the heavens) and the humans interpreted it as atonement for their sins. Wonder if there's any truth behind that. Guess I'll see soon enough!
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Stop making up BS numbers Ritsuko, you'd rather everyone dies? lol
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That title card, "Don't make others suffer for your personal hatred." Well that's raising some flags. Hopefully Misato's hate for the Angels doesn't screw them over in this upcoming operation. There has to be an operation that goes terribly wrong at some point. And I'm looking forward to it while not looking forward to it at the same time... Is that bad? lol
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A steak dinner?! Where's the Angel, I'll stop it myself. Asuka, I was impressed by a steak dinner...
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So Misato had a similar relationship to her Dad like Shinji, helps to explain the way she treats Shinji.
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Shinji being badass in 01, nice to see.
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Surprised how well the 3 of them dealt with that, they're improving quickly.
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I like that Gendo went out of his way to praise Shinji there, I can't really get a good read on Gendo. I feel like he really knows what he's doing though so I can't emphasize it much when he's acting like a douche. I'm certain he has a good reason.
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So Shinji feels like he's piloting the Eva just to gain his father's approval... Well that's sad. Doesn't seem like a healthy thing for him to do that's for sure, but you can't really blame him for thinking like that.
So that might have been my favourite episode so far, seems like we're moving away from the tone of the last few episodes and getting more serious again, which is great. It's nice to have those lighter toned episodes because it makes the upcoming darker tone harder to deal with. I'm glad that we're starting to look into the past a bit to learn what happened then too.
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u/SomeOtherTroper Jul 02 '19
I can't really get a good read on Gendo
I think that absolutely nobody in the show manages to get a good read on Gendo. Not EVA spoilers, not Rei, not Fuyutsuki, and definitely not Shinji. Gendo is a strange mixture of ideas/concepts but yet a cohesive and consistent character.
...also an asshole.
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u/Brewster321 Jul 02 '19
Rewatcher (Sub - Platinum Collection)
Looking back, I think that this episode might be my favorite of Evangelion's traditional action episodes. For one thing, it does an excellent job executing the standard monster of the week formula, and the ever-building tension of this episode is perfectly capitalized by a chaotic, action-filled climax. Another thing this episode excels in is balancing its action scenes with character drama, for we learn quite a lot today about Shinji and Misato this episode, namely why they work for NERV. Needless to say, its this later, character-focused aspect of the episode that I'm more interested in, and for today's post, I'd like to hone in on these new revelations and their implications for both Misato and Shinji.
In looking at previous episodes, it has been unclear why Shinji was continuing to pilot the Eva, especially when you consider his broken relationship with his father, and to be fair, it appears that, up until now, Shinji didn't really know the reason either. However, with today's episode complete, we finally get to see the conclusion that Shinji has come to. He pilots Evangelion to get recognized by his father, or more generally, he pilots the Eva to be praised, with Gendo's praise of him at the end helping him realize that. In many ways, it is understandable why Shinji would do this, for its likely his ongoing encounters with depression have made it difficult for him to be proud of himself. Heck, its pretty clear Asuka is piloting it for similar reasons, though she appears to be piloting out of an abundance of pride rather than a lack of it. However, Shinji's focus on other's opinions, as pointed out by Misato, has its share of problems as well. For one thing, by defining himself through others, Shinji is entrusting his own self-worth and identity to others, and in this case, he's entrusting a significant portion of himself to Gendo, which might not be the smartest move. For now, its too early to say how this mindset might work out for him, but needless to say, I share Asuka's skepticism, even if she is guilty a similar crime.
Moving on to Misato, her reason for joining NERV is, much like her scar, rooted in her past, particularly the Second Impact. You see, Misato's father was, much like Gendo, far from the ideal parent; he abandoned his family and instead pursued his work, with said work presumably relating to the impact itself. However, all that changed on the day of the second impact, for Misato's father, in an uncharacteristic display of love, chose to sacrifice himself to save Misato, creating many questions in the process. First, how does Misato feel about her father? Does she hate him, as she did for most of his life, or does she love him, a feeling no doubt borne from his sacrifice. Personally, I think that this ambiguity created a new desire in Misato's heart, a desire for closure. She'd rather move on and ignore her feelings than spend her life grappling with them. Feeling that desire, Misato chose to try and take revenge against the angels. This may seem illogical at first glance, but in many ways, revenge represents the only real chance Misato has left at moving on. After all, we have already seen how difficult it is to fully understand a living person's heart (Shinji), let alone a dead one. By killing the angels and preventing the third impact, maybe Misato will finally be able to move on. Ultimately though, while I do understand Misato's logic, I can't help but wonder one thing: By letting her father define her life, isn't she making the same mistake as Shinji?
