FGC:Episode 05 Scene 04

Dinner With Ritsuko

Commentary Navigation
<< Back to Scene 03	Episode #05 Scene List	Continue to Scene 05 >>

Screenshots	Cut #	Description/Dialogue	Commentary
	141	Outside Misato’s apartment. Night time.	Cody MacArthur Fett: It's interesting to note that Misato's apartment is not only the only apartment in the building that we see the inside of, but it's also the only apartment that gets any details added to it at all. Is this meant to show the depopulation of Tokyo-3, is it a biting commentary on human nature, or is it simply a case of the animators getting lazy? That's something you're going to have to decide for yourself. thewayneiac: As was pointed out in Episode 03, it seems that Misato's apartment is the only one that is occupied. NemZ: Oh, I’m sure at least one apartment somewhere nearby has been converted into an outpost for the children’s security detail.
	142	A nameplate reads “Katsuragi” Ritsuko (OFF):“What’s this supposed to be!?”
	143	Shinji ladles curry from a pot onto the rice on Ritsuko’s plate. Misato is holding a can of beer. The side dishes appear to be pickles and edamame (green soybeans) from a convenience store. BGM Start: B-16 (Rhythm Only) Misato:“Curry!” Ritsuko:“You’re still eating instant food, huh?”	EvangelionFan: I love the use of bird's eye view for Misato's apartment here: even with her colleague and friend over for dinner, it still looks untidy.
		When responding to Ritsuko’s lines, Misato talks while drinking beer in big gulps. Misato:“Guests have no right to complain!”
		Shinji turns to Misato. Shinji:“Will you have some, Misato-san?” Misato:“Oh, me? Aha...” Misato sits forward and puts her hand on an upturned plate.
	144	TEXT: Super Cup Green Onion Roast Pork She picks up the plate. It’s covering cup ramen. Misato:“Heh heh” SE <<Taking the plate off>> Misato:“Ta-daaaa!”	Fireball: Ah, instant noodles. The food of champions! Saved my life from starving more than once. thewayneiac: If cost was the problem, dried beans work too. If the problem was time, the ramen works better. Kendrix: In Misato's defense, to my experience, instant noodles can be quite tasty. thewayneiac: Yes, but she seems to treating them in a rather alarming fashion here.
	145	Shinji and Ritsuko look uneasy. Misato stretches the cup ramen out to Shinji! Shinji looks at it. Misato (OFF):“Put mine in here. Looots of it!” Shinji:“...Are you serious?”
	146	Misato seems to be having fun. She’s serious. Misato:“It’s really good, honest!”	NemZ: she really thinks it’s good that way, why didn’t she make a cup o’ noodle for everyone? That’s a pretty big failure of hospitality.
	147	The curry pot and ramen cup in front of Ritsuko. Ritsuko also holds a spoon. Shinji (OFF):“All right then...” Shinji ladles in the curry. Misato:“This tastes much better than store-bought curry ramen! Yeah. Heh heh heh...” Ritsuko looks at Misato. Misato pulls the cup back after getting the curry. Ritsuko picks up a spoon too. Misato:“...time to dig in!”	EvangelionFan: Using the curry pot and ramen cup in this frame was great way of showing off Ritsuko's slightly miffed expression.
	148	Misato happily stirs the noodles then digs in with a slurp. Misato:“The secret is to add only a little hot water! ♥”
	149	Shinji and Ritsuko look doubtfully at Misato as she tucks in with relish. They eat the curry at the same time.	K9Thefirst1: There are times when watching an animated production where certain expressions pop out. This shot is one of them: The way the animator's drew Misato's face as she's merrily nomming her toxic sludge food. I'm not saying that I don't like it, just that it sticks out. I like it in fact
		Shinji, Ritsuko:“Ugh…” Yuck! … Misato pays them no mind and keeps enjoying her meal.	K9Thefirst1: Another bit that sticks out is Shinji and Ritsuko's little "OH CRAP!" bolts. Considering who much of Eva steers from that sort of use of the animated medium, it's all the more notice able. ...Then again, it's absence latter on can show how far everything's gone to hell. thewayneiac: Another example from this same sequence would be the "sick lines" on Pen Pen's face in Cut 154.
		Ritsuko (mouth still full):“...Misato made this, didn't she?” Shinji nods. Shinji:“Yeth...” Ritsuko is a little angry. Misato:“You can tell?”	Sailor Star Dust: Misato's delightful "Wakaru?" cracks me up every time. Mitsuishi-san's the best!
		Ritsuko, speaks after chewing and swallowing	Xard: I guess the presence of many "animesque" elements throughout this scene are explained by the fact Junichi Satoh (director of Aria, Princess Tutu etc.) made the storyboards (credited as Kiichi Jinme). Platinum booklets specifically draws attention to this: "The storyboards were done by Kiichi Jinme, a.k.a. Junichi Satoh, the same as for Episode Four. Rei's girlishly delighted look when Gendo appears and the comedy during the dinner scene where Misato pours curry into her ramen are distinctively Jinme's storyboard style." Those of us who have seen man's own works propably go "ahh, figures" upon reading this.
