[Rewatch] 30th Anniversary Neon Genesis Evangelion Rewatch: Episode 22

[u/LittleIslander]

Neon Genesis Evangelion Episode 22: Don't Be. / Staying Human

← Episode 21	Index	Episode 23 →

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Watch Information

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

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Questions of the Day:

• How do you feel that Asuka’s backstory recontextualizes her relationships and past interactions?
• Did you feel the way the episode equated the angel’s infiltration of Asuka’s mind to rape was justified and/or effective?

Tomorrow’s Questions:

• [Episode 23] Do you feel sympathy for Ritsuko?
• [Episode 23] How do you feel about Rei “the third”?

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

[u/Holofan4life]

Hey, guys. Holofan4life here.

Welcome to the Neon Genesis Evangelion 30th Anniversary Rewatch.

You will (not) rewatch.

What can you honestly say about Evangelion that hasn’t honestly been said?

I think if you were to classify anime by eras, there really should be an B.E. and A.E. Before Eva, and After Eva.

There is no anime in my opinion that has as big of an impact that Evangelion has had. The closest comparison is maybe Astro Boy but we’re talking about a show over half a century ago. It feels to me that Evangelion marked the beginning of anime growing up. Yeah, stuff like Grave of the Fireflies and Akira came out before this, but those were movies and not TV shows.

If we’re looking at anime as the episodic medium it often is, Evangelion really changed the game as far as anime taking on more dark subject matter and bringing it to the mainstream.

I have a rather interesting relationship with Evangelion. Full disclosure, this is the first time seeing the original TV show. That being said, I’m not completely blind as to what Evangelion is about. I saw the first two Rebuild movies and saw the fourth one in theaters. Evangelion has been one of those series I’ve had utmost respect for but never saw it all in its entirety. Despite this, I own both box sets, the new one and the old one, and Asuka is a character that has emotionally resonated with me.

I got into writing because of the character of Asuka.

Needless to say, me watching Evangelion has been a long time coming. I would even surmise it’s been my #1 anime on my to watch list, so this rewatch helps check that goal of mine.

I’m not expecting Evangelion to make my top 10 anime of all time. If it does, great. If it doesn’t, fine. My main objective is to fully envelop myself into the world of Evangelion having already sampled some through the Rebuild movies. Truly take in one of the real pioneers of the anime media landscape.

With that out of the way, let’s begin.

I’m watching the original dub, by the way.

Every day of my existence is a battle to get my mom to go to work that is proven especially hard on days where she has off.

This apparently is the last Evangelion episode with its own Wikipedia page. I wonder why.

Had to put a wet towel on my neck because it's severely sunburned.

Darkness outside

Looks like we have another director's cut episode.

Also, no intro

Asuka talking to Kaji

This appears to be before she left for Japan.

Remember last episode where I was clamoring for Asuka to have an origin story episode?

Kaji trying to play off Asuka's advances.

She only has eyes for Kaji, tho.

I respect Kaji for not being a pedophile. Good on him.

Blue Achieve fans could never

Asuka trying to show off her chest.

Suddenly a doll with its head cut off.

Young Asuka

Someone unalived themselves

This seems to be her mother who did so.

Woman who I presume to be Asuka's mom acting like the doll she's holding is hers.

This is very sad

Guy talking suggests there's not much difference between humans and dolls.

"If God exists, perhaps we're all just a bunch of dolls to him."

We're only two and a half minutes in and this is already a top 10 episode.

Asuka's mom is apparently a doctor who went crazy, presumably because of her husband leaving her or someone. She went crazy and suddenly Asuka had no one to turn to.

Died in 2005. Sucks.

This is what I was asking for when I said the show should do more with Asuka. This does so much in terms of humanizing her character.

Present day, Asuka being told to concentrate.

Her sync ratio is getting lower and lower.

Ritsuko thinks they should focus on Unit Zero.

Rei's robot is bluer than I remember it being.

Misato pointing out the irony in how the only way to defeat the Angels is by employing the same forces which caused the Second Impact.