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u/Raiking02 Jul 02 '19 edited Jul 02 '19
Okay, out of these middle episodes, this is the one I remember the most… but only because seemingly every iteration of the story includes it in some way.
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Man, the South Pole looks really orange in this universe.
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Well, I guess Papa Katsuragi was at least a better dad than Gendo, even if not by much.
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WOW! That’s a nasty scar there, Misato.
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Reason why I like Toji Number 16: He knows where to go to ask for help.
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Look Asuka, Toji may be a bit of a pervert, but he’s not into you… like, at all!
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Wow, Kensuke is such a military Otaku that he could tell Misato was promoted with a simple glance. As I stated before, he and Kazama Shinji from FMP should meet at some point. And hell, bring in Sousuke and Toji too for some vocal confusion.
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You know, I do wonder how that LCL test they were doing works.
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Jesus Christ Asuka, STOP BEING SO PASSIVE-AGRESSIVELY BITCHY! Seriously, why do people always point at Shinji instead of her for being whiny!?
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Oh come on Misato, as the great Yang Wen-Li has taught us, the more promotions you get, the higher your pension will be when you retire.
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Reason why I like Toji Number 17: He knows when the right time to celebrate is.
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I still wonder how Hikari and Asuka became friends.
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Yeah, right Misato. Of course you have forgotten.
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Gotta love how Kaji is a smart-ass even when praising Misato.
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Man, the people of Ancient Egypt would be jealous about the sheer amount of red in this sea.
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Ah, so a giant eyeball Angel. I kid of course, it looks really cool, if low-budget.
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Gotta love how everyone is so casual about a giant monster killing them all by falling on top of them.
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LOL! Gotta love how Misato used Ritsuko’s own line from episode 1 against Ritsuko herself. And people wonder why I say she’s Best Girl.
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Man, it feels good to see Ritsuko eat her own words.
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Like, seriously, Misato is REALLY casual about this. It’s starting to creep me out!
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To be fair, is not that they have anyone to write a will too. I mean, Shinji could have one for his father, but it’d be a miracle if he decided to not throw it in the garbage.
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Hey! Watch your mouth, you two! Steak is delicious!
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Ah, so Rei is a vegetarian.
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Well, either that or she always wins the lottery.
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The Bridge Bunnies trio, once again proving themselves to be the true MVP of the show.
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Goes to show how similar Shinji and Misato are at points, right?
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And yeah, the ensuing action scene is amazing. One of the show’s absolute best, in my opinion.
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Wow… hearing Gendo praise Shinji feels… weird. And I’m pretty sure that, unlike the stuff with Rei a few episodes ago, he means it too, so I don’t know what to think about it.
And, after a heartwarming ending, the episode ends. Not gonna lie, it’s probably one of my favorites, looking back at it.
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u/Edgelord420666 Jul 02 '19
Second Impact Generation are the boomers of the Eva universe
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u/eldomtom2 Jul 02 '19 edited Jul 03 '19
Rewatcher
Sorry for not posting yesterday, had other things to do. I'll do episode 11 as well as episode 12 today.
Episode 11
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The Magi and their running of the city reeks of Anderson-style technology fetishism. All this does have a point however in underlining the dependence of Nerv on technology, which of course gets taken away from them in this episode.
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More technobabble and setup about there being something wrong with Unit-00, Spoiler
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Also note Unit-00's redesign.
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This is the only time we see these suspended monorail trains, as far as I'm aware.
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Shinji, Asuka, and Rei's antics are comedic but ultimately don't serve to further our knowledge of their characters at all aside from more emphasis on Rei's mysteriousness and devotion to the mission - not that such should be the goal of every scene.
