Episode 26'

Episode Information
Episode #26'
Title 1: まごころを、君に Magokoro o, Kimi ni Yours Sincerely Title 2: I Need You.
Written By	Hideaki Anno
Directed By	Hideaki Anno
First Aired	7-19-1997
Video Release Date	9-24-2002
Angel Appearances	Lilith, Adam
Eva Sorties	N/A
Episode chronology
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"Episode 25'"	"(End)"

Synopsis

Realizing that Evangelion Unit-01 has began to move in the GeoFront, Gendo tells Rei that the only way for him to see Yui again is through the forbidden union of Adam and Lilith. He inserts his right hand--which has Adam grafted on--into Rei's body to initiate Instrumentality. Meanwhile, Shinji is still screaming over Asuka's death. Unit-01 breaks free of its bindings, which causes the original Spear of Longinus to return from the Moon onto Earth, stopping right at Unit 01's neck.

Seele decides to set Third Impact and Instrumentality into motion by using Unit-01 and its pilot as a medium. The Mass Production Evangelions crucify Unit-01 by opening their S² Engine. A massive explosion occurs, which reveals the Black Moon, Lilith's Egg, within the GeoFront.

Aware of Shinji's pain, Rei defies Gendo (saying she is "Not his doll") by absorbing his arm and joins Lilith on her own. Gendo begs Rei to wait for him, to which she responds that "Ikari-kun is calling". Welcomed home by Lilith, Rei is absorbed into the giant, which breaks free from Nerv Headquarters.

Upon seeing the giant version of Rei as well as the now deformed Eva Series resonating with her, Shinji begins to freak out and scream uncontrollably. He repeatedly says "no more", until a familiar voice asks him if he "wants it to stop". Looking up in shock with tears in his eyes, Shinji is overjoyed to see Kaworu smiling at him. Shinji's ego barrier weakens, and the crucified Unit-01 now turns into a Tree of Life. Fuyutsuki says that because Evangelion Unit-01 obtained the Angel's Fruit of Life and Mankind's Fruit of Wisdom, she has become like God. Furthermore, whether or not Humanity will be saved from Third Impact's fate (Instrumentality) is up to Shinji.

Kaworu turns into Yui, who tells Shinji that Rei is the embodiment of his wish. Rei asks the boy what it is he wishes for. The last thing Shinji sees is Asuka's breasts before he turns into LCL.

Pre-3rd Impact Pre-Instrumentality begins with Shinji realizing that he "thought he could find something if he came here". Little Shinji is invited to make a sandcastle with some friends. Their "Mama" (Misato) arrives to pick them up, and the young boy is left by the sandbox alone. Sad, he tries to complete the castle by himself (which looks like Nerv Headquarters), only to become angry and start destroying it. After he destroys it, Shinji begins to rebuild the castle, crying.

Asuka angrily interjects—the new scene reveals she's laying atop Shinji, both naked—that she "feels pissed off whenever she seems him". Shinji calmly replies that it's "because they're alike". Quick flashbacks show little Asuka crying for her mother at the woman's funeral, the sleep-talking Asuka calling for Kyoko in Episode 09, and Shinji saying "Mama" at Unit-01's cage last episode. During a close-up of the bloodied Cross pendent, Misato admits that she couldn't become Shinji's mother.

A flashback to Misato's days in college shows her and Kaji having sex. Misato presently admits that she probably did things like that to confirm her existence. Asuka writes the whole thing off as being stupid, while Ritsuko explains it's nice to feel needed, even if it's only physical. Shinji is disgusted and surprised that Misato does such things, to which she replies that sex is a part of her that he never knew, and that reality is painful.

Misato, Shinji and Asuka are currently inside Misato's apartment as a twisted retake of the Episode 15 kiss scene occurs. Walking up to Shinji after Asuka asks them if they should kiss, she tells him that he doesn't understand anything about her. Shinji says that he does, but Asuka replies-with a kick to his leg-that he doesn't. Shinji explains it's impossible for him to understand her if Asuka never tells him anything. Rei asks Shinji if he tried to understand and he sullenly says he did.

Misato, Asuka, and Rei stare at Shinji while he glances at Rei.