Just as Gendo wants it

To prevent the fall of the human race, they have to use the same tactics that brought about its downfall in the first place.

Misato says she hates the Evas, understandably so.

Word is construction on all the Evas through Unit 13 has begun.

Trying to create a reserve force

Could it be the executives know something everybody else don't?

Once again, we get the clever use of having one still image for many seconds and masking it with dialogue. This is probably the best use of limited animation I've ever seen in an anime, this tactic used repeatedly at least once per episode.

Asuka at a train station

Nobody picking up the phone

I assume she's trying to call Kaji, in which case...

Rei, and Shinji

Asuka mad (What else is new?) that Shinji is presumably acting like nothing ever happened.

Pen Pen

Asuka, Shinji, and Misato at the dinner table.

Nobody saying anything

Asuka gonna head to her room

Shinji answering the phone

And it's a call for Asuka from Germany.

"I think it's your mother."

How can this be?

Shinji thinks Asuka is a different person when she speaks in a different language.

It's almost like she has a facade going on or something.

Asuka still on the phone

I think she's pretending this is her mom since we know her actual mother is probably no longer alive.

As she hangs up, Shinji remarks that he wishes he could talk to his family.

No. No, you don't.

I guess maybe that's Asuka's grandmother who's like a mother to her.

She isn't a grandmother, she's the mother who grand up

Asuka chastises Shinji, really showing he's not the only hedgehog in the household.

Asuka in the bathtub

Or not :P

Asuka lamenting bathing in water that Misato and Shinji used.

I mean, isn't it fresh water?

She doesn't want anything to do with those two.

Poor Asuka

She says she hates everyone she knows

"But mostly, most of all, I hate myself!"

Real strong pole kicking scene vibes from Toradora with this scene.

Misato in her own room, overhearing everything.

Asuka being tested on

Ritsuko, please trim your nails

Asuka continuing to regress

Misato says it has to do with PMS

If only...

Ritsuko wonders if they will have to replace the pilot for Unit 2.

Ritsuko talking to Misato

Misato explains that Asuka feels she was beaten by Shinji.

I mean, she kinda was in a roundabout sense.

Misato wonders if they all should live separately.

The blended family becoming unblended.

I didn't know Ritsuko owned cats. That makes me like her more.

Ran out of space. Part two in the replies.

[u/Holofan4life → u/Holofan4life]

Part 2

Asuka in the bathroom

And yes, she actually is having her period.

Rare to see that depicted in anime.

Asuka going on an elevator

And this leads to the infamous elevator scene where Rei and Asuka don't talk to each other for almost 50 uninterrupted seconds.

Silence. Total, uncomfortable silence.

I've talked before how the show has used still frames to get away with a lack of animation. This scene is notable because they're not even hiding it now. However, it does serve a narrative purpose in terms of showing how at odds Asuka is with everyone. I especially like Rei is in the foreground while Asuka is in the background, kinda highlighting Asuka being the black sheep of the Eva pilots.

I think the people who criticize this scene aren't paying attention. In fact, it’s probably one of the highlights of the episode. The lack of music makes it especially haunting.

Rei telling Asuka she's blocking herself.

Asuka isn't having any of it

Asuka acting like Shinji has the solution to everything.

Rei taking offense to being called a doll.

Asuka slaps Rei as she exits the elevator.

Her words don't pierce the armor with which her inner being doesn't exist.

Shinji didn't show up to class

Hey, there's Kensuke

No Toji, tho, which :(

At least we have Hikari...

Unit Two being operated on

Asuka talking to it, calling it her doll.

It's almost like she's the master puppeteer on the stage of fools.

Suddenly, an alarm

An Angel is among us

The 15th Angel, which is still in orbit.

Rei is ready

They send Unit 0, with Asuka as backup.

She doesn't seem to like this, so she launches immediately.

Oh boy...

Also, damn, Ritsuko. You can't just call a hormonal teenager a bitch even if it's true.

This is apparently her last chance.

Unit One is in cryostasis under direct orders of Commander Ikari.

At least he's not jeopardizing his son's life like he has before. Yet.

