Episode 05: Difference between revisions

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| japanese_title_k = レイ、心のむこうに
| japanese_title_k = レイ、心のむこうに
| japanese_title_r = Rei, Kokoro no Mukou ni  
| japanese_title_r = Rei, Kokoro no Mukou ni  
| japanese_title_e = Rei, Beyond Her Heart  
| japanese_title_e = Beyond Rei's Heart  
| english_title    = Rei I
| english_title    = Rei I
| image            = [[Image:Shinji_Rei_Escalator.jpg|260px]]
| image            = [[Image:Shinji_Rei_Escalator.jpg|260px]]
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==Overview==
==Overview==
Eva 00 is finally repaired, and Shinji tries to get to know its enigmatic pilot, [[Rei Ayanami]], better.  However, he is confounded because she is extremely insular, has no friends at all, and the entire record of her past has been erased.  In the midst of this, a new and powerful Angel, the floating monolith [[Ramiel]], attacks Tokyo-3.
[[Eva-00]] is finally repaired<ref>Evangelion Unit-00, only briefly glimpsed before now, is given a full introduction in this episode.</ref>, and Shinji tries to get to know its enigmatic pilot, [[Rei Ayanami]], better.  However, he is confounded because she is extremely insular, has no friends at all, and the entire record of her past has been erased.  In the midst of this, a very powerful Angel, the floating monolith [[Ramiel]], attacks Tokyo-3.


==Synopsis==
==Synopsis==
As the episode opens, we finally get a flashback that explains how [[Rei Ayanami|Rei]] got her injuries. Just days before [[Shinji Ikari|Shinji]] arrived at [[NERV|Nerv]], and it must have been immediately before [[Misato Katsuragi|Misato's]] arrival, Rei is piloting [[Evangelion Unit-00|Eva-00]] in an activation experiment, when the [[Evangelion]] suddenly goes berserk.  The Eva holds her head as if she were in agony, and then tries to pound her way into the control room<ref>When Eva-00 goes berserk, after Rei is already ejected, it attacks a window that Gendo Ikari is standing behind. See [[Theory and Analysis:Eva-00's Soul]] for details on what this says about the identity of Unit-00's soul.</ref>.  The power is cut off, but before Eva-00 powers down, Rei's [[Entry Plug]] is ejected and starts bouncing around the room.  [[Gendo Ikari|Gendo]] orders [[Bakelite|Special Bakelite]] pumped into the room to cushion the blow, but it's too late.  When Eva-00 stops, Gendo rushes into the test room and forces open the red-hot hatch with his bare hands. His glasses fall to the floor and begin to melt from the heat. He manages to get the plug the open and finds an injured, but still conscious Rei meekly looking back at him inside. Gendo expresses relief that her injuries aren't more serious than they are, and smiles.


As the episode opens, we finally get a flashback that explains how [[Rei Ayanami|Rei]] got her injuries.  Just days before [[Shinji Ikari|Shinji]] arrived at [[NERV|Nerv]], and it must have been immediately before [[Misato Katsuragi|Misato's]] arrival, Rei is piloting [[Evangelion Unit-00|Unit-00]] in an activation experiment, when the [[Evangelion]] suddenly goes berserk. The Eva holds her head as if she were in agony, and then tries to pound her way into the control room. The power is cut off, but before Unit-00 powers down, Rei's [[Entry Plug]] is ejected and starts bouncing around the room. [[Gendo Ikari|Gendo]] orders [[Bakelite|Special Bakelite]] pumped into the room to cushion the blow, but it's too late.  When Unit-00 stops, Gendo rushes into the test room and forces open the red-hot hatch with his bare hands.  His glasses fall to the floor and begin to melt from the heat.  He's relieved that her injuries aren't more serious than the are, and smiles.
Some days later, Misato and [[Ritsuko Akagi|Ritsuko]] watch as Eva-00 is being cut free from the bakelite. Ritsuko says that mental instability in the pilot is the suspected cause of the incident. Misato is incredulous, pointing out that Rei doesn't appear to be mentally unstable. Something else seems to occurs to Ritsuko, but she thinks better of saying it.


