Episode 19

"IT WASU WIDIN TI LEALM OF POSSIBIRITY" This article contains a large number of spelling and grammar errors, or its terminology fails to confirm to established Standards and Conversions. Please discuss this issue on the talk page and/or begin editing the page

Episode Information
Episode #19
Title 1: 男の戰い Otoko no Tatakai A Man's Battle Title 2: Introjection
Written By	Hideaki Anno, Akio Satsukawa
Directed By	Masayuki
First Aired	2-7-1996
Video Release Date	12-5-1996 (Japan-Video/LD), 4-17-2001 (US-DVD)
Angel Appearances	Zeruel
Eva Sorties	Eva-00, Eva-01, Eva-02
Episode chronology
← Previous	Next →
"Episode 18"	"Episode 20"

Overview

Enraged over Toji's near-death at the hands of his own Evangelion, Shinji refuses to pilot an Evangelion again and prepares to leave Tokyo-3 for good. He is forced to reconsider that decision when an immensely destructive new Angel attacks just as he is about to leave.

Synopsis

In the aftermath of the battle with the Angel-infected Eva-03, Shinji is enraged that his father attempted to kill Toji, who he now knows was trapped in the Entry Plug throughout the incident. Shinji refuses to leave the Eva and even threatens to destroy Nerv Headquarters on his remaining battery power. Gendo and the bridge personnel knock him unconscious by increasing the LCL pressure inside the plug.

Toji wakes up in the hospital, with Shinji sleeping in the bed next to his. He goes back to sleep, and has a vision of Shinji and Rei in a train, talking about his father's behavior. When he wakes up again, Shinji is gone, and Hikari is at his side instead. She tells him he has been asleep for three days after the incident. From the shot, it is evident that Toji's left leg has been amputated.

Shinji is brought in to his father's office in handcuffs, where he is charged with various offenses against Nerv, including threatening, intimidation, insubordination and use of an Eva for personal vendettas. Shinji responds by saying that he will never pilot again. Gendo decides to delete his files and reassign Rei as the pilot of Eva-01, with the Dummy Plug as backup. Meanwhile, the remains of Eva-03 are dissolved, the Angel having been killed along with the Eva, and Asuka shows her disdain for Shinji's actions. Misato tells Shinji that his activities will be closely monitored, to which he aggressively replies that he doesn't care. Surprised by his conviction, Misato lets Shinji leave. As soon as he reaches the train station, an emergency is declared: a new angel is approaching.

Zeruel in standing form

The Angel Zeruel approaches Tokyo-3 from the air. Missile batteries fire at Zeruel to no avail, and Zeruel responds with a weapon that destroys eighteen of the twenty-two armor layers above the Geofront. This aggressive and extremely destructive new enemy gives Nerv very little time to prepare a counterattack. Rei is sent to pilot Eva-01, but the Eva rejects her immediately. Attempts to activate it with the dummy system also fail. Meanwhile, Shinji watches as Zeruel sets off multiple cross-shaped explosions, and questions his decision not to pilot again.

Zeruel finally breaks through to the Geofront, where Asuka attacks him. Eva-02 sprays Zeruel with Rifle and Rocket fire, but again to no effect. Zeruel extends its foil-like arms, and severs both of Eva-02's arms with ease. Asuka screams in pain and charges Zeruel, and the bridge crew cut her nerve links just before Eva-02 is decapitated. Shinji meets up with Kaji inside the Geofront, and sees the effects of the battle. Rei follows with a suicide attack, attempting to destroy the Angel's core with an N² bomb, but the Angel covers its core with an armored membrane and survives the explosion unhurt. The explosion, followed by a stab to the face, puts Eva-00 completely out of action.

With both Evas defeated and Eva-01 still refusing the Dummy Plug, the situation appears dire for Nerv, but Shinji barges in to pilot Eva-01 at the last moment. Zeruel damages the top of the command pyramid and breaks into the control room, prepared to obliterate the unfortunate bridge personnel. A second before the Angel releases its charge-up attack, it is punched in the face and slammed through the wall by Eva-01.

In the battle that follows, Eva-01's left arm is shot off but Zeruel is almost killed one-handed before the Eva runs out of power. Zeruel destroys the Eva's chest armor and tries to penetrate the core, but the Eva reactivates and goes berserk. After ripping off the Angel's left arm and using it to regenerate her own, she mutilates the Angel with an A.T. Field attack of her own and proceeds to devour the crippled Angel, ingesting its S² Engine

Quotes

• Shinji: "Father, you're there, aren't you? Say something! Answer me!"
  Gendo: "Increase the pressure of the LCL to maximum. We have no time to waste on a childish tantrum."
  Shinji: "I've still got a direct control circuit... Damn! Damn! Damn..."
• Asuka: "It might really be over. I'll bet that idiot won't recover from this."
  Rei: "How is Ikari?"
  Asuka: "He wasn't injured, so he ought to be okay. He's probably dreaming away."
  Rei: "Dreaming?"
  Asuka: "Yeah. Don't tell me you don't dream?"
• Gendo: "Disobeying orders, private appropriation of an Eva, blatant intimidation... These are all criminal offenses."
  Gendo: "Do you have anything to say?"
  Shinji: "Yes, I don't want to pilot an Eva anymore. I don't want to stay here either."
  Gendo: "Then leave."
  Shinji: "Yes. I'll go back to my teacher's place."
  Gendo: "So you're running away again?"
  Gendo: "You disappoint me. I doubt we'll ever meet again."
  Shinji: "Yes, that's my intent."
• Misato: "All the fourth-level candidates were in your class. I just found out myself recently that it was all set up."
  Shinji: "All of them? All of my classmates..."
  Misato: "What happened with Suzuhara was a mistake that can't be mended with words alone. But, Shinji, to be honest, I was projecting all of my dreams, hopes and purpose onto you. I also know that it's been a huge burden for you. But we, everyone at Nerv, had no choice except to entrust our future to you. I want you to remember that one thing."
• Gendo: "Yes, it's rejecting me. Abort activation. Sortie Rei in Unit 00. Re-activate Unit 01 with the dummy plug."
  Misato: "But Unit 00 isn't..."
  Rei: "It doesn't matter. I'll go."
  Misato: "Rei?"
  Rei: "Even if I die, I can be replaced."
• Kaji: "Well, since my moonlighting came out into the open, I'm not welcome on the combat roster. So, here I am, watering the plants."
  Shinji: "At a time like this?"
  Kaji: "It's because it's a time like this. Between Katsuragi's breasts is nice too, but in the end, I want to be here when I die."
  Shinji: "Die?"
  Kaji: "That's right. It's said if an Angel makes contact with Adam, who lies below here, humanity will be eradicated in the Third Impact. The only thing that can stop it is the one thing with power equal to an Angel's, the Evangelion."
  Kaji: "Shinji, the only thing I can do is stand here and water. But you, you have something that you can do. That only you can do. Nobody is forcing you. Think for yourself, and make the decision by yourself. Think about what you ought to do now. You know, so you don't have any regrets."
• Ritsuko: "That's right. That's not armor plating. Those are restraints that allow us to suppress the Eva's true power. And now those bindings are being undone by the Eva's own might. We can no longer stop the Eva."
  Kaji: "Unit 01's been awakened and set free. Seele won't stay quiet for this. Was this also part of your script, Commander Ikari?"

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