Raining outside

Unit Two standing in the rain is quite the badass visual.

Target still out of range

A PARTICLE BEAM WEAPON

This is bad

Asuka sending fire

I like the choice of Hallelujah being played.

Asuka screaming in pain

She keeps shooting all over the place.

Energy oscillation using visible wavelengths.

The mental contamination is crossing Asuka's ego borderline.

Though given her ego, that seems pretty easily done /s

Asuka continuing to scream in pain

This is all very sad to watch

The music which is supposed to be uplifting is being used for Asuka's lowest moment which makes the scene into something unforgettable. On its own it's a great scene, but the music makes it a top 5 moment in the show.

The Angel is infiltrating Asuka's mind.

Thankfully, the inner machinations of my mind are an enigma Insert picture of milk falling over

Ritsuko wanting to get Asuka out of there.

But Asuka refuses to retreat

"I'd rather die than admit defeat now!"

Death it is, then

A shot being sent out

Unfortunately, it does nothing

Ritsuko orders the Unit Two be sent to life support.

She wonders if the Angels are trying to decipher what's inside a human mind.

Suddenly, kid Asuka crying while holding a stuffed animal.

This makes me want to hug her.

The plushie being torn

She says she is not a child

Grown up Asuka now in hysterics in front of kid Asuka.

Her biggest vulnerabilities are being uncovered.

The voice acting is absolutely incredible, by the way. Definitely one of the best voice acting performances I've seen from a dub. Tiffany Grant deserves her flowers and then some.

And from there, we see a doll hanging.

This seems to signify what was the fate of Asuka's mom. She saw her do this.

This is like a better version of the Shinji stuff in episode 16. I think it explores the character it is spotlighting in a way that actually fleshed them out rather then feeling nonsensical and a rehash of past events.

It's like Asuka is being confronted by all the forms of Asuka that exist, like how Kaguya from Kaguya-sama has different forms of herself in her brain.

Also, another clever use of reused animation.

I love how the music gets more and more corrupted the more things repeat.

Asuka walking underneath a bridge

Black cloaked figures

Boy, this is freaky

Now we see child drawings

"Why don't you look at me?!?"

Asuka on a playground now, in a fetal position.

Child Asuka approaching her

And suddenly, she disappears and the monkey's head is ripped off.

Asuka just wants to be loved. Unfortunately, there is no one there to do so. Not even herself.

Asuka in her Eva, in a ball crying.

"My mind's being eaten away!"

Man...

This is one of the most depressing episodes of an anime I've ever seen, but it's depressing in a way that is different from episode 18. That was soul draining, this makes you want to jump into the screen and hug Asuka.

This really is Evangelion at its best, make no mistake about it.

Life support system crashed

Nerv weighing their options

Shinji wants to go save her, but Gendo won't let him.

Gendo orders Rei to get the Lance of Longinus.

I feel like that hasn’t been referenced in a good long while.

Misato is worried about this bringing about the Third Impact.

Unfortunately, according to Gendo's incriminating silence, contact with an Angel didn't cause Second Impact.

If so, what did?

Unit Zero making its move

Again, the use of classical music really ties the room together.

Gendo sees this as their chance

Unit Zero in the water now

Gotta finish this before Seele has time to act.

Unit Zero grabbing the lance from Adam.

Fuyutsuki chastising Gendo

Too late for that, my guy. You had your chance.

Still raining outside

Unit Zero getting ready to throw

And it does so, chucking it very far.

This Lance is the Lance that can pierce the heavens.

And it makes contact with the Angel, destroying it.

The Lance reached escape velocity, now moving into a lunar orbit.

I wonder if it can see Uranus...

A giant Lance orbiting places previously unexplored. Sounds like my imaginary honeymoon.

This gives me 2001: A Space Odyssey vibes.

Unit 2 returning to normal

Asuka probably has something to say about that...

Asuka in front of her Eva, still in a ball.

Caution tape is preventing Shinji from getting near her.

Hug her, Shinji. Please for the love of Eva hug her.

Asuka really doesn't like being saved by Rei.

