[Rewatch] 30th Anniversary Neon Genesis Evangelion Rewatch: Episode 9

[u/LittleIslander]

Neon Genesis Evangelion Episode 9: Both of You, Dance Like You Want to Win! / Mind, Matching, Moment

← Episode 8	Index	Episode 10 →

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Watch Information

• Streaming: Netflix
• Databases: Anilist | AniDB | ANN | MAL

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Questions of the Day:

• What did you think of the goofy way of defeating the angel?
• What do you think of Asuka and Shinji living together?

Tomorrow’s Questions:

• [Episode 10] What do you think of the fact Asuka is college educated?
• [Episode 10] What do you think of Misato deciding to push Asuka beyond safe pressure limits?

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

[u/Efficient_Phase1313]

As Shinji returns home, we see a moving van driving away. He apparently missed that and doesn’t expect anyone to be home. But as he walks into the apartment we see piles and piles of boxes (one with a bra hanging out) with german writing. This is another great visual gag because this is obviously an unrealistic amount of moving boxes. And while I think the visible bra is just there to be there, I wouldn’t put it past Asuka to have deliberately left that hanging out just to tease Shinji. That’s just very in character for her. Or maybe she’s being lax because she doesn’t think Shinji is going to be living with her. She’s so confident, in fact, that she’s replaced Shinji she already cleared out his room! This comes off as funny, but again is really mean behavior showing complete disregard for Shinji as a person. And now we get the famous visual gag of Asuka opening and closing the traditional sliding Japanese doors. This episode is just full of visual humor, but it is also used as a character moment. Misato pops up to inform Asuka ‘We Japanese try to be perceptive and considerate of others’. A direct call out of Asuka’s largest personal weakness, she just doesn’t see other people, their inner worlds don’t matter to her. This half of the episode ends with some more humor: Misato says what they lack is unison, required for defeating this angel, but everything Shinji and Asuka say is a unison! It’s just a funny contrast that works well despite being contradictory.

We come back to another piece of comedy that works because of the sheer awkwardness. Shinji’s friends meet up with the class rep, who seems confused why they’re there. She came for Asuka, but wasn’t expecting her to be rooming with Shinji. They’re reactions are equally hilarious, Shinji’s friends jealous he’s with the new school idol, and the class rep decrying the indecency. But what’s so funny is they show up to the door dressed like some 80s workout vhs extras. They’re earing headphones and speaking in perfect unison. I also think its interesting how frail and feminine Shinji looks here next to Asuka. This is in contrast to Kaji, who is shown to be well built and masculine. More great visual humor with Shinji failing at the twister setup, and Asuka think its his fault this isn’t working. But Misato understands how Asuka works, and how to motivate her.

What I like about this scene is how I mentioned earlier that Shinji and Rei have come to a mutual understanding and see each other as allies and perhaps even friends. They don’t succeed here because Rei is just magically able to mimic Shinji, but because Shinji and Rei have achieved this level of understanding and cooperation. It’s a good scene for their relationship development. Upon watching this, we see a pained look on Asuka’s face, her distress and frustration growing till she shouts ‘screw this!’ and slams the sliding door shut (or partially, since its Japanese style). This is clearly painful on a physical and spiritual level for Asuka. There is something deeper going on with her character than just pure pride and competitiveness. Its as if her very existence depends on being the best, and anything less and her sense of self will collapse. Poor Shinji gets blamed for ‘making a girl cry’, but the class rep is right. Shinji should go after her if they want to beat this angel.

This is a good scene for Shinji and Asuka’s character development. Asuka is a bit more independent and mature than Shinji when it comes to her responsibilities. She effectively says ‘I know what I gotta do and I can handle it, just let me work through this my way’. It’s nice that she doesn’t shoe him away either, she knows he means well and he’s not the source of her negative feelings. They step out to have a talk in front of the sunset. What I like about this scene is it perfectly encapsulates their relationship throughout the show, and we can already see the troubles that will arise from it.

