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	{{{video_release}}}
Angel Appearances	Tabris, Eva-02 (Under control by Tabris)
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 abilites, 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 vauge 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.

Analysis

• 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.

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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