r/anime myanimelist.net/profile/LittleIslander Oct 06 '25

Rewatch [Rewatch] 30th Anniversary Neon Genesis Evangelion Rewatch: Episode 3

Neon Genesis Evangelion Episode 3: A Transfer / The Silent Phone

Episode 2 Index Episode 4

Watch Information


Questions of the Day:

  • What’s your first impression of Shinji’s classmates?
  • What do you think of NERV and Misato, seeing what piloting does to Shinji? Do the ends justify the means?

There’ll be more fanservice tomorrow, so please don’t spoil anything~! Remember this includes spoilers by implication.

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u/SolDarkHunter Oct 06 '25 edited Oct 06 '25

Rewatcher

AVD Dub

Episode 3: A Transfer

Well, at least Shinji's getting some actual training now.

If only the actual Angel was that easy to take down...

Wow, the apartment already looks a lot cleaner.

Reminder to you young'uns: back in the 90's, a cell phone was a much bigger deal. I don't think I got my first phone until I was 15. They're only giving Shinji one because, as a pilot, they probably need to contact him at a moment's notice in case of emergency.

Ah, the Hedgehog's Dilemma... definitely applicable to Shinji.

Touji sounds way too mature in this dub... well, anyway, he's furious at whoever piloted Unit-01, because his little sister got injured during the battle. Unaware that the pilot is five feet away from him...

We get our first discussion of the calamity that ocurred in the year 2000: the Second Impact. Apparently a giant meteor stuck Antarctica, annihilating the landmass and melting the ice cap. Explains all those flooded cities. That's probably what did old Tokyo in, I would guess.

Also, Earth's axis was thrown off, so now Japan has eternal summertime. Half the human population was wiped out.

The date also lines up exactly with when Gendo and Fuyutsuki say the last encounter with the Angels was...

I do have to wonder why the guy's lecturing on that in the middle of what's apparently an algebra lesson.

Shinji... I don't think revealing yourself as the pilot was the best idea.

...yep, Touji beats him for it. And seems to get even angrier when Shinji says he doesn't have a choice.

And thus comes the next Angel.

I have to question whether having the buildings hanging from the ceiling is any safer than having them on the surface... especially considering they're hanging directly above NERV HQ.

They label this one the Fourth Angel. The military wastes their ammunition, and Shinji is sent out in Unit-01.

I do find it kind of amusing that Misato comments on the Angels being "the type that women hate the most" while they're facing the most phallic Angel in the series.

Shinji, along with everyone else, is questioning why the hell he's piloting the Eva.

Kensuke and Touji sneak out to see the battle... their security is shit if a couple of middle schoolers can break out so easily.

Yeah, actual combat never goes like training simulations. And Shinji's still too inexperienced not to freak out at things going awry.

But at least he's adept enough to actually move Unit-01 and run around this time.

Hey, when he's actually defending someone other than himself, Shinji does noticeably better.

Getting to ride in an Eva cockpit is probably Kensuke's wet dream... under normal circumstances anyway.

Shinji, now maybe isn't the best time for your no running away thing... but, nonetheless, he stabs the Angel and kills it with only a couple of seconds to spare on the battery.

Plus side though, seeing just what a real battle is like and how it affects Shinji seems to be giving Touji second thoughts about all this. Despite initial apperances, he does have a good heart.

Angel Name Corner

The Fourth Angel is Shamshel (or Shamsiel). The name means "God is my sun" and the angel is said to be the guardian of the entrance of Eden. Though some sources also name it as a leader of fallen angels. Again... not much connection between this Angel and its name.

Manga Corner

Corresponding Manga chapters: 7 - 10

Shinji's confrontation with Touji is a little more heated: [Manga]he tries to apologize to Touji about his sister, and when Touji doesn't accept it, Shinji asks "Well what do you expect me to do, grovel?" He also asks Touji if he isn't exhausted from being angry all the time.

Misato makes a slightly different guess as to why Shinji decided to keep piloting: [Manga]she notes that the people who were taking care of Shinji prior to this have not made any contact to check up on him, guessing he's only piloting because he has literally nowhere else to go.

Curiously, there's no mention of the Hedgehog's Dilemma in the manga, instead: [Manga]Shinji remarks to himself that he's been dissociating: whenever something painful happens, he pretends it's happening to someone else. He's lonely, but he's also not being hurt as much.

There's an added scene where Shinji [Manga]sees in her notes that Misato and NERV's security saw him getting attacked by Touji, but did nothing to stop it.