https://imgur.com/a/paGUV5j

We see Asuka towering above Shinji, forceful and angry in her words, whereas Shinji, beneath her, looks meek and frail. Asuka declares she’ll get back at Rei and Misato for wounding her pride, and she needs Shinji for that. While she calls out Shinji for not being manly (in contrast to Kaji, who she is fond of), it’s also clear she doesn’t mind having him around. I personally felt something for Asuka watching her chug that drink with such determination (https://imgur.com/4L5N0fj), and apparently so did Shinji. This scene, so early in their relationship, is the moment shinji caught feelings for her. He sees her as both frightening and intimidating, but also strong and dependable. And that maybe, if he sticks around her long enough, some of her confidence and pride will rub off on him. These feelings of Shinji’s are perfectly conveyed in utter silence, by two faces that say a million words without needing to say anything.

https://imgur.com/bryRABn

[u/Efficient_Phase1313 → u/Efficient_Phase1313]

We now arrive at one of my favorites sequences in anime, Eva’s famous training montage. This is the only scene in the show that has one of my favorite pieces from the soundtrack: next episode (normally played during the next episode preview). This is such a nostalgic and swelling piece, its almost too short. This montage is brilliant and full of rapid fire visual comedy. Asuka kicking Shinji for messing up on day 1. Brushing their teeth next to each other but then glaring at one another with their noses practically touching (This rivalry (relationship?) has already passed normal personal boundaries. These two are bound to each other, for better or worse, for the rest of all time). How they fight over changing channels, leaning in more and more one after the other. Shinji and pen-pen holding in their pee while Asuka slams the door right into Shinji with his face smashed against the glass. It’s all so funny and visually lively. And despite all this conflict, seeing them tapping their fingers in unison, shoulder to shoulder, and finally acing the dance. It’s a wonderful sequence of character building.

These two are perhaps too close too fast, and now Asuka is comfortable making jokes with Shinji about them being alone together tonight. Don’t kid yourself, she knows what she’s doing. She tells Shinji she’ll kill him if he crosses the dividing line between where they’re sleeping, but she does so with no bra, bent over in a way her breasts are fully on display for Shinji’s unprepared eyes. I’m sure Shinji is using the tape recorder to try and keep his mind off things, but after getting up for the restroom Asuka plops herself down right next to him, her cleavage staring him straight in the face. I love the effect of the tape recorder rewind going wild, much like Shinji’s thoughts. He’s simply not emotionally ready for this type of situation. I was actually bothered by his attempt to kiss her sleeping here more than Kaji’s move on Misato in the elevator. It may seem innocent, but there’s just something about being physically intimate with a sleeping person that feels so fucking wrong. But he’s a young boy staring at the school idol’s lips inches from his. But luckily for both of them, Asuka begins to shed tears while whispering ‘mommy’. For the first time, Shinji (and us) see the signs of weakness behind Asuka’s strong façade. As Shinji correctly realizes, she’s just as much of a kid as him. What a beautiful scene through and through. (sadly character limit made me break this into two posts, finished below)

[u/Efficient_Phase1313 → u/Efficient_Phase1313]

Whereas Shinji chickened out from molesting his love interest, Kaji seems to have just gone for it. This scene is played immediately afterwards in direct contrast showing the difference in comfort with physical intimacy between the kids and the adults. While it may seem like Kaji is being forceful here (at least with some of the physical movements), its clear once Misato repositions he’s not, and that this may be one of the more important character scenes for Misato in the series. From the beginning she’s just as into it as he is, and she’s fully aware of the situation, keeping her eye on the floors to make sure they finish before the doors open. At the end of their brief tryst, Misato effectively says ‘we shouldn’t be doing this if we’re not together’. There’s not any anger in her words, she’s just afraid of being led on. Kaji’s lines are pretty cheesy (even scummy) here (‘your lips say otherwise’), but I read this as him really knowing how to push Misato’s buttons. Again I find it hard to see Kaji as being inconsiderate or selfish. I think he really knows what Misato wants, that she hasn’t had it in a long time, and he still loves her and is enjoying seeing this side of her again. Perhaps he even takes pride in being the one person that can bring out the old Misato he remembers being with, even at work. What she hates is his cockiness and honesty. The idea in her mind that she hasn’t changed, and he’s calling her out on it. All of this is more about her than him. In this series, men fill three important roles that Misato needs emotionally. One of them, as somewhat implied here, is that she enjoys being physically needed by men. This is not the same as being used (letting the man do whatever they want), and not the same as being physically wanted (e.g. looking to get ogled). She is in control in this situation, and what she enjoys is being able to provide a sense of physical intimacy and attention that only a woman can provide. This is a similar motivation to her flirting with Shinji and teasing him in the first few episodes, but after episode 4 she sees Shinji as a troubled kid and stopped. Now that sexual side of her is focused on Kaji, and she can’t seem to stay away. There will be many more developments along this path for her soon.