Back in the present, [[Ritsuko Akagi|Ritsuko]] tells Misato that mental instability in the pilot is the suspected cause of the incident.  Something else seems to occur to her, but she thinks better of saying it.  Misato, Ritsuko, and Shinji are present when Nerv technicians are examining [[Shamshel|Shamshel's]] remains. Although they can't analyze the stuff the [[Angel]] is made of, they can tell that its "inherent wave pattern" is 99.89% similar to that of humans'.  Shinji looks over Ritsuko's shoulder and nods, pretending he knows what she's talking about. While watching Gendo examining the deceased Angel, Shinji notices the burns on his hands, and asks Ritsuko and Misato about them. Ritsuko tells Shinji about the super-heated hatch; Shinji reacts with disbelief.   
In the present day, Misato, Ritsuko, and Shinji are on-site when Nerv technicians are examining [[Shamshel|Shamshel's]] mostly intact remains. Although they can't analyze the stuff the [[Angel]] is made of<ref>"601" is the Nerv computer systems' code number for "cannot be analyzed". This is a direct reference to the movie [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Andromeda_Strain_%28film%29|''The Andromeda Strain''], where a medical computer displays "601" when overloaded with data.  Go [[Tributes to Other Shows in Neon Genesis Evangelion#The Andromeda Strain|here]] for more.</ref>, they can tell that its "inherent wave pattern" is 99.89% similar to that of humans'.  Shinji looks over Ritsuko's shoulder and nods, pretending he knows what she's talking about. Shinji notices that Gendo and [[Kozo Fuyutsuki|Fuyutsuki]] are examining the recovered remains of the deceased Angel's core. As Gendo has removed his gloves, Shinji catches a glance of the burns on his father's hands, and asks Ritsuko and Misato about them. Ritsuko tells Shinji about the incident with Rei and the super-heated hatch; Shinji reacts with disbelief.   


Some time later at school, [[Toji Suzuhara|Toji]] and [[Kensuke Aida|Kensuke]] notice Shinji watching Rei and tease him about it, but Shinji replies that he was just wondering why she's always alone. Later, back at Nerv HQ, Shinji notices Rei happily chatting with Gendo. It's the first time he's seen her happy and smiling.
Some time later at school, [[Toji Suzuhara|Toji]] and [[Kensuke Aida|Kensuke]] notice Shinji watching Rei and tease him about it, but Shinji replies that he was just wondering why she's always alone<ref>Toji and Kensuke say that they first met Rei when she joined their school about a year ago (they are in 8th grade, she joined in 7th grade).
*Toji actually specifically says Rei joined their class in "first year", but that's just the terminology the Japanese school system uses, in which 7th grade is the "first year" of junior high school, 8th grade is "second year", etc.</ref>. Kensuke and Toji explains that no one really talks with Rei, because there is just something "unapproachable" about her. Kensuke asks Shinji if he shouldn't know more about her than them, seeing how they are fellow pilots. Later, back at Nerv HQ, Shinji is in for a sync test, as he notices Rei casually chatting with Gendo. He uses the Eva's camera to zoom in on their conversation, and sees both of them smiling, realizing that it is the first time he's seen either of them do so.


That evening, Ritsuko is eating dinner at Misato's place. Misato prepared the food, so it consists entirely of beer and under-diluted instant ramen. Only Misato finds it edible. Ritsuko then asks Shinji to deliver Rei's new Nerv I.D. card. When he looks embarrassed about going to a girls home, Misato teases him.   
That evening, Ritsuko is eating dinner at Misato's place. Misato prepared the food, so it consists entirely of beer and under-diluted instant ramen. Only Misato finds it edible. Ritsuko then asks Shinji to deliver Rei's new Nerv I.D. card. When he looks embarrassed about going to a girl's home, Misato teases him. A flustered Shinji replies that he is just curious about Rei, because they are fellow pilots, and yet he knows very little about her. Ritsuko tells him that Rei is a nice girl, but also compares her a bit to Gendo, saying that they both are "clumsy at living", much to Shinji's puzzlement.