Calling him stupid, Asuka tells Shinji that she knows he masturbated in her hospital room and that he can "do it again like always"; she'll "even watch him". Asuka blocks Shinji's view of Rei, her breasts practically in his face inside the Personal Hell Traincar. The redhead goes onto say that if she can't have all of him, she wants nothing. Shinji tells her to be kind to him, to which Asuka, Rei and Misato all say they are. Shinji calls them liars, saying that they want to keep things ambiguous with their smiles. Rei says that the truth is painful, and Shinji admits to being scared if things keep on progressing as they are. Panicking, he begs to be cared for. The three women silently stare at Shinji as he gives a peculiar glance to Rei.

In another twisted retake, this time of the Episode 24 "Kaji's dead" scene, Asuka is dejectedly sitting with her head leaning against the kitchen table. Shinji walks up to her, admitting that he wants to help her and be with her forever. Calling him a liar, Asuka claims that Shinji is using her as an excuse, an escape, because he's scared of Misato and Rei as well as his mother and father. Shinji continues to beg Asuka for help as she yells at him. She pushes him to the floor; angrily saying that he doesn't love anybody; that he hates himself but only cares about himself. Having burned himself with the coffeepot on his fall, Shinji weakly gets up, still begging for help. Growing angry, he begins to throw the table and chairs around while pleading not to be left alone, not to be abandoned, and not to be killed. Coldly staring at Shinji, after a moment, the girl coldly yet simply replies "No". Losing control, Shinji strangles Asuka. Third Impact begins as Komm, süsser Tod is heard.

Shinji says that he thought it was world where nobody would betray him and exclaims Asuka betrayed his feelings . Rei replies that he it was wrong of him to think everybody felt like him. Shinji bitterly says he wants everybody including him to die, though Rei asks why he is here if that's the case. Asking if it's okay for him to be here, Shinji is met with silence and screams.

Meanwhile Nerv discovers Shinji's vital signs are near zero and that Lilith's Anti A.T. Field is expanding as she grows even larger. The Doors of Guf open as Lilith and multiple Reis begin collecting peoples' souls. The members of Nerv turn into LCL, seeing the one they love and trust the most (Hyuga: Misato, Aoba: Nobody, Fuyutsuki: Yui, and Maya: Ritsuko) before this happens. The members of Seele also turn into LCL, Keel seemingly content with the scenario of Third Impact being played out, although it's not his.

Within Terminal Dogma, Gendo expresses how long he's been waiting for this moment of being able to see Yui again. Gendo admits that without her at his side, all he can do is hurt Shinji. She smiles at him, asking if he was afraid of Shinji. He replies that he believes nobody can love him, and that he's undeserving of any love. Kaworu interjects that he was just running away before anybody could betray him, Rei adding that Gendo was afraid so he closed off his heart. Yui turns into Evangelion Unit-01 and picks up Gendo; he asks if this is his punishment. Saying "I'm sorry, Shinji", Unit-01 bites off Gendo's head, inducting him into Pre-Instrumentality. Rei 2 gently picks up Gendo's glasses as all three versions of Rei stand together.

In outer space, the MP Eva series proceed to spear their cores with their replica Spears, causing all the souls to gradually enter Lilith's Doors of Guf. The Tree of Life enters Lilith through a vaginal-looking third eye. Pre-Instrumentality is underway as a barrage of "break-up" lines occur, various women-including Asuka-that Shinji know saying they hate him. The lines end with Asuka calling Shinji a wimp. Misato and Rei calmly tell Shinji that if he hates what's going on so much, he can stop it and run away. Misato asks Shinji if he wants to become one with her (indicating Instrumentality); Asuka adds that she'd rather die than for that to happen.

While live-action footage of a city appears on-screen, Shinji asks Misato, Asuka, and Rei what dreams are. Shinji says he doesn't understand reality and that he doesn't know where happiness is. Rei replies that Shinji is having a dream and that he recreated his world based on his own reality. Shinji asks why can't he dream alone and Rei answers that dream alone would simply be a substitute for reality. Saying that Shinji's dream is the continuation of reality, Lilith falls backwards as her neck bleeds LCL.

The group photo.