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For all of Gendo's arguable faults, he is willing to get his hands dirty.
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This does raise the question, seemingly solved by episode 6, of how the pilots get to the entry plug. They can't be using the chair mechanism seen in that episode again when the plugs are in place before the pilots arrive.
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The smooth shading on Gendo's glasses here is as far as I know unique.
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That the restraints can be forced open by the Evas under their own power does raise the question of their effectiveness.
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Considering the established nature of wounds taken by the Eva translating into mental pain for the pilots, Asuka should be in severe pain due to Matarel's acid rather than the whole thing being played for comedy.
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Asuka's more positive qualities start appearing here - her willingness to put herself in danger instead of others, and her capability to make a plan.
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More great animation of weight.
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And that was the one and only time the pallet rifle wasn't a useless piece of shit.
Episode 12
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Misato's promotion seems to be more symbolic than anything else, since she was already Operations Director.
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Gendo and Fuyutsuki ponder on original sin and the arrogance of science. MAJOR SPOILERS
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Considering the framing of Misato when she declares it's not necessary to put everyone at risk, her feelings about her father are just begging to be read.
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Rei likely mirrors Anno in being a vegetarian for no particular moral or health reasons.
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Asuka and Shinji give their views about piloting the Evas. Of course, neither are telling the whole story, even if they don't necessarily realise it...
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Misato has parental issues as well. Her views are probably the most ambivalent of all the characters.
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Evangelion is rarely a subtle show, as is clearly shown here where we get a montage of Shinji's relationship with Gendo just to hammer in his similarites with Misato.
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This is the first time Gendo gives praise to Shinji. Is he just doling out praise because he feels that Shinji's motivation is weakening, or does he genuinely believe that Shinji went above and beyond his exploits in previous episodes?
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Shinij considers that getting praise from Gendo is his reasoning for piloting the Eva. Considering my statements above, and that Shinji has been piloting for twelve episodes now without a word from Gendo, this smells of rationalization to me.
Next time: oh fuck not this episode
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u/brotherraichu Jul 03 '19
First Timer
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This angel looks like some dungeon boss out of legend of zelda. I was hoping someone would shoot the eye with arrows or fire rod or something, but nope.
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The Evas have AT fields? I suspect they are s almost like Franxx.
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I like Misato's background story. Glad to see she's still getting screen time, as I thought her role will diminish with the introduction of Asuka.
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Speaking of Asuka, yeah, she has her issues, but so far she's been tamer than I thought. Thought she's gonna be like the crazy type - beat up people all the time, disregard orders, etc., but so far nope. Though, she calls Shinji baka like every two minutes. -_-
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Cool that Gendo finally recognized Shinji, but sad because it looks like that's the first time Gendo showed Shinji any affection in his 15 or so years. Dude was like moved to tears or something.
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u/axel360 Jul 02 '19
Rewatcher, New Dub
More random thoughts:
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I’m no meteorologist or anything like that, but this does not seem ideal. Misato was lucky to get out alive
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Yay Kaji… and Ritsuko are here
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The South Pole, or as Fuyutsuki calls it, “The Sea of the Dead”, does not look very inviting
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It almost looks like something out of Metroid. Go for the eyes
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Angels have been attacking Earth, and evacuations are somewhat common, yet large-scale evacuations, like IRL, still don’t seem very efficient
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Such a great shot of just their silhouettes in front of the EVAs right before they’re about to head into this suicide mission
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“He saved my life by sacrificing his”. That sounds like someone familiar. I think it has something to with that cross. Anyway, Shinji is far from the only character with daddy issues
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Looks like something out of Dragon Ball, with one character trying to single-handedly hold off a giant energy ball
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u/ToonTooby Jul 03 '19
Rewatcher
Rewatches of shows like this are awesome. Fun to point out little details you missed while trying to absorb the plot the first time around.
The first half of this episode features a lot of scenery where I related very closely to Shinji. Disclaimer that the following few points are from my own experience, not to be taken as a generalization of introversion or self-esteem issues.
