NGE 26
Added 2025-05-28 10:47:43 +0000 UTC
Comments
Two things. I saw the alternate reality of his life as a way to reinforce the idea of perspective, and how it can change someone’s view on life. Shinji had the opportunity throughout the show to see his school days from this perspective, his time with Asuka with him, and his relationships with others, but he chose to isolate himself out of the fear of this very connection he desires. It’s also telling the viewer directly to go make your own experiences and that it’s possible to have this ideal fun life with others, even in the darkest of times. Still, it definitely works from the point of view that the entire show was the imagination of a young boy or possibly a metaphor for the struggles of mental health through story, entering adulthood, facing your fears, and learning to connect with others and be authentic. Secondly, from the way I understood it, End of Evangelion and these last two episodes were the same story. Shinji complete broke down in the other one and acted as he did not because he didn’t mature, but because of the external events happening to him (Asuka’s health and the other thing, his guilt for killing Kaworu, Misato, and he’s completely and utterly isolated, mentally, physically, and continues to escape through his music and avoidance. The dramatic shift into episode 24 and his maturity could have been before the Asuka thing (as he still felt connected in a sense, although still lonely), then instrumentality happened, and the end of episode 25 was when he got very depressed again and isolated himself to an extreme amount, it was how Shinji felt when he was inactive, lost in his self hatred. Beyond this point, these are his experiences in instrumentality when all barriers between people are lost and they can interact with each other on a meta level, and he is able to fill the hole in his heart. The issue is that this loss of individuality makes the world empty, as the forms of the people who make you and your own form break down overtime, so part of Shinji’s experience was learning that he can’t be alone or not have other individuals, not the mass, around him. By choosing reality, he accepts facing the pain of living and the struggles of connection, due to the fact nobody can truly understand each other, because to have that very connection and individuality, rather than society without struggles, gives one the will to live in a meaningless world. One more thing, Shinji choking Asuka was pretty weird, but I think it’s to show how the unconscious repressed will stream out in unintended ways, and it was Shinji letting go of his persona and letting his authentic anger towards her he repressed out. The second choking would have been more to show he kept on being authentic (which is an odd explanation ), or to show that pain and suffering still exists in the world Shinji chose, but regardless is worth living for. When I see both the show and movie, this explanation helps me process it much better. Also I just want to say that I really do enjoy your perspectives on these things so much. You’ve opened my own eyes to a lot of new topics and even when I disagree (quite rarely), it’s always interesting to hear your take and how it relates to my own. I’ve loved this following along this series, and hope it was as impactful and enjoyable on you as it was for me. We appreciate you a lot :)
Garrett Kuchta
2025-06-06 07:58:31 +0000 UTCI’m seeing the third impact along the same lines as you. It’s the finalizing of individuation or truly becoming an adult. Shinji has learned to interact with himself and society, and has explored his unconscious mind and reality itself to come to peace with existence. (Edit: I watched another few seconds and saw you’re new take. I definitely agree to a degree. Escapism and avoiding reality through fiction, addiction, isolation, stimulation, ect [mostly fiction)], is definitely a core theme of the show. It could definitely boil down to false perceptions of reality by misinterpreting society and others, but that’s still more subjective in terms of what is proper and isn’t ).
Garrett Kuchta
2025-06-06 07:16:17 +0000 UTCYours is definitely in line with eoe, though I would say that eoe itself is not in line with the mood of the anime. But eva definitely has many interpretations, what a show :)
M U
2025-05-30 23:36:04 +0000 UTCYou and I interpreted the end entirely differently. I took the instrumentality project more literally, eg: Seele using Unit 1 (a new god being) to merge all human consciousness into one being, but because Shinji is the pilot he is ultimately in control of what the outcome is, what that being creates. In the end he values his connections and his identity too much to abandon them entirely, but requests the being (his mother now made god) give birth to a new reality where identities are somewhat intact but the horrors and traumas of his past are erased and replaced with mundane concerns. (right up until the rug gets pulled out from under that reality) I had way different interpretations after watching the rest of the films, but I won't get into that because y'know... spoilers.
Anna Kyruin
2025-05-30 20:18:53 +0000 UTCYou certainly have a unique perspective on the series. The last two episodes did not go over will with Japanese fans, there was speculation that the show ran out of money, but the real factor was the creator's inability to decide on what he wanted the ending to be. None of my friends cared for the initial ending, but everyone was impressed with the film ending. I consider them part of the same whole, two perspectives of the same events.
Eric Gilreath
2025-05-30 03:47:06 +0000 UTCCongratulations
John Titor
2025-05-30 03:21:23 +0000 UTCgreat reaction! i love your take on the show
quixoticAxolotl
2025-05-30 00:19:57 +0000 UTCHoly hour long video hehe, now i hope you are going to watch EoE before proceding for the rebuilds
Andres Alejandro Caicheo
2025-05-29 19:01:59 +0000 UTC