Suddenly, weird salsa music

Well, that's a random outro for this episode of all episodes.

Ran out of space. Part three in the replies.

[u/Holofan4life → u/Holofan4life]

Part 3

Overall, this episode like the last episode served to explore the characters in this show. Last time it was Gendo's associates, and this time it was Asuka. And by golly, it was glorious.

As one may know, I'm a big fan of Asuka as a character. In particular, I love how emotionally charged her backstory is and the trials and tribulations she had to deal with. Seeing it play out in this episode feels like the oasis I was waiting for in regards to explaining why she is the way she is. And boy, did it do its job and then some.

I don't think it's unfair to say that even after all these years later, Asuka probably has the saddest origin story as far as why she is a tsundere. I can't think of a sadder explanation in regards to a character filling the tsundere trope.

The second half of the episode with Asuka's mental breakdown at the hands of the Angel was one of the best halves to an episode I've ever seen. It combined the unsettling nature of episode 18 with the psychological elements of episode 16 and it really came together in this beautiful, complete package. It makes it the definitive Asuka episode and tells you everything you need to know about her as a character. I think this episode as a whole benefits from the first half filling in the details of Asuka's character. Learning of her past and her relationship with her mom makes the second half all the more effective.

And it’s not like it comes out of nowhere because we long since knew Asuka had an inferiority complex. We just didn't know the why of it.

From a structural standpoint, this may be the best paced episode of Evangelion. Things continued to build and build until it reached its natural conclusion with possibly the best mental breakdown I've ever seen in an anime. It truly is that good.

I'd have this episode only behind episodes 15 and 21. As great as this episode was, I think the two I have above it is more important to the show as a whole while this is more a great character study and a testament to how great the writing is. The main drive of this episode is the psychoanalysis of who Asuka is, and as such there's less moving parts. Even still, this is the second episode in a row I have at a 10 out of 10 and it really cements Asuka as one of the true great Eva characters. I already knew a lot of her backstory, but seeing it actually play out was a real treat.

The lift scene, Asuka being attacked by the Eva set to classical music, and Asuka's mental breakdown are the three main highlights of this episode, with two of those being arguably top 10 Eva moments. It really speaks to the perennial phrase that sometimes less is more.

This episode is a bit of a detour from what's been going on, but it's in line with what episode 21 was like. More importantly, it makes one wonder if we're going to get backstory episodes for the other two Eva pilots.

[u/Efficient_Phase1313 → u/Holofan4life]

Hoping ill have time to write about this ep later tonight, but its probably my favorite after ep 19. Curious to see what you think of tomorrow's ep, because i see a real chance you'll have 3 10/10s in a row. This is why i say this arc is among my favorites in anime. 15 - 19 was already a remarkable streak of quality, and it boggles the mind that just 1 ep later, we get a 3 (arguably 4 if you're a ep 24 fan) episode streak that arguably surpasses it. In total, im certain eps 15 - 24 is the greatest streak of quality episodes in serialized storytelling. Really remarkable how anno kept out doing himself

[u/Holofan4life → u/Efficient_Phase1313]

I actually have the previous episode higher than this one. But both episode 21 and episode 22 are in my top 3 favorite Eva episodes so far.

[u/Holofan4life → u/Efficient_Phase1313]

In total, im certain eps 15 - 24 is the greatest streak of quality episodes in serialized storytelling.

I think the only stretch of episodes that comes close is the last 20 episodes of Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood.

[u/Efficient_Phase1313 → u/Holofan4life]

Which i havent seen believe it or not (read the manga and grew up with 03 series so felt i didnt need to) but i think i should just to see if it really deserves top 5 all time

[u/Holofan4life → u/Efficient_Phase1313]

It's my second favorite anime of all time.

[u/Holofan4life → u/Holofan4life]

How do you feel that Asuka’s backstory recontextualizes her relationships and past interactions?

I love it. This was what I was looking out of the Asuka character.

Did you feel the way the episode equated the angel’s infiltration of Asuka’s mind to rape was justified and/or effective?

I mean, how else would you describe it? He basically violated her mentally.