The next morning, he knocks on Rei's door and rings the bell, and receives no answer, but finds it unlocked and walks in.  The place is an unspeakable mess, littered with trash and bloody bandages.  He notices Gendo's glasses sitting on a dresser top and tries them on.  Just then Rei emerges, presumably from the shower, naked but for a towel.  She seems more concerned for the glasses than her nudity, and crosses the room and snatches them from his grasp.  He trips and they fall in a heap with him on top of her, also somehow upsetting a drawer full of Rei's undergarments.  After a pause of several seconds, she asks him to please move; only then does he notice that his hand is on her breast.  Still seemingly unconcerned, she dresses, takes the glasses and leaves while Shinji is still stammering out an explanation.   
The next morning, he knocks on Rei's door and rings the bell, and receives no answer, but finds it unlocked and walks in.  The place is an unspeakable mess, littered with trash and bloody bandages.  He notices Gendo's glasses sitting on a dresser top and tries them on.  Just then Rei emerges, presumably from the shower, naked but for a towel.  She seems more concerned for the glasses than her nudity, and crosses the room and snatches them from his grasp.  He trips and they fall in a heap with him on top of her, also somehow upsetting a drawer full of Rei's undergarments.  After a pause of several seconds, she asks him to please move; only then does he notice that his hand is on her breast.  Still seemingly unconcerned<ref>Just as she seems unconcerned about Shinji's nudity in the hospital scene in [[Episode 06]].  The implication seems to be that she has little or no social training.</ref>, she dresses, takes the glasses and leaves while Shinji is still stammering out both frantic apologies and an explanation.   


When they arrive at HQ and her card won't work, he finally manages to hand her the new one. While riding the escalator, Shinji asks Rei if she isn't frightened of her impending re-activation experiment in Unit-00. When she asks doesn't he have faith in his father, Shinji bitterly denounces him, getting his face slapped for his troubles. Once again, Rei will show some emotion when Gendo is concerned.  Rei takes Gendo's glasses aboard the Eva as a good luck talisman, and the Re-activation is successful.   
Shinji, still haven't handed over the card, tries to follow Rei, but she seemingly doesn't pay him any mind at all. When they arrive at HQ and her old card doesn't work, he finally manages to hand her the new one. While riding the escalator, Shinji again tries apologizing for what happened in the apartment, but Rei doesn't appear to understand what he is apologizing for. He tries changing the subject, and asks her if she isn't frightened of her impending re-activation experiment in Eva-00, considering what happened last time. When she asks doesn't he have faith in his father, Shinji bitterly denounces him, getting his face slapped for his troubles. Once again, Rei will show some emotion when Gendo is concerned.  Rei takes Gendo's glasses aboard the Eva as a good luck talisman, and the Re-activation is successful<ref>A small reference to Madeleine L'Engle's book ''A Wind in the Door'' [[Tributes_to_Other_Shows_in_Neon_Genesis_Evangelion#A_Wind_in_the_Door|is visible]] just before the reactivation.</ref>.   


Just then, [[Ramiel]], the 5th Angel attacks.  Knowing that Rei isn't ready to fight, Gendo sends out Shinji in [[Evangelion Unit-01|Unit-01]].  As soon as he surfaces from underground, Ramiel blasts the Eva with a devastating particle beam. Shinji begins to be boiled alive, and Misato withdraws him with mere moments left for the Evangelion and its pilot.  End of episode.
Just then, [[Ramiel]], the 5th Angel attacks.  Knowing that Rei isn't ready to fight, Gendo sends out Shinji in [[Evangelion Unit-01|Eva-01]].  As soon as he surfaces from underground, Ramiel blasts the Eva with a devastating particle beam. Shinji begins to be boiled alive, and Misato withdraws him with mere moments left for the Evangelion and its pilot.  End of episode.
 
