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{{Episode Infobox
{{Episode Infobox
| number = #03
| number           = #03
| japanese_title  = The Phone That Doesn't Ring
| japanese_title_k = 鳴らない、電話
| english_title   = A Transfer
| japanese_title_r = Naranai Denwa
| image = [[Image:Episode-03-info.jpg|Episode 03]]
| japanese_title_e = The Phone That Doesn't Ring  
| written_by = [[Akio Satsukawa]], [[Hideaki Anno]]
| english_title   = A Transfer
| directed_by = [[Hiroyuki Ishido]]
| image           = [[Image:Episode-03-info.jpg|Episode 03]]
| first_aired = 10-18-1995
| written_by       = [[Akio Satsukawa]], [[Hideaki Anno]]
| angels   = [[Shamshel]]
| directed_by     = [[Hiroyuki Ishido]]
| prev = [[Episode 2]]
| first_aired     = 10-18-1995
| next = [[Episode 4]]
| video_release    = 3-6-1996 (Japan-Video/LD), 5-16-2000 (US-DVD)
| angels           = [[Shamshel]]
| eva_sorties      = Eva-01
| prev             = [[Episode 02]]
| next             = [[Episode 04]]
}}
}}


==Overview==
==Overview==
Shinji begins attending his new school in Tokyo-3, and has a difficult time dealing with the fame of being an Evangelion pilot.  Toji Suzuhara, who's little sister was injured in Shinji's fight against the Angel, is angry at Shinji. A new Angel appears, and Shinji must once again pilot Eva 01 to defeat it.
Shinji begins attending his new school in Tokyo-3, and has a difficult time dealing with the fame of being an Evangelion pilot.  Toji Suzuhara, who's little sister was injured in Shinji's fight against the Angel, is angry at Shinji. A new Angel appears, and Shinji must once again pilot [[Evangelion Unit-01|Eva-01]] to defeat it.


==Synopsis==
==Synopsis==
Three weeks<ref>See [[Neon Genesis Evangelion Timeline]] for details.</ref> have passed since Ep. 01.  [[Shinji Ikari|Shinji]] tries to adjust to his new life in [[Tokyo-3]], but has little enthusiasm for piloting, and his relations with [[Misato Katsuragi|Misato]] are still distant.  As the episode opens he is lethargically going through the motions of training<ref>Here Shinji is shown wearing his Eva pilot [[Plug suit]] for the first time; he piloted in his civilian clothes against Sachiel.</ref>.  The next morning he attempts to awaken Misato, while a chirpy female radio announcer talks about scuba diving and tells the audience that the Earth no longer has seasons, but instead has consistent weather year-round<ref>The "Weather Girl" who talks on TV in the background during the opening scene in Misato's apartment is named "Natsuko Shinohara" (reporting from Matsuzaki on the Izu peninsula).  Apparently, it is a popular activity there to go scuba-diving in the ruins of towns submerged after Second Impact.  She says that the forecast temperature is "high of 30 degrees, 2 above the average".  That's 86 degrees Fahrenheit, and the "average" temperature would be 82.4 degrees, in the now perpetually-summer weather of Japan.</ref>.  Shinji then departs for school, leaving the trash for pickup.<ref>When Shinji takes out the trash from Misato's apartment to the disposal area, there is no trash left by anyone else (this is pointed out in the production notes).  It's possible that few if any other people actually also live in Misato's apartment block, due to many being evacuated or leaving as a result of the renewed Angel attacks.</ref>  [[Ritsuko Akagi|Ritsuko]] then calls Misato to check on Shinji and is told that Shinji seems to have made no friends at school.


