Episode 14

Episode Information
Episode #14
Title 1: {{{japanese_title_k}}} {{{japanese_title_r}}} {{{japanese_title_e}}} Title 2: WEAVING A STORY
Written By	Hideaki Anno,
Directed By
First Aired
Video Release Date	{{{video_release}}}
Angel Appearances	None (recap of all previous angels)
Episode chronology
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"Episode 13"	"Episode 15"

Overview

This episode is in two parts: The first part being a clip show presented to SEELE's Instrumentality Committee, reviewing the attacks of all angels from the third to the tenth. The second part includes a poem in which Rei contemplates her own existence, and a cross-compatibility test between Rei's and Shinji's Evas.

Synopsis

The episode begins with a clip of Sachiel's attack, at first showing how normal weapons prove ineffective against the Angel, before the Evangelion is deployed. Recorded statements by Misato and an excerpt from an essay by Toji Suzuhara (whose sister was hurt in the battle) are included.

Next comes the attack of the angel Shamshel, along with part of an entry from Hikari Horaki's diary. The clip of Shamshel's attack ends with a statement that a final report on the analysis of the Angel's body has yet to be filed.

Ramiel's attack is accompanied by another excerpt, this time from Kensuke Aida, who mentions Rei Ayanami's selfless protection of Eva 01 during the battle.

Gaghiel's attack is notable in deviating from the scenario envisioned by Seele. However, the committee decides that the results were within "the projected parameters" and that "necessary adjustments could be made". A full third of the U.N. Fleet is described as being lost, and it is further mentioned that all the lost vessels are American, but the French committee member comments that the loss was actually minor.

Israfel's attack, Sandalphon's attempted capture, Matariel's and Sahaquiel's attacks all follow in sequence. When it comes to Ireul's invasion, the facts are listed as unconfirmed, although it is rumored that the Angel penetrated Nerv headquarters. This causes a great deal of concern among the committee, despite Gendo's reassurance that no such attack ever took place.

The meeting ends with Lorenz leaving all matters of crime and responsibility to Gendo, and adding that he does not need to create a new scenario.

The second part of the episode contains a poem by Rei Ayanami, contemplating the nature of her own existence, and asking questions about herself and about human beings. After the poem, Rei is seen during a cross-compatibility test with Eva 01, in which her synch ratio is reported to be almost the same as with Eva 00. However, the second part of the test- Shinji's synch with Eva 00, goes bad when the A10 nerve connections are complete. Eva 00 goes berserk in the same way as it did during the flashback in Episode 05, although Shinji escapes with only minor memory loss.

Fuyutsuki and Gendo discuss about the committee, the eleventh angel's invasion and Eva 00's berserk incident, at the end of which Rei is seen back in Eva 00, carrying the Lance of Longinus.

Notes

(Will be sorted into Notes and Analysis shortly-please remove this if sorted)

• Excerpts from Toji's, Hikari's and Kensuke's diaries are presented to the committee members. Since it is later revealed that the students in Shinji's class are all potential Eva pilots, it seems that they are kept under much closer surveillance than is visibly evident, down to the point of examining their personal materials.

• In her report, Misato mentions that the battle with Sachiel highlighted areas of concern for the department of operations and left a lot to be desired in the execution of the battle, while commending Shinji for defeating the angel with zero experience. Presented this way, it appears as if the pilot somehow caused the Evangelion to go berserk and defeat the angel, and not the Eva itself- an instance of Gendo hiding the truth about Eva 01's soul from the committee.

• Gaghiel's attack deviates from scenario, although the committee comfortably writes off the massive naval losses in the encounter as "Fortunately minor". This betrays the extreme callousness of the committee towards anything but their own project. Critically, the committee have failed to realize why the attack deviated from their scenario- Gaghiel was attracted to Adam, who was being smuggled aboard the convoy.

• Ireul's invasion of Nerv in the previous episode was a genuine cause of concern for the committee, who thought of a third impact from happening. Gendo invites them to examine the Magi's data recorders (Which would have had no record of the attack as the Angel attacked the Magi directly), maintaining that no such incident happened. Although the committee does discover that the attack was real by the end of the episode, their actual reaction has not been shown.
  • The committee members are extremely distrustful of Gendo, the Russian going so far as to say "Distorting the truth is your speciality". Chairman Kiel appears to be the only one willing to trust Gendo for any length of time.
  • Fuyutsuki is just as antagonistic towards the committee, saying that they have nothing to do but complain. Gendo, however, is willing to test their patience.

• After mentioning the Eva 00 berserk incident, Fuyutsuki himself notes that Gendo is more concerned with Rei than anything else.

• The first mention of the Lance of Longinus, and the first time it is seen outside its wrappings.

• The soul inside Eva 00 is that of Rei Ayanami herself, and the berserk incident is due to the soul in the Eva attempting to penetrate Shinji's mind. A series of images of Rei flash through his mind when the A10 Nerve connections are completed, ending with a frightening image of Rei rushing at him. The Eva goes berserk immediately afterwards, and what Shinji saw afterwards isn't known. Shinji himself has no recollection of what happened inside the entry plug.

• Blooper alert: For a clip show consisting of camera footage from previous angel attacks, at least once camera gets into an impossible position. One camera gets a view from inside Gaghiel's mouth, and one more is in Israfel's point of view as both Evas attack, not to mention views of Sandalphon from inside the volcano.

• Blooper alert: Eva 00 is missing its shoulder pylons. The scene of it going berserk is a simple recoloring of the previous berserk incident in Episode 05.

• This is second, and perhaps the third, time that Eva 00 goes wild. There was one previous berserk incident, and the simulation plug incident in the previous episode might have actually been caused by Eva 00 instead of Ireul. In all three cases, a giant hand rises to strike a window behind which one character stands and watches, unflinching: Gendo in Episode 05, Misato in the previous episode, and Rei in this one. In each case, Ritsuko is in the room. She is right next to Misato in the previous episode when the simulation body starts moving.

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