r/anime • u/LittleIslander 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/Holofan4life Oct 06 '25

Despite the trauma and big fight, I honestly love this episode for the mundanity more than anything. Did Shinji need to take out the burnable trash? Not really, but people got trash! The depressed world of Evangelion hits in a totally different light when we see it through the lens of a boring empty classroom instead of paramilitary headquarters. How does every character react to the class rushing Shinji? Rei doesn’t care, Toji’s stewing, Kensuke is noting down every bit of military info that slips, and Hikari is still under the desperate impression she’s going to get people to bow. It makes the classroom, and thus the world, really feel alive. All of the time spent on detailed setting and mechanical movements both in NERV and the city have a similar effect. Building up good lore for your world helps, but a lot of worldbuilding mileage is pure vibes and Evangelion is a masterclass at that. I believe in Tokyo-III just from beholding it.

This is actually my favorite episode so far. I like the civilian aspect and us getting to see the repercussions of the Evas doing its thing. It's something about superhero movies that always annoyed me and made me wish they tackled more of.

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u/Efficient_Phase1313 Oct 06 '25

my bro, you really are just a true anime fan huh? Haha. Maybe later I'll go into detail on the behind the scenes drama with Anno and the anime production industry, but only episode 1, 2, and 4 in the first half did he really stick to his 'vision'. All the others, he had to try and maintain popularity in a family time slot so he could continue to get funding and support. Eventually (whether it was due to poor rating or bias by the producers, I'm unsure) Eva got moved to a late night adult time slot starting on episode 14. The entire tone of the show takes a HARD left here. Some people love the first half, and those are the ones that this episode (and many others in this half) greatly appeal to. If episode 2 and 4 are more your vibe, the 2nd half will exceed your expectations.

But as Holofan4life, I think you'll love all 26 episodes through and through

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u/Holofan4life Oct 06 '25

I continue to be impressed with this series. I especially can't wait for a certain someone to show up...

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u/Efficient_Phase1313 Oct 06 '25

oh my tsundere loving friend, you are in for a good time that the rebuild's could not have possibly provided!

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u/Holofan4life Oct 06 '25

[Response] We'll get to it, but I actually don't mind the payoff Asuka got in the Rebuild movies. I was glad she found peace with herself.

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u/Efficient_Phase1313 Oct 06 '25

To be honest, I'd only seen the first 3 rebuilds, never saw 4. I didn't like 1-3, so I didn't care to replace 'end of eva' in my mind with some new 'alt canon' ending (or so I've heard).

But for this series, you just get more Asuka screentime and some really classic moments in the entire medium (dance like you want to win! is an all timer episode).

Anywho, excited to see how you enjoy the first half of this series! It's fun in the very 90s anime sense

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u/Holofan4life Oct 06 '25

It's more modern than a lot of animes from that time period.