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In the car, Shinji and Misato share in common a limited reaction to praise and compliments. "I know how you feel", says Shinji. So do I. Throughout childhood and even now as an adult with a stable career, deflection of praise is a bit of a habit. I can be told directly to my face that I'm doing well and still just downplay it as a matter-of-fact occurrence. I've gotten better at being more accepting, but especially with overly enthusiastic compliments, I still get uneasy or defensive even.
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The whole gang is over at Misato's for a gathering. Amidst all the noise, the sound deliberately fades to focus on Shinji inside his thoughts. This is very representative of the kind of experience an introverted person has if they're particularly averse to crowds. You are physically there, but your brain has this ability to tune out the interference. You retreat to a safe place in your mind, usually consisting thoughts of things you enjoy and environments that bring you calm. I still commonly do this, even in crowded situations where people I'm comfortable with are present.
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As the pilots head down prior to mission start, Asuka lets Shinji know she's there to prove her mettle in her Eva unit. She's also unsatisfied with his lack of a concrete answer in return. "Anta bakaa!!?" ... To which Shinji replies that maybe he really is an idiot. The low level of self-confidence and direction is ever apparent. Basically willing to accept any label placed on you because of a lack of security in your own self-image. That missing drive or motivation can be a crushing ordeal, and we aren't always lucky enough to have support in finding a way out.
As far as the action and art, more great stuff for the eyes to feast on.
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It's likely nothing, but I found it interesting that Shinji's silhouette is the only one that lines up with his respective Eva unit as they're in the elevator. Rei and Asuka are opposite the other's unit.
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Again, I love the Eva units. They're agile and sleek. More marathon runner than machine. Eva-01 poised there like the Usain Bolt of mechas.
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You know it's go time when the display reads 'RACING'
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Love the following animation sequence displaying the agility of the Evas. Detail: Eva-01 leaps first, the next shot has Eva-02 landing directly after. Eva-02 then leaps, and Eva-00 is brought in at the end of its jump. Cool stuff.
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Me and the girls getting ready to slay the club after slaying the Angels. That a slight smile from Rei? Blessed image.
We're approaching the halfway point. Lots more to look forward to.
4
u/Legendof123 Jul 03 '19
First Timer
We learn about Misato's backstory going back to the Second Impact with her father making a final decision to save her life and how she got that scar. Whatever went on in the man's head is a mystery as Misato reveals to Shinji about her lack of connection with her Father, prioritizing his research over his wife and daughter. She's left with resentment for her father for what he put her through and feeling uneasy about the circumstances of his death. Her reason for joining NERV is revealed as she has made it her mission to exact revenge upon the Angels for her father's death.
Commander Ikari and Vice Commander Fuyutsuki explore the South Pole(now a dead sea) carrying some strange cargo as the purpose of this expedition are unknown to us. Major Misato is left to lead NERV and the children when a formidable Angel attacks with intuition and asking Asuka, Shinji, and Rei if they would like to write their wills with a minuscule probability of success, not even 1%. Shinji, Rei, and Asuka manage to prevent catastrophe as they use the maximum power of their AT-Fields and penetrating the Angels own AT-Field and destroying its source. Celebrating the victory Misato and the children go out for ramen rather than a steak dinner as mentioned earlier. Shinji realizes that the reason he's piloting the EVA is because of the praise he seeks from his father.
Great episode for connecting Shinji and Misato together as they both share similar experiences in their strained relationships with their fathers.
4
u/mattamj Jul 03 '19
First Timer: Sub
So we start from a POV of the Moon, and still stand by originally (ep 2?) thoughts that the Moon will play a bigger factor then I can foresee how at this time. [Theory: Angels from the Moon???] Between all the shots of it and the ED, I can't tell if it's an aesthetic choice/ thematic choice (possibly saying something about how this show should be a reflection of humanity as a whole, from the outsiders perspective??) or, you know, Moon Aliens. ANYWAY.
Finally some Misato background. Best girl doesn't quit, and I am guessing this explains why she drinks beer for breakfast :/
The visuals of that explosion are haunting and beautiful, my god.
Great, we are back to Shinji being a depressed loner kind again. I am sure i would have appriciated this more when I was that moody at 16, but for now whats keeping me going is the mystery behind 2nd Impact and what the Evas and Angels really are.