		Ritsuko:“Yeah, from the taste.”
	150	Ritsuko UP Ritsuko (TO Herself):“Ritsuko (to herself) “I can’t believe she can make instant curry* taste this bad…”” Her facial expression says "Misato’s scary…"	*tl note: [Literally “retort-pack curry”. It’s pre-cooked in a pack, all you have to do is heat it up. Messing it up is quite a feat.]
	151	Penpen watches all this go on. He withdraws quietly. Ritsuko (OFF) (cheerfully):“Next time you invite me over, can you do it when it’s Shinji-kun's turn to cook?”
	152	Curry and a can of beer at Penpen’s feet.	Reichu: Fear not, brave penguin. It won't be this bad forever. UrsusArctos: He should have avoided the curry and eaten whatever little rice lay exposed. KnightmareX13: It's an intelligence test: option 1 is to drink the beer and then eat Misato's cooking, option 2 is eat the food and then drink the beer...
	153	Penpen looks at them with a worried expression. He bends downward.	jetatomic: Penpen:"Is this edible?" Sailor Star Dust: Heh. One of the few comedic sweat-drops in the series. Episode 17 with Asuka is the only other one that really sticks out in my mind.
	154	He fearfully tries a mouthful. Chew, chew…he stops moving.
		Tatesen (vertical lines) appear on his face.	Reichu: Reichu: Here, we see an innocent penguin being cruely subjected to food poisoning by his merrily oblivious caretaker. And yet… this is one of the precious moments in the show that consistently gets a chuckle out of me. Datenshi (at the animelyrics.com forums) described the phenomenon of tatesen as: “You know in anime when a character is feeling uneasy or unwell, a whole lot of of blackish lines are drawn on his or her [face], like this? (-_-
		He topples over.	KnightmareX13: ...and Pen Pen fails the test; option one is the safer choice, by getting drunk Pen Pen's senses will be dulled, making the food taste less horrible. K9Thefirst1: HOLY CRAP! MISATO KILLED PEN-PEN! You bitch!
	155	Something falls with a thud behind the door. Shinji wonders what it is. He turns out to see. SE <<Thunk!>>	Dr. Nick: Even though this scene is such a huge cliche, I still find this rather downplayed punchline quite funny.
	156	Ritsuko relaxes with a can of beer in one hand. RITSUKO:“Shinji-kun, you really ought to move. If you let this boor of a roommate influence you, your whole life will go to waste.”
	157	Shinji replies, carefree. SHINJI:“I'm used to it now.”
	158	Misato is super relaxed (she’s drunk). MISATO:“Misato “That’s right, Ritsuko! Humans have to use their power of adaptation! And anyway, if he moves …huh?”
		She waves the can around and realizes it’s empty.	Xard: More Junichi Sato faces by Misato.
		She sits up and sweetly makes a request. (very sweetly) Shin-chan, could you get me another beer? SHINJI (OFF):“Okay.”
		She slumps back again and continues in a normal tone. SE <<Sound of Shinji getting up>> MISATO:“Going through all the formalities again would be a pain in the neck. Shinji-kun only just got his permanent security card, after all.”
	159	Ritsuko suddenly remembers something. RITSUKO:“Ah, I almost forgot!” SE <<(OFF) Sound of the fridge opening.>> BGM End: B-16 (Rhythm Only)	Kendrix: Ritsuko clearly disaproves of Misato's beer consumption... little scenes like these are what establish the reason/emotion // age apropiete/inapropiate contrast in our heads so much we take it for granted and make jokes about it, so that we'll be even more shocked when it all gets turned on its head.
		She puts her hand in the bag at her waist... RITSUKO:“Shinji-kun, I need you to do me a favor.”
		... to take something out. SHINJI (OFF):“What is it?”
	160	Shinji’s arm, offering the beer. RITSUKO (OFF):“This is Rei Ayanami's renewed card.” Ritsuko takes out Rei’s card. Shinji’s arm stops with a jerk.	Kendrix: By now, Shinji has officially become Misato's beer delivery boy. Note how his motion and a good part of the funny mood stop at the mention of Rei's name. It must be weird, to hear someone mention what you've been brooding about all day.
	161	With the beer in hand… RITSUKO:“I meant to give it to her but I never got round to it, so… I’m sorry, but…” Shinji stares at the security card. Misato takes the beer from his hand.	NemZ: What’s stopping her from dropping it off after dinner? Her motives here are quite dubious. Fireball: I think she just jumped at the opportunity before she forgets to tell him again.
	162	Shinji sits down again. He looks at the card. RITSUKO (OFF):“Could you pass by her place and give it to her before you go to headquarters??” Shinji responds to Ritsuko with a faint smile SHINJI:“All right.” SE <<Sound of the beer being opened off-screen.>>	Kendrix: He immediately agrees politely. Shinji is a nice, friendly guy at heart, atfer all. (And just that is very soon going to get him yet another fangirl.)
	163	Misato drinks beer. While drinking she looks at Shinji, thinking “Huh?” MISATO:“Gulp, gulp…?”
	164	Shinji looks at the card.
	165	Misato and Ritsuko watch Shinji as he stares fixedly at the card. A sly grin appears on Misato’s face. ---Pause--- MISATO:“What’s wrong? You’re staring so hard at Rei’s picture.” Shinji panics. SHINJI:“Uh…NOTHING…!”
