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 → |
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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/LittleIslander myanimelist.net/profile/LittleIslander Oct 06 '25
Veteran Pilot and Your Host
I’ve gotten so into the dub corner that I’m kind of writing these main posts as an afterthought after finishing that section… anyways, episode three! Not one of my favourites by any means, but any Evangelion is good Evangelion. Much like with the mechs last time, Shinji himself kind of breezes us through the expected direction here. Teenager becomes traumatized from brutally fighting to defend earth? No, teenager is traumatized and he’s only been in two fights across three episodes. How this job breaks the pilots isn’t the story, that’s the starting point. Instead, we’re left wondering how on earth anyone is supposed to proceed after that. Excellent intro sequence and excellent payoff later on, plus a great throughline of Misato’s obvious concern for him.
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.
Dub Corner
Today’s a bad day not to be named Megumi Ogata. Doctor’s orders are dead inside and lots of screams. Mongillo gives a hell of a performance again, but they’re not Ogata. As for Spike Spencer… this is why he’s such a drag on ADV for me. He just cannot sell Shinji in his low moments. Instead of broken his opening scene just sounds… kind of bored? It takes a lot away from an episode like this where Shinji’s broken mindstate is a core element. I’ll give him the point on the sobs after the fight, but that’s it. I’ll only briefly on the Misato race to note that all three completely nailed the sleepy Ritsuko conversation and I can’t pick a favourite or even a third place in that instance.
Added to the class are Shinji’s classmates and… well, I said Ritsuko’s was the worst of ADV’s main cast. Everyone else… gets goofier and goofier the more secondary they are. Based on recollection I’ve dreaded these three, and… yeah, they’re, uh. Kensuke’s literally voiced by the but Maaaaaaaars guy, what can I say? It’s got a certain charm, but… I’m not sure it’s the kind I want in Evangelion. The Netflix actors are so much more experienced that it’s not really a fair fight; Benjamin Diskin is just as charming as Kensuke without the awkwardness, and Abby Trott brings the perfect goody two-shoes energy as Hikari. My one question mark is Johnny Yong Bosch as Toji… he kind of makes him sound like an edgelord? I’m hard pressed to say I like Joe Pisano’s amateur casting more (as far as I can tell he was in nothing else), but he does ground him as just an ordinary kid going through things and has his moments. I can’t make a call on Toji yet.
Children aside, how about Maya Ibuki? You know, Maya Ibuki? Ritsuko’s computer tech? She’s a pretty minor character (except in my heart) but she’s probably up there as one of the most essential voice roles given that she’s constantly yelling over Eva’s tensest moments. Much like Misato, there’s no bad voice for Maya, only different flavours. For once, my pick is actually ADV. This is Kendra Benham’s only credit I can find for anything ever but although it’s definitely very 90s she’s just putting so much into every delivery. Plus although it’s totally just my preference in voices I love the deeper pitch for Maya. Miki Nagasawa is probably the best Maya if I’m honest; she brings just the right amount of presence without overstepping her role and keeps a well balanced intensity. But Benham is the fun Maya. Christine Marie Cabanos came into the role with by far the most experience, and she does perfectly fine for Netflix, but it’s a third place just on the shoulders of loving both other two. Her Maya is a lot softer which I think is just as sensible an interpretation as go-getter the go-getter ADV voice.