Zusuchan: This sequence with a temporarily crouching and shaken Asuka clearly upholding herself while Shinji also crouches is fascinating, because there's a similar situation in ep.22, except there she's unable to uphold herself and Shinji is unable to even go to her level, as he did here. There's also the fact that this scene actually shows both Asuka and Shinji as still quite flawed-she's still unwilling to let go of piloting Eva as her gateway to respectability, usefulness and love nor of her arrogance, while he's still on the fence about actually committing himself to an attempt to understand and truly connect with her, preferring to wait on the sidelines.
Edit: Thanks to Ursus for linking to the relevant cut in 22.