Three weeks have passed since Ep. 1.  [[Shinji Ikari|Shinji]] tries to adjust to his new life in [[Tokyo-3]], but has little enthusiasm for piloting, and his relations with [[Misato Katsuragi|Misato]] are still distantAs the episode opens he is lethargically going through the motions of training. The next morning he attempts to awaken Misato, while a chirpy female radio announcer talks about scuba diving and tells the audience that the Earth no longer has seasons, but instead has consistent weather year-round.  Shinji then departs for school.  [[Ritsuko Akagi|Ritsuko]] then calls Misato to check on Shinji and is told that Shinji seems to have made no friends at school.  
At school, we are introduced to Shinji's classmates [[Kensuke Aida]], [[Toji Suzuhara]], and [[Hikari Horaki]], the class rep<ref>Hikari Horaki is the "class representative"; this position has no exact equivalent in the U.SAmong the duties are directing the students to stand and bow when the teacher enters, helping to maintain discipline among the students, staying late to record the day's class activities in a logbook, and leading the other students in making a collective decision about class activities.</ref>.  We also meet their sensei, who seems to teach nothing but [[Second Impact]]<ref>This is Second Impact's first mention in the show.  Shinji's teacher is teaching the cover-up version, stating that it was caused by a meteor strike  15 years earlier in the year 2000 which resulted in the human population of Earth being halved.</ref>.  [[Rei Ayanami|Rei]] is there too, her eye and arm still bandaged. Kensuke is a military nut who seems to be the only one enjoying the fact that Earth seems to suddenly be at war. Toji has only just returned to class for the first time since the battle, explaining that he had to care for his sister, who was injured in the battle with [[Sachiel]].<ref>Toji says that his father and grandfather are busy with work, so if he didn't visit his sister in the hospital himself, there would be no one to visit her and she would be all alone. He does not mention his mother in this, so it would seem to imply that his mother is dead.</ref> Toji notes that quite a few of their classmates seem to be missing, guessing that they probably moved away with their families due to the recent battle. Kensuke, in turn, points out that there is also a new transfer student in the class, indicating Shinji, and noting that he joined the class shortly after the incident, something he finds a rather odd coincidence.


At school, we are introduced to Shinji's classmates [[Kensuke Aida]], [[Toji Suzuhara]], and [[Hikari Horaki]], the class rep.  We also meet their sensei, who seems to teach nothing but [[Second Impact]].  [[Rei Ayanami|Rei]] is there too, her eye and arm still bandaged. Kensuke is a military nut who seems to be the only one enjoying the fact that Earth seems to suddenly be at war.  Toji has only just returned to class for the first time since the battle, explaining that as his father and grandfather are at work all day he is the only one who can stay at the hospital with his sister, who was injured in the battle with [[Sachiel]].  When his identity as a pilot is discovered by his classmates, Toji, who blames Shinji for his sister's injuries, gives Shinji a beating in retalitation. Shinji's protestations that he was piloting involuntarily only make Toji angrier.   
During class, Shinji receives a message on the school intranet, asking him if he is indeed "the pilot of the robot". He answers "yes" to the message, leading to his identity quickly getting outed to the entire classroom. Shinji now finds himself being the reluctant center of attention, as his classmates excitedly gather around him to ask him questions about the Evangelion. Toji, is one of the few who does not, instead silently glowering at Shinji from afar. Later, he accosts Shinji outside the school, revealing that he blames him for his sister getting injured and gives him a beating in retaliation. Shinji's protestations that he was piloting involuntarily only make Toji angrier.   