==Notes==
*Eva Unit 00, only briefly glimpsed before now in [[Episode 02]], is given a full introduction in this episode.
*[[Neon Genesis Evangelion timeline|Timeline]]-wise, the accident in which Eva 00 went berserk inside of "Experiment Station-02", leading to Rei's injuries in the first episode, happened 22 days before this episode begins.  [[Episode 03]] occurs "3 weeks" after episodes 1 and 2, and about 8 days pass between the end of Episode 3 and the end of [[Episode 04]].  In [[Episode 02]], Gendo said that Rei would be out of the hospital in "20 days", and she was back in Episode 3.  This should mean that ''at most'' 22 days pass between Episode 1 and the beginning of Episode 5, but 21 days (for three weeks) plus 8 days, equals 29 days.  However, Hyuga might have just been "rounding up" when he said "three weeks".
*When Eva 00 goes berserk, after Rei is already ejected, it attacks a window that Gendo Ikari is standing behind.
*"601" is the Nerv computer systems' code number for "cannot be analyzed". This appears to be a reference to the movie [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Andromeda_Strain_%28film%29|''The Andromeda Strain''], where a medical computer displays "601" when overloaded with data.
*Toji and Kensuke say that they first met Rei when she joined their school about a year ago (they are in 8th grade, she joined in 7th grade).
**Toji actually specifically says Rei joined their class in "first year", but that's just the terminology the Japanese school system uses, in which 7th grade is the "first year" of junior high school, 8th grade is "second year", etc.
*When Shinji enters Rei's apartment, he notices that her floor is conspicuously dirty and badly scuffed by her shoes, before proceeding to take off his own shoes.  In Japan, it is of course customary to take off one's shoes when entering a home, and this is a telltale sign to a Japanese audience (perhaps not quite as noticeable to a North American audience) that Rei is indifferent and aloof to her surroundings.  Also, she apparently hasn't opened any of her mail in quite some time, but just lets her mailbox overflow.
*There is still blood on Rei's pillow from when she was injured.  As she is not injured now, and wasn't wearing bandages even the day before, it appears that she just didn't bother to wash it.
*Rei seems to be taking a lot of medication for some unspecified reason, as there are several pill bottles on top of her microfridge.
*According to Ritsuko, Angels are composed of "a type of matter characterized by both particulate and wave-form properties". However, "although composed of a different form of matter, their actual composition in terms of the arrangement and coordinates of the pattern, is a 99.89% match to ours".
*Rei appears unusually relaxed when sitting in the [[LCL]] of the Entry Plug, after the reactivation test ends.  At several points throughout the series, Rei almost seems to "bathe" in LCL.  The same shot accurately depicts water bubbles escaping from Rei's mouth, as the pilot is indeed submerged in fluid.
*Geography-wise, Ramiel first appears from over the sea, and approaches Tokyo-3 by passing "over Tonosawa".
*Rei's apartment number is "402".
*When this episode aired on Adult Swim, several edits were made to censor it:
**In the official English dub only, Shinji reacts to Ritsuko saying that Gendo burned his hands rescuing Rei by saying "bullshit! My father did ''that''?"  When the episode aired on ''Adult Swim'', the word "bullshit" was muted out entirely (as Shinji's face was not visible in the shot, its removal was not obvious).
**The brief shot revealing that when Shinji falls on top of a naked Rei his left hand is pressed directly on her right breast was edited out.
 
==Analysis==
*Rei is actually part of a series of clones produced in Nerv HQ; the Rei we see here is actually the second Rei, or "Rei II".  When one Rei dies, she can be replaced with another.  So why would Gendo risk badly injuring his hands to save Rei if, by her own admission later in the series, she can be replaced? 
**Gendo might be trying to keep up the charade that Rei is not a clone to the other Nerv personnel involved in the activation experiment; most of them do not know that she is a clone.
**Gendo might have just been swept up in the moment; he cares a great deal about Rei because of her connection to Yui, and might just not want to see any harm come to her even if she can be resurrected.
*Gendo sent Shinji out alone in Unit 01 against the Angel Ramiel; Fuyutsuki specifically asked if he would send out Rei in Unit 00 and he said she wasn't ready to fight yet.  However, Gendo was willing to send Shinji out against Sachiel in the first episode, when he was totally unprepared for combat. 
**Although this does show a degree of callousness on Gendo's part towards his son, Unit 01 was physically capable of fighting when it was sent to fight Sachiel, while right now they haven't confirmed that Unit 00 is fully operational yet (because the tests were interrupted).


