Mr. Tines: So Gendo isn't the flint hearted bastard he's seemed up to now, despite his callous use of Rei back in episode 1 cut 248.
Kendrix: You see that faint smile on his face?
@Mr Tines: He's a pragmatist. There was no other choice in ep 01. He went as far as calling Shinji so Rei wouldn't have to get into Unit 01, but someone HAD to pilot it, or else POOF end of the world.