Episode 16

Episode Information
Episode #16
Title 1: 死に至る病、そして Shi ni Itaru Yamai, Soshite ' Title 2: Splitting of the Breast
Written By	Hideaki Anno, Hiroshi Yamaguchi
Directed By	Kazuya Tsurumaki
First Aired	1-17-1996
Video Release Date	{{{video_release}}}
Angel Appearances	Leliel
Eva Sorties	Eva-00, Eva-01, Eva-02
Episode chronology
← Previous	Next →
"Episode 15"	"Episode 17"

Synopsis

Early in this episode, the three pilots undergo a synch test, in which Shinji emerges the best synchronized pilot, a fact that greatly annoys and disturbs Asuka and causes her to leave, fuming.

Later on, a bizarre shadow emerges from the street in the city, seemingly out of nowhere. An alert is declared at Nerv and personnel observe as a sphere with Zebra-like black and white stripes floats over the city.

Confused about whether or not this peculiar apparition is an Angel, the three Evangelions are dispatched to draw it out of the city airspace before engaging it. Asuka's goading prompts Shinji to take point position, closest to the target. An overconfident Shinji attacks the sphere without waiting for the other two EVAs to get into position, and the sphere simply disappears. The target is confirmed to be an Angel, and to everyone's horror, a dark shadow materializes under EVA-01 and sucks it in.

Ritsuko soon explains that the Angel is the shadow on the ground, not the floating sphere, and that it exists in another dimension in a form that can only be explained by higher mathematics. She estimates that EVA-01 has a maximum of sixteen hours of battery power for its life-support system, and concocts a plan that involves dropping all 992 N2 mines in existence to destroy the Angel and recover EVA-01, even at the risk of destroying the pilot.

Meanwhile, Shinji goes through a depressing introspective journey inside the EVA, when an unknown entity- either himself, EVA-01, or the Angel itself speaks about the shallowness of his own existence with him. In the end, Shinji sees an apparition of his mother.

Outside, both Evangelions are in position and a huge swarm of aircraft prepares for the mine drop, and the plan is just about to go into action when the shadow on the ground shakes and rips apart as though hit by an earthquake, and the sphere turns black and solid. To everyone's utter horror, EVA-01 tears out of the sphere and bellows in a horrible parody of birth, killing the Angel. Shinji is recovered from the Angel, and wakes up in the hospital with Rei at his side, where she had spent the night with him.

Notes

• Shinji is now the most highly synchronized pilot among the three, having beaten Asuka's original synch level.
• First appearance of Rei's giant sniper rifle, a weapon seen on only one further occasion.

Analysis

• It appears as if Shinji is in contact with his own subconscious during his introspection. However, it might actually be the Angel Leliel making contact with his mind, taking the form of a younger Shinji (Similar to how Armisael takes Rei's own form when appearing to her). In the next episode, the Seele committee members interrogate Misato and seriously consider the possibility of the Angel making contact. The question of who contacted Shinji remains unanswered.

• Eva-01 is hosed down with high-pressure water to clean off the Angel's blood. The scene of the Eva bursting out of the Angel is evocative of birth; by extension, this scene evokes baptism, the symbolic washing away of sins after birth.

• Rei is visibly concerned when Eva-01 and Shinji are sucked into Leliel, even questioning Misato's order to retreat. She is extremely annoyed with Asuka for berating Shinji, and even spends the night with him in hospital when Asuka waits outside, too embarrassed to be with him.

Quotes

• Asuka: "Maybe you and Mr. Kaji have hooked up again, but don't project your happiness on other people!"
  Misato: "There's nothing between Kaji and me."
  Kaji (On the phone): "Hey, Katsuragi, I've found a bar that serves a decent drink. How about tonight? Bye!"
  Asuka: "Sure, I've never been involved in an indecent adult relationship! And here you're acting like a proper guardian?! You hypocrite! You make me puke!"
• Misato Katsuragi: You are number one!
• Asuka: "Oh, man! He beat us so easily. To be honest, getting beat that easily is a little frustrating, don't you think? He's amazing, wonderful, awesome, too awesome! The great invincible Shinji! This just means we get to take it easy now, right? But I guess we should at least do our best not to be left behind."
• Ritsuko: "This operation's top priority is to recover Unit 01 itself. Heavy damage to the body is irrelevant."
  Misato: "Now wait a second!"
  Ritsuko: "In this case, the pilot's life is not our concern. If Shinji's lost, it's your fault. Don't forget that!"
  Misato: "Why are you and Commander Ikari so worried about Unit 01? What in the hell is an Eva?"
  Ritsuko: "I've given you all the information."
  Misato: "You're lying!"
• Shinji: "I hate this place. I don't want to be alone... anymore. The heating and the oxygen circulation are already out. I'm cold. It's useless, the suit is giving out too. So this is the end. I'm tired... Of it all."
  Shinji: "Mother?"
  Yui: "Are you ready? Well, that's good for you."
• Shinji: "I feel just fine."
  Rei: "Well, that's good for you."
• Ritsuko: "I have never thought these Evas were as frightening as I did today. Are the Evas really on our side? They may hate us. I think that Major Katsuragi may have noticed something."
  Gendo: "I see. Let her be for now."
  Ritsuko: "If Rei or Shinji were to find out the Eva's secrets, they'd never forgive us, would they?"