==Quotes==
==Quotes==
===Official Japanese dub===
*(''asking about what caused Eva-00 to go berserk during an activation test'')<br>'''Misato:''' "So, what caused the accident during the last experiment?"<br>'''Ritsuko:''' "We still don't know.  However, we believe that mental instability on the part of the pilot was a primary cause."<br>'''Misato:''' "Mental instability?  In Rei?"<br>'''Ritsuko:''' "Yes, her mind became much more disturbed than we had anticipated."<br>'''Misato:''' "So what happened?"<br>'''Ritsuko:''' "I don't know.  But it could be..."<br>'''Misato:''' "Did something occur to you?"<br>'''Ritsuko:''' (''to herself'') "No...that can't be it..."
*(''asking about what caused Eva 00 to go berserk during an activation test'')<br>'''Misato:''' "So, what caused the accident during the last experiment?"<br>'''Ritsuko:''' "We still don't know.  However, we believe that mental instability on the part of the pilot was a primary cause."<br>'''Misato:''' "Mental instability?  In Rei?"<br>'''Ritsuko:''' "Yes, her mind became much more disturbed than we had anticipated."<br>'''Misato:''' "So what happened?"<br>'''Ritsuko:''' "I don't know.  But it could be..."<br>'''Misato:''' "Did something occur to you?"<br>'''Ritsuko:''' (''to herself'') "No...that can't be it..."
*''(Shinji is staring at Rei in the distance, who is wearing a bathing suit)''<br>'''Toji''': "Hey, chief!  What are you lookin' at so intently?"<br>'''Shinji''': "Nothing!"<br>'''Kensuke''': "Was it Ayanami?  Am I right?"<br>'''Shinji''': "No!"<br>'''Kensuke''': "Oh, come on!  That's suspicious." <br>'''Toji''': "Ayanami's boobs, Ayanami's thighs, Ayanami's... <br>'''Kensuke and Toji '''(in unison): "calves!"   
*''(Shinji is staring at Rei in the distance, who is wearing a bathing suit)''<br>'''Toji''': "Hey, chief!  What are you lookin' at so intently?"<br>'''Shinji''': "Nothing!"<br>'''Kensuke''': "Was it Ayanami?  Am I right?"<br>'''Shinji''': "No!"<br>'''Kensuke''': "Oh, come on!  That's suspicious." <br>'''Toji''': "Ayanami's boobs, Ayanami's thighs, Ayanami's... <br>'''Kensuke and Toji '''(in unison): "calves!"   
*'''Misato''': ''(Very drunk but sounding profound)'' "Never underestimate the ability of the human animal to adapt to its environment"
*'''Misato''': ''(Very drunk but sounding profound)'' "Never underestimate the ability of the human animal to adapt to its environment"
Line 68: Line 44:
*''(Shinji and Rei have arrived at Nerv HQ and are on the escalator)''<br>'''Shinji:''' "You have a re-activation experiment today, don't you?  Wouldn't it be great if it were successful this time?  Say, aren't you afraid of getting in Unit-00 again?"<br>'''Rei:''' "Why"<br>'''Shinji:''' "I heard that you were hurt pretty badly in an earlier experiment, so I was wondering if you were okay about it."<br>'''Rei:''' "Aren't you commander Ikari's son?"<br>'''Shinji:''' "Yeah."<br>'''Rei:''' "Don't you have faith in your own father's work?"<br>'''Shinji:''' "Of course not!  How could I trust him?"<br>''(Rei angrily turns to face Shinji.)''<br>'''Shinji:''' "What?"<br>''(Rei slaps Shinji.)''
*''(Shinji and Rei have arrived at Nerv HQ and are on the escalator)''<br>'''Shinji:''' "You have a re-activation experiment today, don't you?  Wouldn't it be great if it were successful this time?  Say, aren't you afraid of getting in Unit-00 again?"<br>'''Rei:''' "Why"<br>'''Shinji:''' "I heard that you were hurt pretty badly in an earlier experiment, so I was wondering if you were okay about it."<br>'''Rei:''' "Aren't you commander Ikari's son?"<br>'''Shinji:''' "Yeah."<br>'''Rei:''' "Don't you have faith in your own father's work?"<br>'''Shinji:''' "Of course not!  How could I trust him?"<br>''(Rei angrily turns to face Shinji.)''<br>'''Shinji:''' "What?"<br>''(Rei slaps Shinji.)''


===Official English dub===
==References==
*(''Shinji is staring at Rei in the distance, who is wearing a bathing suit'')<br>'''Toji''': "Hey, big shot!  What are you staring at so intently?"<br>'''Shinji''': "Um, nothing!"<br>'''Kensuke''': "He's ogling Rei!"<br>'''Shinji''': "I-I-I am not!"<br>'''Kensuke''': "Ah, come on!" ''(singsong voice)'' "we saw you look-ing!"<br>'''Toji''': "Yeah, at Rei's mammaries!  Rei's silky thighs!<br>'''Kensuke''': "Yeah!"<br>'''Toji''': "Her calves! Her...<br>'''Toji and Kensuke''': ''(in unision)'' "...NAUGHTY BITS!!". 
{{reflist}}
*''(When Shinji accidentally falls on top of the naked Rei)''<br>'''Rei''': ''(in an extremely calm voice)'' "Will you get off?"
{{-}}
 