Rei then arrives to tell Shinji that there is an emergency call. [[Shamshel]], the 4th Angel, is attacking Tokyo-3 and Shinji is mobilized in [[Unit-01]] to defend the city. Kensuke convinces Toji to sneak out of their shelter to watch the battle from nearby.   The battle goes poorly for [[Nerv]], when Shinji loses his nerve to fight and is tossed into the air by Shamshel, almost killing Toji and Kensuke as he lands. This also severs Unit-01's [[Umbilical Cable]], leaving her with just 5 minutes of reserve power.   
Rei then arrives to tell Shinji that there is an emergency call. [[Shamshel]], the 4th Angel, is attacking Tokyo-3 and Shinji is mobilized in [[Eva-01]] to defend the city. Kensuke, annoyed that the news broadcast is censored once again, convinces Toji to sneak out of the shelter where the class has taken refuge, to watch the battle from nearby. The battle quickly turns out poorly for [[Nerv]]; Shinji fires a barrage at the Angel, but it has no effect, and kicks up a dust cloud that distracts Shinji, allowing Shamshel to close the distance between them. Shinji looses his nerve to fight and freezes; Shamshel uses the distraction to attack Eva-01 with tentacles of light, leading Shinji to desperately attempt to both dodge the Angel's attacks and retreating at the same time. Shamshel manages to grab a hold of Eva-01's ankle, and the Eva is tossed into the air, causing it to land on its back, only barely avoiding to crush Toji and Kensuke in the process. This also severs Eva-01's [[Umbilical Cable]], leaving her with just 5 minutes of reserve power.   


Shinji then begins fighting a defensive battle, attempting to protect Toji and Kensuke rather than defeat the Angel. To protect them from the battle, Misato orders Toji and Kensuke to take refuge in the the [[Evangelion|Evangelion's]] [[entry plug]]. Inside, Toji sees Shinji's great anguish and pain as he fights the Angel, and is beset by remorse. Misato orders to Shinji to retreat, but he loses it and charges Shamshel with his [[Progressive Knife]], defeating the Angel just as his power runs out. Days later, Kensuke gives Toji the number of Shinji's phone so he can apologize. Toji attempts to ring, but stops, and the episode ends.  
{{MontageBox
|float = none
|columns = 2
 
| float = left
 
|title = ''A Selection of Images from Episode 03''
|image1 = [[Image:03 C047 shinji-walk.jpg|200px]]
|image2 = [[Image:03 C114 collar-grab 2.jpg|200px]]
|image3 = [[Image:03 C121 rei.jpg|200px]]
|image4 = [[Image:03 C305 shinji-scream 2.jpg|200px]]
|caption =
''From left to right, starting at the top left:''
*A lonely walk to school
*Revenge for his sister
*There's an emergency call
*Shinji Loses it
}}
 
Shinji then begins fighting a defensive battle, attempting to protect Toji and Kensuke rather than defeat the Angel<ref>When Eva-01 grabs Shamshel's energy tentacles it burns off the armor on Eva-01's hands, revealing the flesh of the real organic creature beneath; once again demonstrating that Evas are cyborgs, not giant robots.</ref>. To protect them from the battle, Misato orders Toji and Kensuke to take refuge in the the [[Evangelion|Evangelion's]] [[entry plug]], overruling Ritsuko's protests that it could cause problems.<ref>We learn here that if more than one person is in the Entry Plug of an Evangelion at the same time, it will create "thought noise"; essentially, static interference it affects the link between the Eva pilot's mind and the Eva.</ref>. Misato orders to Shinji to retreat, but Shinji remains frozen in place, staring down the Angel, even as Toji pleads with him to listen to Misato. Shinji instead draws the Eva's [[Progressive Knife]] and changes the Angel head-on, screaming in anger and frustration. Despite the Angel's attempt to ward off of the Eva, Shinji continues his suicidal charge and attacks the Angel with the knife, cutting into its core. After a brief, but intense tug of war, the Angel finally dies, just as Eva-01's power runs out. Exhausted, Shinji slumps back in his seat and breaks down sobbing uncontrollably. Kensuke and Toji silently look on, in a mix of fear, and pity.
 
Three days later, Kensuke and a sombre Toji is hanging out in school. Toji sulks, noticing that Shinji has not been back in class since what happened. Kensuke tells him that he should just have apologized to Shinji back then, as it would have spared him anguishing about it for days on end. He gives Toji the number of Shinji's phone, telling him to check up on him and apologize. Toji goes to the school's pay phone and attempts to ring, but stops as he is about to dial in Shinji's number, and the episode ends.