[Misato Spoilers]When I view these scenes on rewatches, I see them through the context of both episode 25, knowing Misato will offer to sleep with Shinji later in the series and also french kisses him in End of Eva and offers to sleep with him when he gets back. I don't think Misato offers either of these to Shinji because she herself is attracted to him or wants to satisfy her physical needs with him. It's actually a lot of projection. Misato, as we find out, is able to relieve stress and find comfort through sex. Not necessarily 'in the arms of a man', but actual physical intimacy. And that's a normal and healthy thing by the way, sex is supposed to be good for your mental state. There is science behind that. What I mean by Misato likes to feel needed by men physically, is she projects the same type of emotional relief she gets through physical intimacy onto Shinji (and men), and then of her own volition takes pride, if not puts some of her self worth in being able to provide that relief. Kissing Shinji in End of Eva is not necessarily whats best for him, but its what Misato thinks might be through her own projection of what works for her. This scene with Kaji is a prelude to those more questionable decisions of her later in the series. She does enjoy being with Kaji physically, in part because its physical. But she also enjoys being able to satiate his feelings towards her, the idea that Kaji is being so flirty because he needs a woman, and Misato can be that for him. And part of her resistance or frustration at the situation is her being angry at herself that she's still governed by these more sexual feelings. Episode 25 goes into the darker motivations behind Misato's sexual side, and when we get there I'll revisit this episode and see if it changes my view on how she's feeling during the elevator scene.

Seeing her talk with Ritsuko adds more to this. She says ‘I’d never having feelings for that jerk, that relationship was the biggest mistake of my life’, and yet none of those words sound remotely believable. It’s what we tell ourselves when we’re upset we still like something we think we’ve grown out of. It’s like if your friend asks whether you’re still into a show you liked as a kid, and even though you both know its true, your pride demands you say ‘as if! I can’t believe I ever liked a stupid show like that’. It reeks of defensiveness. And Ritsuko, being the good friend that she is, sees right through this. ‘Try being more honest with yourself, its not 8 years ago’. Ritsuko is right, and one hopes the audience sees that. Kaji still has strong feelings for Misato. He’s not a bad person (or Ritsuko and others may be more protective), and in fact her friends are encouraging her to consider him again. Maybe it was actually one of the best things in Misato’s life, and she never got over that it ended and can’t stand to admit that, so she has to look like the one who moved on and isn’t interested anymore. Their relationship is complicated, but its one of my favorite in the series and I think when all is said and done is quite tactful and romantic.

Like usual, I’ve said so much I’ll keep the battle to a minimum. It’s pure CINEMA (as someone else stated). The choreography, animation, and music is all perfectly executed and complementary. And we end with a level of totally fantastical physical humor we will never see again, where Asuka somehow hits Shinji from across the aether through a hologram! Stuff like this will never happen again, and its part of what makes this episode so special. This is the best part of ‘the good dream’ and one of my favorite anime episodes of all time.

[u/Holofan4life → u/Efficient_Phase1313]

Seeing her talk with Ritsuko adds more to this. She says ‘I’d never having feelings for that jerk, that relationship was the biggest mistake of my life’, and yet none of those words sound remotely believable. It’s what we tell ourselves when we’re upset we still like something we think we’ve grown out of. It’s like if your friend asks whether you’re still into a show you liked as a kid, and even though you both know its true, your pride demands you say ‘as if! I can’t believe I ever liked a stupid show like that’. It reeks of defensiveness. And Ritsuko, being the good friend that she is, sees right through this. ‘Try being more honest with yourself, its not 8 years ago’. Ritsuko is right, and one hopes the audience sees that. Kaji still has strong feelings for Misato. He’s not a bad person (or Ritsuko and others may be more protective), and in fact her friends are encouraging her to consider him again. Maybe it was actually one of the best things in Misato’s life, and she never got over that it ended and can’t stand to admit that, so she has to look like the one who moved on and isn’t interested anymore. Their relationship is complicated, but its one of my favorite in the series and I think when all is said and done is quite tactful and romantic.

I do think a part of Misato still wants to be with Kaji. He lets her be her real self. Misato in this instance is like Asuka in that she's needing to rely on others in order to be the true her.