Rei is laying upon Shinji, both of them naked and joined together, within the L.C.L Sea. Rei explains that this solitary world where everything is united as one is the very world Shinji wished for. Shinji, holding onto Misato's cross, replies that it isn't right. Rei says that if people exist as individuals again, the walls of the heart that separate people could cause possible hurt again. Releasing Misato's cross as he smiles, Shinji says that's alright. Rei disengages herself from atop Shinji as he holds Rei's hand and thanks her. His head resting in Rei's lap as he holds the cross, Shinji explains how he felt that things were painful, which is why he ran away. But he realized that running away was bad because it was as if nobody including him existed. Kaworu appears, asking Shinji if it's alright that if A.T. Fields hurt him and others again. Shinji says it's alright and asks what Rei and Kaworu are. They reply they're the "hope people can one day understand each other" as well as the word "love". As a group photo of Shinji and the others (minus Gendo and Fuyutsuki) appears on-screen, Shinji says that even though he'll be betrayed and deserted one day, he wants to see them again because his feelings were real.

Bursting out of Lilith's eye, Eva Unit-01 lets out a mighty roar and grows wings of light. The Doors of Guf close and Lilith's Black Moon explodes. Lilith's body decomposes, becoming petrified as it lands on Earth. Unit-01 uses an extended version of the Spear of Longinus to petrify the MP Eva Series. The Eva Series land on Earth, as well. The Wings of Light disappearing, Eva-01 becomes petrified herself, as Rei silently stares at her out in Space. Kaworu, Rei, and Yui reassure Shinji: People can restore their bodies as long as they imagine themselves within their own heart. Yui says that as long as the Earth, Moon and Sun exist, everything will be alright.

After the Entry Plug is ejected off-screen, Shinji (now wearing Misato's cross pendent) and his mother say goodbye. Yui caresses his cheek, asking him if he'll be alright. Shinji says that he still doesn't know where to find happiness, but will live on since he's himself. In a flashback to the conclusion of Fuyutsuki and Yui's Episode 21 discussion, Fuyutsuki asks Yui if her real intention behind Eva is for the Eva to become God. Yui replies that that is the case, and how Eva can live forever, along with the human soul within her. Even after the Earth, Moon and Sun are lost, the Evangelion will be eternal proof of humanity's existence. Shinji says "...Goodbye, Mother." and the English Episode title Eyecatch appears.

Shinji sobbing on Asuka during the Final Scene.

An undetermined amount of time has passed. Lilith's petrified head and some of the petrified Mass Production Eva Series are on a beach near the L.C.L Sea. Some grave markers have been erected: one has Misato's cross crucified on it, while another grave marker has been kicked down. Shinji is laying down, staring up at the night sky. Asuka, in bandages that coincide with the injuries during her final battle, lay beside him. Hearing a noise, Shinji turns his head to see Rei 3 staring at him, but she instantly disappears. Realizing Asuka is laying next to him, Shinji straddles her and beings to strangle her. He only stops when Asuka silently caress his cheek, similar to how Yui did during her farewell. Crying, Shinji begins to sob uncontrollably right into Asuka's breasts. After a moment, Asuka coldly stares at Shinji, and in the coldest voice possible, says "I feel sick".

The End.

Alternate Endings:

"Last A"

It starts the same as the actual ending, on a beach with petrified MP Evas. We then see the gravemarkers with the major characters names written on them; there isn't one for Rei. We then see Asuka's, then her foot kicking it down. The scene continues as in the finalized movie. When Shinji begins to cry, Asuka says "Idiot. No way I'll let you kill me!" The music would begin and the credits would roll horizontally a la Gunbuster and Death. We were to see Eva-01 lying on the Moon, and woman's hair flowing from its broken mask, her face remaining unseen. Behind Eva-01, you could see the red Earth and the Black Moon destroyed. We pass the sun, then go towards the stars. Credits end. ^{[Source needed]}

"Last B"

Begins like Last A, but Asuka never shows up. Shinji is lying on the beach holding onto someones white arm. He says "I'll never see them again. It's better to think of it this way. I'm still alive, so I'll keep on living." He squeezes the hand harder and then sees Rei (like in the episode and Last A). We eventually see that there is nobody lying near Shinji, just a white arm without the rest of the body. We then see the full moon, followed by the ending credits as in Last A. ^{[Source needed]}