==Notes==
==Notes==
*Shinji's (and Rei's) classmates in [[Class 2-A]] are introduced:  [[Toji Suzuhara]], [[Kensuke Aida]], and [[Hikari Horaki]].
*The notice board on the wall of the shelter Kensuke and Toji are in translates as "Geo-Shelter 334/Disaster Prevention Department, Tokyo-3/Total Floor Space: 2000 m²/ Maximum Capacity: 250.   
*[[Second Impact]] is first mentioned:  Shinji's class teacher explains that it is the apocalyptic event which occurred 15 years ago in the year 2000 which resulting in the human population of Earth being halved. 
*The notification on the TV screen says "''A special state of emergency has now been declared for the entire Kanto-Chubu region surrounding the Tokai district. Further information will be reported as it comes in.''"
*The Angel [[Sachiel]] "appears" again after its death in this episode, though as a hologram used in NERV's target practice simulator for training Shinji to fire Eva 01's weapons.
*[[Neon Genesis Evangelion timeline|Timeline]]-wise, Hyuga says that Shamshel's attack occurs "three weeks" after the last Angel attack, in episodes 1 and 2.  It's not clear if it is exactly 21 days later.  Gendo mentioned last episode that Rei would be out of the hospital in "20 days", and indeed she is back in school in this episode (though her arm is still in a sling). 
*When Eva 01 grabs Shamshel's energy tentacles it burns off the armor on Eva 01's hands, revealing the flesh of the real organic creature beneath.  It even has fingernails, just like a human hand.
*Shinji is shown wearing his Eva pilot [[Plug suit]] for the first time.
*If more than one person is in [[Entry Plug]] of an Evangelion at the same time, it will create "thought noise"; essentially, static interference that affects the link between the Eva pilot's mind and the Eva.
**The scene of Toji and Kensuke inside the Entry Plug accurately depicts that they are inside of a chamber filled with fluid ([[LCL]]); their legs are clearly floating behind them. 
*An Eva pilot can open an Eva's Entry Plug, and even let other people inside, without external aid.  The Entry Plug loading apparatus in NERV HQ apparently makes it easier to load and unload the pilot, but it is not absolutely required.
*The "Weather Girl" who talks on TV in the background during the opening scene in Misato's apartment is named "Natsuko Shinohara" (reporting from Matsuzaki on the Izu penninsula).  Apparently, it is a popular activity there to go scuba-diving in the ruins of towns submerged after Second Impact.  She says that the forecast temperature is "high of 30 degrees, 2 above the average".  That's 86 degrees Fahrenheit, and the "average" temperature would be 82.4 degrees, in the now perpetually-summer weather of Japan. 
*Ritsuko is an avid smoker, as evidenced by the heaping pile of lipstick-stained cigarettes in an ashtray on her desk.  Ritsuko also collects little cat-themed ornaments.
*Hikari Horaki is the "class representative"; this is more or less equivalent to "class president" in North America.
*The [[N² Mine]] used against Sachiel by the JSSDF in Episode 1 was detonated on Mt. Takanosu.
*More names are dropped from the geography of Japan:  Kensuke says that for the fight against Sachiel, "Not only were Iruma and Komatsu dispatched, they brought in troops from Misawa and Kyushu".    Kyushu is the southernmost of Japan's four main islands, while Misawa is the location of a real-life military base in Aomori Prefecture in the extreme north of Honshu (the main island of Japan, which Tokyo-3 is also located on).  Its mentioned that "Anti-aircraft system is on standby from Odawara to the Gora defense line."  Odawara is on the coast east of Tokyo-3, and Gora lies between them.  Where Shamshel actually reaches the shore near a lighthouse is said in the production notes to be in the vicinity of Manazuru.
*Tokyo-3 is apparently composed of a "central block" and seven "districts". 
*The notice board on the wall of the shelter Kensuke and Toji are in translates as "Geo-Shelter 334/Disaster Prevention Department, Tokyo-3/Total Floor Space: 2000 m²/ Maximum Capacity: 250.  The notification on the TV screen says "''A special state of emergency has now been declared for the entire Kanto-Chubu region surrounding the Tokai district. Further information will be reported as it comes in.''"
*For the first time, an Angel is described as having "Pattern: Blood Type Blue".  "Blue" is the "blood type pattern" associated with Angels, however what exactly this scan means is never elaborated upon.  Actually, "Blood Type: Blue" is a reference to the 1978 sci-fi movie "Blue Christmas", one of series creator Anno's favorite movies, which is also known as… "Blood Type: Blue". 
*Barely audible background dialogue from NERV technicians remarks that when Eva 01 grabs the Angel's energy-tentacles in its hands, it sustains "seventh degree burns".  There is no such thing as seventh degree burns:  the classification system for burns only goes up to "sixth degree" burns, which is the point at which the bones themselves are charred, and the damage to Eva 01 is not this severe.  They are either using the term in a different context, or of course, just making up technobabble.
*At the end of the episode, Kensuke is creating a 3D model on his computer.  Some have confused it with Shamshel, but according to the production notes he's actually trying to make a 3D model of the Entry Plug; it's a little inaccurate because it is based on memory from while he was in it.   
*At the end of the episode, Kensuke is creating a 3D model on his computer.  Some have confused it with Shamshel, but according to the production notes he's actually trying to make a 3D model of the Entry Plug; it's a little inaccurate because it is based on memory from while he was in it.   
*Toji's sister is not actually given a proper name, but she is said to be in the 2nd grade, making her 6 years younger than Toji, who is in 8th grade.
 
