Episode 09

Episode Information
Episode #09
Title 1: {{{japanese_title_k}}} {{{japanese_title_r}}} {{{japanese_title_e}}} Title 2: Both of You, Dance Like You Want to Win!
Written By	Hideaki Anno, Akio Satsukawa
Directed By	Seiji Mizushima
First Aired	11-29-1995
Video Release Date	{{{video_release}}}
Angel Appearances	Israfel
Episode chronology
← Previous	Next →
"Episode 8"	"Episode 10"

Overview

Asuka joins Shinji’s class at school, and moves in with Misato and him in their apartment. As Asuka adjusts to Japan (or rather, everyone else adapts to her...), a new Angel attacks which is capable of splitting itself into two identical copies. Eva Unit 01 and Eva Unit 02 are defeated, and the JSSDF is forced to drop an N² Mine the Angel, forcing it to stop to regenerate for several days. In the meantime, Asuka and Shinji must train using a classical music track to carry out a coordinated attack against the Angel and synchronize their combat moves perfectly, which is the only way to defeat the Angel.

Synopsis

Episode 9 opens with a series of still shots of Asuka, accompanied by a clicking camera lens. We then are shown that Toji and Kensuke have been photographing her and selling the photos. We also see in this sequence that Asuka has a locker full of love letter from admirers from her new school.

Shinji arrives on campus and Asuka greets him with a cheerful "Guten Morgen," and asks if Rei isn't there. Spotting her, Asuka doesn't wait for Shinji to introduce her, instead taking matters into her own hands by introducing herself. Asuka declares that they will be great friends, and is perplexed when Rei answers, "If I'm ordered to I'll do it." After witnessing this conversation, Toji asks if only weirdos are Eva pilots.

Back at headquarters, Kaji comes on to Ritsuko. Ritsuko, who is seemingly used to this behavior on his part, smiles and points out that Misato is watching them. When Misato demands to know why he is still in Japan, Kaji reveals that he is staying there "on loan".

Just then, alarm bells start to ring; the on-station cruiser Haruna reports that a large object has been detected approaching the Kii peninsula; the seventh Angel, Israfel, has begun his attack. Shinji and Asuka are sortied in Unit-01 and Unit-02. Though they have been ordered to work together, Asuka takes the lead and bisects Israfel with a single blow. Shinji is momentarily impressed, until the two halves revive as separate Angels.

We then cut to the aftermath of the battle, in which both pilots were defeated, and their Evas ended up upside down. At their debriefing, they bicker about who was at fault, and are lectured by Kozo Fuyutsuki. we are also told that the U.N. had interveaned and temporarily stopped Israfel with an N² Mine, which destroyed 28% of his body. But Israfel is already restoring himself.

Kaji gives Misato a plan to defeat Israfel: a coordinated simultaneous attack on each half's core. Shinji and Asuka must be in total accord in order for this mission to succeed, so it is decided that Asuka must move in with Misato and Shinji, and that the two of them will spend all of their time together in the few days remaining until it is believed Israfel will revive. Asuka comments at this point that she would rather move in with Kaji, and a little heart briefly appears on screen.

Toji and Kensuke drop by to visit Shinji, and are surprised when they meet Hikari, who has come to visit Asuka. All three are shocked that Shinji and Asuka are living together until the situation is explained to them. The training seems to be partially successful, as Shinji and Asuka speak the same lines in unison when they answer the door. But, they still have a lot of work to do. They are training to synchronize their movements by touching the same spots on separate twister mats, but constantly get it wrong. Asuka blames Shinji, but when Misato asks Rei, who is there observing, to give it a try, she and Shinji synch perfectly on the first try. Humiliated, Asuka runs from the room, prompting Hikari to command Shinji to follow her. "You made a girl cry!" When he finds her, Asuka promises to "pay back" Misato for humiliating her. They then continue their training.

The night before the battle, Misato has to work late. When Asuka hears this, while stepping out of the shower, she hints to Shinji that they are all alone. When she doesn't get any response, she storms into Misato's room to sleep alone. Later that night, she sleepwalks into Shinji's futon. He leans over to kiss her, but stops when she calls in her sleep for her mother. He realizes that she's just a child herself.

Back at headquarters, Kaji gropes Misato on the elevator; she protests only halfheartedly. A little later, Ritsuko teases Misato about her relationship with Kaji.

The day of the battle arrives. Shinji and Asuka launch their coordinated assault to music selected by Kaji. The plan works perfectly, except that after destroying both cores with a flying drop kick, they miss their landing and fall in a heap. The episode ends with them bickering over whose fault it is.

Notes

• Like Episode 8, Episode 9's end credits are tinted red, in honor of the arrival of Asuka and Eva 02 to Japan.
• An image of the aquatic Angel Gaghiel briefly appears, on Ritsuko's computer screen as she is looking over information about it.

Analysis

• Shinji responds to Asuka's greeting of "Guten morgen" with another "Guten morgen"; does this mean that Shinji has learned German between last episode (when he knew no German whatsoever) and now?
  • Not really. Shinji just picked up on a basic greeting phrase from German. That doesn't really mean he knows significantly more than he did before.
• Asuka has been described by the series' creators as

Quotes

This article bears the unpleasant designation of "Stub." This is a Bad Thing. Provide a great service to NGE fan-geeks everywhere by making it awesomer!