Episode 07

Episode Information
Episode #07
Title 1: 人の造りしもの Hito no Tsukurishimono The Human Creation Title 2: A Human Work
Written By	Hideaki Anno, Yoji Enokido
Directed By	Keiichi Sugiyama
First Aired	11-15-1995
Video Release Date	5-2-1996 (Japan-Video/LD), 11-21-2000 (US-DVD)
Angel Appearances	none
Eva Sorties	Eva-01
Episode chronology
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"Episode 06"	"Episode 08"

Overview

Ritsuko briefs Shinji on the real nature of Second Impact, the Angels, and the Evangelions' mission to defeat them. Misato and Ritsuko attend the public demonstration of a new Angel-fighting robot, Jet Alone, built by a rival defense contractor to Nerv. However, the nuclear-powered robot quickly runs out of control, and Shinji must use Eva Unit 01 to load Misato onto Jet Alone so she can she can enter in its automatic shutdown code, before it melts down in a nuclear explosion.

Synopsis

Episode 7 opens with a phone conversation between Gendo and an unknown person, who tells Gendo that he has answered the information requests with falsified data, and then asks if he should do something about "that other matter". Gendo tells him that no further action is needed.

Meanwhile, it's breakfast time at Misato's apartment, and we learn that Shinji is embarrassed that Misato is a slob who drinks beer for breakfast. He doesn't even want his friends Toji and Kensuke to see her. But as it is Parent Visitation Day, she visits the school arriving in a flashy outfit, where her appearance dazzles the boys of Shinji's class.

Gendo boards an SSTO and has a conversation with an unknown person where we learn that the budget for building more Evangelions has been approved.

Back at H.Q., Ritsuko briefs Shinji on Second Impact, telling him that the official story about a meteor impact is a cover-up, and that, in fact, the event was the result of the First Angel, Adam, having been discovered in Antarctica, and had massively exploded during the investigation. It is believed that the Angels are now seeking to cause a Third Impact, which will wipe out all of mankind, and it is the job of the Evangelions and their pilots to prevent this from happening. Misato, who is also present during Shinji's briefing, is uncharacteristically sombre and quiet as Ritsuko talks, and only briefly speaks up to respond in the affirmative, when Ritsuko turns to her and reminds her that the two of them has some business to tend to tomorrow.

The next morning at breakfast, Shinji is surprised to see Misato ready and in dress uniform. She is going with Ritsuko to a private company's demonstration of its Angel fighting giant robot, Jet Alone. Before the demonstration, Ritsuko questions the executive in charge, Shiro Tokita, about the safety of sending a robot powered by a nuclear reactor into close-quarters battle. Shiro replies that it's better than a weapon that causes mental instability in its pilots and goes out of control like a hysterical woman. Much to Ritsuko's disquiet, Shiro also reveals that he knows about the existence of A.T. Fields and boasts that his engineers are working on the problem, and once they crack it, Nerv's time in the sun will be over. Although Ritsuko seems angry during the conference, while Misato seems indifferent, as soon as they are alone Misato starts yelling and kicking a locker while Ritsuko shrugs it off, calmly ensuring her that Shiro is nothing but a braggart. Misato points out that he and his team somehow still has information that should be strictly classified, to which Ritsuko confesses that Nerv recently suffered a large intelligence leak.

During the demonstration, Jet Alone suddenly goes out of control and its reactor threatens to go critical, which could result in a catastrophic meltdown. Misato at this point describes J.A. "as badly behaved as the guy who built it!" As the radio command circuit has been broken Misato decides to call in Shinji and Eva-01 to deal with the situation. As Shinji and the Eva are brought in via plane, Misato briefs him, explaining that it will be his job to use the Eva to keep Jet Alone steady and in place, while she, wearing a radiation suit, will board Jet Alone, enter its control room and delete its programming directly.

First, however, there is a delay to get permission to tell her the delete code, "hope". Shinji catches Jet Alone, and Misato successfully boards it. Misato, however, finds to her panic that the password does not seem to work, and the reactor keeps itching closer to meltdown. Misato, in a last ditch attempt to prevent the catastrophe, tries to push the control rods back into J.A.'s reactor manually. But, at the last moment, J.A.'s program suddenly resets, and the rods reinsert themselves. Misato realizes that the robot was never intended to meltdown; what just happened was programmed to happen from the start and it was a set-up.

Back at Nerv, Ritsuko briefs Gendo on the Jet Alone situation in his office. She says that except for Misato's interference, everything went as planned. He congratulates her on a job well done.

The next morning everything is back to normal at the Katsuragi residence, with Misato back with her usual morning routine. Shinji is as upset as usual, and on the way to school, when Toji and Kensuke once again gushes about cool and sexy Misato is, he complains that they have no idea lazy and messy she is in private. His friends, however, point out that he doesn't know how good he's got it, as Misato shows him a side of her personality that no one else sees because she considers him family. Shinji smiles at the thought.

End of Episode.

Notes

• In the original Japanese dub, one of the Jet Alone tech crew tells Misato that the odds of it simply stopping on its own are 0.00002%. The English dub by ADV Films accidentally left out a zero, saying that the odds are only 0.0002%.
• The Angel Ramiel's corpse is still being cleared away from last episode. Lt. Hyuga directly points out how expensive removing its dead body is.
• This episode is cited by the production team and fans as the end of the "Introduction Arc" that began the series. Starting with the arrival of Asuka next episode the "Action Arc" begins, with "Monster of the Week" Angels being fought for several episodes.

Analysis

• At one point, one of Shinji's classmates mentions that her mother went to a counseling session and felt she had to "dress up" for the occasion. This is a peculiar statement, as all of the students in Class 2-A are potential Evangelion pilots and are thus supposedly motherless. However, it is possible that she was referring to a step-mother.

Quotes

• Toji: "Hmm, Misato is just so cool."
  Shinji: "Yeah I used to think so too, but she's such a slob, she's always embarrassing me and she never does anything but lie around the house. She's not embarrassed about it, but I am."
  Kensuke: "You're a lucky guy."
  Shinji: "What do you mean?"
  Kensuke: "Ikari really is just a kid, now isn't he?"
  Toji: "He sure is."
  Shinji: "Meaning what?"
  Kensuke: "You get to see the true side of her that she doesn't allow us to see. That's very much like a family." (Shinji pauses then realizes the truth of what Kensuke has said, and walks home smiling)

References

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