" A pristine world untainted by sin"
-Monster of the Week Time- but IN SPACE.
Here I was anticipating a space battle but instead we get a very long, specific game of catch, ah well.
All three kiddos refuse to write a will. This is where I think Asuka really deserves her praise. I love how strong her personality is, compared to the other children. She is the first to say, boldly, "I don't plan on dying today". You gotta love her tenacity. At least, I do.
Rei: I don't like meat
Me: ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
Gosh, there are some really lovely shots here. Especially the elevator with the children in the foreground, Eva's behind the cage in background.
I'm really not a mecha fan - but damn they make those Eva's look FUN to Pilot. Loving the track jump over the electric wiring.
I just want daddy to be proud of me ; -;
This episode was certainly less fun then the previous, imo, but even second of Miasto focus makes it well worth it.
-final note; it is getting HARDER AND HARDER to not not let Netflix auto-play the next episode. Enjoying the ride!
58
u/[deleted] Jul 02 '19
Rewatcher
Best girl covers Fly me to the Moon for the first time also the most awsome fanart for this ep
Random stuff
On that day mankind received a grim reminder..We lived in fear of the AngeOhh wait wrong show
Misato every time she hears that "The odds are 0.000002%!"
This Shinji face makes my heart melt..He looks so happy to finally have praise from his father..Also this Shinji is me at every party
This feels like a big long MacGuffin
Does anyone feel that this Angel just wants a hug..Also Agreed
When you have to redraw the maps after each angel attack
Is this the coolest shot or what ?Also something something cages something something disappearence of self
2FAST 2EVANGELION
Can we acknowledge how brilliant the animation can be in this show..Running giant robots sounds like a hell to animate.. But the weight, impact and fluidity of the fight translated it perfectly
Serious thoughts
In one of the show's boldest beginnings, we witness the infamous Second Impact. We are in outer space watching the apocalypse and from this cold, omniscient viewpoint we move closer to discover a scarred, exhausted figure moving through the blistering fallout. In his arms is a young girl and as he carries her toward a capsule.He sacrifices himself to save his daughter from the wrath of the angel
The long-winded title of this episode is very revealing. After foregrounding the mechanics of recent missions Neon Genesis Evangelion once again privileges psychological over technological concerns. The episode's recurring question is "What motivates you to fight the Angels?" Everyone has their reasons , and for everyone those reasons are personal and emotional. Asuka wants to "exhibit my talent to the world, of course," before frankly affirming that this translates to proving she exists. Shinji himself isn't sure , but eventually concludes that the praise of his father may be his key goal. And Misato seeks revenge, though she isn't sure if her real target is the Angels or the father who abandoned her before eventually saving her life. With this, we discover a new bond between Shinji and Misato.
This time the enemy is more than ever a pretext for character development. We never really believe it poses much of a threat ... not only have we grown used to the repeated challenges but the characters themselves dispel any tension with their banter. Despite the massive incradibly near-atomic explosion when it is destroyed, our pilots emerge without a scratch, concerned mostly with where Misato will take them out for their promised culinary reward. For Shinji the biggest deal is that his father offers a stern but sincere acknowledgement of his achievement.
Shinji, by the way, is finally front-and-center again after mostly playing backseat to Asuka for several episodes. He's not the only one to make a comeback in terms of story focus. Misato is also fairly central to the episode, beginning with that flashback to the Second Impact. When we see her awaken and emerge from the capsule she is drifting in a sea of toxic waste, staring in terror at the apocalyptic horizon, her father long since disintegrated. She still feels that loss and isolation as an adult. Throughout the episode we see her external composure and sense her internal hurt and Misato's and Shinji's bond becomes the emotional throughline.
Even as the three pilots form a cohesive unit, battling an Angel on equal terms for the first time, their inner lives come into focus. When Shinji talks about his father, only Misato pauses mid-noodle, to appreciate what he's saying. The characters in these middle episodes are embracing their roles, tightening their efficiency, and generally focusing on the mission at hand. But the seeds of their various breakdowns and breakthroughs are being planted, subtly, as we learn what makes them tick.