UrsusArctos: Kaji sounds like a stereotypical abusive boyfriend by taking the "You say no but really mean yes" routine, which is out of character for him as well. Also, is it just me or has this episode aged very poorly?
Zusuchan: Well, Misato is saying no, but meaning yes and considering that, this action does not appear to me as out of character for Kaji at all. He's quite flirty, doesn't take many things all that seriously (including his own death, discouraging Asuka's clinginess, the necessity of giving Misato/ others extremely important info and indeed, personal boundaries-also seen with Maya).
UrsusArctos: Kaji, for all his flirtiness with Misato, always had a surprisingly kind, nurturing side to his personality, which is why I found the use of a line that enough abusive boyfriends have used as an excuse to get their way with unwilling girlfriends to be deeply off-putting. Interesting that you mention Kaji's flirtation with Maya in Episode 17, because that is one of the most aberrant (and abhorrent) things he's done, for reasons that I've mentioned in that episode's comments. There are times when I wonder if different writers were trying to take his character in completely different directions.