*During the Angel attack Misato and Ritsuko bring up Kensuke and Toji's ID information on their computer:
**Kensuke Aida is originally from Yokohama (which is just southwest of [[Old Tokyo]]), he was born on September 12th, 2001, and his blood type is A+.
**Toji Suzuhara is originally from Sakai (in Osaka prefecture, explaining his Osakan accent in the original Japanese dub), and his blood type is B+.  However, on the screen that is brought up two separate dates are listed as his birthday:  December 26th 2001, and September 28th, 2001 (Kensuke's ID just lists "September 12th, 2001" twice, in two separate fields).


==Analysis==
==Analysis==
*Toji says that his father and grandfather are busy with work, so if he didn't visit his sister in the hospital himself, there would be no one to visit her and she would be all alone. He does not mention his mother in this, so it would seem to imply that his mother is dead.
*Barely audible background dialogue from NERV technicians remarks that when Eva 01 grabs the Angel's energy-tentacles in its hands, it sustains "seventh-degree burns".  There is no such thing as seventh-degree burns: the classification system for burns only goes up to "sixth-degree" burns, which is the point at which the bones themselves are charred, and the damage to Eva 01 is not this severe.  They are either using the term in a different context, or of course, just making up technobabble.
*Ritsuko explains in this episode that Evangelions have limited internal battery power supply, and must rely on [[Cmbilical Cables]] to supply external power.  Ritsuko states that "In emergencies, it can switch to an internal battery with an active life of one minute at full power, and no more than five minutes using gain mode." This "one minute" limitation mentioned here is disregarded in all subsequent episodesFor all practical purposes, the Evas have a ''five'' minute operational time limit using battery power, not just one minute.
 
*When Shinji takes out the trash from Misato's apartment to the disposal area, there is no trash left by anyone else (this is pointed out in the production notes).  Its possible that few if any other people actually also live in Misato's apartment block, due to many being evacuated or leaving as a result of the renewed Angel attacks.
*It is said that Shinji lives in "the old part of town". The buildings on the southern edge of Tokyo-3 (closer to the shore of [[Ashinoko|Lake Ashinoko]]) appear to be the newer buildings that can actually "retract" into the surface for protection during battles, so it seems that Misato's apartment (which is an older building) is located in the northern part of Tokyo-3, in the region of town that used to be the original city of Hakone.
*How could Rei have possibly known that a state of emergency was about to be called, ''before'' the sirens went off?