{{Episode List}}
{{Episode List}}

Latest revision as of 18:55, 7 September 2020

Episode Information
Episode #05
Title 1: レイ、心のむこうに
Rei, Kokoro no Mukou ni
Beyond Rei's Heart
Title 2: Rei I
Written By Akio Satsukawa, Hideaki Anno
Directed By Keiichi Sugiyama
First Aired 11-01-1995
Video Release Date 4-5-1996 (Japan-Video/LD), 11-21-2000 (US-DVD)
Angel Appearances Ramiel
Eva Sorties Eva-01
Episode chronology
← Previous Next →
"Episode 04" "Episode 06"

Overview

Eva-00 is finally repaired[1], and Shinji tries to get to know its enigmatic pilot, Rei Ayanami, better. However, he is confounded because she is extremely insular, has no friends at all, and the entire record of her past has been erased. In the midst of this, a very powerful Angel, the floating monolith Ramiel, attacks Tokyo-3.

Synopsis

As the episode opens, we finally get a flashback that explains how Rei got her injuries. Just days before Shinji arrived at Nerv, and it must have been immediately before Misato's arrival, Rei is piloting Eva-00 in an activation experiment, when the Evangelion suddenly goes berserk. The Eva holds her head as if she were in agony, and then tries to pound her way into the control room[2]. The power is cut off, but before Eva-00 powers down, Rei's Entry Plug is ejected and starts bouncing around the room. Gendo orders Special Bakelite pumped into the room to cushion the blow, but it's too late. When Eva-00 stops, Gendo rushes into the test room and forces open the red-hot hatch with his bare hands. His glasses fall to the floor and begin to melt from the heat. He manages to get the plug the open and finds an injured, but still conscious Rei meekly looking back at him inside. Gendo expresses relief that her injuries aren't more serious than they are, and smiles.

Some days later, Misato and Ritsuko watch as Eva-00 is being cut free from the bakelite. Ritsuko says that mental instability in the pilot is the suspected cause of the incident. Misato is incredulous, pointing out that Rei doesn't appear to be mentally unstable. Something else seems to occurs to Ritsuko, but she thinks better of saying it.

In the present day, Misato, Ritsuko, and Shinji are on-site when Nerv technicians are examining Shamshel's mostly intact remains. Although they can't analyze the stuff the Angel is made of[3], they can tell that its "inherent wave pattern" is 99.89% similar to that of humans'. Shinji looks over Ritsuko's shoulder and nods, pretending he knows what she's talking about. Shinji notices that Gendo and Fuyutsuki are examining the recovered remains of the deceased Angel's core. As Gendo has removed his gloves, Shinji catches a glance of the burns on his father's hands, and asks Ritsuko and Misato about them. Ritsuko tells Shinji about the incident with Rei and the super-heated hatch; Shinji reacts with disbelief.

Some time later at school, Toji and Kensuke notice Shinji watching Rei and tease him about it, but Shinji replies that he was just wondering why she's always alone[4]. Kensuke and Toji explains that no one really talks with Rei, because there is just something "unapproachable" about her. Kensuke asks Shinji if he shouldn't know more about her than them, seeing how they are fellow pilots. Later, back at Nerv HQ, Shinji is in for a sync test, as he notices Rei casually chatting with Gendo. He uses the Eva's camera to zoom in on their conversation, and sees both of them smiling, realizing that it is the first time he's seen either of them do so.

That evening, Ritsuko is eating dinner at Misato's place. Misato prepared the food, so it consists entirely of beer and under-diluted instant ramen. Only Misato finds it edible. Ritsuko then asks Shinji to deliver Rei's new Nerv I.D. card. When he looks embarrassed about going to a girl's home, Misato teases him. A flustered Shinji replies that he is just curious about Rei, because they are fellow pilots, and yet he knows very little about her. Ritsuko tells him that Rei is a nice girl, but also compares her a bit to Gendo, saying that they both are "clumsy at living", much to Shinji's puzzlement.

The next morning, he knocks on Rei's door and rings the bell, and receives no answer, but finds it unlocked and walks in. The place is an unspeakable mess, littered with trash and bloody bandages. He notices Gendo's glasses sitting on a dresser top and tries them on. Just then Rei emerges, presumably from the shower, naked but for a towel. She seems more concerned for the glasses than her nudity, and crosses the room and snatches them from his grasp. He trips and they fall in a heap with him on top of her, also somehow upsetting a drawer full of Rei's undergarments. After a pause of several seconds, she asks him to please move; only then does he notice that his hand is on her breast. Still seemingly unconcerned[5], she dresses, takes the glasses and leaves while Shinji is still stammering out both frantic apologies and an explanation.

