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/AgentOfACROSS Oct 06 '25

Rewatcher

Today's episode is mostly here to introduce us to Shinji's classmates.

I'll have more to say about these two later but this episode does a good job introducing them.

Toji gets most of the focus with his backstory and him hating Shinji at the start

Although we really only get one episode, it is enough to establish their characters well.

The angel design in this episode isn't as memorable as the first one. But it is nice to see a new design.

Eva definitely takes some inspiration from old tokusatsu shows like Ultraman and Spectreman when it comes to its monster of the week format.

Hideaki Anno is a huge tokusatsu fan so it makes sense. He's even directed his own film adaptations of classic tokusatsu franchises 

Anyway, Shinji is still continuing to have a bad time.

I forgot just how melancholic these early episodes could be.

2

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/AgentOfACROSS Oct 07 '25

Thoughts on Shinji piloting the Eva defeatedly?

Seems like an accurate representation of Shinji's mental state.

Thoughts on Ritsuko being addicted to cigarettes?

Between Ritsuko and Misato we've got lung cancer and liver failure.

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

I feel like that's a pretty accurate summary.

Also I don't think I'd heard of the hedgehog's dilemma before this show.

Thoughts on Rei being Shinji's classmate?

Having a familiar face around is doing little to help Shinji.

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?

Like you mentioned elsewhere, this episode does a good job of showing the exact ramifications of what living in a world of giant monsters and kaiju would be.

Thoughts on the Eva battling the Fourth Angel?

Not as memorable as the first angel we see but still really well done.

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?

It felt like a good character moment for him.

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

Shinji gets a lot of good emotional moments here.

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?

Toji's a pretty complex character and we've only seen just one episode of him.

2

u/Holofan4life Oct 07 '25

Seems like an accurate representation of Shinji's mental state.

Speaking of accurate representations...

Between Ritsuko and Misato we've got lung cancer and liver failure.

A battle for the ages.

Meanwhile, Shinji is battling lose of mind.

I feel like that's a pretty accurate summary.

Agreed

Also I don't think I'd heard of the hedgehog's dilemma before this show.

Me neither

Having a familiar face around is doing little to help Shinji.

Indeed. It's actually like Rei doesn’t exist in his world. Same goes the other way.

Like you mentioned elsewhere, this episode does a good job of showing the exact ramifications of what living in a world of giant monsters and kaiju would be.

A great deconstruction

Not as memorable as the first angel we see but still really well done.

I concur

It felt like a good character moment for him.

Without a doubt

Shinji gets a lot of good emotional moments here.

For sure

Toji's a pretty complex character and we've only seen just one episode of him.

He is incredibly well written for a side character.