==Quotes==
==Quotes==
Line 61: Line 65:
*'''Shinji Ikari''': "Target in the center, pull the switch. Target in the center, pull the switch. Target in the center, pull the switch."  
*'''Shinji Ikari''': "Target in the center, pull the switch. Target in the center, pull the switch. Target in the center, pull the switch."  


*'''Natsuko Shinohara''' (weather girl): "We have hot days all year now, but Japan once had four seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter."
*'''Natsuko Shinohara''' (weather girl): "We have hot days all year now, but Japan once had four seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter."


*'''Ritsuko Akagi''': "Even though a hedgehog may wish to get close to another hedgehog, the closer they get the more they injure each other with their spines."   
*'''Ritsuko Akagi''': "Even though a hedgehog may wish to get close to another hedgehog, the closer they get the more they injure each other with their spines."   
Line 69: Line 73:
*'''Toji Suzuhara''': "Sorry, transferee, but I've gotta beat you up! I won't feel right until I've smacked you."  
*'''Toji Suzuhara''': "Sorry, transferee, but I've gotta beat you up! I won't feel right until I've smacked you."  


*'''Makoto Hyuga''': "The last time they gave us a fifteen year break. This time it's been only 3 weeks." <br>'''Misato''': "They never care about our convenience, do they?  They're the type we women hate the most."   
*'''Makoto Hyuga''': "The last time they gave us a fifteen-year break. This time it's been only 3 weeks." <br>'''Misato''': "They never care about our convenience, do they?  They're the type we women hate the most."   


==References==
{{reflist}}
{{-}}
{{Episode List}}
[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category: Neon Genesis Evangelion Episodes]]
[[Category: Neon Genesis Evangelion Episodes]]
[[Category: Originally Aired Episodes]]
[[Category: Originally Aired Episodes]]

Latest revision as of 15:10, 5 June 2024

Episode Information
Episode #03
Title 1: 鳴らない、電話
Naranai Denwa
The Phone That Doesn't Ring
Title 2: A Transfer
Episode 03
Written By Akio Satsukawa, Hideaki Anno
Directed By Hiroyuki Ishido
First Aired 10-18-1995
Video Release Date 3-6-1996 (Japan-Video/LD), 5-16-2000 (US-DVD)
Angel Appearances Shamshel
Eva Sorties Eva-01
Episode chronology
← Previous Next →
"Episode 02" "Episode 04"

Overview

Shinji begins attending his new school in Tokyo-3, and has a difficult time dealing with the fame of being an Evangelion pilot. Toji Suzuhara, who's little sister was injured in Shinji's fight against the Angel, is angry at Shinji. A new Angel appears, and Shinji must once again pilot Eva-01 to defeat it.

Synopsis

Three weeks[1] have passed since Ep. 01. Shinji tries to adjust to his new life in Tokyo-3, but has little enthusiasm for piloting, and his relations with Misato are still distant. As the episode opens he is lethargically going through the motions of training[2]. The next morning he attempts to awaken Misato, while a chirpy female radio announcer talks about scuba diving and tells the audience that the Earth no longer has seasons, but instead has consistent weather year-round[3]. Shinji then departs for school, leaving the trash for pickup.[4] Ritsuko then calls Misato to check on Shinji and is told that Shinji seems to have made no friends at school.

At school, we are introduced to Shinji's classmates Kensuke Aida, Toji Suzuhara, and Hikari Horaki, the class rep[5]. We also meet their sensei, who seems to teach nothing but Second Impact[6]. Rei is there too, her eye and arm still bandaged. Kensuke is a military nut who seems to be the only one enjoying the fact that Earth seems to suddenly be at war. Toji has only just returned to class for the first time since the battle, explaining that he had to care for his sister, who was injured in the battle with Sachiel.[7] Toji notes that quite a few of their classmates seem to be missing, guessing that they probably moved away with their families due to the recent battle. Kensuke, in turn, points out that there is also a new transfer student in the class, indicating Shinji, and noting that he joined the class shortly after the incident, something he finds a rather odd coincidence.