Notes

• The song that plays during the Sandbox Scene is "Close Hands, Open Hands", a song Japanese children learn in Kindergarten.
• The song that plays during Third Impact is Komm, süsser Tod sung by Arianne.
• For an explanation of Rei 3's various appearances in Episode 26', please see this page: Bookend Rei 3

Analysis

• Misato giving Shinji her cross pendent, which was a gift from her father, could be seen as symbolizing "carrying the burden" of one Impact survivor (Misato survived the Second) to another (Shinji survives the Third). It also appears to be Shinji's link to reality, as its shown throughout Episode 26' during Pre-Instrumentality, and once Shinji returns to the real world in the final two scenes (Shinji is wearing the cross when saying goodbye to his mother and the during the final scene, the cross is nailed onto a piece of wood as a grave-marker).

• Despite what Yuko Miyamura says in an interview about "Kimochi Warui", the final line in EoE, Asuka apparently doesn't care that Shinji masturbated by her bedside as the Personal Hell train car scene reveals.

Shinji in the Final Scene.

• It can be assumed that Shinji had been alone for a while before Asuka's return in the Final Scene:
  • He's had time to erect gravemarkers.
  • Misato's cross, which is nailed to one, distinctly shows rust.
  • Shinji's face is clearly disturbed, contrasting with how he looked in the previous scene.
  • He is surprised not only by the appearance of Rei, but by that of Asuka too.

• According to the scrapped Last A scenario, Asuka is the one who kicked down her gravemarker. She also probably returned just that day/night.

• For Asuka to have been able to use her right arm, she must have "imagined herself in her own heart" as being healed because it would be otherwise impossible for her to use her eye or arm based on those injuries she received. Her bandages are most likely there as a security blanket measure, since it was probably the last thing she remembered alive before those multiple Spears hit Unit-02.

Quotes

• Yui and Rei (Before Shinji turns into L.C.L): "This Rei is from your soul. She's the embodiment of your wish." "What do you wish for?"

• Misato: "I failed to be Shinji's mother after all."

• (Asuka and Shinji during Pre-Instrumentality with Misato occasionally interjecting):

Asuka: "Do you want to kiss?"
Misato: "Absolutely not."
Asuka: "Or are you scared?"
Misato: "It's not for kids."
Asuka: "Then, here I go."
Asuka: "You don't understand anything! Don't get come near me!"
Shinji: "I do understand."
Asuka: "You don't understand, stupid! (Asuka kicks Shinji instead of kissing him.) Do you think you understand me?! Do you think you can save me?! That's nothing but your conceited ego! You will never understand!"
Shinji: "How can I understand? Asuka doesn't tell me anything. You don't tell me anything. You don't say anything. It's impossible to understand!"

• Asuka (to Shinji in Pre-Instrumentality): "If all of you can't be mine, I don't want anything."

• Shinji (to Asuka in Pre-Instrumentality): "I want to help you. I want to be with you forever."

• (Asuka rejects Shinji in Pre-Instrumentality): Shinji: (After Asuka pushes him onto the ground) "Help me. Someone, please...please, help me. Help me. Help me. Help me! (Shinji pushes the table over.) Don't leave me alone! (Shinji picks up a chair and throws it.) Don't abandon me! (Asuka looks frightened for one shot.) Don't kill me!" Asuka: (Coldly staring at Shinji) "No." (Shinji strangles Asuka.)

• Shinji: "Is it okay for me to be here?"

• Keel: "The beginning and ending share the same moment. Good. Everything's going well."

• Gendo: "So, this is my retribution? I'm sorry, Shinji."

• Shinji and Rei: "Where's my dream?" "The continuation of reality." "Then, where's my reality?" "At the end of your dream."

• Yui: "It will be alright. All lifeforms have the power to restore themselves...and the wish to live. If you decide to live, anywhere can be heaven...because you're alive. There will be chances to be happy everywhere. As long as the Sun, Moon and Earth exist...it will be alright."

• Shinji (his final lines): "I still don't know where to find happiness. But I'll continue to think about whether it's good to be here...whether it was good to have been born. But in the end, it's just realizing the obvious over and over again. Because I am myself."

• Asuka (The final line, spoken in "the coldest voice possible"): "...I feel sick."

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Episodes & Films
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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