Shinji, still haven't handed over the card, tries to follow Rei, but she seemingly doesn't pay him any mind at all. When they arrive at HQ and her old card doesn't work, he finally manages to hand her the new one. While riding the escalator, Shinji again tries apologizing for what happened in the apartment, but Rei doesn't appear to understand what he is apologizing for. He tries changing the subject, and asks her if she isn't frightened of her impending re-activation experiment in Eva-00, considering what happened last time. When she asks doesn't he have faith in his father, Shinji bitterly denounces him, getting his face slapped for his troubles. Once again, Rei will show some emotion when Gendo is concerned. Rei takes Gendo's glasses aboard the Eva as a good luck talisman, and the Re-activation is successful[6].

Just then, Ramiel, the 5th Angel attacks. Knowing that Rei isn't ready to fight, Gendo sends out Shinji in Eva-01. As soon as he surfaces from underground, Ramiel blasts the Eva with a devastating particle beam. Shinji begins to be boiled alive, and Misato withdraws him with mere moments left for the Evangelion and its pilot. End of episode.

Quotes

  • (asking about what caused Eva-00 to go berserk during an activation test)
    Misato: "So, what caused the accident during the last experiment?"
    Ritsuko: "We still don't know. However, we believe that mental instability on the part of the pilot was a primary cause."
    Misato: "Mental instability? In Rei?"
    Ritsuko: "Yes, her mind became much more disturbed than we had anticipated."
    Misato: "So what happened?"
    Ritsuko: "I don't know. But it could be..."
    Misato: "Did something occur to you?"
    Ritsuko: (to herself) "No...that can't be it..."
  • (Shinji is staring at Rei in the distance, who is wearing a bathing suit)
    Toji: "Hey, chief! What are you lookin' at so intently?"
    Shinji: "Nothing!"
    Kensuke: "Was it Ayanami? Am I right?"
    Shinji: "No!"
    Kensuke: "Oh, come on! That's suspicious."
    Toji: "Ayanami's boobs, Ayanami's thighs, Ayanami's...
    Kensuke and Toji (in unison): "calves!"
  • Misato: (Very drunk but sounding profound) "Never underestimate the ability of the human animal to adapt to its environment"
  • (Shinji accidentally falls on top of the naked Rei, his hand directly on her breast, and Shinji freezes in shock)
    Rei: (in an extremely calm voice) "Do you mind moving?"
    Shinji: (Jumps to his feet) "I-I-I..." ( Rei gets up and walks to the other side of the room, slowly and completely naked) "...uh, uh, uh..."
    Rei: (slides a pair of panties on; in a calm, almost confused voice) "...what?"
  • (Shinji and Rei have arrived at Nerv HQ and are on the escalator)
    Shinji: "You have a re-activation experiment today, don't you? Wouldn't it be great if it were successful this time? Say, aren't you afraid of getting in Unit-00 again?"
    Rei: "Why"
    Shinji: "I heard that you were hurt pretty badly in an earlier experiment, so I was wondering if you were okay about it."
    Rei: "Aren't you commander Ikari's son?"
    Shinji: "Yeah."
    Rei: "Don't you have faith in your own father's work?"
    Shinji: "Of course not! How could I trust him?"
    (Rei angrily turns to face Shinji.)
    Shinji: "What?"
    (Rei slaps Shinji.)

References

  1. Evangelion Unit-00, only briefly glimpsed before now, is given a full introduction in this episode.
  2. When Eva-00 goes berserk, after Rei is already ejected, it attacks a window that Gendo Ikari is standing behind. See Theory and Analysis:Eva-00's Soul for details on what this says about the identity of Unit-00's soul.
  3. "601" is the Nerv computer systems' code number for "cannot be analyzed". This is a direct reference to the movie The Andromeda Strain, where a medical computer displays "601" when overloaded with data. Go here for more.
  4. Toji and Kensuke say that they first met Rei when she joined their school about a year ago (they are in 8th grade, she joined in 7th grade).
    • Toji actually specifically says Rei joined their class in "first year", but that's just the terminology the Japanese school system uses, in which 7th grade is the "first year" of junior high school, 8th grade is "second year", etc.
  5. Just as she seems unconcerned about Shinji's nudity in the hospital scene in Episode 06. The implication seems to be that she has little or no social training.
  6. A small reference to Madeleine L'Engle's book A Wind in the Door is visible just before the reactivation.



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