Episode 24

Episode Information
Episode #24
Title 1: 最後のシ者 Saigo no Shisha The Final Messenger Title 2: The Beginning and the End, or "Knockin' on Heaven's Door"
Written By	Hideaki Anno, Akio Satsukawa
Directed By	Masayuki
First Aired	3-13-1996
Video Release Date	3-5-1997 (Japan-Video/LD), 6-26-2001 (US-DVD)
Angel Appearances	Tabris, Eva-02 (Under control by Tabris), Lilith(Crucified)
Eva Sorties	Eva-01
Episode chronology
← Previous	Next →
"Episode 23"	"Episode 25/Episode 25′ "

Overview

Too frightened to face Misato or Rei, Shinji runs away yet again, only to meet and strike a friendship with Kaworu Nagisa, the replacement pilot for Eva-02. Kaworu's openness and friendliness provide much-needed comfort for the disturbed Shinji. However, suspicions abound over Kaworu's incredible synchronization abilities, and when he reveals that he is the Seventeenth Angel, Shinji must battle his newfound friend or face the threat of world annihilation.

Synopsis

The episode begins with Asuka remembering her mother hanging herself as well as finding out about Kaji's death from Shinji. She considers herself worthless because she can no longer pilot an Eva. Nerv Intelligence Agents find her in a bathtub in a ruined house, apparently after slitting her wrists in a suicide attempt.

A despondent Shinji stands at the edge of the crater lake by sunset, too afraid to go home or face Misato or Ayanami. His attention is drawn by a boy humming the Ode to Joy. Shinji is drawn to Kaworu on their very first conversation.

Misato is suspicious of Kaworu, and Kaworu's awesome synchronization scores befuddle everyone. He soon makes contact with Rei, revealing her true nature to her, and takes a late shower with Shinji, expressing his empathy for him. Shinji lands up spending the night in his room, talking to him about his past and his feelings about his father, so coming even closer to Kaworu.

Early in the morning the next day, Kaworu stands on the statue of an Angel, in the center of the crater lake. He talks to himself at first, speaking about how humans are not Gods, before fifteen monoliths appear and speak of Gendo's agenda. They urge him to go on his mission, telling him that he is the vessel of Adam's soul and that Adam's body is with Gendo. The monoliths make a vague reference to a previous request, which they describe as humanity's "hope." Misato watches Kaworu from a distance, but only sees him speaking to himself. Confused, she is even more surprised when he apparently notices her at such a great distance.

Meanwhile, Hyuga steals Kaworu's synch data on Misato's behest, and his ability to set his synch rate to any level deepens the mystery. Misato pays a visit to an incarcerated Ritsuko, who thinks Kaworu might be the Final Angel.

Soon enough, Ritsuko's suspicions are proved true. Kaworu activates Eva-02 externally, and he and his controlled Eva head down to Terminal Dogma. Grim shock replaces initial confusion, and Shinji is ordered to sortie in Eva-01. He finds the idea of Kaworu being an Angel unacceptable, and he considers Kaworu as having betrayed the love and faith he placed in him.

Newfound friends meet each other on the way down, and Shinji battles Eva-02 while shouting for Kaworu to stop. Kaworu continues, and tells him the truth about the A.T. Field along the way. Approaching Terminal Dogma, Kaworu sets up an A.T. Field barrier of unprecedented power to block out Nerv's view. Despite Shinji's best efforts, Kaworu enters the LCL Plant. Hyuga prepares to self-destruct the facility.

However, a second A.T. Field, generated by Rei, shows up before vanishing. She watches Kaworu as he approaches the crucified giant. After initially referring to the giant as Adam, Kaworu realizes his mistake, and identifies it as Lilith. He has a brief moment of realization before Eva-01 throws Eva-02 through the door and grabs him. Kaworu asks Shinji to grant him his final wish-to kill him, or let humanity die. Grudgingly, after a long hesitation, Shinji kills him. Misato tries to convince him he did the right thing, but he remains haunted by his action.

On-Air Version

• Asuka's shocked expression after slapping Shinji at the news of Kaji's death (along with the spilled coffee-pot from The End of Evangelion) is absent from the on-air version.

• The expanded conversion of Kaworu saying Rei is "the same as him" is absent from the on-air version.