During class, Shinji receives a message on the school intranet, asking him if he is indeed "the pilot of the robot". He answers "yes" to the message, leading to his identity quickly getting outed to the entire classroom. Shinji now finds himself being the reluctant center of attention, as his classmates excitedly gather around him to ask him questions about the Evangelion. Toji, is one of the few who does not, instead silently glowering at Shinji from afar. Later, he accosts Shinji outside the school, revealing that he blames him for his sister getting injured and gives him a beating in retaliation. Shinji's protestations that he was piloting involuntarily only make Toji angrier.

Rei then arrives to tell Shinji that there is an emergency call. Shamshel, the 4th Angel, is attacking Tokyo-3 and Shinji is mobilized in Eva-01 to defend the city. Kensuke, annoyed that the news broadcast is censored once again, convinces Toji to sneak out of the shelter where the class has taken refuge, to watch the battle from nearby. The battle quickly turns out poorly for Nerv; Shinji fires a barrage at the Angel, but it has no effect, and kicks up a dust cloud that distracts Shinji, allowing Shamshel to close the distance between them. Shinji looses his nerve to fight and freezes; Shamshel uses the distraction to attack Eva-01 with tentacles of light, leading Shinji to desperately attempt to both dodge the Angel's attacks and retreating at the same time. Shamshel manages to grab a hold of Eva-01's ankle, and the Eva is tossed into the air, causing it to land on its back, only barely avoiding to crush Toji and Kensuke in the process. This also severs Eva-01's Umbilical Cable, leaving her with just 5 minutes of reserve power.

A Selection of Images from Episode 03

From left to right, starting at the top left:

  • A lonely walk to school
  • Revenge for his sister
  • There's an emergency call
  • Shinji Loses it

Shinji then begins fighting a defensive battle, attempting to protect Toji and Kensuke rather than defeat the Angel[8]. To protect them from the battle, Misato orders Toji and Kensuke to take refuge in the the Evangelion's entry plug, overruling Ritsuko's protests that it could cause problems.[9]. Misato orders to Shinji to retreat, but Shinji remains frozen in place, staring down the Angel, even as Toji pleads with him to listen to Misato. Shinji instead draws the Eva's Progressive Knife and changes the Angel head-on, screaming in anger and frustration. Despite the Angel's attempt to ward off of the Eva, Shinji continues his suicidal charge and attacks the Angel with the knife, cutting into its core. After a brief, but intense tug of war, the Angel finally dies, just as Eva-01's power runs out. Exhausted, Shinji slumps back in his seat and breaks down sobbing uncontrollably. Kensuke and Toji silently look on, in a mix of fear, and pity.

Three days later, Kensuke and a sombre Toji is hanging out in school. Toji sulks, noticing that Shinji has not been back in class since what happened. Kensuke tells him that he should just have apologized to Shinji back then, as it would have spared him anguishing about it for days on end. He gives Toji the number of Shinji's phone, telling him to check up on him and apologize. Toji goes to the school's pay phone and attempts to ring, but stops as he is about to dial in Shinji's number, and the episode ends.

Notes

  • The notice board on the wall of the shelter Kensuke and Toji are in translates as "Geo-Shelter 334/Disaster Prevention Department, Tokyo-3/Total Floor Space: 2000 m²/ Maximum Capacity: 250.
  • The notification on the TV screen says "A special state of emergency has now been declared for the entire Kanto-Chubu region surrounding the Tokai district. Further information will be reported as it comes in."
  • At the end of the episode, Kensuke is creating a 3D model on his computer. Some have confused it with Shamshel, but according to the production notes he's actually trying to make a 3D model of the Entry Plug; it's a little inaccurate because it is based on memory from while he was in it.