	166	Misato laughs at him with a smirk. MISATO:“Ho ho, Shin-chan, don’t tell me you’re…...”	Kendrix: Not yet, anyway XD But of course, as in any anime, that sort of teasing always aquires a grain of truth if doesn't already have one.
	167	Shinji, impatiently. SHINJI:“No!”
	168	Misato snickers. She’s enjoying this. MISATO:“No need to be all embarrassed about it. Now you’ve got an official excuse to drop by Rei’s house.”	Mr. Tines: first Kensuke and Touji; now Misato. Everyone's trying to pair them off.
	169	Shinji sits down with a thump. SHINJI:“Don’t tease me, geez!” Ritsuko drinks her beer with an air that suggests she’s not going to get involved.
		MISATO:“Nyeheheh, it’s so much fun teasing you when you get angry so easily!”
		Ritsuko replies without missing a beat. RITSUKO:“Just like you, huh?” Misato is taken aback. MISATO:“(ad lib.)”	Kendrix: Ritsuko, as usual, is used as a contrast to Misato's "Childish" antics.
	170	Shinji looks at the card again, trying not to look too serious. SHINJI:“I was just thinking. Ayanami and I are both Eva pilots, but I barely know a thing about her…”
	171	Ritsuko speaks with a smile. (In order to hide her true feelings.) RITSUKO:“She’s a very good girl. She’s just a little clumsy, just like your dad.” She plays with her bangs with her fingers and looks away.	Reichu: Now, ordinarily I wouldn't think of Ritsuko as being especially attractive (by my own peculiar standards of feminine beauty), but, I must admit, I always found her rather pretty in this particular scene. Being dressed down and not wearing that awful lipstick can make a big difference. Now, if only she left her hair in its natural color, too! Mr. Tines: There's a gaucheness to Ritsuko's behaviour in this whole scene (not just this cut), as if in describing Rei, the old jibe "it takes one to know one" applies. Perhaps she is trying to match-make as well. thewayneiac: Interesting. You mean she's trying to eliminate Rei as a rival for Gendo by directing her attention elsewhere? Sailor Star Dust: "To hide her feelings", eh? I suppose this is mainly in regards to Rei, but I'm assuming the relationship between Ritsuko and Gendo plays a part. I wonder if this means Gainax/Anno did plan for there to be drama between the three of them from the start. Kendrix: This is one of our first glimpses at creepy!Jealous!Ritsuko. She's comparing Rei and Gendo - in fact, the two of them have a lot in common, not only their lack of expression and social skills. Many people overlook this. He's the only parental figure she ever had, of course he influenced her.
	172	Shinji looks puzzled. SHINJI:“Clumsy? At what?”	KnightmareX13: Awkward in bed, is that what you are going to say Ritsuko?
	173	Ritsuko’s mouth is smiling but her eyes look lonely. RITSUKO:“At living.”	Kendrix: At this point, she's wishing Gendo was a little less "clumsy". Also, another of those powerful, iconic lines and a rather original way to discribe some socially withdrawn person's barely-existance as she doesn't understand how the world around her, those invisible rules of human interactions, and even how her own heart works, with all those things that some would caracterize as what makes life worth living passing her by. This might mislead one to think that Ritsuko is sympathetic to Rei, but that's her rational mind speaking, telling her that she shouldn't be jealous of a teenaged girl, but she's averting her eyes/lying through her teeth, as we later learn that she is not free of blame for what has been done to Rei and ultimately has an irrational hate towards the poor girl. UrsusArctos: Ritsuko really seems sympathetic to Rei (and Gendo) at this juncture. And that line probably says a lot about Gendo's own living conditions. Well, maybe not as squalid as Rei's apartment, but I'm sure it's no more inviting. Sailor Star Dust: A sense of pity for Rei (and Gendo), perhaps? Cody MacArthur Fett: At first Ritsuko's statement seems to be a reference to Rei's rather insulated social habits, but the statement becomes much more frightening in episode 25 when we find out that Rei is borderline suicidal: TEXT: "It frightens you, doesn't it?" REI 3: No, it makes me happy. Because I want to die. What I desire is despair. I want to return to nothingness. Additional Commentary   KnightmareX13: Oh, that was a let down.
	Eyecatch		C.A.P.: EyeCatch: And thus, we now learn just a little bit more of who exactly Rei's character is. However, there is a catch; like Shinji, the audience still doesn't have a clear perspective on who Rei is. At this point, all that is made about her character is all based on observation, remarks of other characters, and what is already established from previous encounters, so it's fitting than we cut to commercial once that establishment grows. So, now that Rei is reinforced into the viewer's mind, questions now arises from Ritsuko's comment; for instance, is she correct? Is there more that meets the eye? Shinji has a reason to explore this possibility now, and when we return, these questions and more will be answered in a...unique way shall I say.

Commentary Navigation
<< Back to Scene 03	Episode #05 Scene List	Continue to Scene 05 >>