• The 15 Seele Monoliths at the Lake Scene and Misato spying on Kaworu is absent from the on-air version.

• Rei's face as she looks at Kaworu in Terminal Dogma is drawn differently in the OA version, although differently drawn faces is something all of the DC episodes have. Lilith's legs have been added due to her growing back her legs in the DC version of Episode 22.

Analysis

• Whether or not Asuka attempted suicide is a matter of debate. Although ironically enough, this is upon remembering her own mother's successful suicide.

• Kaworu and Shinji lie down just like Asuka and Hikari did in the previous episode, but while Hikari seemed disturbed at Asuka's condition and Asuka was sobbing away and unwilling to face her, Kaworu and Shinji end up facing each other: they have succeeded in communicating with each other.

• Whether or not Kaworu and Shinji have a homosexual attraction for each other is a matter of serious debate.
  • The word Kaworu uses is "Suki", which could mean "love" or "like", depending on the situation. The original ADV subtitle translation gives the word as "like", while Platinum and the English dub use "love". The word "like" is probably closer to what Kaworu meant.
  • Kaworu places his hand on Shinji's the same way Misato placed her hand on his in the previous Episode. While the sexual intentions on Misato's part were plainly obvious, and drew Shinji's immediate disgust, Shinji doesn't seem to mind Kaworu's touch that much, and is in fact confused about what he has in mind. Despite the overt implications, Kaworu's gesture might merely have been a sign of friendliness rather than anything else.

• Kaworu/Tabris is the last of a triad of Angels to try to understand and contact humans. As such, he forms part of the classical depiction of an Angel as a beautiful human being with a halo and wings. Arael, representing a pair of glowing wings, and Armisael, representing a halo, complete the form of an Angel along with him.

• See Episode 24' Analysis for details of Kaworu's talk with the monoliths over the lake (only in the Director's Cut version), his monologue as he made his way to Terminal Dogma and his realization when he was there.

• Kaworu is sitting where the head of the winged statue should be. In the On-Air version it isn't clear if the statue is even humanoid, but in Death and in the Director's Cut version, the statue is very clearly a winged Angel, one with the head missing. Kaworu either sits on the head of statue or stands on its neck.
  • That he's on the statue of an Angel is a direct giveaway that he is the last Angel, and the missing head foreshadows his own death. Kaworu standing on top of the neck while talking to the monoliths is also revealing-the statue strongly resembles a Mass-Production Eva from End of Evangelion, and those have Kaworu dummy plugs inserted through the neck to control them.

Notes

• Kaworu's line to Rei about "being the same as him" implies that Rei is the vessel of Lilith's soul, just as Kaworu is the vessel for Adam's. This is proven as Rei deploys an A.T. Field in Central Dogma.

• The Next Episode Preview after the end of Episode 24' is a preview for the video-released version of EoE's first episode, Episode 25' (Which consists of animatics of Asuka battling the MP Eva Series as well as Misato saying goodbye to Shinji). The video version of 26' Next Episode Preview is shown after Air's video version (This consists of live-action footage of Studio Gainax). The video version of The End of Evangelion was released on LD and VHS along with Episodes 25 and 26 of the series as Genesis: 13.

Quotes

• Shinji, before meeting Kaworu: Everyone, including Toji and Kensuke, lost their homes and left. My friends...I don't have anyone I can call a friend anymore. There's no one. I can't go see Ayanami. I don't have the courage for it. I don't know how I'm supposed to face her. Asuka, Misato-san, Mother...What should I...What should I do?

• Kaworu and Rei: Kaworu: "You're the First Children, aren't you? Rei Ayanami...You're the same as me.So, both of us ended up in the same form as the Lilim while we inhabit this planet." Rei: "Who are you?"

• Kaworu and Shinji talking in the Shower: Kaworu: "I see. Humans constantly feel pain in their hearts. Because the heart is so sensitive to pain, humans also feel that to live is to suffer. You're so delicate, like glass, especially your heart." Shinji: "Me?" Kaworu: "Yes, you have my regard for it." Shinji: "Regard?" Kaworu: "It means, I love you."

• Rei: "Why am I here? Why am I alive again? For what? And for whom? The Fifth Children... That boy... I feel as if he's the same as me. Why?"

• Shinji: "You betrayed me! You betrayed my feelings! You betrayed me, just like Father did!"

Episodes & Films
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