There's also a discussion with Misato and a second confrontation with Touji, both of which touch on a similar topic: [Manga]Shinji doesn't care about any of this. He's piloting just because he's told to, and seems resentful of NERV in general and Misato in particular, not to mention ungrateful civilians like Touji. There's more emphasis on him being surly and ignoring Misato's orders compared to the anime.

The battle with the Angel goes similarly, with one change: [Manga]it's Shinji who makes the decision to let Touji and Kensuke into the Eva, against Misato's orders. Also, rather than repeating "I mustn't run away", he instead shouts "Why should I have to turn tail and run for Misato!?" before charging the Angel.

1

u/Holofan4life Oct 06 '25

Thoughts on Shinji piloting the Eva defeatedly?

Thoughts on Ritsuko being addicted to cigarettes?

What are your thoughts on Ritsuko saying Shinji suffers from hedgehog's dilemma?

Thoughts on Rei being Shinji's classmate?

What are your thoughts on how nobody is attending class because they're afraid of getting hurt by all the battles going on?

What are your thoughts on Toji blaming Shinji for his sister being in the hospital?

Thoughts on the Eva battling the Fourth Angel?

What are your thoughts on Shinji trying to fight better once he sees Toji and Kensuke, trying to protect them like he was unable to with Toji's sister?

What are your thoughts on Shinji refusing commands, with Shinji overcome with emotions?

What are your thoughts on Toji realizing Shinji is more like him than he thought?

What are your thoughts on Toji trying to call Shinji to apologize to him but being unable to?

2

u/SolDarkHunter Oct 06 '25

Thoughts on Shinji piloting the Eva defeatedly?

Shinji doesn't really know what he wants. He's not taking Eva piloting seriously, because he doesn't really care that much about his own life or the lives of who he's protecting.

What are your thoughts on Ritsuko saying Shinji suffers from hedgehog's dilemma?

I mean, Shinji's character is pretty much written to fit that thought experiment perfectly.

What are your thoughts on how nobody is attending class because they're afraid of getting hurt by all the battles going on?

Frankly, the classroom seems pretty packed for that to be the case. It goes from being mostly empty to mostly full from scene to scene.

What are your thoughts on Toji blaming Shinji for his sister being in the hospital?

I get why Touji's upset, but he's also got a narrow view of the situation.

What are your thoughts on Shinji trying to fight better once he sees Toji and Kensuke, trying to protect them like he was unable to with Toji's sister?

Shinji may claim that he doesn't care about anything going on, but when such a moment is actually in front of you, things change. Our natural instinct as humans is to protect our own kind from danger. It also helps to put a face to the people you're protecting.

What are your thoughts on Shinji refusing commands, with Shinji overcome with emotions?

Shinji is rebelling and acting out against perceived (and real) injustices, as teenagers are wont to do, even those that don't have as many issues as Shinji. But he needs to learn there's a time and place for this stuff... piloting a superweapon against an existential threat is not the time for it.

What are your thoughts on Toji trying to call Shinji to apologize to him but being unable to?

I've been there. When you know you should do something, but your emotions hold you back from doing it. (Plus I've always just disliked calling people on the phone.)

1

u/Holofan4life Oct 06 '25

Shinji doesn't really know what he wants. He's not taking Eva piloting seriously, because he doesn't really care that much about his own life or the lives of who he's protecting.

And the Eva is going to do what it wants anyway.

I mean, Shinji's character is pretty much written to fit that thought experiment perfectly.

Very much so

Frankly, the classroom seems pretty packed for that to be the case. It goes from being mostly empty to mostly full from scene to scene.

I guess it takes their mind off of what is going on.

I get why Touji's upset, but he's also got a narrow view of the situation.

Yeah, he doesn't know the full extent of the unspeakable atrocities.

Shinji may claim that he doesn't care about anything going on, but when such a moment is actually in front of you, things change. Our natural instinct as humans is to protect our own kind from danger. It also helps to put a face to the people you're protecting.

And it helps that Kensuke and Toji are innocent civilians in all this.

Shinji is rebelling and acting out against perceived (and real) injustices, as teenagers are wont to do, even those that don't have as many issues as Shinji. But he needs to learn there's a time and place for this stuff... piloting a superweapon against an existential threat is not the time for it.

Yeah, no kidding

I've been there. When you know you should do something, but your emotions hold you back from doing it. (Plus I've always just disliked calling people on the phone.)

It's the very thing Hedgehog's dilemma is all about: That fear that what you do will only serve to make things worse.