Episode 12

Episode Information
Episode #12
Title 1: {{{japanese_title_k}}} {{{japanese_title_r}}} {{{japanese_title_e}}} Title 2: She Said, "Don't Make Others Suffer for Your Personal Hatred."
Written By	Hideaki Anno, Akio Satsukawa
Directed By	Hiroyuki Ishido
First Aired	12-20-1995
Video Release Date	{{{video_release}}}
Angel Appearances	Sahaquiel
Episode chronology
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"Episode 11"	"Episode 13"

Overview

Misato has been promoted to Major, but the celebration is cut short when the next Angel attacks. Is there any way to stop a multi-ton enemy from hurling itself from the stratosphere onto Nerv Headquarters?

Synopsis

The episode begins with a flashback, as Second Impact occurs at Antacrtica. Misato's father, Dr. Katsuragi, saves her life by shoving her into an escape capsule as Adam, in Giant of Light form briefly appears. Giant wings appear over the land as the capsule floats to safety.

Back in the present in Tokyo 3, Toji and Kensuke drop into Misato's appartment to take shelter from the rain. Kensuke notices that Misato has been promoted to Major, (a fact which has completely escaped Shinji and Asuka), and he and Toji congratulate her. Misato thanks them and remindes Shinji and Asuka that they have a harmonics test that day.

Ritsuko reveals after the test that Shinji's Synch Rate is rapidly rising and he will soon catch up to Asuka. This doesn't seem to impress Asuka, who reacts angrily.

When they arrive home, they find that Kensuke has arranged a party to celebrate Misato's promotion. Toji wonders why Hikari, the Class Rep, is there, and Asuka replies that she has invited her. Asuka then begins to wonder why Kaji is late. Rei has turned down her invitation. Meanwhile, Shinji whispers to Misato that he's uncomfortable around that many people. When Shinji asks her why she joined Nerv, Misato claims to have forgotten. When Kaji finally arrives, he has Ritsuko with him, causing Misato and Asuka to both react jealously. Kaji comments that Commander Ikari and Vice Commander Fuyutsuki must have a lot of faith in Misato to go away and leave her in charge.

In Antarctica, Gendo and Fuyutsuki are onboard a ship in a sea of orange. The surrounding area has become incapable of sustaining life; Fuyutsuki comments that it is the true Dead Sea. Also on board is a mysterious long bundle. Just then they receive a message that the next Angel has begun its attack.

The 10th Angel, Sahaquiel, is easily the most bizarre, appearing as a gigantic amoeba. Its strategy is to zero in on Nerv by dropping pieces of itself onto the Earth with tremendous force. Its believed that once it finds its target, the entire Angel will plummet to Earth. Even a near miss will easily destroy everything. Misato orders all civilians evacuated in a 50 KM radius, and concocts what seems to be an impossibe plan. Using their A.T. Fields at full strength, the thre Evas will catch the falling Angel with their hands and then destroy it. Ritsuko accuses Misato of putting her quest for revenge ahead of the mission.

Misato briefs the pilots on the mission. They all decline to write a will. She then promises them a steak dinner if they succeed. Rei passes on the steak because she dislikes meat. When Misato is asked how she determined where to station the Evas (the potential impact zone is miles across), she replies, "intuition." Shinji tells Asuka that Misato has never won the lottery.

On their way to their evas, Shinji asks Asuka why she pilots. She replies that she wants to prove something to the world. When she throws the question back at him, he doesn't have an answer.

We are then shown a flashback to a conversation Shinji and Misato must have had a short time before. She admits that she joined Nerv to avenge her father, even though she had hated him for neglecting her and her mother.

The time comes at last. The Evas race to the impact spot, Shinji arriving first. He struggles to hold up the Angel until Rei and Asuka join him. Rei cuts through Sahaquiel's A.T. Field with her Progressive Knife, and Asuka uses hers to destroy the Angel's core. Another mission has been successful against tremendous odds. Gendo calls, and when Misato tries to apologize for the dammage done to Unit-01, he tells her she did well. He then specifically asks to speak with Shinji and tells him, "Good work." The pilots have mercy on Misato's pocketbook and go to a ramen place instead of a steakhouse. Even Rei goes along, ordering garlic ramen with no pork. Shinji tells Misato that he pilots because he wants to hear words of praise from his father.

End of episode.

Quotes

• (Shinji wonders why his improved performance Angers Asuka)
  Shinji: "I wonder why she got mad. What did I do wrong?"
  Misato: "That bothers you?"
  Shinji: "Yes."
  Misato: "That's because all you ever do is worry about what other people think."
• (Ritsuko confronts Misato about her plan)
  Ritsuko: "You're going to do this, seriously?"
  Misato: "Yes, I am."
  Ritsuko: "You're going to throw away all three Evas with your selfish decision? The chance of success is only 0.00001%. That's not even one in ten thousand!"
  Misato: "It's not zero; I'm just banking on the Evas."
  Ritsuko: "Major Katsuragi!"
  Misato: "I am currently in charge. I want to do whatever I can. Destroying Angels is my duty."
  Ritsuko: "Your duty! Don't make me laugh, This is for your own sake, isn't it? Your revenge against the Angels!
• (The pilots prepare for their mission.)
  Shinji: "Say."
  Asuka: "What?"
  Shinji: "Asuka, why do you pilot an Eva?"
  Asuka: "To exhibit my talent to the world, of course."
  Shinji: "You mean to prove that you exist?"
  Asuka: "Yeah, something like that." (Looks at Rei) "You're not going to ask her?"
  Shinji: "I've asked Ayanami before."
  Asuka: "Mmmm...My, how intimate the two of you are."
  Shinji: "It's not like that."
  Asuka: "Then what about you, Shinji?"
  Shinji: "I don't know."
  Asuka: "You don't know? What are you, stupid?"
  Shinji: "Maybe I am."
  Asuka: "You really are stupid."
• (The characters celebrate their victory over Ramen.)
  Shinji: "Say, miss Misato?"
  Misato: "What?"
  Shinji: "When I heard my father's words earlier, I think I finally understood what it's like to feel happy when you're praised and I also realized that maybe I pilot the Eva because I wanted to hear those words from him."
  Asuka: "You're piloting for something like that? You really are stupid."