Analysis

  • Barely audible background dialogue from NERV technicians remarks that when Eva 01 grabs the Angel's energy-tentacles in its hands, it sustains "seventh-degree burns". There is no such thing as seventh-degree burns: the classification system for burns only goes up to "sixth-degree" burns, which is the point at which the bones themselves are charred, and the damage to Eva 01 is not this severe. They are either using the term in a different context, or of course, just making up technobabble.


Quotes

  • Shinji Ikari: "Target in the center, pull the switch. Target in the center, pull the switch. Target in the center, pull the switch."
  • Natsuko Shinohara (weather girl): "We have hot days all year now, but Japan once had four seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter."
  • Ritsuko Akagi: "Even though a hedgehog may wish to get close to another hedgehog, the closer they get the more they injure each other with their spines."
  • Toji Suzuhara: "My kid sister was crushed beneath a pile of debris. She survived, but she's been in the hospital ever since. Both my pop and gramps work at the lab, and there's no way they can leave their posts right now. So, if I ain't with her, she's all alone at the hospital."
  • Toji Suzuhara: "Sorry, transferee, but I've gotta beat you up! I won't feel right until I've smacked you."
  • Makoto Hyuga: "The last time they gave us a fifteen-year break. This time it's been only 3 weeks."
    Misato: "They never care about our convenience, do they? They're the type we women hate the most."

References

  1. See Neon Genesis Evangelion Timeline for details.
  2. Here Shinji is shown wearing his Eva pilot Plug suit for the first time; he piloted in his civilian clothes against Sachiel.
  3. The "Weather Girl" who talks on TV in the background during the opening scene in Misato's apartment is named "Natsuko Shinohara" (reporting from Matsuzaki on the Izu peninsula). Apparently, it is a popular activity there to go scuba-diving in the ruins of towns submerged after Second Impact. She says that the forecast temperature is "high of 30 degrees, 2 above the average". That's 86 degrees Fahrenheit, and the "average" temperature would be 82.4 degrees, in the now perpetually-summer weather of Japan.
  4. When Shinji takes out the trash from Misato's apartment to the disposal area, there is no trash left by anyone else (this is pointed out in the production notes). It's possible that few if any other people actually also live in Misato's apartment block, due to many being evacuated or leaving as a result of the renewed Angel attacks.
  5. Hikari Horaki is the "class representative"; this position has no exact equivalent in the U.S. Among the duties are directing the students to stand and bow when the teacher enters, helping to maintain discipline among the students, staying late to record the day's class activities in a logbook, and leading the other students in making a collective decision about class activities.
  6. This is Second Impact's first mention in the show. Shinji's teacher is teaching the cover-up version, stating that it was caused by a meteor strike 15 years earlier in the year 2000 which resulted in the human population of Earth being halved.
  7. Toji says that his father and grandfather are busy with work, so if he didn't visit his sister in the hospital himself, there would be no one to visit her and she would be all alone. He does not mention his mother in this, so it would seem to imply that his mother is dead.
  8. When Eva-01 grabs Shamshel's energy tentacles it burns off the armor on Eva-01's hands, revealing the flesh of the real organic creature beneath; once again demonstrating that Evas are cyborgs, not giant robots.
  9. We learn here that if more than one person is in the Entry Plug of an Evangelion at the same time, it will create "thought noise"; essentially, static interference it affects the link between the Eva pilot's mind and the Eva.



Episodes & Films
Television Series Episode 01 | Episode 02 | Episode 03 | Episode 04 | Episode 05 | Episode 06

Episode 07 | Episode 08 | Episode 09 | Episode 10 | Episode 11 | Episode 12 | Episode 13
Episode 14 | Episode 15 | Episode 16 | Episode 17 | Episode 18 | Episode 19 | Episode 20
Episode 21 | Episode 22 | Episode 23 | Episode 24 | Episode 25 | Episode 26

Movies Death | Rebirth

The End of Evangelion: Episode 25' | Episode 26'

Rebuild of Evangelion Evangelion 1.0 | Evangelion 2.0 | Evangelion 3.0 | (-46h) | (-120min) | Evangelion: 3.0 + 1.0